Joseph
A. Tunzi is an acknowledged author and researcher of Elvis Presley
music and life. A reputable authority in Elvis recordings, his three
sessionography books about Presley’s recording legacy, Sessions I, II and III
are among the most praised works among the singer’s hard-core
community.
He is
also author of many photo-book projects, as well DVDs like Hot shot and Cool
Clips, that includes rare footage.
We had
the distinct pleasure to conduct this interview with Mr. Tunzi, were he shared
some very interesting information about unheard songs, unseen footage, rumors,
the never ending quest for anything unreleased of Elvis and what the future
holds in store for us. We hope you enjoy read it.
I-Unreleased
songs, soundboards, rehearsals and The “Rumor
Mill”
ECB: Joseph,
there are many soundboards from Elvis tour in June 1975, and mostly likely, all
the concerts of this gig were recorded. Yet, there are no soundboards from the
July tour. Doesn’t seem strange that if they were recording all the shows from
the previous tour, they would do the same with the July one? Maybe the
soundboards are with private collectors that don’t want to share their tapes and
information?
Joseph
Tunzi: Yes it would be strange that if soundboards were recorded in
June then why not July? But not impossible and many things could explain this.
My feeling however is that shows were recorded in July and that on at least more
then one occasion, there was enough information given to us from very reliable
sources that these shows were indeed recorded.
ECB: You
list Ashville 75 as an incomplete soundboard in sessions III. Is this in private
hands and if so, what is the quality of the sound?
ECB: You
think we should “give up” in a sense, that we will ever find a soundboard from
Joseph
Tunzi: I don’t think you can give up on a
ECB: Do
you believe that maybe safety copies of the 50´s tapes destroyed by RCA may
exist in private collections?
Joseph
Tunzi: I don’t believe there are safety copies of tapes
from the 50´s. We can guess all day long on what happened to these tapes, but
unfortunately they were most likely recorded over or thrown away when RCA
cleaned house.
ECB: What about the rumored song Uncle Pen?
Joseph
Tunzi: He
may have done this live but I don’t believe Uncle Pen ever existed in any
form.
ECB: Elvis gave many radio performances in the 50´s. Do you think that maybe some radio stations may have acetates of this performances that they don’t even are aware of?
Joseph
Tunzi: This is a great question because if there is hope
for 50s recordings it could lie in the hands of some of those old radio station
archives. Or with some old program directors that worked there. This demands
some tedious research.
ECB: On the Rumor Mill section of Sessions III you said that “It’s been rumored that a previously unknown ballad from the sixties or seventies has been located as well. This could be a home recording”. Is there any more information about this, after the release of Sessions III?
Joseph
Tunzi: This recording and the information that we
recently obtained turned out to be a home recording that we listed. Only this
recording is in better quality of “Let Me Be The One”...this was
definitely recorded and is great.
Joseph Tunzi´s Sessions III
ECB: During the Stax sessions in 1973, Elvis tried many times the song “We Had It All”. Supposedly after some work, he gave up saying that he could improve on it. Ernst said that he haves all the tapes and that there’s no such recording. However, he describes the dialog from Elvis on his book A life In Music. You think you can assume that at some point, this performance was heard by Ernst?
Joseph
Tunzi: I can’t speak for Ernst, he leads you to believe
that in his story but again, he is trying to tell a story so what else can he
do...If he had it, I think he would have used any of it by now.
ECB: You
also said that “More than a rumor,
though not listed in our main section, is a tape of tom Jones and Elvis
recording together, It’s likely that this was recorded in
Joseph
Tunzi: According to photographer Peter Borsari he
remembered Elvis and Tom Jones singing “With These Hands” together. Tom Jones
admits that footage of Elvis and him jamming was shot by either Joe Esposito or
Priscilla, but Priscilla can’t find the film. This is what he was talking about
.
ECB: The
eternal debate about feelings: Its safe to say that Elvis did tried the song
many times during the Graceland Sessions. However, the song was never heard on
tape. Do you believe it was recorded and if so, could that be on the
microcassete tapes from David Briggs? (Luiz Henrique Costa
Gonçalves)
Joseph
Tunzi: If Feelings exist and RCA contacted Morris Albert,
the wires are crossed somewhere... Feelings was run down on February 8 and it
may be included on the David Briggs micro cassettes but it most definitely was
not recorded professionally. It could also have been erased like
ECB: On
page 554 there’s what seems to be a list documenting several tapes ranging from
1971 to 77 and among then, a 05/16/1974 rehearsal at rca studios. Is this list a
document from the RCA vaults?
Joseph
Tunzi: This is a document that came from Joan Deary...the
rehearsal is from 8/16/74..and all tapes are contained in the RCA
archives.
ECB: Can
you give us more information about the songs Stormy Monday Blues, Out Of Left
Field and It Will Be Me, supposedly from late 1976?
Joseph
Tunzi: This is interesting and through more research
since Sessions III, it is my belief that Elvis was seriously considering
recording these songs during the February Graceland sessions. Back in 1976 RCA
sales reps touting that these songs would be included on his new Album this was
3 out of 10 tracks that I remember the other 4 or 5 were also unfamiliar tracks
and some were obviously recorded but the mystery is getting
solved.
ECB: Do
you think a tape exists or once existed of the jam sessions between Elvis and
The Beatles? (Evandro Posser)
Joseph
Tunzi: No tape of Elvis and the Beatles exist. It’s a
fact that both managers agreed to not allow photos and/or recordings of their
visit in Belair.
ECB:
You published a very, very interesting list of rehearsal tapes on Sessions III.
How did you acquired such information and did any new information regarding
those tapes surfaced after the publishing of the book?
Joseph
Tunzi: This information was adapted from several sources
but the main source was from the Col Parker collection which now is housed at
the estate.
ECB: Have
you ever listened to one of these tapes and if so, which did you find most
amazing? Does BMG and Ernst already own some of these tapes? ( Renan
Ruiz)
Joseph
Tunzi: A few of these rehearsal
tapes are believed to exist in private hands. This is
what these people have told me I would think they are not
lying.
ECB: During
the filming of G.I. Blues, is rumored that the Brazilian president met Elvis on
the set. We tried to find information about this here in our local press, but
all that was published is very little and offers no documentation. Have you ever
come across this information or possible, a picture?
Joseph
Tunzi: No I haven’t but I would assume this is true. Your
best bet on this would be to supply a picture of the president to the estate
they can search there archives. They have many shots from G I blues with
celebrities.
ECB: Do
you believe that there are any pictures of the studio sessions from Stax, 1973
and
Joseph
Tunzi: Yes there are photos from February 76 including
the setting up of the “Jungle Room” to make it into a studio.
The problem is the individual who has them will not for any reason relinquish
them. Elvis said to him personally “you can take a few of these photos but you
must never publish them. You have to give me Your word”...this is what this
individual told me...he will honor his wishes...believe me, I tried.
ECB: Judging
by what you know that is the hands of private collectors and on the vaults of
BMG/SONY, do you think that there’s still something that could blew the fans
mind, be it footage, photographs or audio?
Joseph
Tunzi: Of course! There´s Still plenty of “Elvis On Tour”
outtakes, February 76 Graceland session photos, SACD ( Super Audio CD) of
II-Home
Movies, Professional And Amateur Footage
ECB: Do
You think that maybe some television stations have professional footage of some
Elvis concerts from the seventies?
Joseph
Tunzi: Most definitely. We will use some on Hot Shots
Cool Clips Vol 2
ECB: The
recently “leaked” footage from That’s The Way It Is contained an incomplete
performance of The Next Step Is Love, witch was not listed on Sessions III. Do
You believe that the complete footage is in the Turner vaults? ( Fernando
Souza)
It
was actually a surprise to hear that a portion of this exist, but I can’t answer
more than that.
ECB: We
have quite a bit of 8mm home movies from the 60s and some from the 50´s as well,
yet none from the 70´s. Do you believe that there are more home movies that we
are not aware of? It wouldn’t be to
far fetched to believe Joe or other member of the mafia or family kept making
this movies, especially in festivities like Christmas, birthdays,
etc.
Joseph
Tunzi: Home movies of the 70s are few and far between but
quite frankly I think Elvis kept his guard up on this happening.
ECB: In
some of the 60´s home movies, we see Priscilla holding another 8mm camera. Can
we believe that there are more home movies from this period that are yet to see
the light?
Joseph
Tunzi: I can honestly tell you that a lot of 8mm footage
is out there, some which is mind blowing to the hardcore fan
ECB: And
The Pied Piper Of
Joseph
Tunzi: The pied piper film is really the rock and
roll holy grail...many researchers have failed in there quest to find it, but
new evidence has given new hope...Maybe someday.
ECB: What
About Only You? Was it recorded? ( Ana Clara Camargo)
Joseph
Tunzi: You know I listed “Only You” due to the fact that
Elvis sang it during some of his Hayride performances , I never mentioned that
it was recorded but that the chance it was can´t be over looked. With some
luck, this still may turn up someday. We know the time the year and the show and
somewhere there might be a tape.
III-Elvis
Starring In
ECB: Joseph,
could you tell us about you latest project, the book Starring In
Joseph
Tunzi: Elvis Starring In Oklahoma is a book that takes
you center stage at the opening show of his new tour in Oklahoma city
Oklahoma.You will get over 90 unpublished photos from hall of fame photographer
George Wilson.I think its a must have for any serious fan. (ECB: You can
order direct from JAT Publishing website at www.jatpublishing.com, or clicking the
banner bellow)
ECB: What
can we expect for Hot Shots And Cool Clips Vol 2? Will it include professional
footage of
Joseph
Tunzi: Hot Shots and Cool Clips 2 will feature color
MSG, AWESOME FOOTAGE of Jaycees award presentations, Col Parkers birthday party
during Roustabout,the first known color footage of Graceland plus much more. Hot
Shots And Cool Clips Will Be available April 1.
ECB: What
kind of project you are holding in store for the next few
years?
Joseph
Tunzi: We will release without question our Ultimate full
color book, Coming soon will be Elvis Presley- Tickle Me...and hopefully a real
cool 50s project
ECB: Do
you think that a project of 8mm footage with restored image and matching sound
(when available) could ever saw the light of the day, via FTD, for
example?
Joseph
Tunzi: I can’t speak for FTD but I don’t think FTD would
ever release amateur footage with matching sound as a full release...a bonus
track here and there wouldn’t be a bad idea...if it’s good
ECB: Last,
but no least:Almost 30 years have gone since Elvis left the building and many things
happened since then, regarding his legacy. His music was reviewed,
reorganized and re-issued countless times. A great deal of new material
emerged and released. What do you think will be the future for Elvis Presley?
What will/should be done to maintain Elvis is the spotlight for more years to
come? ( Douglas Hartung)
Joseph Tunzi: The future of Elvis Presley depends on 3 things: Number1: the Estate. Number 2: The record label. Number 3:The fans. The latter being the most important.
I believe
that there is a rejuvenation that may be happening in collecting Elvis as he was
in his lifetime. e-Bay is key in offering almost any thing to the Elvis fan. I
have to tell you I really aint interested in the next ftd as much as trying
to find a few more rare pieces of vinyl, or studio or live
outtakes, or
unpublished photos.. this is what will keep it going.
The fact that there may always be something out there that will make news, and
make it fun. The Elvis mystery , will keep it alive.
In
the name of all the fans in