"Elvis
In Canada": Historic Photo Record of Elvis’s Only Concerts
Outside the USA
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The
name, Bill E. Burk, conjures up various images for many Elvis
fans:
- Bill
E. Burk……investigative journalist
- Bill
E. Burk……007
- Bill
E. Burk……long time friend of Elvis’
- Bill
E. Burk……author of some of the best ever books about Elvis
- Bill
E. Burk……exposer of myths in the Elvis world
The
one thing you know you are getting with a Bill Burk book is
that it will be a quality release.
And
Elvis In Canada is no exception.
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Elvis
In Canada (2nd edition) Bill E. Burk, Propwash, USA, 1996, Softcover,
68 pages, Illustrated, ISBN: 1-869941-05-5
Detailing
Elvis’s only concert tour outside the USA, the book covers all three
of his Canadian concerts in 1957: Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.
Unlike
other Bill Burk books Elvis In Canada is a photo-journal, a collection
of some great black & white stills showing a young and incredibly
handsome, dynamic performer live on stage, off-stage and numerous
photos of ecstatic Elvis fans, photos that symbolise the saying:“Every
picture tells a thousand words”.
As
is usual with a Bill Burk release, Bill dispels one or more myths
in the Elvis world. The candid photo of Colonel Parker hanging on
to the front of the stage in Ottawa clearly dispels the myth that
the Colonel could or did not travel outside the USA because he was
an illegal immigrant!
While
essentially a photo record, Elvis In Canada features a short but
incisive narrative for each concert. The account of broke and hungry
teenagers, Joyce Sirkett and Diane Heaybird, is an uplifting ‘good
news’ story while there is an interesting record of how comedian,
Rich Little, came to do an ‘impression’ of Elvis in his show.
Elvis
In Canada also includes interesting transcripts of Elvis’ interviews
with Gord Atkinson (host of Campus Corner on radio station CFRA)
and Mac Lipson (from radio station CKOY) and a listing of Elvis
fan clubs in Canada.
Verdict:
Elvis In Canada is a very important historic photo record of
Elvis’s only non USA tour and of those halcyon days when ‘Elvis-mania’
ran wild. Recommended. Availability: Elvis In Canada is available
from Sid Shaw’s ‘Elvisly Yours’ organization:
www.elvisly-yours.com. It retails for seven pounds ninety-five
pence.
This
review was prepared by Nigel Patterson, President, Elvis Information
Network, © 2002
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