Table Of Content

Here in one book the greatest tribute to the most legendary figure of rock 'n’ roll. Ray Connolly reviews Elviss life and his achievements, based on personal interviews and specially written for this book, alongside a unique collection of visual material. At the core of the book are the greatest hits that put and kept Elvis at the top throughout his all-too-short life. THE COMPLEAT Wise Publications London/New York/Sydney Exclusive Distributors “Music Sales Limited, 8/8 Frith Street, London WIV STZ, England, Music Sales Pry. Limited, 120 Rothschild Avenue, Roseberry, NSW 2018, ‘Australia, ‘This book © Copyright 1978 by Wise Publications 1SBN 0.86001-000.0 (Order No, AM 11248 ‘Art director: Pearce Marchbanie ‘Designer: Paul May, Cover illustration: Philip Castle ‘Mausic Sales complete catalogue lists thousands of titles and in free from your local music ‘book shop, or direct from ‘Music Sales Limited Please send a cheque or Postal Order for €1.50t0 Music Sales Limited, ‘8/9 Frith Street, London WiV 8TZ Printed in England by Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wits Hurts Me 12 You, Lave ¥ Now OrNe 1Want You. INe ELVIS by Ray Connolly 1969, I found hoflary utside Elvi years old jey’s dressing room suite That, to me, was oni International Hotel, Las Vegas appeal. His existence ft positively terrified, Thr ali } fifteen Elvis had confounded all criti on by making caught up with all quite the most stunning r¢ death | thought a ar anyone could ever th him and yranted an audien the world wantec well y spoke to journalists. Then, a ut there irying to remember ane of the million Sry, very rare mance, when ne tions |new L had t i strange thing 0 happened, and [caught the only ev wth ti Elvis Presley off guard. Very slightly the door al facing a Las Vegas au had for to his dressing room fell open, and there sitting not uid d ards from me jend himself, quietly Getto ¥ hatting with hi aware of my embarrassed LLY phon 1a was, Lremember, suckling a bottle of Lr ven-Up, and he was thin and sleek the minor weight problem which ie had had diuring karate suit he had chosen for his stagp wood in the sixti Lhow bi Then above the drawl of conversation from inside the lieved th performing was the cure for {t room [heard someone tell him that we were waiting the | thought about all the promises he made , pliti outside. And suddenly, as if reacting to an instinctive hich were all to come to nothing, az the impossible need lo preserve the glan his image he whipped burden of being Elvis Presley was to final ve it a come reat jew mand. And with his web into a stranglehold around him, « web which wa: iver bracelets jingling ling and his left h to bind hirr talked then of the plan eading and holding his black-dyed, n lip an: 1 had new lately non-greased head, his right hand performed promised emi-circular pampacour movement, which sent a ingponly wave of hair exploding acr his skull and down hi neck. And witha quick dab at th: black hairy shamed of s that cut deep i oks, the legend w at ready to receive. The repose had disappeared. The Jasp c hair, the image, and the me public front of being surprise int 1 as his aides, the famous Mem e n the world was repair sepia hock at someone daring to cnticy 10 talk to me, Not an Elvis in bis I: face. Far a moment Elvis looked ta man Ww ten years you nd then becoming serious he said arently petrific Dein t with you if Tsaid | wasn't wung wide. “Elvis, I want you me mov Ath yo lye th T ag gone, t to.sing in them, { would like to say they were very good, 1 weleorn: an't nextremely unhappy with that side t mahogany red ¢ n wean you fin {out "Hi, Ray,”’ vibrated a billion dolla: yood songs for im when you're r 1 THE COMP ry used to bi ner the heck ying ti have given me. How can you enjoy it sing toa guy you've We all laughed because he w for yea trivia to hide hi very real talents. We w then that within track bums for a whole This book is only cont y. Tome everythin irrelevant liately after his death the publishing world jut a noxious mass of scandalous trivia, m which was conjectural. and all of which was meaningles in terms of ntribution which Presley made to the popular culture of our times. Personally { don’t kn hether or Presley was hi drugs of ecasionally sexually perve maniacally obsess vis AGED 6.wrTH BLOND HAR nay have become in terms 1 revolutionary cultural figut ic which he create n ial naif ang f ng: m being r who ever bought an Elvis Pr this was al about the most short-sighted c anyon could possibly have made abe ley sang about emotion and he sang