Books on Elvis & Gladys

I've read little tidbits here and there about Elvis & Gladys closeness, and how important Gladys was to her son, but like I said, little tidbits, and I'm not sure if they were truly as close as is portrayed, or if the "Elvis & Glady's" thing is more part of the narrative, the mythologized life of Elvis....

I'd like to ask--what are some good books which go into detail about their relationship and the role she played in his life, and how her death affected him and his own life's course?

I'd also be interested in reading about his childhood and the Presleys' lives before 1954 or so...I've seen childhood photos of Elvis, and Gladys, and they both look very unhappy in many of them, especially Gladys. I've read on the internet that Gladys took to drinking and using pills to deal with her son being away from her as his fame grew, but again, I'd love actually read about her in an authoritative book and not just some tidbits on the internet.

I'd like to learn more actual truths about Elvis and his life and who he was...Not the mythology and common narrative.

Errol, how much research did you actually put into this question? What were some of the books that you got for your girlfriend? What did those books have to say about Gladys?

Errol, how much research did you actually put into this question? What were some of the books that you got for your girlfriend? What did those books have to say about Gladys?

1) I went on some other Elvis fansites which had somewhat detailed articles about Gladys as well as my girlfriend telling me the stuff she knows.
2) The books I got her were Elvis Day by Day and Me and a Guy Named Elvis by Jerry Schilling. Day by Day is as the title says an account of Elvis' day to day doings. Doesn't have any real narrative as such, it's just a chronology. Jerry Schilling in his book said he never met Gladys so no real mentions of her. The only thing I got from those two books was how devastated Elvis when she died.

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley

And look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley

More choices >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley

Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley

And look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley

More choices >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley

Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Yeah, to start off with. And as for Elvis and Gladys, that book, with THAT title, is listed above. While it now looks a bit dated, and she made a few errors in judgement, it's still a major classic, and anyone interested in Elvis MUST read it! I remember that it was promised for quite a while before actually coming out. After the Goldman thing, it was pure pleasure.

And what a great lady! If you're on Facebook, you can read about her, and some of her friends from Tupelo. She handed over a lot of her materials to Peter Guralnick: was very generous, and he says so right at the outset. She would find something important and call it a "Godshot!" when she was doing her research.

I wrote her a letter when I was doing my dissertation - not about Elvis, and she was just as nice as she could be: helpful, encouraging. Wonderful lady, fine piece of work. But it's not the end; it's only the beginning. (I think the original hardcover may have more photos, but I as I only have that one, I'm not sure. The original is really nice, aesthetically, too. The photos are crucial. They go back in time . . . way back.)

I should put up one of those lists on amazon - the key texts. When I get some other things under control, I'll do it. There are several threads here with the crucial books listed, but there are always a few more with something of interest. I literally have 100s. One of these days, I'll do a fresh count.

rjm

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley

And look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley

More choices >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley

Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Yeah, to start off with. And as for Elvis and Gladys, that book, with THAT title, is listed above...

You go ahead and coddle "Errol Flynn". Have fun with that.

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley

And look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley

More choices >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley

Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Yeah, to start off with. And as for Elvis and Gladys, that book, with THAT title, is listed above...

You go ahead and coddle "Errol Flynn". Have fun with that.

Other people can read it too!

rjm

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?
Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley
And look at this one >> http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley
More choices >> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley
Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Yeah, to start off with. And as for Elvis and Gladys, that book, with THAT title, is listed above...

You go ahead and coddle "Errol Flynn". Have fun with that.

Other people can read it too!

It would be more than appropriate for him to answer such legitimate questions as...

Errol, how much research did you actually put into this question?

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?
Try doing your own searches... Amazon.com is a great place to start. Look in their BOOK section!
Look at this one >> <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Southern-Icons-Elaine/dp/1578066344/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359158858&sr=1-1&keywords=Gladys+Presley" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Gladys-Sout ... ys+Presley</a><!-- m -->
And look at this one >> <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphis-Elvis-Presley/dp/0316332259/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359159241&sr=1-2&keywords=Elvis+Presley" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/Last-Train-Memphi ... is+Presley</a><!-- m -->
More choices >> <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Elvis+Presley" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_ ... is+Presley</a><!-- m -->
Read some of the reviews for each book that you're interested in and learn.

Yeah, to start off with. And as for Elvis and Gladys, that book, with THAT title, is listed above...

You go ahead and coddle "Errol Flynn". Have fun with that.

Other people can read it too!

It would be more than appropriate for him to answer such legitimate questions as...

Errol, how much research did you actually put into this question?

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

I already answered your question.
I asked you guys because I'd think you'd know which books were credible moreso than casual readers like the reviewers on Amazon.

Not really.

Find some books with the subject matter you are looking for through google.

Then what i do is read a lot of reviews of a book from amazon and a couple other sites and if the majority of them are positive i'll check out the book.

You also have to make sure the book isn't some lightweight book because a lot of books about Elvis are rather light in content.

unless you are looking for that type of book.

Errol, how much research did you actually put into this question?

Errol Flynn,
Have you just recently been introduced to the internet?

I asked you guys because I'd think you'd know which books were credible moreso than casual readers like the reviewers on Amazon.

What makes you think the reviews on Amazon.com aren't from Elvis fans. Most "casual readers" aren't interested in reading books about Elvis Presley.

Find some books with the subject matter you are looking for through google.
Then what i do is read a lot of reviews of a book from amazon and a couple other sites and if the majority of them are positive i'll check out the book.
You also have to make sure the book isn't some lightweight book because a lot of books about Elvis are rather light in content.
unless you are looking for that type of book.

Sounds like logical advice.

strange.
someone asks politely for an exchange of ideas about books about the relationship of elvis and his mother on an elvis presley forum.
and all he gets are unfriendly and dismissive answers to use google or amazon.

strange.
someone asks politely for an exchange of ideas about books about the relationship of elvis and his mother on an elvis presley forum.
and all he gets are unfriendly and dismissive answers to use google or amazon.

It seems this new member has been putting up similar inane queries since joining in November and, for some, patience is apparently wearing thin. See for yourself.

Errol Flynn - Search user’s posts
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/search.php?author_id=11189&sr=posts

strange.
someone asks politely for an exchange of ideas about books about the relationship of elvis and his mother on an elvis presley forum.
and all he gets are unfriendly and dismissive answers to use google or amazon.

It seems this new member has been putting up similar inane queries since joining in November and, for some, patience is apparently wearing thin. See for yourself.

Errol Flynn - Search user’s posts
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/search.php?author_id=11189&sr=posts

This was the classic one:

Re: Why didn't Elvis drop the Colonel?
I don't have any Elvis biographies. My fiancee is a big Elvis fan and she got me into him and I'm new to it. I've bought her some Elvis books but haven't gotten the chance to read them myself.
by Errol Flynn
Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:54 pm

rjm
P.S. -- Some of us spent most of OUR LIVES reading these books (and articles, and you-name-it) before we had any idea there was an "FECC," and for many, before we knew there was such a thing as an "Internet." I started in '73, and I don't think they had VDTs yet! At least not outside of a lab. But there was microfilm, and microfilm copies, and bound periodicals in the library, and in the wake of his passing, the books began to flow like Niagra Falls.

Even so, if someone is new, they usually do a bit of research on their own. It's very well known, with just a tiny bit of research, what the top books are. There was recently a topic addressing just that: someone was going on trip to Memphis, and wanted to know if there was anything new, or unusual. And there was quite a set of lists! And amazon has wonderful lists, BTW. Most people who make up such lists are quite expert on the topic, be it Elvis, or tablet computers - whatever.

(The Internet did exist prior to, say, '95, but it was kind of a cult thing - before the public got into it. In the early '90s, maybe even earlier, people were using Compuserve, Prodigy, AOL. I never did that: I had a virgin computer 'till they came out with the monthly flat rate. AT&T did that first, then others. I jumped at it pretty quick. First saw the 'net in an academic setting, but mainly used a Lynx browser at home. I'm not even sure why, exactly, but I did. I guess there was no phone line by the GUI computer; I dunno.)

I think we should cut him some slack.

As a newer Elvis Fan (2005), I can attest that it's a steep learning curve. Luckily, I didn't find FECC until I was almost ready to shed my training wheels. (I still have them.)

I hope Errol sticks around. He seems like he's been "bitten."

I think we should cut him some slack.

I think you are misreading "Errol Flynn."

I think we should cut him some slack.

I think you are misreading "Errol Flynn."

OK. How so?

I think we should cut him some slack.

I think you are misreading "Errol Flynn."

OK. How so?

Follow the link to his posts, and read them.

I think we should cut him some slack.

I think you are misreading "Errol Flynn."

OK. How so?

Follow the link to his posts, and read them.

I have. They look pretty honest and straightforward to me. He seems in over his head. Surely other FECC members have felt this way. (I know I did -- and do.)

So what is the message to Errol? For starters, read Guralnick's two volumes and let us know what you think.

Many more questions without some serious effort will put me squarely in the skeptical camp.

Mary Ann, I think there's the impression that Erroll wants the Cliff's Notes version. And for those who invested so much personal effort, that bites. Sorry if I'm wrong, Errol, but that's the impression. There's no shortcut. This is serious history and analysis.

But we love doing it, of course. And that's necessary: to love the effort!

rjm

I have. They look pretty honest and straightforward to me.

Are you new to the internet?