Book 1 of the author’s trilogy covers Elvis’ concerts in the first third of 1957 which included four of his five historic shows in Canada (two each in the cities of Toronto and Ottawa) and his electric concerts south of the Canadian border in Chicago, St. Louis, Fort Wayne, Detroit, Buffalo and Philadelphia.  

Structurally, Lee Gordon Presents Elvis Presley......THE BIGGEST SHOWS OF 1957, resonates through a wonderful fusion of narrative, visual and archival material illuminating its vibrant subject matter. The sum of its parts also neatly destroys the view of one commentator quoted in the book that "Presleyism is a cultural wasteland"!

Bustin' loose in Philly, April 5, 1957

From Toronto fans being left with "Rigor Elvis" and Philadelphia rockin' while Elvis rolls to the 180 police assigned to control the 10,000 strong crowd at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York and Elvis’ “five tough looking protectors” in Philadelphia, Hayden’s narrative sparks to life with pieces of seemingly disparate information which, together, reflect the typhoon that was Elvis in the 1950s, a foreign force which stridently unsettled, if not "mom and dad" middle America, certainly the corridors of political, cultural and religious power in a right-wing, non-progressive, conservative America.

A highlight of the author's structural approach to his subject is the wealth of important and interesting archival material that adds gravitas beyond the book's strong narrative. 

Concert reviews, newspaper clippings, venue information, transcripts of radio and fan club interviews and fan accounts of seeing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at his early days peak make for riveting reading and heighten the reader’s sense of the drama, excitement and socio-cultural impact of “Presleymania”.

Rockin' up a storm of controversy in Philly April 1957

Hayden’s narrative displays great depth of research and thought and his easy-flowing style engages.  The result is an account which vividly brings to life the excitement and drama of Elvis in 1957.  Along the way the author reveals many fascinating stories and incidents that many fans will be unfamiliar with.  For example:

Presley didn’t do himself any favours in the face of critics claiming a link between the singer and juvenile delinquency when he got in to an altercation with on a Memphis streets few weeks before the show.  While signing autographs, Elvis was confronted by an 18-year-old U.S. Marine alleging the singer had bumped the soldier’s wife months earlier.  Guileless, Elvis pulled out a Hollywood prop pistol, and with a broad grin on his face exclaimed, “I’ll blow your brains out, you punk.” Opposite: Elvis in his famous Gold suit....Toronto 1957

Elvis with fans in Ottawa

Other absorbing accounts include:

• how one Canadian reporter represented himself to the Colonel as a columnist for a string of Australian newspapers in order to obtain an interview with Elvis
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• the reel-to-reel tapes of one of Elvis’ 1957 concerts that were sold on ebay in 2006
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• the fan credited with being responsible for Elvis’ appearance in Toronto
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• how the Colonel (an illegal Dutch immigrant) was able to travel with Elvis across country borders to Canada (thank goodness for those driver's licences!)
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• a review of one Elvis show by Dr. Charles Peaker, organist at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, who reports on the ‘shouts’ accompanying the “sick Aztec god” and includes salient observations such as “I seemed to gather from it that Elvis was loosely like Hamlet, but yet with much of Claudius’ feeling for sex...” and “How nice it would have been had if we could have heard him sing even one song.”
• ..
• how the celebrated academic, philosopher and intellectual responsible for the concepts of “the medium is the message” and “television is a cool medium”, came to Elvis’ defence
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• the concert when Elvis closed the show with “Hound Dog” repeating chorus after chorus a dozen or more times in a growing crescendo

Similarly, the eclectic press headlines when Elvis was in town are evocative and reflective of the mixed emotions surrounding his talent, including: Elvis Wiggles and Wails as 24,000 Scream and Scream ... Elvis Unhurt - and Unheard ... 13,373 Frenzied Fans Headaches for Cops ... Elvis Presley, He Excites Girls, Scares Critics ............................ Out of Control ... In His Dreadful Finery ................................................................ Youth Have It Too Soft ... ‘Mind Men’ Not Scared By Elvis ... Elvis’ Entrance would have Scared Savages   Opposite: the back cover to Lee Gordon Presents Elvis Presley......Biggest Shows of 1957

Verdict: With its first-hand accounts of the virile young Elvis live on stage and a treasure trove of archival material, Lee Gordon Presents Elvis Presley stamps itself as an important socio-cultural record of the time when Elvis sang the ”devil’s music” and led young girls astray with his curled lip and gyrating hips.  Bob Hayden is to be congratulated on a thoroughly researched and wonderfully entertaining exploration of Elvis in (the first third of) 1957, the result of which is an Elvis history lesson which springs to life at every turn of the page. This release will be warmly welcomed by serious students of the complex, colourful and multi-faceted Elvis story and one which also offers plenty for the casual fan or reader.  I look forward to the remaining volumes in the author’s trilogy.

Bob Hayden is also the author of the critically regarded book:

Elvis Presley’s GOLD Cadillac Tour of AUSTRALASIA 1968-69