ELVIS’ ‘RETURN’

It was great seeing Elvis’ face on the cover last Sunday (“He’s Hot, He’s Sexy, and He’s Alive (Not Really),” by Robert Hilburn). But any cause for celebration ended right there. Instead of an anticipated reevaluation of Presley’s work and influence, what we were given was a forum for music industry players.

Instead of assessing Elvis’ worth by conferring with “managers, record executives, attorneys, agents, concert promoters and publicists,” how about a real tribute by fellow artists, i.e., something with a little depth and emotion? In this department, your cover story was as genuine as your cover photo. (I knew something seemed wrong about Elvis’ body--a bit stiff--and then to discover you switched it with a model’s!)

RICHARD NEIL

Los Angeles

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Regarding Elvis’ prospects, Interscope Records’ Jimmy Iovine stated, “The guy’s 62 and I think it’d be very hard to make anything good.”

There is a wealth of talent out there that is completely ignored by the music industry for only one reason: age. There are lots of people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and, yes, 60s who can sing and perform circles around younger performers, but they don’t get a chance unless they lie about their age.

And the big losers in this? The public that gets stuck with the mediocrity of “music” by a younger generation that doesn’t have a clue about what music is about.

CYNTHIA SUMMERS

Hollywood