|
Post by Diane Merkel on Aug 15, 2007 16:34:14 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by elisabeth on Aug 16, 2007 7:02:59 GMT -6
No more news as yet -- but I'll keep my eyes open! Meanwhile, here's a rather charming story: tinyurl.com/359p39Seems faintly unlikely that Surrounded by the Enemy would have been buried on the site of the showground; by the 1880s we had quite strict rules about where you could bury people. We also, I'm pretty sure, had municipal cemeteries by then*, so the absence of a church burial may not mean the poor chap didn't get a proper grave. It could just be that nobody's looked properly. Still, you never know ... *Have just looked it up: the first one in Salford dates back to 1857.
|
|
|
Post by Scout on Aug 16, 2007 8:32:59 GMT -6
Next you'll be telling us he wasn't 6' 7".....
|
|
|
Post by Tricia on Aug 16, 2007 16:13:12 GMT -6
Scout--
Speaking of 6' 7" (around), did you get over to Graceland today? I remember those years I made my annual pilgrimage ... one stupid reporter for CNN said today--gasp--was the King's birthday ... yikes!
Trish
|
|
|
Post by George Armstrong Custer on Aug 16, 2007 17:20:42 GMT -6
Well remembered, Trish. Elvis left the building 30 years ago today - we'll never see his like again. Were you in the vicinity of Gracelands today Scout?
ciao, GAC
|
|
|
Post by Tricia on Aug 16, 2007 17:47:51 GMT -6
It's funny--though I do remember exactly where I heard of Elvis' death, I wasn't a fan until I reached about thirty--many, many years after his demise. I'm guessing moving to Little Rock helped, a time when familiarity didn't breed contempt, but more and more, the King's music just grew on me ... I dragged every one of my Southern boyfriends--and the eventual husband--to Graceland ... poor fellows; good sports, all.
I think my favorite songs are still Suspicious Minds and American Trilogy ... and I still drink my Diet Cokes out of my "official" Graceland-green plastic cups.
|
|
|
Post by George Armstrong Custer on Aug 16, 2007 18:14:25 GMT -6
It's interesting that Presley's work from 1970-on was for many years all but written off as inconsequential by music critics. Yet that period - certainly 1969-71 - produced some of my favourite Elvis tracks, and in recent years I've seen a gradual critical reassessment and acknowledgement of the quality of his work from that era. Songs like 'I Just Can't Help Believin' ', 'Kentucky Rain', 'Long Black Limousine' and a powerful version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' came from those years. And despite John Lennon's much-quoted but inaccurate remark that 'Elvis died as a performer when he went into the army,' I think it's beyond doubt that he was actually at his peak as the consumate live performer in the 1970 documentary 'Elvis: That's The Way It Is.'
ciao, GAC
|
|
|
Post by BrokenSword on Aug 16, 2007 18:59:11 GMT -6
Tricia and GAC-
I too remember when I first heard the news of Elvis' passing. I had just left work and was headed for my usual watering hole and caught it on the car radio. Anyway, when I walked in and took my usual stool at the bar - Betty, the evening bartender was just starting her shift but Shirley, the day time bartender was still there. Both looked pretty serious and dejected. Betty drew my usual draft and brought it over. Her eyes were all red rimmed and I asked, "Betty? What's wrong darlin'?" She said, "Didn't you hear? Elvis is dead." I said, rather nonchalantly, "Yeah, heard it on the way here. Oh well, too bad."
Bob, the only other regular there said, "Careful man, that was my responce and I haven't gotten another drink since."
I hadn't thought much about Elvis at all and didn't know he was so important to so many people. I've come to apprieciate him more since then and mostly from his later work.
Yep, 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Kentucky Rain' are my favorites.
M
|
|
|
Post by Treasuredude on Aug 16, 2007 19:51:13 GMT -6
Elvis is dead? I could swear I just saw him at Taco Bell.
|
|
|
Post by Diane Merkel on Aug 16, 2007 20:28:47 GMT -6
Sorry, T-Dude, we thought the news would have reached Rapid City by now. . . .
I've only been to Graceland once, during the time that Paul Simon's "Graceland" was popular. I remember going in laughing, singing "Graceland," and later practically crawling out the back door, totally depressed. Avacado greens and mustard yellows -- yuck! I had forgotten how tasteless the 70s were. Priscilla was wise to get Lisa Marie out of there, but they're both screwed up anyway.
All of the above but most especially "Suspicious Minds." His weird, distorted lifestyle killed him, but the man could sing!
|
|
|
Post by markland on Aug 16, 2007 21:23:24 GMT -6
I am seriously trying to figure out how we went from Surrounded By Enemies to Elvis.
Not to say I don't like the King, only that it is a helluva juxtaposition.
Billy
P.S. "Jail House Rock" or "Heartbreak Hotel" are the best!
|
|
|
Post by gocav76 on Aug 16, 2007 22:01:35 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by George Armstrong Custer on Aug 17, 2007 0:07:47 GMT -6
Billy - I guess there's at least a tenuous justification for Elvis being discussed here in that it's in the Buffalo Bill section, and if he was anything Bill was another show-biz legend! And as a promoter, Colonel William F. Cody was right up there with Colonel Tom Parker! Brokensword, you make an interesting point about the importance of Elvis to many people - some of his fans make a good case study in the cult of celebrity and living life vicariously through someone famous. I guess parallels could be drawn between the more extreme Elvis fans and Custer worshippers like CSS! Many Elvis fans' lives revolve around Presley, and their homes are akin to shrines to the man - and given his open adoration of Custer, I'd surmise that the interior of CSS's pad is like a temple to Custer with icons of the worshipped one everywhere! Thanks for the Lennon link, gocav76! What a pity someone didn't switch the tape recorder on when the Beatles were jammin' with Elvis, eh? Diane - yes, it's been said before: the '70's were the decade that taste passed by! ;D ciao, GAC
|
|
|
Post by Scout on Aug 17, 2007 5:31:39 GMT -6
Ah yes, Elvis...I was fortunate enough to have had some buds I knew who worked for him and got to go to the 'big house' on several occasions when he was alive. I also was fortunate enough to be standing in a picture with he and Priscella. I have lots of Big E stories....
The local PBS station ran a story on 'when the Beatles came to Memphis' which aired two weeks ago and yours truly was in it talking about the lads from Liverpool. I worked at the arena where the event was held IN 66.
|
|
|
Post by George Armstrong Custer on Aug 17, 2007 5:37:30 GMT -6
Absolutely fascinating, Scout! I've be truly interested to read some of your first-hand accounts of those days - and to maybe see that pic with Elvis and Priscilla! Maybe an email or pm when you have a spare moment sometime? Would be much appreciated!
ciao, GAC
|
|