Last Train to Memphis
The Rise of Elvis Presley
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Narrated by:
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Kevin Stillwell
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By:
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Peter Guralnick
About this listen
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 24 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 audiobook 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 audiobook 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. 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.
©2012 Peter Guralnick (P)2012 Hachette AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Legendary music producer LA Reid - the man behind artists such as Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Kanye West, Rihanna, TLC, Outkast, Pink, Justin Bieber, and Usher - changed the music business forever. Now he tells his story, taking fans on an intimate tour of his life. Sing to Me is a fascinating journey from Reid's small-town R&B roots in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his work as a drummer to his fame as a Grammy Award-winning music producer and his gig as a judge on the hit reality show The X Factor.
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Wow!! What a journey!!!
- By Marty Cohn on 02-06-16
By: LA Reid
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Shine Bright
- A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop
- By: Danyel Smith
- Narrated by: Danyel Smith
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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A weave of biography, criticism, and memoir, Shine Bright is Danyel Smith’s intimate history of Black women’s music as the foundational story of American pop. Smith has been writing this history for more than five years. But as a music fan, and then as an essayist, editor (Vibe, Billboard), and podcast host (Black Girl Songbook), she has been living this history since she was a latchkey kid listening to “Midnight Train to Georgia” on the family stereo.
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Ok might have been better reading the hard copy
- By cde on 06-18-22
By: Danyel Smith
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Being John Lennon
- A Restless Life
- By: Ray Connolly
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 16 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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What was it like to be John Lennon? What was it like to be the castoff child, the clown at school, the middle-class suburban boy who pretended to be a working-class hero? How did it feel to have one of the most recognizable singing voices in the world but to dislike it so much he always wanted to disguise it? Being John Lennon is not about the whitewashed Prince of Peace of “Imagine” legend - because that was only a small part of him. The John Lennon depicted in this book is a much more kaleidoscopic figure, sometimes almost a collision of different characters.
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Stars taken off for inclusion of MDC’s story
- By rob on 12-09-22
By: Ray Connolly
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Thelonious Monk
- The Life and Times of an American Original
- By: Robin DG Kelley
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 25 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Thelonious Monk is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artist's struggle to "make it" without compromising his musical vision. It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of American history in the 20th century. To his fans, he was the ultimate hipster; to his detractors, he was temperamental, eccentric, taciturn, or childlike. His angular melodies and dissonant harmonies shook the jazz world to its foundations, ushering in the birth of "bebop" and establishing Monk as one of America's greatest composers.
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The definitive bio of Monk
- By ricardo on 12-27-17
By: Robin DG Kelley
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Uncommon People
- The Rise and Fall of The Rock Stars
- By: David Hepworth
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed. Like the cowboy, the idea of the rock star lives on in our imaginations. What did we see in them? Swagger. Recklessness. Sexual charisma. Damn-the-torpedoes self-belief. A certain way of carrying themselves. Good hair. Interesting shoes. Talent we wished we had. What did we want of them? To be larger than life but also like us. To live out their songs. To stay young forever. No wonder many didn't stay the course.
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INSIGHTFULL!
- By CLAUDIA R KENNEDY on 02-18-18
By: David Hepworth
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The Ballad of Bob Dylan
- A Portrait
- By: Daniel Mark Epstein
- Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
- Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a vivid, full-bodied portrait of one of the most influential artists of the 20th-century - a man widely regarded as the most important lyricist America has ever produced. Acclaimed poet and biographer Daniel Mark Epstein frames Dylan against the backdrop of four seminal concerts - all of which he attended. Beautifully written, The Ballad of Bob Dylan is a unique, eye-opening portrait of an artist who has transformed generations and continues to inspire and surprise today.
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Excellent book, excellent narration
- By L chandler on 12-22-11
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Outlaw
- Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville
- By: Michael Streissguth
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Waylon Jennings. Willie Nelson. Kris Kristofferson. Three renegade musicians. Three unexpected stars. Three men who changed Nashville and country music forever. Streissguth's new book brings to life an incredible chapter in musical history and reveals for the first time a surprising outlaw zeitgeist in Nashville. Based on extensive research and probing interviews with key players, what emerges is a fascinating glimpse into three of the most legendary artists of our times and the definitive story of how they changed music in Nashville and everywhere.
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Revealing little-known Details does Captivate!
- By Cody Meyer on 11-20-17
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I Only Know Who I Am When I Am Somebody Else
- My Life on the Street, on the Stage, and in the Movies
- By: Danny Aiello, Gil Reavill
- Narrated by: Danny Aiello
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Beloved stage and screen actor Danny Aiello’s big-hearted memoir reveals a man of passion, integrity, and guts - and lays bare one of the most unlikely success stories ever told. Danny Aiello admits that he backed into his acting career by mistake. That’s easy to see when you begin at the beginning: Raised by his loving and fiercely resilient mother in the tenements of Manhattan and the South Bronx, and forever haunted by the death of his infant brother, Danny struggled early on to define who he was and who he could be.
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I want to give Danny Aiello a big hug.
- By Mari K. on 01-22-15
By: Danny Aiello, and others
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Kicking and Dreaming
- A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll
- By: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson
- Narrated by: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Two sisters. Two voices. One Heart.
The mystery of "Magic Man." The wicked riff of "Barracuda." The sadness and beauty of "Alone." The raw energy of "Crazy On You." These songs, and so many more, are part of the fabric of American music. Heart, fronted by Ann and Nancy Wilson, has given fans everywhere classic, raw, and pure badass rock and roll for more than three decades. As the only sisters in rock who write their own music and play their own instruments, Ann and Nancy have always stood apart - certainly from their male counterparts but also from their female peers.
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Good Behind-The-Scenes Look At "Heart"
- By Kathy on 11-13-12
By: Ann Wilson, and others
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The Improv
- An Oral History of the Comedy Club That Revolutionized Stand-Up
- By: Budd Friedman, Tripp Whetsell, Jay Leno - foreword
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1963, 30-year-old Friedman - who had recently quit his job as a Boston advertising executive and returned to his hometown of New York to become a theatrical producer - opened a coffee house for Broadway performers called the Improvisation. His goal? Simply to make a living, and if all went according to plan, to also make enough professional contacts to be able to mount his first Broadway show within a year's time. Later shortened to the Improv, its first West 44th Street location was in a seedy section of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.
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Shockingly tone deaf
- By JenniferW on 06-28-23
By: Budd Friedman, and others
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Dynomite!
- Good Times, Bad Times…Our Times - A Memoir
- By: Jimmie Walker, Sal Manna
- Narrated by: Jimmie Walker
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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>Born into the violence of South Bronx ghetto life, the comic pioneer of TV’s Good Times fame offers a hilarious and politically charged review of his career as one of television’s first hugely successful Black stars. From opening for the Black Panthers and getting his first Tonight Show spot to becoming the first “Black” TV sitcom star, having comedians David Letterman and Jay Leno writing jokes for him, recording number-one comedy albums, and opening for rock n’ roll bands in 50,000 seat stadiums, Walker’s career hit all the highs.
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An transparent story of a socially but funny American icon.
- By John Lucasey on 05-08-21
By: Jimmie Walker, and others
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On a lazy Sunday in 1954, 12-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch-football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a 19-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teen whose first record, That's All Right, had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world's biggest star.
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Great Easy Read
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Alanna Nash's first Elvis audible is a must listen
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- My Lifelong Friendship With Elvis Presley
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On a lazy Sunday in 1954, 12-year-old Jerry Schilling wandered into a Memphis touch-football game, only to discover that his team was quarterbacked by a 19-year-old Elvis Presley, the local teen whose first record, That's All Right, had just debuted on Memphis radio. The two became fast friends, even as Elvis turned into the world's biggest star.
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Wish there was more ~
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Enjoy a collection of interviews featuring Elvis Presley from 1955 to 1977. A fantastic insight into the life of the King of Rock and Roll.
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Elvis
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A Little Thing Called Life
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Award-winning songwriter Linda Thompson breaks her silence, sharing the extraordinary story of her life, career, and epic romances with two of the most celebrated yet enigmatic modern American superstars - Elvis Presley and Bruce Jenner.
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Yuck!
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Elvis and Ginger
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Elvis Presley and Graceland were fixtures in the life of Ginger Alden, having been born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. But she had no idea that she would play a part in that enduring legacy - as Elvis Presley’s fiancée, and his last great love. For over three decades Ginger has held the truth of their relationship close to her heart. Now she shares her unique story, and while a lot has been written about the King, the Elvis we meet in this long-anticipated memoir is a revelation.
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Jealous of Linda and Priscilla
- By Gracey on 09-25-14
By: Ginger Alden
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Elvis '68 Comeback
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- Unabridged
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Take a tour behind the scenes at the NBC television special that relaunched Elvis Presley’s career as a stage musician. Author Steve Binder—who directed the TV special—provides exclusive “backstage” access that gives fans even more insight into the performance that many see as a high point in the King of Rock’s reign of American music. Learn how Binder gave us in this Comeback Special, the first MTV Unplugged with Elvis performing in an intimate acoustic musical setting.
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GREAT
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By: Steve Binder
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Elvis and Me
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The inspiration for the major motion picture Priscilla directed by Sofia Coppola, this New York Times best seller reveals the intimate story of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, told by the woman who lived it.
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What a story!
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Looking to Get Lost
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By the best-selling author of Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll and Last Train the Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, this dazzling new book of profiles is a culmination of Peter Guralnick’s remarkable work, which from the start has encompassed the full sweep of blues, gospel, country, and rock 'n' roll.
By: Peter Guralnick
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Once upon a Time
- Elvis and Anita
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Once upon a Time: Elvis and Anita is a heartfelt memoir of Anita's life with Elvis from 1957 through 1962. Written by Jonnita Brewer Barrett, Anita's daughter, the book takes listeners back to a magical time that many believe was among the best years of Elvis' life: His career was taking off, he had just purchased Graceland (where Anita lived with Elvis for most of their time together), and life seemed incredibly good.
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Once upon a time by Anita Wood
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Johnny Cash
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The definitive, intimate, no-holds-barred biography of Johnny Cash. People don't just listen to Johnny Cash - they believe in him. Although part of his life has been told on film, there are many compelling layers to his story that have remained hidden - until now. Robert Hilburn tells the unvarnished truth about a musical icon whose personal life was far more troubled and his artistry much more profound than even his most devoted fans have realized.
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Awesome!
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Elvis Presley
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Elvis Presley was much more than a cultural icon; he was a reliable barometer of the world in which he grew up. Long before the cultural revolutions of the '60s and '70s, Elvis was sparking a dynastic change of hands in American society. In this audiobook, you will learn about the life, the legend, and the unmistakable icon - Elvis Presley.
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Not much detail
- By Brenda Gray on 07-31-23
By: Hourly History
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Elvis Presley: The Truth About Me & Outtakes
- By: Elvis Presley
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- Original Recording
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On August 29, 1956, in Hollywood, California, Elvis Presley shared a fantastic insight into his personal life and career.
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Wonderful to hear all this and it's Elvis!
- By S. P. NORRIS on 12-14-17
By: Elvis Presley
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Dangerous Liaisons Elvis Presley's Hidden Heart: The Lost Interviews
- By: Geoffrey Giuliano
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Giuliano
- Length: 53 mins
- Unabridged
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In this ultra rare set of interviews with the king narrated by author actor Geoffrey Giuliano here is the perfect addition to the collection of every Elvis fans, pop historian, casual listener, curious commuter, as well, as all school and university systems. Ladies and gentlemen meet the real Elvis Presley!
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pure Elvis ❤️
- By Joel Bray on 02-28-21
What listeners say about Last Train to Memphis
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 08-25-22
Exceptional
I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book. I took a chance and I’m thankful I did. A very well written, well thought out, research timeline of Elvis’ beginnings
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- BobbieJo Duncan
- 05-04-23
Great informational read of the early days
Lots of information looking forward to the next one. Chapter 21 broke my heart. 💔
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- Julie Drennan
- 07-03-23
Wonderful and insightful
I loved Elvis and there are so many details that I didn’t know about him. I listened to this book twice. So good.
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- Juliana Lofy
- 01-15-24
So many details
I don’t know if I would’ve made it through if I had to read this book. There were so many details, and so many people in the beginning of Elvis’s life that at times it was hard to follow but even so it was very interesting. I’m glad I listened to the book. And I do want to read the second book but this one was pretty long so it’s gonna have to wait.
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- KellysHero718
- 02-21-15
Wonderfully Thorough
A most satisfying portrait of a young man lost. It has changed my perspective of the human being behind the music, and has inspired a greater appreciation for the singer's less well-known recordings.
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3 people found this helpful
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- J
- 06-25-16
Amazing Read
Fantastic character study of the big bang scenario of Elvis Presley, and I mean big bang as in the birth of a universe. Elvis is truly one of a kind and folks like this only come around once a millennium. One of the best biographies I have read that is quite factual and doesn't mince words or protect Elvis's persona like his management or Memphis Mafia or other hangers on attempted to do. It's a story about art, culture, and the politics of the glamorous, gritty and ugly side of the entertainment industry that Elvis was devoured by.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Edgar Aquino
- 11-22-24
“Elvis Presley: The Tragedy Behind the Legend”
Book Review: Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
Peter Guralnick’s Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley picks up where Last Train to Memphis left off, chronicling the later years of Elvis Presley’s life. While the first volume painted a vivid picture of a young, ambitious artist rising to iconic status, Careless Love takes a somber turn, revealing the heavy toll of fame, fortune, and personal struggles on one of the greatest showmen and humans of all time.
The book is an unflinching examination of Elvis’s unraveling—a man trapped by his own success, haunted by isolation, and surrounded by enablers. Guralnick masterfully conveys the heartbreaking paradox of Elvis: a cultural juggernaut adored by millions, yet deeply lonely and misunderstood. As the narrative unfolds, we see how the pressures of fame and his dependency on prescription drugs eroded the once-vibrant artist who revolutionized music and defined a generation.
Compared to the uplifting and inspiring Last Train to Memphis, Careless Love is undeniably tragic. It shows how the same charisma and drive that made Elvis a star also contributed to his undoing. Yet, Guralnick treats his subject with immense empathy, never sensationalizing but rather humanizing Elvis’s descent. It’s a poignant reminder that behind the dazzling costumes and the legendary performances was a man who suffered greatly.
Despite the sorrowful tale of his later years, one truth remains undeniable: Elvis Presley, the legend, not only survives but continues to grow larger than life. His music, his impact, and his aura transcend his mortal struggles, solidifying his place as a true American icon. Guralnick’s meticulous research and evocative storytelling ensure that readers not only understand the man behind the myth but also appreciate the enduring legacy he left behind.
Careless Love is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the full scope of Elvis’s life—his brilliance, his struggles, and his lasting influence. It’s a sad yet essential companion to Last Train to Memphis, capturing the human frailty of a man who changed the world and whose legend remains immortal.
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- Mark
- 02-01-13
Great book for die hard fans
Where does Last Train to Memphis rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It would rank somewhere in the middle
Any additional comments?
This book is a book for Elvis fans, It was a little slow in parts but all and all a pretty good listen...
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- LILIA
- 09-18-18
Elvis
Great book takes you into Elvis's life. I felt like I was in the 50's whily listening to this great book on his early life and his rise to fame and heartbreak.
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- Jeannette or Carl Zeiler
- 02-20-22
Wow….
First I have to say that Peter Guralnick has definitely gained me as a fan❤️His writing is so REAL, HONEST and written with so much HEART❤️I HIGHLY respect him❤️He wanted to get it right and boy did he….and then some❤️
There are autobiographies out there that didn’t give me the feelings I felt when I read this book.Guralnick brings Elvis Presley to life. I felt as if I were living it right along with him with every turn of the page❤️ It was so very informative, so very interesting and so very sad to learn how lonely and lost Elvis truly was no matter how much money and fame he had. I didn’t want it to end….I’m SO INVESTED in wanting to know and understand Elvis and the life he lived as much as I possibly can through to the very devastating end….So, I have started book 2 immediately after this one ended❤️
What bittersweet facts I have learned about Elvis, some I knew but SO MANY I DID NOT…I found myself dealing with so many emotions throughout it…deep emotions❤️
What a very SAD end💔It’s so heartbreaking as well as VERY RELATABLE….unfortunately I know the second book will be even sadder for multiple reasons of course.
The narrator, Kevin Stillwell, was absolutely AMAZING and was the PERFECT choice to literally give a voice to Elvis Presleys story. What A PERFECT duo~an OUTSTANDING author and an OUTSTANDING narrator to tell it❤️
THANK YOU PETER GURALNICK for sharing your HONEST piece of HARD WORK with us❤️
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