Dead Elvis: A Chronicle of a Cultural OB

Greil Marcus's collection of randow essays and pieces is still more cohesive, fascinating, intelligent and amazing that most books written on Elvis Presley. Quite simply, Marcus is one of the best writers operating today. When writing about EP, most cultural critics don't have the musical background, and most biographers (save Peter Guralnick & Dave Marsh) don't have the philosophical insight. Marcus does and he isn't afraid to flex his intellectual muscle and still be funny and accessible. If you could only own 2 books on Elvis Presley, it would be this and Peter Guralnick's "Last Train To Memphis."