The Private Life Of Elvis

I don't care. I'm not buying anything associated with this Elvis May merchandising blitz.

ok, dont buy anything Jerry , but why? why come out with a comment and not back it up? people who knew elvis are relasing memories, ok yes they are making money, we ourselfs in the position that there are in would not give anything away for nothing, and dont say we would because we wouldnt. elvis will always make money, no matter in what time. I myself have over 500 discs of elvis, and thats no to say I dont dissagree with things going on at graceland, I do. But lets try and stay open minded about things eh? ....

The recent T.V. mini-series from CBS about Elvis was more propeganda than reality. Let's finally give credit where credit is due. Steve Binder solely created, produced and directed the Elvis 68' Comeback Special and the movie did absolutely no justice! Never once was the name Binder used. Only Steve, so that the viewer has no clue who "steve" is.... Well, Steve Binder not only was the one to turn Elvis against the Colonel in philosophy, but it was Binder's production company that created the stir. Colonel did want a Christmas Special with the song "Peace in the Valley" as the closing song.... Binder told Elvis, that if he did that, he would most certainly never regain his status as King of Rock n Roll. Steve got writer Earl Browne to write the song "If I Can Dream" that Elvis truly loved and wanted to sing. Colonel sabotaged the show when he realized Elvis wasn't listening to him.. Colonel had the show Tickets destroyed by a Security Guard and Binder had to run down the street to Bob's Big Boy restaurant to get the girls who eventually surrounded the stage. The movie concentrates on Elvis drug addiction, his avoidance of having sex with Priscilla and the blown way out of proportion relationship with Ann Margaret... This isn't the story of Rock n Roll, this is Priscilla wining about being loved! We got that picture in Elvis and Me. If Priscilla wanted her own identity, which she described in a News interview, why does she still hang on to the story of Elvis? Maybe, because she couldn't truly make it on her own in Hollywood! There's no question, that the sale of the Presley Estate to a large corporation has caused this new "hysteria" of Elvis... That's called mass marketing. But for Priscilla to hang on in this day, becomes nothing more than another Rock Star gone haywire in life.... That's not Elvis Presley the Entertainer! Before Elvis, there was no such thing as Rock n Roll, so today's viewer should understand the real image and talent Elvis had which makes him by far more important than Priscilla's identity or even Lisa Marie's lousy voice!!

Gerard: I have an open mind. You want reasons. Okay. 1. The cd: Nothing on disc 1 I don't already have many times. 2. The only things I don't have on disc 2 are the Jailhouse Rock outakes and the home recordings. A. I don't care for binaural sound. B. Don't care for home recordings because they sound like well... home recordings. The DVD: Unless it's a theatrical movie, I don't watch them. Even if Elvis is in them. I got better things to do. The Book: I'd look at it/read it once and then it would sit on a shelf. Waste of money. The special coll. mag: See above comments about "The Book".

Why is that every book and magazine always says "many rare and never before seen photos " haha :) "his avoidance of having sex with Priscilla" -what planet was he living on??? :)

Elvis is said to have suffered from a phobia that resulted in him being unable to have physical relations with a lady that had given birth to a child. This is not uncommon, one of the worlds top recording artists of the 1980's suffers from the same condition. If you wish to know the name of the person, e-mail me and I will let you know who it is as it is not fair to the owners of this site to put such details on it. As for the May Elvis blitz, I'm buying the book/CD/DVD and anything else they choose to throw at us!

For some reason, I picked this issue up about a month ago here in the US, knowing I could trade it eventually. Folks: it has little to do with "Elvis-By-the-Presley's" and is not authorized by EPE or anything. But it's not bad, either. This type of thing used to commonly be on US newstands in the '70s and '80s, so it's good to see in that respect.

The reason why I won't be buying anything of this Priscilla and Lisa stuff is that it really is only there word that we can listen to. They can really say what they like about Elvis and we won't ever know the real truth. Maybe if Elvis had been alive then he could give his side to the story, and at the end of the day if he really loved her then he would have stayed faithful to her. And as for this phobia thing, didn't he have a fling with Susan Henning, and she had a child before they met. I won't be watching the programme on Itv which is on soon. It was such a long time ago and I just want to enjoy Elvis in my own way without having Priscilla rammed down my throat every five minutes.

I've been thinking about this phobia thing associated with Elvis. It must be really hard for Priscilla to know that while she was at home, Elvis was doing it with virtually everything that moved, and knowing that we all knew it as well. So I suppose she thinks she might as well get as much out of the situation as she can.

Spencer Shiffman, you're right on!

SpencerShiffman: I've been saying somewhat the same thing on these boards, and have gotten a lot of criticism. Some "fans" are too fanatic, and refuse to acknowledge certain aspects about EP and his life/career. It appears to be more the Priscilla show, Priscilla movie, Priscilla story, etc. etc. than anything quality about EP. How many times can her "story" be told? This latest movie was just ridiculous. If Binder really did try to help EP and encourage him to break away, etc., he was one of very few. I'd never heard that about the tickets. Could you tell me the source? I think another person who could have been far more influential in his career was Chips Moman, but after the Memphis Sessions, their relationship was over. Colonel, Diskin, and flunkies didn't approve. Evidently, Chips and the studio musicians did not like the presence of EP's group during the sessions because they were a distraction. Very understandable. Interesting to think what EP might have done professionally and personally, had he gotten rid of all the baggage.

Lindes, I read the same thing about the tickets, I think it was either in the book "Careless Love", or "The Colonel", it could have been in both, I can't remember.

Priscilla needs to give it up or history won't be kind to her...it's probably too late for that. Can you imagine Joe DiMaggio producing shows, books and TV movies on Marilyn Monroe? No. Because he had CLASS and TRUELY loved her. True Elvis fans know Priscilla lost respectability years ago. My grandfather used to say, "When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging." If you really want to see a show on the real, behind the scenes Elvis, then someone like Billy Smith needs to be the one telling it. Someone Priscilla and EPE have disgracefully shunned over the years. No consideration at all about how much Elvis loved his little cousin. Billy has probably forgotten more about Elvis than Priscilla remembers. Real Elvis fans know the story - and Priscilla's version is so distorted why would anyone want to waste time on it?

Hey Johnlennon Elvis was having sex with other women at the time. Also it was the wrong time for Elvis to get married.

"Elvis by the Presleys", TV show, Book, CD, DVD has generated priceless Global publicity which is currently helping to sell Elvis's music to a worldwide audience. The news tops google.com Elvis news section! The gossip? It appeals to some:-)

newyorknewyork: Thanks for that info - interesting trivia and more validation of the Colonel's need to control. You posted something about Susan Henning - is that true she'd already had a child? I hadn't heard that she and EP began an affair before the '68 special - it's obvious in the filmed segments/outtakes that they're "comfortable" working together, and then I read several sources about their involvement - that doesn't say much for his marriage and being a new father, especially since Priscilla keeps saying again and again how much family meant to him. I'm a big EP fan, but he was wrong for that - he just never should have married, at least not until he'd found the truly right woman.

Hi Maurice, But do you really think that some poorly produced fiasco like the CBS movie is REALLY a good way to introduce EP to new and younger audiences? For anyone who knows little to nothing about EP, this movie was very misleading, dark, and gloomy and the portrayal of EP by the lead "actor" was pathetic on every level. I know that if I knew nothing about him, my impression of EP would be that he was small in stature, weak but with an uncontrollable temper, and a person who was completely ineffectual in dealing directly and properly with his career and personal life.

What private life??

Hi lindes, the CBS "Elvis" Is just another like all the rest. Soon forgotten. Elvis's music is paramount. If the TV stuff generates business, and it does, as can be seen on Billboard and Amazon charts, we need not worry about the content too much. Elvis fans are a curious animal and they will find out the facts about Elvis Presley for themselves anyway. The media changes IT'S Elvis tune at the drop of a hat:-)Nevertheless the momentum built by all the fuss lately will have many editors a little disconcerted:-) What are they going to say about Elvis now!!!

To Lindes, Regarding Colonel Parker giving the Tickets to the Security Guard who threw them away at Colonel's request.... Straight from Steve Binder! Everything I wrote can always be attested through my friendship with Steve Binder. In addition, Steve taught "How to Direct" at U.C.L.A. and I took the class years ago. One night during each semester, Steve dedicated his relationship to Elvis and the 68' Special. Some truly amazing stories!! On that night, it seemed like many more people along with the Student's came to hear Steve's "real" version of what it was like working with Elvis.

Hello Spencer, Thanks for that information. How interesting it must have been to talk with Steve. If he did indeed try to get Elvis to expand his creative horizons, ditch the entourage, etc., it's too bad that EP did not listen to him. There's no telling what EP might have done with his career, had he not been held back and had he not allowed it to happen. Steve likely would have been someone who would have been a benefit to Elvis if they had continued working together. Do you agree? Feel free to share any info here about Steve's recollections. Peace (I'm not wild about this new format, are you? The text box for typing is so tiny!!)

Dear Lindes, Steve Binder is not only my friend, but an inspiration for me as a 3-Time Cancer Survivor. Steve and I have held a close friendship for at least 20 years now, and I'm honored to know him and his effect in the Music and Entertainment Industry. Not only did Steve Produce and Direct the 68' Special, but if you look up his name and bio, he started by directing the Steve Allen Show, Hullabaloo, and many of the early Rock Shows for T.V. and Film. Steve Produced and Directed the Barry Manilow T.V. Special and won an Ace Award for the show. He did Diana Ross "live in Central Park", Pee Wee's Playhouse ... the list goes on. He also managed at times Seals & Crofts and a few others. Through my battles with cancer, Steve always made sure I knew he was there, even when he was in Spain and I had just made it out of ICU, the first phone call that came in was Steve from Spain... I was in a Los Angeles Hospital, practically dead!! Hearing Steve's voice was instrumental to my healing and becoming a true survivor. To hear Steve talk about Elvis is something only a true fan of Elvis' music would appreciate... Remember, it was the late 60's in Los Angeles, and our world was rocked by the death's of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy... So it was Steve and Earl Browne's thoughts about the times that "If I Can Dream" was written about and Elvis was truly touched. Steve is very humble about taking credit for things like the 68'Special, but the truth is always going to be, if Colonel did it his way.... You would have never seen Elvis as he was in the special! Elvis would have probably become a Country and Western Singer or someone faded away like Glen Campbell or someone like that. That part is strictly my opinion. It is very tragic that the Presley Estate continually asked Steve to support Elvis' name after his death, and usually Steve was to oblige in honor of Elvis. But when it came to $$$ for royalties from the 68' Special, The Estate and Priscilla et al were no where to be found! Even in the re-releasing of the 68' Special DVD Set last year, Binder got absolutely nothing for what he did for Elvis' career! So forgive me, I may be biased for Steve Binder, but again, I know how the 68' Special unfolded and you can ask Shilling, Esposito or anyone else in the Memphis Mafia and they will always tell you Binder was great for Elvis!!

Hello Spencer, Interesting story about Steve - it sounds as though he's a true friend. It's too bad that he's never been given the credit he deserves for his role in EP's career. I imagine they'd have worked well together on other projects; Elvis certainly needed more creative and innovative people involved in his career, the kind of people in whom he could trust and know were working for his interests, not just their own. I recently purchased the '68 DVD set and have enjoyed watching it, particularly the outtakes; it's interesting to hear Steve's input as a director. I think that "If I Can Dream" is a really under-rated song, both lyrically and melodically. You've been through a lot and evidently have a strong instinct for survival ~ hope you are doing fine and remain well. Take care.