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Elvis In His Own Words - 1960s

Press Conferences & Interviews etc...

(+ means you need both    ~ means same material)
(Click on time of interview to listen)

January 8 1960 (Friday)
'Telephone Call' from USA to Bad Nauheim, Germany
Interviewer : Dick Clark 3:35     The Complete Word For Word II

March 1 1960 (Tuesday)
'AFN Interview' Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany
Interviewer : Johnny Paris 10:56     The Complete Word For Word CD4~The Elvis Tapes Volume 2~Elvis
Answers Back~Let's Take It On Home Again Vol 2 (edited)

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March 1 1960
Johnny Paris Interview
Johnny Paris interview
 


March 1 1960 (Tuesday)
Ray Barracks, Friedberg, Germany
Interviewer : Unknown
('Screen Digest' magazine)
1:49     The Complete Word For Word CD4

March 3 1960 (Thursday)
Fort Dix, New Jersey
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Press Conference : Questions by the media 6:55     Tape
Interviewer : Tina Louise & Unknown 0:29     An Audio Scrapbook
Interviewer : Unknown 1:46     Tape
Interviewer : Unknown 1:00     Tape

Photo
March 3 1960
Fort Dix, New Jersey
Press Conference
March 3 1960
Elvis with Tina Louise
Elvis with Tina Louise
 


Notes

Part of the interview with actress Tina Louise and an unknown journalist asking a couple of questions, can be found on an audio tape called An Audio Scrapbook, hosted by George Klein and released by Simon And Schuster in 1994.

Thanks to Andrew Wolczyk for finding this audio.


March 7 1960 (Monday)
'Onboard Train' arriving in Memphis, Tennessee
Interviewer : Bill E Burk (& possibly others)       Unreleased (transcript only)

Transcript

March 7 1960 - "Onboard Train" arriving in Memphis, Tennessee (Interviewer : Bill E Burk & Other Media)

Media : Elvis, you look a little tired.

Elvis : I couldn't sleep any last night.

Media : What did you do?

Elvis : We just tallked and kidded around most of the night. I guess it will take awhile for me to realize I am out of the service. I'm still tense inside. If I act nervous it's because I am.

Media : Did you do any reading in Germany? What did you read?

Elvis : I read Mad magazine a lot. Other than that, I read Western novels and some magazines. No movie magazines though.

Media : You look a little thin. What's your weight now?

Elvis : I'm down to one hundred and seventy pounds and want to stay about that weight. I weighed one eighty-two when I went in. Guess it was the Army life and it's not a bad life.

Media : What have you missed most about being away from Memphis?

Elvis : Everything! I mean that. Everything.

Media : What's the first thing you want to do?

Elvis : I want to get home, and I may stay right at home for a couple of days. Then I want to get around and meet some of the old gang. It's been nearly two years since I've seen any of them. That's a long time.

Media : Are you anxious to get out of the uniform?

Elvis : No. I don't have to be wearing it now. I sorta like this uniform. I've been out of the Army forty-two hours now. Yeah, forty-two hours.

Elvis : I'll probably get put in jail about that. It was a tailor's mistake in Germany. We had a rush job on it the last day I was there. I called and told him to sew on sergeant's stripes, and he added a fourth stripe.

Media : Do you plan to take off the bottom stripe?

Elvis : I haven t thought much about it. I don't suppose they would send me to jail for having it.

Media : Since you didn't make any personal appearances while in the service, have you kept up with your singing?

Elvis : I sure have. I had plenty of time for it when I was off duty. I would play records and sing. I guess I got in more singing than I would if I had been working on it.

Media : What are your plans for the movies?

Elvis : Well, my ambition is to develop as an actor. I am looking forward in some ways to the Frank Sinatra show. It will he my first appearance on TV in over two years. I know I will have butterflies when I go on. I've been gone a long time... a long time.

Media : It's been reported that you have stated that you want to pattern your movie career after Frank Sinatra. It that true?

Elvis : I have great respect for Mr. Sinatra as an actor. However, I've never made that statement, that I want to pattern my career after Mr. Sinatra . I want to do it my own way, but it will take time and experience.

Media : Do you plan to wiggle your hips when you return to singing?

Elvis : I'm gonna sing and I'll let the shaking come naturally. If I had to stand still and sing I'd be lost. I can't get any feeling that way.

Media : Any special plans for romance when you get home?

Elvis : I don't know who I'll go with in Memphis. I've been gone a long time. I guess I'll just let nature take its course. Eighteen months out of this country is a long time. It has been a good experience in many ways. I have learned quite a bit. But I'm glad to be back. I really don't know what's ahead. I'm not exactly worried, but I'm not sure of myself either.

(Source : 'Elvis - Word For Word' by Jerry Osborne)


March 7 1960 (Monday)
WMPS Radio, Memphis, Tennessee
Interviewer : Paul Barnett 1:12     Recorded Live At The Fontainebleau

March 7 1960 (Monday)
Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Rehearsal : Questions by the media       Elvis Army Interviews (?)
Press Conference : Questions by the media 12:36
LPA5
5815 This Is Elvis (Vinyl)(excerpt - wrongly dated March 8 1960)
~This Is Elvis (FTD)(excerpt)+Elvis Presley's Graceland (DVD)

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March 7 1960
Graceland Press Conference
Graceland Press Conference
 


March 22 1960 (Tuesday)
Elvis' Suite - Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami, Florida
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Interviewer : Bill Wyler 2:09     YouTube~Recorded Live At The Fontainebleau

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March 22 1960
Bill Wyler interview
Bill Wyler interview
 


Notes

A newspaper article which mentions this interview, is reproduced in the FTD/David English book Welcome Home Elvis.

Thanks to Grzegorz Borzęcki and The Elvis Presley Preservation Society for finding, and sharing, film footage of this interview, and posting it online, although the interviewer was incorrectly identified as being Morris McLemore instead of Bill Wyler.


April 1960
'Telephone Call' (exact date & location unknown)
Interviewer : Unknown       Unreleased (transcript only)

Transcript

April 1960 (exact date & location unknown) - "Telephone Call" (Interviewer : Unknown)

Elvis' side of the conversation only

How It Feels to Be Home

Elvis : I'm Just now beginning to realize that I am out, believe it or not. Because when I first came home it was a little strange for the first few weeks. I kept expecting somebody to come in and say "well, it's time to go," you know. I couldn't realize where I was going or exactly what I was doing. Believe it or not, after two years like that you become adjusted to that type life and you become used to it and all of a sudden overnight it changes again, it's pretty hard just to go right back into things and feel your old self, you know.

Army Life Is Quite an Experience

Elvis : Army life was quite an experience for me. I had a difficult time adjusting. Many nights I would lie awake in my bunk most of the night, unable to sleep. After I got used to Army life, I would awaken at five every morning, no matter if I didn't go to bed until four. But that will change I guess.
I will be working at night, playing at night and living at night. So I guess I will soon be changing schedules. Right now I just want to rest.

Not Much of a Dancer

Elvis : I can't dance to rock and roll music. I can slow dance, but I never learned to bop.

About Recording a German Song

Elvis : There were some German songs I liked, but I never thought of recording one.

And His Favorite Singer Is

Elvis : I cant say. There are so many that it wouldn't be fair to name one and overlook others.

(Source : 'Elvis - Word For Word' by Jerry Osborne)


April 19 1960 (Tuesday)
'Train Journey - Texas Eagle' Midland to Odessa, Texas
Interviewer : Jack Murray 4:51     Rockin' Across Texas (FTD) CD1
Interviewer : Guy Brown 1:17     YouTube

April 20 1960 (Wednesday)
'Onboard Train' En-Route to California
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Interviewer : Reporter from the 'Nashville Tennessean' 0:39+     All The Kings Men (Video - wrongly dated March 7 1960)

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April 20 1960
En-Route to California
En-Route to California
 


June 21 1960 (Tuesday)
'Telephone Call' from Hawaii to the set of G.I. Blues
Interviewer : Tom Moffatt 7:19     Rock Around The Bloch! (FTD)~TV Land Web Site

November 1960 (exact date unknown)
Hollywood, California
Radio Spot for GI Blues 0:22     The Complete Word For Word CD4~Let's Take It On Home

February 25 1961 (Saturday)
Claridge Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
Press Conference : Questions by the media 23:34     The Elvis Tapes (with narrator talking)~Memphis To Nashville '61 (FTD)
~The Press Conferences Volume 1

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February 25 1961
Memphis, Tennessee
February 25 1961 - Press Conference
 


March 8 1961 (Wednesday)
Senate Chamber, Nashville, Tennessee
Presentation of awards to Elvis 3:03     Memphis To Nashville '61 (FTD)~The Complete Word For Word CD4
~Let's Take It On Home

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March 8 1961
Presentation of Award
Presentation of Award
 


March 25 1961 (Saturday)
Hawaiian Village Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
Press Conference : Questions by the media
& Presentation of awards to Elvis
24:57
EPA3
2743 Rock Around The Bloch! (FTD)(complete)~One Night In Pearl Harbor
(MRS)
(edit)~Such A Night In Pearl Harbor (MRS)(part - 1:20)~A Leg.
Performer Vol 2 (part)~The Complete Word For Word CD4 (part)

Photo
 
March 25 1961
Honolulu, Hawaii
Press Conference
 


April 10 1961 (Monday)
Hawaii 'Uncle Tom's Cabin - on the set of Blue Hawaii'
Interviewer : Tom Moffatt 4:26     Rock Around The Bloch! (FTD)(part - 0:56)+The Complete Word For
Word II

1961 (exact date unknown)
'Telephone Call' to Elvis on a movie set in California
Conversation with Anita Wood 25:26     Back In Living Stereo 5 (MRS)

April 7 1962 (Saturday)
Honolulu Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Interviewer : Tom Moffatt 1:03     The Complete Word For Word CD4~This Is Elvis (Video)~Let's Take
It On Home+Tape

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April 7 1962
Honolulu, Hawaii
Tom Moffatt interview
 


August 17 1962 (Friday)
Hollywood, California
Interviewer : Lloyd Shearer 38:28
KPA5
9542 Elvis Aron Presley CD1 (excerpts)+The Complete Word For Word CD4
~Elvis Touchdown
(various excerpts also later assigned matrix numbers OPA5 8313
to 8323)

February 14 1964 (Friday)
Long Beach, California
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Presentation of the USS Potomac to Danny Thomas 14:39     Let's Take It On Home+Return To Lake Tahoe (wrongly dated
February 13 1964)

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February 14 1964
Elvis and Danny Thomas
Presentation of the USS Potomac
 


April 26 1964 (Sunday)
'New Musical Express Poll Concert',
Wembley's Empire Pool, England
Specially recorded message by Elvis to his UK fans 0:48     Elvis Answers Back~The Complete Word For Word CD4

June 30 1965 (Wednesday)
Hollywood, California
Interviewer : Jan Storm       Unreleased

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June 30 1965
Jan Storm Interview
Jan Storm interview
 


August 18 1965 (Wednesday)
Honolulu, Hawaii
Interviewer : Peter Noone & Tom Moffatt
"Hermans Hermits Interview"
4:17     The Elvis Tapes Volume 2~The Complete Word For Word CD4~Elvis
Answers Back~The Interviews (wrongly dated April 29 1965)
~Avventura In Oriente°

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August 18 1965
Honolulu, Hawaii
Peter Noone interview
 


May 1 1967 (Monday)
'Aladdin Room', Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
(Video footage of Elvis)        
Press Conference : Questions by the media       Unreleased

December 3 1967 (Sunday)
 
Pre-Recorded Christmas Message from Elvis 0:08     Seasons Greetings From Elvis~The Complete Word For Word CD4

June 25 1968 (Tuesday - 6.15pm)
NBC Studio, Burbank, California
Press Conference : Questions by the media       Unreleased

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June 25 1968
Press Conference
Press Conference
 


January 1969 (exact date unknown)
'Telephone Call' from Chicago, Illinois to Memphis, Tennessee
Conversation with Arlene Cogan 2:56     In The Shadow Of A Legend (edited)+Make The World Go Away
(wrongly dated early 1970)

April / May 1969 (exact date & location unknown)
 
Press Conference : Questions by the media       Unreleased (transcript only)

Transcript

April / May 1969

Media : How did it feel to get back to performing live again?

Elvis : It felt really great. I just can't describe it.

Media : Why has it taken so long for you to perform live again?

Elvis : During the last few years I've been tied up in movies, so I was too busy to do live shows.

Media : How did it feel to appear on TV again?

Elvis : It felt terrific. But it has been so long since I last appeared, I think it was the Frank Sinatra show way back in 1960, when I came out of the Army.

Media : Were you a little nervous?

Elvis : Very much so. In Fact, I was more than that. I will go as far to say I was petrified. You could tell that at the start of the show. As soon as I got hold of the mike, my hands were shaking. [*NOTE: Elvis is possibly relating to the first stand-up show at NBC, on the evening of June 29, 1968]

Media : If this show is a sucess, will you do more live shows?

Elvis : Yes, I sure will. I know it's been such a long time - too long - and I feel a bit rusty. But I'll get better as I go on. I know that I've almost got the feel back for live shows.

Media : Will you do more TV?

Elvis : I sure hope so.

Media : What about other live shows, and touring?

Elvis : Yes, I want to do more live shows, and I want to tour again very much.

Media : How about a world tour?

Elvis : Yes, I would like that. I would like to go and do a European tour and visit England. But I would like to tour the States again first, just to get my feel back.

Media : Whose idea was it to do a TV special?

Elvis : Well, that's a long story. We all had a say in it, but we all felt it was about time. We decided to do it before it was too late and I got too old.

Media : Originally, wasn't the show going to be a Christmas special?

Elvis : Yes it was. But after some serious thought we decided to change that. I'm so glad we did.

Media : How do you judge your life now, being a married man and a Father? Has it changed you at all?

Elvis : Well I suppose it has, in a certain way, being married and having a child. I feel a kind of responsibility. I've got everything to work for. But, believe me, I wouldn't change anything for the world.

Media : Do you want to do more movies in the future?

Elvis : I would like to do more, but only if the script is good. I don't want to sing in them anymore. I'd still like to develop into a serious actor, while there is still time.

Media : Your recent movie Charro was a good role for you. You did a good job acting in that.

Elvis : Yes, I really enjoyed making Charro. It was the best film I've done since Flaming Star. The story was good and so was the cast. I would like to do more films like this in the future.

Media : Is it true that Clint Eastwood turned it down?

Elvis : He did, but I'm glad. The role was just right for me. It was good to be in a film with no singing in it.

Media : What about the song "If I Can Dream"? Is it a change of style for you?

Elvis : I agree, it's a great song. Steve Binder and Bones Howe told Earle Brown to write a song for the TV special, and he did just that. This is what he came up with. What a song! I don't think that it is a change of style for me. I try to do all types of songs. This was just too good, I just couldn't turn it down.

Media : What do you think of the song "MacArthur Park"?

Elvis : I think it's a great song. If Richard Harris hadn't recorded it, and they had given it to me, I would have done it.

Media : How does it feel to have been on stage again?

Elvis : Frightening. Scary. But fabulous. I will do more live shows.

(Source : 'Elvis - Word For Word' by Jerry Osborne)


August 1 1969 (Friday - 12.30am)
International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Press Conference : Questions by the media       Unreleased (transcript only)

Photo
 
August 1 1969
Press Conference
Press Conference
 


Transcript

August 1 1969 - International Hotel Conference Room, Las Vegas, Nevada (Press Conference)

(Elvis enters the Conference Room)

Media : Why have you waited so long to perform live again? Did you return to live performing because of the phenomenal successes of Welsh singer Tom Jones and British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck?

Elvis : I think they are great ... but my decision to return was made in 1965, and it was hard to wait ... I don't think I could have waited any longer. We had to finish up the movie commitments we had before I could start on this. I missed the live contact with an audience. It was getting harder and harder to sing to a camera all day

Media : Can you remember first coming to Vegas?

Elvis : Sure, I was 19 years old, nobody knew me ... "Where you from ... boy?" they would ask

Media : How do you like being a father?

Elvis : I like it

Media : Are you and Priscilla planning on adding to your family?

Elvis : You'll be the first to know (Laughter)

Media : What things do you do when you are at home at Graceland?

Elvis : I ride horse back, swim and talk with the tourists hanging out at the gates

Media : How does your wife feel about you being a sex symbol again?

Elvis : I don't know... you would have to ask her

Media : Do your wife and daughter accompany you?

Elvis : Priscilla is here, but my daughter is in L.A. with her nanny. She could not make it

Media : How do you manage to stay so young?

Elvis : I don't know, one of these days I'll probably fall apart. I feel, I've just been lucky

Media : Are you tired of your present type of movie, have you grown tired of the movie plots?

Elvis : Yes, I want to change the type of script I've been doing

Media : What kind of scripts do you like?

Elvis : Something with Meaning. I'm going after more serious material. I couldn't dig always playing the guy who'd get into a fight, beat the guy up, and in the next shot sing to him

Media : Do you think it was a mistake to do so many Movie Sound-Track Albums?

Elvis : I think so. When you do ten songs in a movie, they can't all be good songs. Anyway , I got tired of singing to turtles

Media : When you met the Beatles, no press was allowed, why was that?

Elvis : I think because we could relax more that way and we could talk candidly

Media : Do you like to wear leather jackets, like the one you wore in your TV Special?

Elvis : No, I hate wearing them, because they are too hot when your working

Media : Where did you get the design for your stage out-fits?

Elvis : I got the idea from a karate g.i. I once had

Media : What do you think of the Hollywood scene?

Elvis : I just don't go for it, I have nothing against it, but I just don't enjoy it

Media : How long did you rehearse for these shows?

Elvis : I practised for nearly three months. Today I went through three complete dress rehearsals. This was the fourth time I did that show today ...I'm really beat

Media : How did you choose the songs for the show?

Elvis : I just sang my favorite songs

Media : Do you want to do more live shows?

Elvis : I want to, I would like to play all over the world. I chose Las Vegas to play first because it is a place people come to from all over

Media : Are you trying to change your image with songs like 'In the Ghetto'?

Elvis : No, 'Ghetto'was such a great song, I just couldn't pass it up after I heard it. There are a lot of new records out now that have the same sound I started, But they're better. I mean, you can't compare a song like 'Yesterday' with 'Hound Dog', can you?

Media : Why have you led such a secluded life all these years?

Elvis : It's not secluded honey, I'm just sneaky (Laughter)

Media : Is it true you dye your hair?

Elvis : Sure, I have always done it for the movies

Media : Did you enjoy performing live again?

Elvis : Yes, This has been one of the most exciting nights of my life

Media : Did you feel nervous during the show?

Elvis : For the first three songs or so, I didn't feel relaxed until after 'Love me Tender'before I loosened up, Then I thought, what the heck.... get with it man, you might be out of a job tomorrow

Media : Do you have a share in the International Hotel?

Elvis : No, I have not

Media : Why did you choose a negro backup group?

Elvis : They help get a feeling and get to my soul

Media : Have you ever seen England's top singer, Cliff Richard?

Elvis : Yes, I met him in Germany a long time ago

Media : Mr. Presley, I've been sent here by "Lord Sutch Enterprises" to offer you one million pounds sterling to make two apperances at the Wembley Empire Stadium in England. This price will include a documentary that will be filmed during and after the shows. It will only take 24 hours

Elvis : (Pointing to Col. Parker) You'll have to ask him about that

Col. Parker : Just put down the desposit

Media : Elvis, how much do you get paid for these performances?

Col. Parker : We are pleased with the deal. I am glad he is here

Media : Is it true you get paid in International-stocks?

Col. Parker : Certainly not... The only thing we get for free are the crickets in the rooms

Media : Do you still own about 10 cars?

Elvis : I have never owned that many, only four or five at most

Media : Elvis is there any other individual you would rather be?

Elvis : Are you Kidding! (Laughter)

(Source : 'For Elvis CD Collectors' web site - "Pep's Reviews")

Interviews - 1950s
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Interviews - 1970s