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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Dan Greenburg, the author of "Kiss My Firm But Pliant Lips," the novel that was adapted the 1968 Elvis movie "Live A Little, Love A Little," later went on to write, count-em, TWO Elvis-themed children's books. The weird shit we learn looking into Elvis' movies that nobody else has bothered to...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

@andrewhickey.500songs.com I know this is random and out of nowhere but I'm listening to extracted tracks from "If I Can Dream" tonight and more clearly hearing Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey from underneath the arrangement is wild. So "Wrecking Crew" it hurts in THE BEST way.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Is it weird that after sleeping on it and thinking about what to say, the thing I'm probably most annoyed about is that Angie from Graceland told the President that "Unchained Melody" was recorded in the Jungle Room?

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

"For Justin Gausman, who co-hosts TCBCast, a podcast devoted to Presley, one of the movie’s triumphs is that it makes the singer’s 'artistic process legible and accessible to anyone.'" Thanks Elias Leight from WSJ, and thanks Baz & co. for rehabilitating Elvis's image as a creative force.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Though without question, he did love his mama. There's nothing incomplete or room for misunderstanding about that haha.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

And that stereotype was helped along by the way that Colonel & the industry around him attempted (and to some degree succeeded) to squeeze him into that "all-around family entertainer" box.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

...true that they could see that in him, while ignoring or downplaying the multitude of ways in which he obviously did not strictly fit that image because he was so *weird*, to the point that the "positive" stereotype of Elvis became just as wrong & widespread as the "negative" stereotype of him.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

This is what makes how Elvis became such a symbol to conservatives in the 1970s onward so fascinating to study. "He's a good clean humble boy who loves his mama, country & God" is a wildly incomplete misunderstanding of Elvis Presley as a human being, but just enough surface level elements appear...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

What sucks is that it's so well-researched (which people just reading and taking at face value will praise) that when you know what's missing, it comes back around to feeling calculated to laser-target precision, and disingenuous.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Just to be clear by Luhrmann-Parker thing, I mean letting the unreliable narrator spin his story for the unsuspecting reader. Which is fine in fiction or if made clear, but we all thought Peter knew better than that for what is presented as pure non-fiction, fact-based biography.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

...and there's usually a counterpart section of Alanna Nash's book - or Hank Snow's or Leiber/Stoller's, or Scotty Moore's, or at worst, even Peter Guralnick's earlier tomes, as examples - that bears out the real reason an inconvenient event is sidestepped in "TC&TK"

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

...glimpse behind the curtain to admit that some of it doesn't add up, usually when Parker's bullshittery builds to a point where Peter can't spin it. He invariably takes a "nobody knows why he'd do this" angle instead of considering the possibility that Parker sometimes *was* a liar & a schemer...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

There's some of that in this - effectively giving Parker the autobiography he never wrote (the first half is titled "How Much Does It Cost If It's Free" as an allusion to this idea) but never fully explained; it's as if PG decided to do the Luhrmann-Parker thing but there's only rarely the...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

And genuinely we do think folks should come to their own conclusions after having read it for themselves. Our takeaways won't be the same as everyone else's. Also - LOVE libraries - incl. ones that nowadays offer digital loans. More said "buy" as a hedge - maybe wait for a steep discount haha.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

It is available on Kindle/as an ebook. There is value to having the transcripts of the letters, regardless of anything else. It's not all letters from the Colonel; many are from Elvis, Vernon or other business partners and will be a good resource going forward. There'll just always be an asterisk.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

...but leaving out inconvenient details - including ones previously detailed in Peter's own prior works - doesn't give anyone a more well-rounded view of either man. We were looking forward to this about as much as anyone possibly could and we were left puzzled, frustrated and disappointed.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Although it's well-written and will surely garner initial praise from literary critics, applying the most basic and gentle scrutiny, putting events and Peter's pro-Parker spin into greater context, the arguments fall apart. Elvis was profoundly at fault for much wrong in his career...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

We were disappointed by Peter Guralnick's new book "The Colonel & The King" We were open to a sympathetic read on Elvis' manager - someone we've never viewed as a simple villain - but instead we got omissions, misleading interpretations & internal contradictions. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

TCBCast 370:

Podcast Episode · TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast · 07/31/2025 · 2h 5m

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

For Song of the Week, Bec spotlights Elvis's friendship with Dottie West via her song "If That Isn't Love" while Justin uses Elvis's home recording of "San Antonio Rose" to explore Bob Wills' influence on rock and roll!

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Fun fact: Terry's "Suspicion" managed to break through to mainstream success at a moment in 1964 when the Beatlemania was dominating the US pop chart. RCA's response was a far-too-delayed release of Elvis' prior 1962 version off "Pot Luck."

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Past us filled in from the TCBCast archives with a bonus episode on Terry Stafford's 1964 hit cover of "Suspicion" and his subsequent album which is comprised largely of songs from Elvis's songwriters that Elvis either also recorded or likely was pitched! tcbcast.libsyn.com/tcbcast-bonu...

tcbcast.libsyn.com

TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast: TCBCast Bonus - Terry Stafford: "Suspicion" (1964) Album Discussion

Gurdip's back!!! ...kinda? April Fools! Originally released back in May 2022 on our Patreon, Gurdip demanded to have his say about Terry Stafford and his famous cover of "Suspicion," so Justin ob...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

This week's TCBCast had us exploring the histories behind Elvis's version of Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and the legendary "Trouble" from 1958's "King Creole." podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I may have momentarily turned into a 13 year old again watching this. You can bet we are going to be doing an episode on this when the film drops in May!!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWqJ...

youtube.com

Lilo & Stitch | Official Trailer | In Theaters May 23

YouTube video by Disney

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Oh right!!! DERP. Sorry, having an off night haha!

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I mean, it's definitely worth a watch to say you've seen it! As you'll hear us talk about in Pt 2, ultimately, Elvis's films are all somewhat entertaining & there's *something* to enjoy about each a little. This one just happens to miss a lot of marks other Elvis movies pass with flying colors.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Screenwriter Jo Heims works from a "story by" credit from author Marc Brandel, which led me to digging up the original novel "The Choice" which bears almost no resemblance to the final film, save some names and vague idea of someone wanting to kill somebody else.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Directed by Norman Taurog for MGM and co-starring Annette Day, Yvonne Romain, John Williams, Monty Landis, Leon Askin, Norman Rossington, Chips Rafferty and The Wiere Brothers, this "comedy" is infamous for its bumbling jewel thieves, slapstick gags, and waiting patiently for the age of consent.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

This week's episode was all about the 1967 film "Double Trouble" - frequently cited among the worst of Elvis's narrative feature films. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

TCBCast 351: The Worst Elvis Movie?

Podcast Episode · TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast · 02/25/2025 · 1h 29m

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Episode’ll come when it’s good and ready, as always! Wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll send you a DM on Patreon re: resources!

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

If you need any extra resources as you head that direction, please feel free to reach out. We’d be thrilled to share what we’ve got access to e.g. things like Ken Sharp’s remarkable, but out of print and now terrifyingly expensive, “Writing for the King.”

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

This was a fantastic read Andrew, on both subjects! I had the realization this morning that back on episode 82 you said you’d be revisiting EP in roughly around 100 episodes, and late 1968/early 1969 is getting awful close in the current chronology!! I may have gotten a little giddy 😂

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Reposted by TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast

But Andrew Hickey Died Ten Years Ago This Very Night @andrewhickey.500songs.com · 22/01/2025

it-was-ninety-years-ago-today.ghost.io/why-a-newsle... First of my new newsletter is up. This will hopefully be a weekly thing where I blather about stuff I used to talk about on my blog. This week -- Elvis' first album and Crisis on Infinite Earths #1

it-was-ninety-years-ago-today.ghost.io

Why a Newsletter? (Elvis Presley (1956) and Crisis on Infinite Earths #1)

The Ramble Welcome to the first of what I hope will be a weekly newsletter, where I can post all my random thoughts that have nothing to do with my main work, my podcast A History of Rock Music in 50...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Later in the 90s, a compilation titled “The Lost Album” brought together all the material and gave greater insight into how Elvis’s Nashville-tinged pop-rock sound had progressed.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Our episode this week was about Elvis’s non-movie recording sessions in May 1963 & Jan. 1964 which, while giving us iconic recordings like “Devil in Disguise” and “It Hurts Me,” never resulted in an LP, instead being spread out over 5 years’ worth of releases. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

TCBCast 346: The

Podcast Episode · TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast · 01/15/2025 · 2h 5m

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

@ryandroste.bsky.social made a special appearance on Michael Riker’s YouTube channel this week to reflect on Aloha from Hawaii - fun discussion! youtu.be/d5rZcv4DpUY?...

youtu.be

Rebuilding The Collection (Aloha From Hawaii)

YouTube video by Michael Riker

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Reposted by TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast

Ryan Droste @ryandroste.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

News: I'm joining the team at Sports Illustrated as a writer! Big thanks to everyone who helped me w/ this opportunity. Covering the wrestling industry for an outlet like SI is something I never imagined possible when I started this journey. Thankful & excited! #WrestleSky #WWE #AEW

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

...it's a sucker punch of irony since it's woven into the story of the first time he met Calvin Newborn in Memphis, and his own initial failings and skepticism to believe Newborn's claims.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I had noticed that when Preston & I first connected several months ago, by the time we did the interview I had forgotten to ask him. Both are clearly building upon that tired apocryphal quote from Lennon. Preston takes a while to get to it, but it when it comes back around near the end...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

...white and black audiences have responded differently to changing perceptions of artists, genres and influences across the decades. You can learn more about "Before Elvis" and where to buy it at: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/prest...

hachettebookgroup.com

Before Elvis

In this thought-provoking book, the Black musicians who influenced Elvis Presley's music finally receive recognition and praise. After Baz Luhrmann’s movie...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

yet the story is always centered around lifting and celebrating the voices and stories of these figures far beyond a mere connection to Elvis Presley. Informed by a history of Memphis, the political landscape of the South in the 50s, inner workings of record & music publishing, and the ways...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Preston's book examines the life stories of Arthur Crudup, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, Reverend W. Herbert Brewster, Junior Parker and Calvin and Phineas Newborn and numerous other major and minor figures. It's a book for fans and skeptics alike, as numerous myths are dispelled - with receipts -

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

This week we're joined by author and historian Preston Lauterbach to discuss at length his new book "Before Elvis: The African-American Musicians Who Made the King" which is releasing January 7. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

TCBCast 345: Before Elvis: A Book Discussion (feat. Preston Lauterbach)

Podcast Episode · TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Presley Fan Podcast · 01/07/2025 · 2h 25m

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

On our final episode of 2024, Ryan and Bec take a listen to Elvis' 2nd album and ponder where this sophomore effort, recorded in early September 1956, stacks up to Elvis' iconic debut record. No Songs of the Week this week due to holiday schedules. Happy New Year! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Three. Elliott Wheeler’s score opening with a raring orchestral blast of the intro to “Edge Of Reality” was a sign that Baz was working on my wavelength.

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

One of the more interesting ways we found to view it recently is the broadcast version with the original Singer ads & sequencing intact. A real artifact of '68. An enterprising person has it up on Archive in surprisingly excellent quality: archive.org/details/ELVISSINGERSPECIALAIRCUTWithAds2

archive.org

SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS - original NBC air cut Singer ads : Sputnik Archives : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The original 12/3/1968 version of SINGER PRESENTS ELVIS with the NBC logos, tags and Singer commercials. Television special directed by Steve Binder

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TCBCast: An Unofficial Elvis Fan Podcast @tcbcast.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

The best part about this is when you watch the film you'll be reminded of all the times all of us went, wow, this film whiplashes between utterly terrible at face value (your initial and correct instinct) and genuinely fascinating and lovably camp when scrutiny is applied.

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