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Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley Paperback – September 1, 1995

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,114 ratings

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Written with grace, humor, and affection, Last Train to Memphis has been hailed as the definitive biography of Elvis Presley. It is the first to set aside the myths and focus on Elvis' humanity in a way that has yet to be duplicated.




A New York Times Notable Book

Winner of the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award




"Elvis steps from the pages. You can feel him breathe. This book cancels out all others." --Bob Dylan



From the moment that he first shook up the world in the mid 1950s, Elvis Presley has been one of the most vivid and enduring myths of American culture.

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley is the first biography to go past that myth and present an Elvis beyond the legend. Based on hundreds of interviews and nearly a decade of research, it traces the evolution not just of the man but of the music and of the culture he left utterly transformed, creating a completely fresh portrait of Elvis and his world.

This volume tracks the first twenty-four years of Elvis' life, covering his childhood, the stunning first recordings at Sun Records ("That's All Right," "Mystery Train"), and the early RCA hits ("Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel"). These were the years of his improbable self-invention and unprecedented triumphs, when it seemed that everything that Elvis tried succeeded wildly. There was scarcely a cloud in sight through this period until, in 1958, he was drafted into the army and his mother died shortly thereafter. The book closes on that somber and poignant note.

Last Train to Memphis takes us deep inside Elvis' life, exploring his lifelong passion for music of every sort (from blues and gospel to Bing Crosby and Mario Lanza), his compelling affection for his family, and his intimate relationships with girlfriends, mentors, band members, professional associates, and friends. It shows us the loneliness, the trustfulness, the voracious appetite for experience, and above all the unshakable, almost mystical faith that Elvis had in himself and his music. Drawing frequently on Elvis' own words and on the recollections of those closest to him, the book offers an emotional, complex portrait of young Elvis Presley with a depth and dimension that for the first time allow his extraordinary accomplishments to ring true.

Peter Guralnick has given us a previously unseen world, a rich panoply of people and events that illuminate an achievement, a place, and a time as never revealed before.
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There's no mention of sequins, drugs, or peanut butter in this understated biography of the teenaged Elvis, a serious and worthy attempt to answer the question, "Who was this guy before he was an icon, the voice of a generation, the King?" The essential clarity and honesty of Guralnick's prose clearly limns the eager, malleable boy whose immense talent changed the course of American music.

From Publishers Weekly

Vol. one of Guralnick's exhaustive, two-volume biography details the King's first 24 years, leaving off when his rise is interrupted by his being drafted into the army.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books (September 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316332259
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316332255
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.13 x 1.38 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,114 ratings

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Peter Guralnick
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"Peter Guralnick is widely regarded as the nation's preeminent writer on twentieth-century American popular music. His books include Feel Like Going Home, Lost Highway, Sweet Soul Music, Searching for Robert Johnson, the novel Nighthawk Blues, and a highly acclaimed two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love."

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,114 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative. They appreciate the thorough research and context provided in the biography. The writing style is described as well-written and down-to-earth. Readers describe the story as fascinating, enlightening, and mesmerizing. They find Elvis talented and extraordinary, with unwavering faith in his music. Overall, the book portrays an authentic and heartfelt portrayal of the entertainer.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

125 customers mention "Readability"125 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the quality writing and feel like they know Elvis. Readers say it's a must-read for Elvis fans or anyone interested in learning more about the subject.

"...Reading the book was a real treat, a journey back in time which for the five days it took me to read, immersed me in the time of innocence, discovery..." Read more

"...His voice tells the whole story. But this was a great read and it has enhanced my knowledge of the man and his music." Read more

"Interesting tome with a lot of details and extensive interviews. Much of which included machinations by Elvis' managers, PR reps, etc...." Read more

"A good read gave one insight to his developing career I shall look forward to the follow up book." Read more

99 customers mention "Information quality"84 positive15 negative

Customers appreciate the book's thorough research and insightful writing. They find it comprehensive, with details about Elvis' early life and his struggles presented in context. Readers also mention that the author provides little-known facts and traces his slow rise to stardom.

"...Guralnick gives a detailed historical background which is vital to understanding the cultural influences on the young, impressionable Elvis growing..." Read more

"...I don't sense an "agenda" here, just a really well researched, straightforward telling of the man's life...." Read more

"Guralnick is a brilliant writer - so thoughtful and thorough... he makes you feel like you're transported to the era and able to really know every..." Read more

"Interesting tome with a lot of details and extensive interviews. Much of which included machinations by Elvis' managers, PR reps, etc...." Read more

53 customers mention "Biography quality"53 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography well-written and honest about Elvis' early life and career. They enjoy reading about his childhood until going in the army. The author depicts the era vividly and goes into detail time and again. Overall, readers describe it as an interesting story of hard work and perseverance.

"...In fact, I could not put the book down, as the author depicts the era so vividly, it feels as if you are taking a journey back in time...." Read more

"...Thank you, Mr. G., for another spellbinding musical and literary experience like no other." Read more

"...: The Rise of Elvis Presley, Peter Guralnick presents a groundbreaking biography that transcends the myth of Elvis Presley to reveal the man behind..." Read more

"...For a great history of the dawn of rock, read this book. You'll find out about the people who started it, and what they were trying to do...." Read more

43 customers mention "Writing quality"38 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, detailed, and neutral. The author's presentation is down-to-earth and straightforward, with a remarkable intuitive sense of which accounts are best.

"...from early childhood to his departure for Germany, was a remarkable feat of writing...." Read more

"...an "agenda" here, just a really well researched, straightforward telling of the man's life...." Read more

"Guralnick is a brilliant writer - so thoughtful and thorough... he makes you feel like you're transported to the era and able to really know every..." Read more

"...It's easy to think of Elvis Presley as a simple-minded, good-looking, fairly talented entertainer who happened to be in the right place at the right..." Read more

20 customers mention "Enlightenedness"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and insightful. It provides a detailed look at Elvis' life, showing that he never lost his roots. The author captures these pieces eloquently and with telling detail. Readers appreciate the thoughtful and thorough writing style. Overall, the book gives readers a revealing portrait of Elvis that helps them understand what women found attractive about him.

"Guralnick is a brilliant writer - so thoughtful and thorough... he makes you feel like you're transported to the era and able to really know every..." Read more

"..."Last Train to Memphis" captures these pieces eloquently and with telling detail...." Read more

"...It's easy to think of Elvis Presley as a simple-minded, good-looking, fairly talented entertainer who happened to be in the right place at the right..." Read more

"Extremely interesting and informative. I can't recall how I decided to make a study of Presley, but indeed I did...." Read more

17 customers mention "Talent"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's portrayal of Elvis Presley. They find him talented, human, and extraordinary. The author conveys his unwavering belief in his music and charisma.

"...driving his fans to unprecedented frenzy with his sensational energy, charisma and infectious charm...." Read more

"...ultimately what Guralnick conveys is a very human Elvis, and a very talented Elvis, who really did try to bring beauty and light into the world and..." Read more

"...Guralnick is a talented writer; too bad he didn't get the chance to observe Elvis as closely as his other contacts...." Read more

"...of a young man filled with ambition, loneliness, and unwavering belief in himself and his music...." Read more

9 customers mention "Heartfelt story"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the story moving and heartfelt. They describe Elvis as sensitive, kind, and respectful. The author weaves history and heart together to create a compelling narrative that captures the human experience of Elvis. The book is described as amazing, triumphant, and heartbreaking.

"...Elvis comes across as a poignantly sensitive boy, who silently internalizes the suffering of the family's dismal plight, feeling despondent to help..." Read more

"...complex and emotional portrait of a young man filled with ambition, loneliness, and unwavering belief in himself and his music...." Read more

"...and loved the accoutrements of stardom, he was genuinely a nice and caring person...." Read more

"...145 of this book, but I see a very young man who was spiritual, profoundly kind and respectful to people who was absolutely absorbed in music as if..." Read more

9 customers mention "Music history"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's music history. They find it a must-read for fans and music enthusiasts alike, covering the entire music scene from the late 1940s until the book ends. Readers mention that the love of music was one of Elvis' first loves and his basic character. The book provides great insight into the life of a music legend and is well-written and in-depth.

"...he helped reshape, making it a must-read for fans and music history enthusiasts alike." Read more

"...and provides a nuanced and sensitive reading of his youth, his musical influences, his personality, and the culture that engulfed him...." Read more

"...This Elvis was a rebel, a threat, a musical and stage dynamo, and a really nice guy who liked to have 'safe' girlfriends that his parents could like..." Read more

"...It shows how he started as a young man, his love of music his first loves and the basic character formation of the older Elvis...." Read more

Life changing!!
5 out of 5 stars
Life changing!!
★★★★.5“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢, 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩.”This is one of the most introspective, deep, honest, in depth, and awe inspiring biographies I have ever read. There’s a reason it is so talked about and has won many awards, and said to be one of the only Elvis Presley books to read, along with its sequel. It was like I was simply experiencing it with Elvis and everyone else as he went through his career for the first time.“𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙚. 𝙒𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣. 𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙀𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙨."After watching the Elvis movie 6 times, and falling into a sporadic Elvis Presley frenzy, I had been researching some books to continue my journey of his story and life, and found this one, along with a couple others. Now, this book is dense. A lot of information, small font, and a thick book to dive right into, but it is so worth it. For the first half of Elvis’s journey, you get to experience the new and somewhat alarming energy of this young boy, how his singing and moving shook people, and how the world was forever changed.“𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜.. 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩, 𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮.”This book really described the pure animalistic acts and outbursts of the fans at the beginning of his career. There was nothing like him before, and it was entirely new territory. The screaming, the tearing of clothes, and anguish and want and need from these girls was so unbelievably known and unheard of that it was so crazy to read. These people were no longer human, the way they acted because of this boy, just because he was singing and moving like no one had seen.“𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙜, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 - 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.”As I was reading, I found myself comparing these events to the movie, and so much is left out, because there was just too much material. The movie was amazing, but this story gives you such a deep and open look into what his life was like, that it was so fresh, like I was experiencing it for the first time. So much happened to this 19-21 year old in such a small amount of time, and it never went to his head. It was so amazing seeing how his hospitality and humbleness never wavered. He would do anything to make people happy because he loved it.“𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 - 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙩.”Elvis and music are one and the same. He has combined himself, fused his soul and music together so deeply, that without one, there is no other. He just feels it so differently from other people, where others are detached and can turn it off like a switch, but Elvis is so different. It’s in his bones, the notes, chords and lyrics, it is as much of a part of him as his heart.“𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣. 𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙠𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣.”I found myself wanting to protect him, this boy constantly. When you know how the story ends, you still find yourself constantly dreading it, and hoping something, even slightly, will change, just so everything runs smoothly and happily. Elvis has such a tragic story and ending, and all you want to do is protect this innocent, dreaming boy from Tupelo.“𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖.”He just wanted to please people, and to love and have company and be surrounded by others. Growing up, he didn’t have many friends, and so he just wanted to fill that void in his life. Even going as big as paying others to be on his team, just to hang out with him. He was lonely and had so much love in his heart to give out, but not many to give it to.“𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙪𝙣, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙀𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 - 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙢, 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.”The mass hysteria for this boy, this new phenomenon, that no one had ever heard or seen before, swiftly growing into one of the most amazing singers of all time.“𝙃𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚: "𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙨. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”The stage presence that Elvis had, how he knew how to work a crowd, to move and change up if they liked something or didn’t. He could read it so easily, and tune his performance for them. Because it was for them. Anything he did, he loved doing it for them."𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙙, 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡, 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚, 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩."I learned so much from this novel, how he was solely a singer, he never wrote his own songs, but he still sung them with care and wanted to get each one the best he could, and it was simply how he felt it. It could be one take or thirty, when he knew it was good, that was that, nothing was done until Elvis said so.“𝙀𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙡 - 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙀𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙮?”Elvis truly was a wonder to the world. His pure compassion and down to earth soul was so fresh and new. No matter who he met, he was always polite and endearing and so so kind to anyone. He would take his own time to make others happy, that’s who he was. Whether it was signing autographs for hours in front of his house, or listening to someone talk or try out new music, he always had this presence, this persona that was so deeply respectful.”..𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙡'𝙨 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣..”The Colonel is someone I despise with my whole being. He took advantage of this sweet, amazing boy, and used him for money, and greed and conning and full on selfishness. Never letting anyone get close and connect with Elvis because he had found himself a puppet, an unknowing, naive puppet to trick and do his bidding. It ended up leading Elvis to his death. Many other factors played into this, but I’m always wondering “what if” Elvis had got out at some point, would anything have changed, would he be alive?“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬, 𝙄'𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨. 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚."This book embodies Elvis as a person, an entertainer, a friend, a lover, a singer, and so much more. There was never anything like Elvis and there might never be anything like him again. His career was so short, but he did so much in such little time.“𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧."Elvis really loved his mother. Their connection was like no other, and no one could’ve broken it. He was fully indebted to her, they were truly joined in anything they did. He loved and did so much for his parents, no matter what was going on. His grief stayed with him for his whole life, because this was his woman, his mother, his world."..𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 - 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚. 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙩.”
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2014
    Musical innovation is full of danger to the state, for when modes of music change, the laws of the state always change with them. (Plato, The Republic)

    I only caught something of the aftermath of Elvis' music as I was a child in the seventies, but recently I became intrigued with people like Elvis, Johnny Cash, and the Beatles who rose from poverty and obscurity to unfathomable stardom. What were the circumstances at the time that sprouted such abundance of talent, innovation and catalytic changes in music?

    I decided to begin by exploring the ascent of the King. Peter Guralnick' portrayal of Elvis' life in this first volume, from early childhood to his departure for Germany, was a remarkable feat of writing. In fact, I could not put the book down, as the author depicts the era so vividly, it feels as if you are taking a journey back in time. Every aspect of Elvis's life is dissected, so much so that that one has the uncanny feeling that the author was omnipresent, able to witness it all firsthand. He mentions the clothes Elvis wore on particular appearances, what he had for dinner, what he said on a particular date with a girl, and so on. It is all done so discreetly, however, that while remaining true to Elvis's portrayal he does not offend by providing information that we would wish to remain private. Guralnick gives a detailed historical background which is vital to understanding the cultural influences on the young, impressionable Elvis growing up in the small, agricultural town of Tupelo, Mississippi in the 30's and 40's. The family's constant struggle to find work, the father, Vernon, well-meaning but somehow always failing to hold down a steady job, the mother, Gladys, labouring in the cotton fields, doing the laundry and sewing to keep up payments, the family's humiliation when Vernon is incarcerated for forging a check, are all chronicled on a background of Church music, sermons by ardent preachers and the sounds of gospel and rhythm and blues emanating from the negro quarter of the town. Elvis comes across as a poignantly sensitive boy, who silently internalizes the suffering of the family's dismal plight, feeling despondent to help, but sensing that he will amount to something one day and will therefore be able to relieve his family from their perpetual financial woes, particularly his beloved mother. His mother's unconditional love and unswerving support provide him with the confidence he needs to retain his nonconformist look despite the bullying from his classmates.

    But where would such artist be without the visionary Sam Phillips, a talent scout, who opens Sun recording studio in the early 50s, just when Elvis begins to hear his calling for music? Elvis’s first self financed recordings are made in 1954 but rock-et science hits the scene with “That’s all right” and from then on Elvis splits the atom on stage driving his fans to unprecedented frenzy with his sensational energy, charisma and infectious charm. The book is so thourougly researched that most of the names of the musicians contemporary to Elvis are mentioned as well as their influence on the King and the music scene at the time. With the help of the amazing internet I was able to find the ones that interested me, like Big Mama Thornton and her marvelous rendition of Hound dog! Watching videos of the youthful dynamite from the Hayride days, which I had not seen before, justified the stories I had heard about the extreme scenes of adulation, of the young girls wailing and screeching like maenads in orgiastic ecstasy for their Dionysian god. I realized why Elvis was such a threat to the establishment and how extraordinary he must have looked at a time when other performers wore conservative suits and sang sedately with little sexual innuendo.
    Reading the book was a real treat, a journey back in time which for the five days it took me to read, immersed me in the time of innocence, discovery, promise and expectation. Too bad it was so short lived
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
    For some reason I started listening to Elvis when I was in my mid/late twenties, around 1995. With no provocation, I simply picked up a copy of the Complete Sun Recordings and tried to imagine what it must have been like back in the mid/late fifties to hear this coming across the radio. Tried to put myself in the place of a listener back then. Before the Beatles and the Stones and Zeppelin and all the rest. I then bought more albums, the early RCA albums, the two gospel records, the later records like From Memphis and Elvis Country, simply because I liked the music and his voice. I just read the two volume bio by Guralnick and I really enjoyed how Guralnick, in an non-pretentious way, made Elvis seem real to me. The first volume is a little easier to stomach just because of the subject matter. The invention of rock and how it grew organically from humble beginnings in Memphis and then grew into a national and then global phenomenon is exciting to behold-and Elvis seemed truly on fire. The second volume is sometimes tough to read as Elvis seems to become, well, sort of unlikable. Womanizer, boastful, manipulative, ego driven, self pitying, messianic, and then ultimately miserable. Its almost as if the two books are about two different people in a way. And for this, I credit the author. There is no reason to judge Elvis. Its hard to feel sorry for someone as successful as he was; yet, I found myself pitying him. It seems as if he started with all the best intentions, and then got put onto a train that he couldn't control, couldn't stop, until his body stopped it for him. Sad stuff. But, I think ultimately what Guralnick conveys is a very human Elvis, and a very talented Elvis, who really did try to bring beauty and light into the world and entertain people. Guralnick makes a very complicated person as legible as can be reasonably expected. I don't sense an "agenda" here, just a really well researched, straightforward telling of the man's life. I would say that ultimately, the best way to appreciate Elvis is to listen to the music that he made. His voice tells the whole story. But this was a great read and it has enhanced my knowledge of the man and his music.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2023
    Guralnick is a brilliant writer - so thoughtful and thorough... he makes you feel like you're transported to the era and able to really know every person involved. You can smell the scents of the Deep South, taste the food, feel the heartbeat of America. I am enjoying this book so much because I've been an Elvis fan all my life... but I wanted to get to know more about his younger years after having visited Sun Studios last year (one of the highlights of my life!) ... and just 50 pages in, (as an active songwriter), I was so inspired, the new music started pouring from my soul! Thank you, Mr. G., for another spellbinding musical and literary experience like no other.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2018
    Interesting tome with a lot of details and extensive interviews. Much of which included machinations by Elvis' managers, PR reps, etc. I found that interesting, but how smart and connected do you have to be when you represent the biggest entertainment phenomenon of a generation? Yeah, they didn't exactly overwhelm me. Yes, the real genius was Elvis himself, at least in the entertainment field.

    Guralnick is a talented writer; too bad he didn't get the chance to observe Elvis as closely as his other contacts. Another thing... I was surprised, in many cases, at the petty jealousy and mean spirited put-downs afforded by his fellow artists and acquaintances. Well, maybe not that surprised.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2024
    A good read gave one insight to his developing career I shall look forward to the follow up book.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • angelika maeser lemieux
    5.0 out of 5 stars highly informative about the rise to stardom and supporting cast
    Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2022
    I loved the book; it not only takes us with Elvis from poverty to riches and fame, but it cast a light upon all the supporting cast that was needed to catapult this great talent to the top; without the record makers and the promoters of the Elvis product, he would not have had the national exposure, and the author gives us many interesting characters to learn about who worked with or alongside Elvis. It is really a "who's who" of the music scene in those days.
  • Fabian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 22, 2022
    Muy buen libro
  • Foloni
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Biografia
    Reviewed in Brazil on April 19, 2022
    Sou grande fã de Elvis Presley e já li muitas biografias a seu respeito, entretanto nada se compara a "Last Train to Memphis", a qual aborda o início (antes mesmo de seu nascimento) até sua ida ao exército - a história prossegue na segunda parte. Percebi que muitas biografias anteriormente lidas tiveram como fonte "Last Train to Memphis". O livro demorou um pouco para chegar, afinal se trata de compra internacional, mas posso garantir que valeu cada dia de espera, sendo "devorado" em menos de uma semana. Sensacional e definitivo.
  • Xx
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2024
    Wonderful book, a little sad in parts, lovely read, a must for Elvis fans, I would recommend
  • Placeholder
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intricate deep dive into the Social phenomenon that is Elvis.
    Reviewed in India on May 12, 2024
    Brilliant story weaving bringing to life the trials and turbulence growing up and living in an deeply racially divided Southern US. One can easily forgive the hate that manifested in stories of " stolen music".....
    Even though Elvis did not " create Rock n Roll" he was easily the seminal force that created the huge change in music & clothing, in American & world culture that still reverberates to this day.
    A very compelling reading, that brings Elvis to life and the myths surrounding him & his legacy.
    The Mystery Train rolls on.