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The seven Elvis Files volumes are a very ambitious project by Erik Lorentzen that will carefully document almost every single day of Elvis' life from 1953 to 1977, covering everything from what he wore on stage, to who he met, rare interviews, candid photos and newly discovered images. Erik Lorentzen is also the author of the critical acclaimed book 'Elvis - The King Of Las Vegas' and there is no doubt that this stunning seven-volume series is truly unlike any Elvis book series that you have seen before. The forth volume covers the two years 1969–1970, is 580 pages, hard-backed and printed on high quality paper. A large "coffee-table" book of 30 cm x 26cm with colour photos throughout, it is almost 1½ times bigger than Ernst Jorgensen/Peter Guralnick’s ‘Day by Day’ book yet covers only TWO years in Elvis’ life!
By now most Elvis fans are aware that Erik Lorentzen ‘The Elvis Files’ are a stunning visual journey of Elvis’ life day by day. Featuring relevant newspaper reviews and articles about Elvis from the time, the books nicely match Ernst Jorgensen and Guranick’s book as an invaluable and detailed biographical insight into Elvis’ life. The previous Volume 4 1965–1968 was absolutely fascinating for charting Elvis’ amazing sixties comeback, from the depressing low of his worst movies to the incredible creativity of the Comeback Special. Here we get the true Elvis glory – the fabulous return-to-splendour years of 1969 -1970. While the 1968 TV Special was an amazing comeback, Elvis’ return to the very top of his profession would never have happened without the Memphis 1969 recording sessions along with the live performances that followed. So 'The Elvis Files 1969-1970' really needs no review. 580 pages and over 1,500 photos of Elvis at his most magnificent – it has to be an essential purchase for every fan. However having already bought Ken Sharp’s recent ‘Vegas 1969’ book as well as the marvellous ‘Elvis: Live At The International’ what extra can this book offer about this fabulous year?
Rare 1969 White GI suit candids (left) - combined with magnificent close-up 1969 classic photos (right)
The real joy here is seeing just how happy Elvis looks in almost every shot. There are so many sensational quality candids taken outside his homes it demonstrates just how much he was enjoying his return to performing and being with his fans. This is definitely NOT the era of ‘Elvis the recluse’. This list of acknowledgments for photograph contributors gives you an idea of just how good the collection is going to be. Just a few of the well-known names are Ed Bonja, Judy Palmer, Sandi Miller, Sean Shaver, Dagmar, Steve Toli, Gary Pepper, Judy Cherry, Janice O'Brien , Cricket Mendell, Patrick Janssen, Chris Giles, Pal Granlund, Paul Sweeney and Steve Barile. The list is mouth-watering before you even open the book! (See full list of acknowledgments below) Elvis was a busy man in 1969 and 1970 and these are his five lengthy "working" periods and how they are represented in the book.
The rest of the book is chock-a-block with photographs mainly candids from around Elvis’ Hillcrest and Graceland homes but also featuring some great official photos as well, such as George Klein’s wedding or the Nixon visit.
Just one of the gorgeous full-page shots of Elvis during 'Change Of Habit'
This is one packed book full of visual delights and interesting articles. And once again the high quality and rare photos take preference over the "standard photos" we have seen too many times before. It has to be noted that some of the never seen before images are sometimes poor-focused or from a distance but this has to be expected. This is balanced out however by the inclusion of several "Classic" iconic Elvis images included here in wonderful quality. I have never seen this stunning 1970 Astrodome photo (below) before in this full-page quality.
Other delights for instance are seeing Elvis on holiday looking so happy and enjoying surfboarding and snorkelling (just like I do!) The book also features a wonderful selection of articles and reviews that help add to the story and give a true representation of the period. With only two years covered over a fantastic 580 pages and less newspaper articles (apart from reviews) this time some excellent articles written by Mike Eder anchor the book’s time-line.
In this way Mike Eder links the photo sections, explaining the impact of this "new era" for Elvis as well as providing some good insights into Elvis’ recording sessions, the live seasons and with the T.T.W.I.I. rehearsals summarised day by day and with relevant photos In fact knowing just how magnificently Elvis performed on tour during 1970 it is fascinating to read some rather negative reviews of his performances as well as the plethora of fabulously positive ones. An example is ‘Presley’s Show No Blockbuster’ from November 1970! And surprisingly the first newspaper review in the book of ’From Elvis In Memphis’ is actually a rather negative one! Ann Moses, of UK magazine NME, provides some lovely insights. Her February 1970 article ‘New Songs And Old in his act’ would have fitted perfectly in the ‘On Stage’ FTD release. It contains some fabulous comments on this important Vegas season …
Left; Rare Astrodome live February 1970 images. Right: Just one of the stunning rare photos of Elvis on stage in las Vegas August 1970.
And author Albert Goldman who would later produce the much-hated vitriolic biography ‘Elvis’ here shows another side of his personality with his stunning review of Elvis’ February 1970 performance.
There are of course plenty of reviews from Elvis’ concerts (Oh my, I wish I had seen Elvis on tour in 1970) but the book also contains an interesting array of other articles including…
I have to state that I also contributed one article on ‘Suspicious Minds’ to the book but this in no way prejudices my review since as ETM&HM Gordon Minto said, "I’m proud to be associated with this work because it is so bloody good"! The quality and sharpness of a large number of the photographs is quite stunning. Each concert date is noted with a lead page showing place & date and set-list (if available) plus a stunning photo - and it is a very stylish design. (two examples below)
For fans like myself who haven’t the spare time to file away every Elvis jumpsuit photo by concert date this is a godsend. The whole concept works so well and there seems to be very little misplacement of photos. In fact this is what I had been hoping for with the previous FTD ‘Fashion For A King’ book that was as disappointing as this is impressive. One real oddity is that the fascinating Larry Blong (Elvis Impersonator) photos with Elvis at the gates outside his house are known to be from 1972 but appear as part of 1970 in this book. Even Bud Glass who is acknowledged as a photo source has them noted as being from 1972. I wonder how they got here. There are also plenty of fan candid shots from around Elvis recording sessions and plenty I have never seen before. The ones from the July 1970 sessions are wonderful. From July 28th RCA studios there is a marvellous page (below left) showing two fans getting so overcome, first they are laughing but eventually crying in shock!
Rare fan photos from outside the studio July 28 1970 - and rare documentary photos from TTWII filming.
A delightful bonus at the end of the book is an article on "The Mystery Of The Torn Photos" by Elaine Christian.
While there have been plenty of books about Elvis in this period, the scope of The Elvis Files is so grand that in no way do I feel I have seen anything like this in such a detailed photo-diary presentation before. Equally the Elvis Files photos are perfect to match the diaries and show reviews featured in text based ‘Live At The International’ - as well as the interviews and text in Ken Sharp’s ‘Elvis Vegas Live 1969’ With so many quality (& expensive) Elvis books around this year - The Graceland book, FTD ‘ Welcome Home Elvis’ plus Ernst’s SUN box set – it’s a tough time for Elvis collector’s bank accounts. However the Elvis Files just keep getting better and better with each issue. This is surely an ESSENTIAL purchase for any fan who loves Elvis in his 1969-1970 period. Living in Australia the postage is a killer (the book weighs over 3 Kilos!) and having also recently bought ‘King Creole: Frame by Frame’ I sure know that we have to pay more than you lucky Europeans! However I believe that this book is worth every cent – I have spent hours pouring over it already and it will become one of my "reference books" that will not be filed away like most photo-books Warning - once you buy this book you sure need to get the previous volume about the 1965–1868 years which have to be one of the most fascinating slice of life from Elvis’ whole career as the chubby depressed Elvis of 1965 reinvents himself as the sexually prowling tiger in the black-leather jumpsuit on the TV Special. CHECK OUR REVIEW HERE
Overall Verdict: 1969 and 1970 are of course the two key years of Elvis’ life that would forever guarantee his legacy as the world’s greatest superstar. While his inspiration and drive would once again begin to flag in the following year, these crucial years cannot be beaten. Sensational life-affirming music, outstanding performances and a new happiness shown by Elvis’ interaction with his fans – all captured in over 1,500 stunning photos. The reviews and articles are fascinating, the design their best yet, Elvis looked SENSATIONAL - What more can an Elvis fan want?
Review by Piers Beagley. Click here to comment on this article Several fans have contacted EIN regarding the price of these books. EIN is not selling them directly but the cost is around US$100, GB£65 or EU75 plus postage. CLICK HERE to buy this book directly from ‘The Elvis Files’
Below, a regular CD shown against the book to give a size comparison of the stunning presentation and the wonderful and rare candid photgraphs
Elvis Files Vol 5 Photo Acknowledgments
Click here to comment on this article Go here for EIN's 'The Elvis Files Vol. 2' 1957 - 1959 review with lots of example pages Go here for EIN's 'The Elvis Files Vol. 3' 1960 - 1964 review with lots of example pages Go here for EIN's 'The Elvis Files Vol. 4' 1965 - 1968 review with lots of example pages
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