Here is the result of the interview you, the readers of ElvisNews and For Elvis CD Collectors, did with Joe Tunzi. The questions came from all corners of the globe and world wide net, and cover a wide variety of subjects. So the result is kind of a Q&A with Joe Tunzi. Part I focuses on Joe Tunzi and Elvis movies.
On his JAT Publishing website Joe Tunzi described as “widely acknowledged as one of the most reputable authorities on Elvis Presley’s recordings. Photographs from his own photo agency have appeared in the liner notes to numerous audio releases by B.M.G./R.C.A. as well as magazines such as Time, People, and T.V. Guide. His photos have appeared in numerous books by other authors, the Larry King Live television program, the 1998 Country Music Awards telecast, as well as a 1997 television commercial for Blockbuster Video. He has written and published the following books, most of which pertain to Elvis Presley.
Joe Tunzi learned us a lot about Elvis and his work, but the man himself remains in the background. Time to put the spotlight on Joe Tunzi and his work.
Joe Tunzi On Joe Tunzi
1. To start things of, for those few who don’t know you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and your Elvis background?
Joe: You could say that I've been in some form of the music industry for all my adult life, working for several Chicago radio stations in marketing and sales. I also owned a few record stores in the late seventies up to the mid-eighties where I started my own direct-mail publishing company. My Elvis background is very simple. The first thing I ever recall seeing on Elvis was the 1960 “Welcome Home Elvis” television program. While my parents were Frank Sinatra fans, Elvis captured my attention that this was one really cool guy and that he was totally different from the other guests on the show. I also remember my dad commenting the night the show aired that the last time he saw Elvis on television was on the Ed Sullivan show. Shortly afterwards, my dad and I purchased “It’s Now Or Never” at a music store called “Deluxe Music” in Chicago which I listened to quite a bit. My dad liked it because it was an Italian song. Being only 7 years old at the time, I would have preferred watching the Chicago Cubs play baseball rather than “Welcome Home Elvis” but Elvis still got stuck in my subconscious as a really cool guy and over the next few years though I didn’t follow him single release by single release, I would listen to the radio quite a bit and followed Elvis that way. I loved "Follow That Dream" when I heard it on the radio in 1962.
2. And to get a feel for your Elvis preferences, can you tell us what are your favorite, Elvis era, song, album and movie? And tell us why these are your favorites? And which books by other Elvis authors do you really like?
Joe: I don’t have a personal preference for a particular era. I try to enjoy all 24 years of Elvis' career. As for my other favorites, I think the term “favorite” is a loose term as these things can change from day to day. Right now I like the film “Follow That Dream” but I also think Elvis' acting was terrific in “King Creole”. Maybe it was because he really wasn't trying to act. He may have been thinking of another calling, such as the U.S. Army which may have relaxed him enough not to overthink his role. I think I would have to include the first two albums (“Elvis Presley” and “Elvis”) among my favorites but I also think that “From Elvis In Memphis” is one of the top ten greatest albums of all time. As for a song, I would have to pick “If I Can Dream” but again all of this is very subjective. Some of my favorite books by other authors would include both Jerry Hopkins original biography from 1971 and “The Final Years.” The original biography is very nostalgic for me personally because it was the first time we had a biography of Elvis of that magnitude. I also enjoyed the first Peter Guralnick book “Last Train To Memphis.”
3. How long have you had an interest in Elvis, as I never heard your name at all before you started your series of excellent books, and would you describe yourself as a fan of Elvis or a business man? (Question from Chris)
Joe: As stated in my answer to question one, my fascination in Elvis began in 1960 and continued until 1964 when I got caught up in Beatlemania. It wasn’t until 1968 that my interest in Elvis returned with a fervor. Don’t get me wrong, I still followed Elvis but from 1964-1968 Elvis was more known then as a motion picture star than as an entertainer.
First and foremost, I am a fan. I truly believe that if you are passionate about something, you should really try to make it work. I’ve been very fortunate to be able to have done as many projects that I have. I am a businessman as well. If I wasn’t, I probably wouldn’t have made it past only a handful of books.
4. Not to stir up any trouble, but if you and Ernst were to change places for the next set of FTD releases, what would you release? What three CDs would you put together for the October (?) release? (Question from Orion)
Joe: What I would do if I were releasing FTD is redo the original double album “From Memphis To Vegas” / “From Vegas To Memphis”. It would be a FTD double CD with the first disc featuring the original albums and the second disc featuring outtakes and some of the best live outtakes from the August 1969 recordings. Also I would include the unreleased selected masters from the August ‘69 performances. I would also redo the Madison Square Garden with both shows included and especially remix the evening show. Being that the Jungle Room Sessions is one of the best selling FTDs it would be a no-brainer to do “From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee”. This is an album that has been dying to be remixed.
I would also like to see the main label redo both volumes of the Worldwide Gold Award Hits but only this time presented the way Elvis wanted them to be, which was in their original mono sound.
Another project I think the main label should seriously consider doing for the 30th Anniversary next year is a rock, ‘n’ soul oriented CD that would cover the years 1969 through 1976. It should be totally remixed in the same manner that 30 #1 Hits was done with the same dedication to remix each track individually. A 2 CD set should be tailored as if it were a new studio album by Elvis. It would feature songs recorded from 1969 through 1976 that are up-tempo rock oriented, whether that be gospel infused rock, country rock, or R&B flavored rock. For my own personal enjoyment, my engineer, John Szymanski and I have been able to do a little remixing and compiled our own CDs of this nature. Let's just say were calling it “Mojo Workin’”. It has 29 tracks and includes “Rubberneckin’”, “Stranger In My Own Home Town,” "I'm Movin' On," “Power Of My Love,” “Wearin’ That Loved On Look,” “I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water,” “Patch It Up,” “Cindy, Cindy,” "I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago," “Got My Mojo Workin’/Keep Your Hands Off”, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On,” “Merry Christmas, Baby,” “Burning Love,” “Raised On Rock,” “Just A Little Bit,” “If You Don’t Come Back,” "Three Corn Patches," “I‘ve Got A Thing About You Baby,” “Find Out What’s Happening,” “Promised Land,” “Talk About The Good Times,” “I Got A Feeling In My Body,” “If You Talk In Your Sleep,” "I Can Help," “Shake A Hand,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E,” “For The Heart,” "Moody Blue" and “Way Down.” A release like this could be capped off with a new remix such as the one done of “Burning Love” featured in the Honda commercial.
5. Also, what has been released since Elvis' death that blew you away or have you heard anything that blew you away that is still sitting in a vault waiting to blow us away? (Question from Orion)
Joe: One thing that really blew me away when it came out was “The Lost Performances” video. That was probably the closest thing that simulated the feeling of going to an Elvis concert. The ‘68 Comeback and the Aloha Deluxe Editions also were truly great releases as well.
6. I’m interested in your passion for Elvis. Did you ever meet the man? Talked to him? How and when did you get involved in the Presley World? (Question from Peter Verbruggen).
Joe: I met Elvis on October 14, 1976 at around 1:00 A.M. At the time I was working in marketing for a suburban Chicago radio station and I was also driving a truck or an air freight forwarder at O’Hare airport My father was a Chicago police sergeant who was in charge. I met Elvis at a place just off of the airport called Butler Aviation which is where high profile people came into so that they wouldn’t be mobbed. I actually met Colonel Tom Parker first and I can recall my father talking to him. Wow! It was just an incredible feeling. A real rush. Someone you followed, watched on television, listened to on the radio, listening to his albums at home or his 8 tracks in the car. To finally meet him was an amazing experience. As I woke her from her sleep when I got home that night I told my wife "You never going to believe who I met tonight. She said "it's late. Tell me." I said "Elvis" She said "Where is it?" I said "Where's what?" "The autograph" my wife replied. It still haunts me but it's something I just didn't think of asking for. Maybe I was in shock. After meeting Elvis, the police provided an escort to the Arlington Park Hilton which I was involved in. This is where Jody Sprowls took the picture that I used in the “America The Beautiful” book. While on the subject, there was another photo that taken while Elvis was still in the limousine with Linda Thompson. I was standing outside the car when the photo was taken.
I got involved by being an Elvis Presley fan and collecting his music which eventually led me to publish a tongue-in-cheek look at prices for Elvis video releases. At that time there had been numerous price guides on records but never one on the videos. After this book, it became quite apparent that fans were taking the book more seriously than I had anticipated. The success of that first book led me to publish a photo book on a show that I attended in Chicago. I was well aware of what Ger Rjiff was doing with photo books with the ‘50s so in a way it inspired me to do something in the ‘70s. At the time these first couple of books were more of a sideline project because I was still working for Chicago radio.
7. If you could go and see Elvis in one concert from any time what would it be, mine would be the new years eve concerts from 1975 or 1976 as they are very special and I think he only performed on new years eve three times and the other is not confirmed in 1954 (question from Ben Ralph).
Joe: As far as vocal prowess, I would have to say the tour that ran from June 20, 1973 in Mobile, Alabama and ended in Atlanta on July 3, 1973 but especially the show in St. Louis on June 28, 1973. I attended that show and I must say that Elvis’ vocal prowess was at it‘s peak. I would love to go back and see that show again. Two of the shows I would have liked to have been witness to would be the July 31, 1969 V.I.P. show and being a little biased towards Chicago, the show at the International Amphitheater in Chicago on March 28, 1957 with Elvis head to toe in gold lamé.
8. Which show Elvis did was the best show in your opinion? (Question from Riccardo).
Joe: The best show that I ever witnessed was the June 17, 1972 afternoon show in Chicago. I was totally mesmerized. Elvis discarded the set list and performed a very loose and relaxed show with selections like “Reconsider Baby”, “My Babe”, “Something”, “It’s Now Or Never”, “Johnny B. Goode”, “Release Me”, and “How Great Thou Art”. But let me emphasize that the June 28, 1973 show in St. Louis stands alone as his greatest vocal performance I've ever witnessed.
9. What would be your biggest dream for an Elvis project? (Question from Germain Tremblay)
Joe: The biggest dream for an Elvis project would be the ultimate video anthology/documentary. It would be a definitive record of Elvis’ life and his career. The question is how long do you make it When the three surviving Beatles did their Anthology it was 10 hours on VHS and later DVD plus a bonus DVD of additional material. And that was for a career that only lasted eight years. Elvis’ career ran for 24 years. The documentary should be warts and all. End it with “Elvis In Concert.” The Estate must start locating rare privately owned footage. Unfortunately they must also locate previously done interviews of people who have already passed away. They also must start extensively interviewing people. The people who knew Elvis are not getting any younger. There’s 33 motion pictures, numerous television appearances, three television specials, home movies, recordings, interviews, photos to create the ultimate testament of his career. A new song found would be beneficial to a documentary of this magnitude as would never before seen outtakes from Elvis’ films, in particular the two documentaries “That‘s The Way It Is“ and “Elvis On Tour.” The Estate needs to get people like Bill Porter, Al Pachucki, Chips Moman, Steve Binder, Bones Howe, Leiber and Stoller, etc. to sit down in front of a camera and start playing tapes and discuss candidly (good, bad, ugly) from the sessions. Invite musicians/backup vocalists to sit in on this so that they can recollect their stories of working with Elvis in the studio and even on stage. It also has to have an element that will appeal to even the most knowledgeable of Elvis fans so that even they get something out of it but at the same time still appeal to the general public.
Joe Tunzi On Movies and Filming Elvis
10. I am wondering if any out-takes from Elvis' movies exist. Like him laughing during a take or whatever. I only know of one take in an Elvis movie that was messed up but they left it in the movie. It was a scene in Stay Away Joe when he comes out to say hi to people on the back porch of a party. Its quick but I can tell Elvis was busting up for real. It’s a great moment. (Question from John G.).
Joe: As far as outtakes from other movies go, we know there are outtakes from Jailhouse Rock and it can only be assumed that there are others. Among the others that I know of is an outtake of the bar scene in Charro! in which one of the bar maids exposes her breasts, which causes Elvis to crack up laughing. The question of whether there are other outtakes from these films and others is a very time-consuming and expensive process to explore. It is something that the Estate really needs to explore if they ever decide to pursue their full length documentary as mentioned in the previous question.
11. I've heard that you are working on "Hot Shots and Cool Clips volume 2” and that it would include some professional footage from Elvis' Madison Square Garden concert in 1972. Is this true, and when can we expect to see this released? (Question from Jeanne).
Joe: Yes, it is true that I will be including professional footage from Madison Square Garden. I have been working on this project for a few years now. The release date of “Hot Shots And Cool Clips Volume 2” is tentatively scheduled for April 1, 2007.
12. Can you give some details of what we can expect on your new DVD "Hot Shots And Cool Clips volume 2”? (Question from David)
Joe: Obviously the Madison Square Garden footage but the DVD will be made up of footage from 1970 to 1972 and will also include clips from the ‘50s and the ‘60s as well. The exact details are yet to be determined but it will have a running time of approximately one hour.
13. Do you think that the unreleased filmed shows for “Elvis On Tour” in Richmond, Macon and Charlotte will ever be released? This is a crying shame that nearly 30 years since the sad passing of Elvis we still haven’t got what Elvis probably thought would be out to the fans. (Question from Darren Cavanagh)
Joe: The footage from many of the cities on the April ‘72 tour was done strictly on assignment, whereas someone from the production of the film was sent with a camera to film something the producer was looking for, whether that be something as mundane as a city limits sign along the highway, interviewing a local mayor in Roanoke, entering the stage or leaving the stage, Elvis dropping down on one knee or even holding up a pair of women’s panties while on stage. A prime example of this is the sign outside the T.H. Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas was shot but the entire show wasn’t shot. These clips were added to the shows where a good majority of the show was filmed and recorded (Hampton Roads, Richmond, Greensboro and San Antonio) to fully illustrate a sense of Elvis going from city to city.
14. Did they film Boston in 1971 and do you know if any other professional footage concert wise exists? (Question from Darren Cavanagh)
Joe: I’ve heard the rumor about this being filmed and it continually gets repeated but I seriously doubt that Boston was filmed professionally. I’ve heard that someone claimed to have seen the footage and that it was dark and that it was difficult to make out Elvis in the film. The question then is what good is this footage? Also, is this actually professional footage or is it merely amateur footage shot by an audience member. I have come to the conclusion that at the Madison Square Garden press conference when Elvis was asked about this, the person who posed the question simply meant to say Buffalo instead of Boston, which makes more sense since cameras were in Buffalo at the beginning of the April ‘72 tour which filmed Elvis rehearsing.
15. I really want to know if there is some footage of the movies Jailhouse Rock and King Creole, I mean some unseen scenes. (Question from Jordan).
Joe: As mentioned in question ten, there are film outtakes from “Jailhouse Rock” some of which were used on the video “Elvis In Hollywood - The ‘50s but there is alot more than what was used.
16. I read on the web an old interview that you said there is a full concert that is filmed which is not “That’s The Way It Is”, “On Tour” or any of the 3 Honolulu shows (one filmed in 72 by Japanese television) or “Elvis In Concert” from 1977. So can you please tell me more about this show and what year was it? (Question from Atle Larsen).
Joe: I can’t recall ever saying that there was another complete show professionally filmed other than what you’ve mentioned. However there is some footage from Madison Square Garden that was professionally shot that I’ve mentioned in a previous interview. This however is not the complete show. I will be using this footage on my upcoming DVD “Hot Shots And Cool Clips Volume 2.”
17. Could you tell us where and how you find the clips and information for your DVD projects? (Question from Mark Richie)
Joe: I find a lot of the footage in some of the most unlikely places. It takes time, effort, due diligence to find proper leads that lead to proper people. It is a very difficult and expensive process to find unreleased footage. I’ve been very fortunate to know people who collect this type of footage and I have also gone through film stock warehouses where I have gotten some leads by simple conversations which have opened doors to people who either had the footage I was looking for or knew someone who did.
18. During the stand-up performance of "Baby What You Want Me To Do?" that features on the recent DVD releases of the '68 Comeback we get some good camera shots of Elvis playing the instrumental portion of the song but from when he starts singing all we see of him are only rear and side-on views making this track one of the biggest disappointments of the set yet we get the front-on camera shot when Elvis plays the opening chords of the song so why wasn’t this same footage used during the vocal portion? Surely it must exist. (Question from Darren Breeden).
Joe: This is something I really can’t answer. I would assume that you are correct that there would be a full front shot while he is singing. I think something like six cameras were used when they videotaped the show. I would then assume that this was a producer’s preference for the side shot as opposed the full front camera angle.
19. Do you have footage of the Elvis Aloha TV interview which Elvis has a breakdown due to the stress of the Aloha concert? (Question from Henry Fong).
Joe: To my knowledge there is no footage of what your referring to. All of the press conference footage that was known by the Estate was recently added as an Easter Egg to the single disc DVD of the Aloha show.
20. In a 2004 interview you said that the 60 minutes of additional “That’s The Way It Is” footage would be released. Do you have any idea if it will be soon/when it will be released? Also do you know of any more 1970 footage (rehearsals/live) that’s going to be released in the near future? (Question from Andrew).
Joe: Obviously I thought that the “That’s The Way It Is” footage would be released legitimately. Most of it has been bootlegged within the last two years unfortunately. I do think that in the not to distant future you will finally see the extra hour released legitimately, and possibly even more.
Part II of the interview with Joe Tunzi will follow soon. This will focus on his books.
For more information on Joe Tunzi's publications visit his JAT Publications website.