Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley

  By Peter Guralnick








Where on earth do I begin? This might be the single best biography of a popular music artist. “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” by Peter Guralnick belongs on lists as one of the best biographies ever written about anyone. I have read a couple of biographies about Winston Churchill and “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” is of the same caliber as any of those.


You know, I really hate hyperbole and I realize that the first paragraph appears to be full of hyperbole, exaggeration, and the like. But it’s not any of that. It is all true. This is one of the best biographies ever written about anyone and you need to read it. Now.


The downside of having read this book is that I now know there is another book in the series. “Careless Love The Unmaking of Elvis Presley” is part Two of Mr. Guralnick’s study of Elvis Aaron Presley. I need to find part 1 and read about the first part of his life.  


“Careless Love” begins with Elvis leaving the army in 1960 and ends in 1977.  Unlike most biographies, there is no selection of glossy photos gathered by an unpaid, lonely intern. There are some pics scattered throughout the book but pictures are not the selling point here. 


So many Elvis biographies would trip over themselves to fill their pages with full-color photos of the man and his smile. Not this book but don’t be disappointed by the lack of photos. Guralnick’s book offers so much more than just glossy pictures. 


Not only is the book rich in detail but it is masterly written. Guralnick’s book had me turning pages faster than any thriller I have ever read. The man is a master of his craft - not too many biography writers are.


“Careless Love” sucks you in and keeps you reading. It’s not just a few stories here and there and then Guralnick calls it a day. No, the reader truly gets insight into the life of Elvis Presley and you get the same insight into his death. Insomuch as you can know what happened at the time of his death. 



There were several things about Elvis that I have always wondered about. Several might be answered in the first part of this biography but in the last years of Elvis’s life, there were things that Guralnick addressed that I had always been curious about.


Why did Elvis want to work for the US government as a drug agent? Why on earth would he have been so thrilled to get a badge? Almost as interesting would be why did president Nixon actually give Elvis an actual badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs? 


So many questions around this badge and we get a few answers. We get some answers from Elvis’ side, none from Nixon’s, and those are fun.


There is the startling revelation that Elvis met the Beatles. I’m sure everyone knows that but I didn’t realize that one of the reasons he wanted to become a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs agent. The Beatles, in part, drove Elvis to want a governmental badge.


It seems Elvis thought The Beatles were leading the youth of America astray and that he was in a position to speak to the youth of the country. Elvis felt he knew how to get through to the kids. 


Considering this was 1972 you have to wonder if Elvis was really that connected to young folks. Was Elvis ever connected to the kids of America after his return from the army? It’s kind of amusing to think that Elvis really thought he had a shot at this kind of thing because I can think of fewer people more removed from the public. Maybe Howard Hughes was even more removed from the world than Elvis but Elvis was close.


The King of Rock and Roll died alone on his throne in 1977. His death was a surprise not only for the public but it seems that it was a surprise to those who knew him. Presley’s doctor was so curious about his patient’s death that he attended the autopsy. 


Guralnick includes amazing bibliography and notes sections. These make the book easier to digest and will help you if you are looking for even more detail. 


I could go on and on about how good this book is but it is that good. I promise that this is better than any other biography you have read about a popular musical artist. Period. Bar none. End of story. Full stop. 


Elvis fans should have already read this while everyone can catch up. Read this if you ever have the chance.


 

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