Baby, Let's Play House

Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him

By: Alanna Nash

Narrated by: Erin Spencer, Alanna Nash - Introduction

Length: 27 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

Elvis Presley’s unbreakable stronghold on the psyche of women - and theirs on him - is the focus of this much-lauded book by Elvis expert, journalist, and Country Music Association Media Achievement Award winner Alanna Nash. 

Called "by far the best study of Presley I have ever read...Impressively researched written - and felt" by New York Times best-selling author Philip Norman (author of John Lennon and Shout!) and “the most entertaining Elvis book ever” by New York Times best-selling author Jimmy McDonough (Shakey: Neil Young's Biography), Baby, Let’s Play House is the first ever Elvis book to focus solely on his complex relationships with women, starting with his mother, and including celebrities such as Ann-Margret, Linda Thompson, Mary Ann Mobley, Cher, Raquel Welch, Barbara Eden, and Cybill Shepherd. 

Featuring dozens of exclusive interviews, Baby, Let’s Play House is a must-have collector’s item for fans of The King everywhere.

©2010 Alanna Nash (P)2020 Alanna Nash

Wish there was more ~

I have been an Elvis fan/admirer for just shy of one year. ( I am 56 y/o) Planned a pre Covid adventure to Memphis in February. Prior to my bucket list Graceland experience, I attempted to watch Elvis movies. Listened to and watched every documentary and interview that is available. Researched and soaked in every aspect of "Elvis" that I could. For lack of a better description I fell in love/respect for the humanitarian that was Elvis. I am partial to the memoirs and writings of the inner circle, the Memphis Mafia and their legacies. I feel oddly blessed to be a generation that can have access/exposure to Billy and Jo Smith and Sheri Lacker who were with Elvis a large majority of time. With all of this being said when I started to 'listen' to Alanna Nash's "Baby, Let's Play House" I became defensive and skeptical of what I was hearing.(Denial of my own thoughts). With each chapter my skepticism lessened. What I was hearing only reinforced what I already knew. Ms. Nash not only delivers history with each relationship but psychological based facts that are DSM based.The amount of research, interviews, investigating and genuine sincerity that are revealed in this "Omg, I can't stop listening book" are revolutionary to any Elvis fanatic/fan/admirer. While I still have much to absorb about the life of Elvis Presley, Ms. Nash's book has brought me full circle to a better understanding of who Elvis actually was and why he followed the path and made the decisions that he did. Although eye opening for sure...it has left me with an even greater respect. Thank you Alanna Nash. Looking forward to reading/listening to more of your writing!

Mesmerizing

This is the fourth book I have listened to about Elvis- Last Train to Memphis, Careless Love and Elvis in the Twilight of Memory. All have been interesting, but I felt this one gave the greatest insight to the complex psychology of Elvis. As well as being a fan of his music, I find him to be a unique and fascinating subject. This book was interesting and also heart wrenching. The last part detailing his downfall was sometimes hard to get through because it was so sad. It really makes you wonder what could have been. I feel I might listen to this book again at some point since it was a lot to take in.

Entertaining, but Incomplete

I NEVER write full reviews for Audible, but here I feel I must. PLEASE DO NOT READ/LISTEN TO THIS UBTIL YOU HAVE READ PETER GURALNICK’S TWO VOLUME BIO ON ELVIS. Those books are works of art, establishing neutrality and honesty in beautifully written prose. They are the Encyclopedia Britannia of EP. This book, while immensely entertaining, led me to question A LOT of things, and left me feeling like I had just read the complete Daily Mail collective of all the confessionals of every woman Elvis ever knew, without proper footnotes. Ultimately, I think bc this book is SO focused on Elvis’s relations with women that so much is left out, eliminating the possibility to formulate true context of a most complex man.
Also, I am so sorry to whomever read this for Audible, but OMG. After listening to Alanna Nash’s intro, you hope to hear her narrate the rest… her raw and gravelly voice seems to truly channel Elvis. This narrator was sugary sweet, mispronounced or incorrectly stated a bunch of things (HEARTACHE HOTEL?????) and made it read like the most recent Harlequin Romance novel. Bottom line: read/listen to this if you are a hard core Elvis fan, absolutely. But if this is all you ever listen to, you are robbing yourself, the legacy of the King, and all of humanity his true story. READ/LISTEN TO PETER GURALNICK FIRST!!!! ELVIS DESERVES IT!!!

Author had a skewed opinion

It’s obvious who Nash consulted in writing this book. Dieu has been proven to be dishonest. Enjoyed this book until the last couple of chapters. Glad the record has been set straight since this book was written.

Tone seems somewhat rag mag

I’m not sure if this book has references but it seems that some individuals’ memories have changed to protect themselves.

The worst I've ever read/listen to

according to the author Elvis never did one thing right his entire life.. not one thing...

Amazing

This is one of the most informative books about Elvis. Although the beginning is a bit tedious considering the number of women Elvis had been involved with. However the mid and rest of the book was so informative about other aspects of Elvis’s personal life as well as some of his most significant relationships. Highly recommend this book. The author did an amazing job with her research.

Disappointed

it's definitely was a struggle to finish this book. Narration was odd bluntly. Anyone who is a fan of Elvis shouldn't believe all this gossip.
The author as you can tell thinks Elvis is a male chauvinist. Book is like reading articles out of the tabloids.

Just wow.

Loved this book. The story, storytelling, the narrator, just amazing. It's such a sad story of such a beautiful man. I could definitely listen to it time and time again.

Sad

Tragic story of a great entertainer. Drugs and self entitlement did Elvis in.
Colonel Parker should’ve been put in jail early on and Elvis did not have the self-confidence to put a stop to his treachery .

The Best Book About Elvis

Outstanding book with so much detail and quotes from people that were actually in Elvis’ life The book starts from Gladys and Vernon’s lives in the 1930’s their struggles their way of life drawing the listener into that world that time that era and the narrator does this in every chapter I was transformed into Elvis’ world This book tells All .. gives the listener a better understanding of the Elvis’ personality good bad and the ugly The only thing missed out adding in the epilogue part when analysing Elvis’ condition was not mentioning that a great part of Elvis ‘ despair was because of Tom Parker working him to death literally and using Elvis deceiving Elvis into contracts and taking larger than normal percentages for his managerial role Not allowing him to do movies with a good acting part that did not involve singing and the same story lines that Elvis yearned for Not letting Elvis tour abroad ( because The Colonel was an illegal immigrant and did not have a passport) Not letting Elvis choose and have a say in Everything he did.. Elvis remained ‘caught in a trap’ literally.. This was I believe what caused Elvis’ real depression and the start of his taking drugs and feeling for so long detached from the fans due to the decision by the Colonel that Elvis needed to go to the army and come back and change into the good American boy image plus the fact that the promise to marry Priscilla although he outgrew their relationship and would have maybe had a different outlook and ability to stand up to the Colonel had he married Ann Margret .. The Colonel was a leech .. that I feel was Elvis’ true reason behind most of his depression. Apart from not including this in the diagnosis It is A TRULY AMAZING NARRATION AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED.. I was utterly transported into every scene and didn’t want this book to end it was That Good! IF YOU ARE AN ELVIS FAN THIS WILL TAKE YOU INTO HIS WORLD! What a world!

amazing level of detail

this is an astonishing piece of work....i cant begin to think about all the research the author went through....its an epic sad saga.
highly recommended.

Elvis

Best book about Elvis yet!! Extensively and meticulously researched. Loved it. Narration is good.

Stunning,what a listen!

I thought I knew practically everything about Elvis.Had grown up listening to his music and later watched all his concerts, read all the books .You only had to see his "68 Comeback Special to know he was beautiful and sex on legs.Like thousands of girls, his music, his looks, have moved me like no other entertainer.What I didn't know, and this book has shown me, is what a prolific lover he was, and I mean PROLIFIC ! Thankyou for sharing to that extent Elvis, WOW ........!!

OH, BABY BABY !

Erin has the perfect voice on this, it's a long but VERY worthwhile listen.
Recommended ?
Heck YES !

Fascinating listen

Researched so well combining so many characters in his life across the span of his life-you won’t be disappointed!

Wow

A must for any Elvis fan. An honest, fantastically researched book which is beautifully narrated by Erin Spencer. Although difficult to listen to at times, highlighting some of Elvis’s flaws, this book filled in gaps I never knew existed. Fascinating, at times shocking, heartbreaking as well as heartwarming you won’t regret this listen. Elvis is shown as a human being and after finishing it I feel I know him, his life and loves more intimately than I ever thought I would.