Beautiful weather, busy as busy can be, with all kinds of projects, personal and professional. I’ve been in a Sam Cooke phase, this song in particular.
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Peter Guralnick did a great biography of him…”Dream Boogie.” Did you read his books on Elvis? “Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love”?
// Did you read his books on Elvis? //
You’re new around here. :)
Yes I have read them. And I have beefs with volume 2, as I have expressed elsewhere. I actually take issue with his “take” on Elvis in general, which I have also written about elsewhere. But I do appreciate both of those books – it is a biography the man deserves, respectful and humanizing. However: I think Guralnick is way off in many respects, due to his own blind spots.
Haven’t read his bio on Sam Cooke though. I will check it out. Loved Guralnick’s Lost Highway. An amazing book.
I’m not TOO new…I just forgot lolol.
I respect Guralnick’s abilities…but I don’t love his take on Elvis either…that he thinks Elvis never was better than his Sun days, for example. He’s a purist. I find it hypocritical that many rock critics praise Elvis’ honesty and purity and artistry…and then put him down for doing styles of music THEY don’t like. I don’t like that Guralnick tends to hold Elvis to his (Guralnick’s) own personal, idealized Elvis.
For Elvis biography, I like Dave Marsh. I like Greil Marcus’ “Presliad” in “Mystery Train.” (Still the best book I’ve ever read on American music.) And W.A. Harbinson’s “The Illustrated Elvis” is a really interesting read.
Tracey – I feel exactly the same way about Guralnick!! That’s it exactly. He can’t really get behind the 60s Elvis or the 70s Elvis (even the way he divided the book shows that.) It’s a shame. I love some of the 60s and 70s stuff.
Just had a great conversation at a party about Mystery Train!
Not that it takes much, but, upon listening, I may have just entered a Sam Cooke phase myself!
God, what a voice!
Amen sister!
This was a classic book about the King with lots of pictures and lots of information about Elvis Presley.