We tried something new on today’s episode of the Along For The Ride radio show. On a whim, we decided to record while on vacation a couple of weeks ago. As we didn’t have our typical setup, we weren’t sure how it would turn out. Once we were back home, we were pleasantly surprised by the results.
One of the fun things about doing the Along For The Ride radio show with my bride is that she often takes the discussion into areas I wouldn’t typically cover here on The Mystery Train. For instance, I’ve been writing about Elvis for well over 30 years, but I’ve never once talked about the famed peanut butter & banana sandwich.
In today’s episode, “Elvis: His Gift Was Always There,” we review Elvis Presley: A Little Golden Book Biography (2024), which was written by Lisa Rogers and illustrated by Luke Flowers. Among the topics the book inspired are:
ALONG FOR THE RIDE episode 1.4 is now available from The Mystery Train
Who was Elvis Presley? Many have tried to answer this question. Baz Luhrmann took a swing at it in 2022 with his ELVIS biopic. Despite Austin Butler’s incredible performance, something seemed to be lacking in its presentation of Elvis for me.
Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, released earlier this year, taps into what was missing by using documentary footage of the real Elvis, who was a lot more playful than his dramatic counterpart. My bride enjoyed this aspect of EPiC as well.
Concluding our discussion of EPiC, episode 1.4 of Along For The Ride explores:
ALONG FOR THE RIDE episode 1 is now available from The Mystery Train
We’ve been working on something here at The Mystery Train for the last six weeks, and I’m excited finally to be able to share it with you.
Not long after we saw Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert back in February, my bride came up with the idea for an online radio show or podcast that we would co-host on The Mystery Train. The concept grew directly out of real conversations we were already having after the film. Neither of us had ever done anything like this, so much research ensued.
The underlying idea of Along For The Ride is simple: My bride is literally along for the ride with a lifelong Elvis fan as her husband. She has now seen EPiC in theaters with me twice, and projects like that naturally spark questions for her. Along For The Ride gives you a chance to listen in on those unscripted conversations.
I am not an “Elvis expert.” However, I have been listening to his music, watching his performances and movies, and reading about him for just about my entire life. Her fresh perspective often helps me see Elvis and his world in new ways.
All I had to say was, “. . . . Baz Luhrmann used audio from Bono of the band U2. . . .” That doesn’t sound so difficult, does it? Play my attempt below.
Today’s final playlist covers 1969, a pivotal year for Elvis. He began by recording in a Memphis studio for the first time in well over a decade, continued by making his last movie as an actor, and finished by, as the EPiC teaser put it, returning “to the stage to begin a legendary residency in Las Vegas.” In EPiC, you actually saw his third engagement at the International Hotel, August 1970. In this playlist, you hear highlights from the first engagement, August 1969, which was not filmed.
01. Suspicious Minds 02. Power Of My Love 03. Any Day Now 04. Don’t Cry Daddy 05. Kentucky Rain 06. In The Ghetto 07. Rubberneckin’ 08. Change Of Habit
Side B: Live-Las Vegas
09. Blue Suede Shoes 10. Johnny B. Goode 11. My Babe 12. Mystery Train/Tiger Man 13. Are You Laughing Tonight 14. Suspicious Minds 15. Can’t Help Falling In Love
Spotify plays additional music without warning after a playlist ends. Anything that follows “Can’t Help Falling In Love” is Spotify guessing what you might want to hear next.
Other Suggestions
While you wait for EPiC to be released on home media, my main viewing suggestion for you is Elvis: That’s The Way It Is – Special Edition. It covers rehearsals and Las Vegas shows in 1970. Outtakes from the original version of this documentary were featured prominently in EPiC. While it lacks Luhrmann’s signature style and Jonathan Redmond’s brilliant editing, the movie includes the same Elvis talent and charisma you experienced in EPiC.
If you want to read more about Elvis, I recommend Elvis Presley: A Life In Music – The Complete Recording Sessions by Ernst Jorgensen (1998), Last Train To Memphis: The Rise Of Elvis Presley, covering 1935-1958, by Peter Guralnick (1994), and Careless Love: The Unmaking Of Elvis Presley, covering 1958-1977, by Guralnick (1999). While not without their flaws, they remain the best Elvis books to date.
Finally, if you want to dive even deeper into playlists beyond After EPiC, check out The Mystery Train’s Elvis Odyssey series. While After EPiC concludes in 1969, The Elvis Odyssey begins there.
If you have any questions, please comment below or contact me. Thank you for reading and listening.
