Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia

Rating:
Summary: The Most Honest Book Ever Written On Elvis
Review: Don't believe what negative things you hear about this book. The inconsistencies are only when someone is referring to what an associate outside of the book's sources said. The jewish thing for instance came from Larry Geller and another book, not this one. One of these guys was just pointing it out as an untruth. The reason this book was written was because these guys wanted to dispel the untrue rumors and made up stories that had been put out about Elvis. I do think the price put on it is appalling though. However, you'll never find a better written book about Elvis. There are times when the subject matter does change but it's all related to what was going on with Elvis' life at the same time. Remember, this man was dealing with so many things at once throughout his life. You will never find a better Elvis book than this if you're looking for the truth as told by people who loved him and knew him better than anyone. If you're looking for another book that never focuses on the drugs, or Elvis' darker side, as well as the darker side of the other Memphis Mafia members, then go get something else. If you want Elvis and the guys like it really was....GET THIS BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Bunch Of Memories
Review: I searched for a very long time to find this book, after seeing it at the public library. Because it is so long, I didn't have enough time to finish it in the time that I had it. Luckily I found it to purchase not too long later and was able to finish this wonderful book.

I think the point of this book is not to be a biography on Elvis, because Lord knows there are enough of those floating around. This is meant to be a passionate depiction of the friendships one man formed over his life, and how those friends viewed him and their time together. It is clear early on how much these men loved and respected Elvis, and how they were greatly affected by his untimely death. For anyone looking for true, hard facts, look elsewhere. But for anyone wanting a loving portrayal of a man by his friends, this is the book for you. While at times a bit far-fetched, the stories are entertaining, and provide a never-before-seen insight into the friendships of one of the most famous men in the world. A must-read for any Elvis fan who wants to go beyond the traditional biography to the heart of the man himself.

Rating:
Summary: I did not know to like him before. Now I love him.
Review: If you love music, this book is for you. If you love the South, get it and read it. If you desire harmony, Elvis was a pioneer in blending black and white culture into a winner. Encouraged to read this book by a friend, from Wisconsin of all places, I was astounded at the honest detail of not only the personal history of an icon, but an inside look at the music and publishing industry that has helped shape our nation. Based on interviews over a three year period, Alanna Nash recreates the world of the Memphis Mafia, Elvis' closest friends over his 30+ year music career. It is like sitting in a room listening to a converstation between three of his closest confidants discussing his life with all of the subplots. A wonderful book. Why in the world is it out of print????

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST from the best people who know him. Take care of it
Review: It's one of those book that you need to have even so ElvisPresley don't have all your attention.That phenomeon of the history of America is view by his relatives friends that everybody call the "Memphis Mafia". You can see by this book all the life of the Idol from his childhood to his raising career, his weeding, the Vegas years, the sad moment, the dependance on prescriptions the family he have, the stage routine, the place where he live, the feeling he share, his philosophy of life in general...ANYTHING that Elvis Presley truly was is in that book. As Elvis fan, American citizen, people on the earth, you must have to know who the true person Elvis Aaron Presley was. TCB Take Care of that book!

Rating:
Summary: Reading this book, made me feel as if I was in the same room
Review: Of all the books I have read about the King of Rock and Roll
"Elvis Aaron Presley Revelations from the Memphis Mafia" is by far the best. Alanna Nash has created a setting, that while reading the book, I felt as if I were in the very same room listening to Billy Smith, Marty Lacker and Lamar Fike talk about their lives with Elvis Presley. If your a true Elvis fan, don't let anything change your mind about reading this book, you'll be happy you did.

Rating:
Summary: Reading this book, made me feel as if I was in the same room
Review: Of all the books I have read about the King of Rock and Roll
"Elvis Aaron Presley Revelations from the Memphis Mafia" is by far the best. Alanna Nash has created a setting, that while reading the book, I felt as if I were in the very same room listening to Billy Smith, Marty Lacker and Lamar Fike talk about their lives with Elvis Presley. If your a true Elvis fan, don't let anything change your mind about reading this book, you'll be happy you did.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent insight from the mouths of those closest to Elvis
Review: The value of this wonderfully lengthy book is in its presentation of raw dialogue, the kind you would get by sitting down and talking with members of the Memphis Mafia. The author is to be credited with presenting her material in this manner and resisting the temptation to reorganize, editorialize and otherwise digest it into something else. Never mind that there may seem to be inconsistencies in the statements made or that the conversations wander beyond chapter guidelines. What is important is hearing what these people have to say right off the cuff. In that respect, this book stands out above all the others on the life of Elvis Presley. My only significant negative remark is that the index could have been more complete. Perhaps there were practical difficulties in doing this, given the nature of conversations which might touch on an individual or subject many times in fleeting passages.

Rating:
Summary: THIS is IT!
Review: This is a must-read for any Elvis fan, but it's a more than adequate read for the casual music fan, too.

In this day and age (and even 8 years ago, when it first came out), you'd likely discount it for the fact that it was ghost-written by hangers-on and vultures out to make a buck on the Elvis legacy. Indeed, even after reading it, I couldn't help but think about that aspect of the dirt-dishing.

But it doesn't matter in this case--the man is dead, and the true story behind so much of his life is here. I found the section on Elvis' "lost years" in Germany particularly fascinating, but the whole book is essential reading.

"Last Train To Memphis" and "Careless Heart" by Peter Guralnick are great books, but a lot of what's covered in them (including what ISN'T covered) are right in here. Well worth owning if you can track down a copy!

Rating:
Summary: The Court Jesters behead the King
Review: Why any author would take the time to commit the moronic insights of these men about the most complex of people onto paper, is beyond me. Hey guess what everyone, Elvis abused drugs. I have now encapsulated this novel in one sentence. Why did it take Nash nearly 1000 pages? Every story is as boring as it could be and then it ends in Elvis using drugs. For those of you who have never walked past a checkout stand in the last 25 years I guess this is sensational. It is some kind of endless diary more than a novel. *Elvis went to the movies, ate a whole pizza then went home and did drugs.* Elvis lost his temper because the lowlifes around him were stealing everything they could get their hands on.* Elvis cheated on his wife with every foxy star and starlet that could get their hands on him . . . Other than Bily Smith, who should've never associated himself with this book considering how good Elvis was to him and his whole dirt scratching family, the contributors of this book were the people Elvis abused the most. Marty Lacker was the class bafoon at Humes and Lamar was Elvis' human toilet for 20 years. They never miss an opportunity to pay "The Boss" back with tales from the toilet. Without Elvis these guys are a bunch of dung shovelers and this book is nothing but road kill. Fortunately the real Elvis has finally been chronicled this year in the novel AROUND ELVIS by fan club president Thorne Peters.