Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Trezyours]

Big Hello to Everyone!

I came across this website and found it very interesting so thought I would share:

http://www.elvis.net/interview/inter.html

The site contains many of Elvis' interviews as well as some other interesting audio clips.

If you scroll down to 1971 there is a recorded phone conversation with a policeman who was obviously a friend of Elvis' as well. Elvis, always the proud daddy talks a little about his 3 year old baby girl and her swimming lessons, he also talks about redecorating Graceland and having the phone number changed for Priscilla.......

Enjoy!

Vera

[Trezyours]

There is also another taped phone conversation with Arlene Cogan. I did some further research and realised these phone conversations were taped without Elvis' knowledge

Vera

[Blue Moon]

Thanks Vera for the link! It looks to be chalk full of all kinds of Elvis interviews.

[Wanda June Hill]

I can't hear any of those- Most of them look like they are from press released interviews etc:... so they ought to be pretty clear to hear. Some of those I did were awful and hard to hear as that one Red released-Back then it was hard to get clear tape from a phone unless you had the best of equipment which I didn't have most of the time! So there was always the line noise going on and sometimes tape noises as well. Let me know what I'm missing guys! I've heard most of the things recorded on stage etc: and some of the interviews from the 50's- 60's but not the Cogan one or the police etc:
As for him not knowing he was recorded-he would be very careful what he said unless he knew the person very well anyway. When I asked him if he minded if I recorded calls so Jimmie and family could hear and enjoy them-he said okay, and then asked me if I had recorded him at anytime and I said no, otherwise I wouldn't have asked now! He said oh-then said, you're right. I told him then I would tell him first and he said okay. And I can say that 95 % of the time, I did tell him first-the few times I didn't he didn't talk any differently than if I had so I don't feel too guility about it. And I did remind him a time or two that he was "being recorded you know", and he'd laugh and say something smart aleck or risque on purpose then go back to being his regular self. The difference here is that most of the time on those interviews he knew and I just wondered if he was being open or careful on those he might not have known and if he was any different. So if you guys can hear them, let me know what you think as to that. Just curious to see how he was with them-I have only heard one tape where he was talking to someone he barely knew and that one was the one where he talked with the Avon lady. He was pretty much himself on it I thought, and was being very honest and openly expressing from his heart concerning the upcoming "bodyguard's" book. I wonder if those people sold their taped interviews. I had some offers from publishers/press related people wanting to buy them-they then would get permission I guess, to use them as that was the only way to do it and not have to pay for every second of use every time they were used.wjh

[Wanda June Hill]

Well, I got to hear what I guess is most of Arlene's conversation in 70 it took a $1,500 dollar plus computer thing with a satellite card and even that wasn't perfect where we live with all the mountains and the satellite/microwave towers on the other side of us- not mine. Wow, talk about cold chills! When I heard him say he hadn't heard from her in a long while-I think that was the words he said...and heard that petulant little sound he'd get when he was letting you know he was "hurt" you had "forgotten" him. And when she said, I haven't forgotten you-it told me that he knew her and vice versa and he wondered if she had forgot him! He was so childish like that-and he was being careful what he said to her-short answers, no voluntering information...but he didn't know she was taping him probably, though by then he was aware of that happening and being careful. He had already experienced someone trying to he said "black mail me" over something in a phone conversation and he said it wasn't nothing-even the lawyer on her side admitted it wasn't "conclusive" in a hearing. So he was gun shy after that with most people he said...but he trusted me-that always made me feel "responsible" for his sake.
Maybe I am a fool, but I won't sell the tapes to anyone.
And neither will Jim or Starla. After we're gone what the heck...it's up to Lisa. wjh

[Trezyours]

Hi Wanda

Thanks for your thoughts! I felt he was very guarded in the conversation with Arlene. I googled her and found out that he had met her when she was 14 and she later became a president of an Elvis fan club. He didn't really keep the conversation up at all and when she said she "couldn't forget him" he didn't know how to respond at all. Could tell he was very uncomfortable!

Hope you can hear the conversation with the policeman. He is more open on that one. The policeman asks him to give his regards to his "mom and dad".....meaning Dee I guess and you can hear Elvis go quiet for a little. Then he politely explains his dad doesn't actually live at Graceland but his aunt and Grandma do.

Hope you get to hear it!!

Vera

[Wanda June Hill]

I did hear the one with the Policeman friend-and I did pickup on Elvis' response about his mom and dad-it got to him a little so he explained "they" live in another house-only grandma and aunt live at Graceland". He and his father were at "odds" over "Dee" and Elvis didn't want her in his house- I wouldn't have wanted to be around there when he got wound up about that! He held his tongue for a long, long time and finally his father "woke up" and "saw the light" as he put it...and he added something about "the light was the reflection of his (dad's) empty piggy bank!" When he said it it was funny- but he wasn't laughing.
I liked that conversation with the police man, Elvis was open, snickering when the man said his wife would never forget seeing Elvis on stage, and hearing him say Lisa was getting swimming lessons which he told me about too, and explaining about changing the phone number-that was done alot! And saying it was because of the "decorators calling" when probably it was due to the paternity suit and the press constantly harping and trying to get information about Elvis and Pris being on the verge of divorce...they were pretty much apart more than together at that time in his life-but he did go home and they did appear together for the baby's sake...it was all coming to a head at that time. I thought Elvis liked the guy a lot and he didn't realize it was recorded I'm sure... He would have trusted him. I wonder about the reel of tape that the guy says to Charlie did Elvis say anyting about getting it. Charlie says no, and he sounds a bit wondering what it was about-he didn't know a thing obviously. Elvis might have had the guy checking on something for him??? Who knows...it could have been anything. I don't think Elvis knew what Arlene sent him for his birthday either-I picked up on that sound in his response...he drew a blank and then covered it for her sake. Half the time I don't think he got things people sent to him personally-he told me a different address to send the tapes etc: to and I did use it. I think it was Linda's address...but I don't know for certain who's it might have been. It was Memphis, that's all I know now.
I can't even remember the street name-though I may have it boxed up in the shed somewhere. It wasn't far from Graceland he told me and he'd be sure to get it and no one else. He said that. I also sent the big cassette thing they used back then for film and tv stuff-to the same address. And I know he got it all...but I don't know if he ever watched that, he didn't say. wjh

[Wanda June Hill]

Thank you so much Trezyours for posting that link! I did enjoy hearing Elvis talking to other phone friend people and just hearing him talking was great. I have transcripts mainly, a few tapes but haven't listened to them in a long while-only one that is a little from several that I had put together when we did the first book and took with me on that month long book tour to play for a few people. I can't listen to the others, even though it's him-so I have the transcripts that were done at the time we were doing the first book in 78. Most of the taped conversations, the originals all went to Elvis before he died-and then I sent another copy of some of those to Lisa when she was 22 or so and not living with her mom.
They were signed for, but I never heard anything which is fine with me. I don't need a response-I did the right thing so good enough. Anyway, thanks very much. I passed the link on to Maia who will love listening to them too. wjh

[Trezyours]

It's a pleasure Wanda.

I really enjoy listening to him too and thought how priveleged you are to have shared so many conversations with him. Not to mention how priveleged Elvis was to have found someone he could trust enough to share his deepest thoughts with!

Vera

[maia]

The policeman's call was all jumbled for me - squeeks and sqawks!

But I could hear Arelen's. Elvis was polite, but definately distant. Wonder why?

[Trezyours]

What a shame you couldn't hear the other one well Maia. He was quite open in it.

I felt he was distant with Arlene too. I even wondered whether he remembered who she was at all! My thought is that she was a "fan" in every sense of the word. Someone who expected and knew Elvis the image but not his true self. I don't think he felt comfortable opening up to "fans" like that - perhaps his insecurity of letting them down? Silly man! It appears he was drawn to those that weren't in awe of Elvis Presley!

Vera

[Wanda June Hill]

Maia, on the Policeman's tape he talks about Lisa taking swimming lessons, says she turned 3 when he was in Vegas. The policeman thanks him for the shows etc: and says his wife will never get over seeing him etc: and Elvis snickers shyly and loves hearing that- and then they discuss the earthquake and Elvis tells how the International was shaking, moving the bed and everything was moving back and forth and he got up and went out and the big chandlier was rocking and he had his flashlight and gun and he laughs, and openes the door to see if there was any air out there-he said it was the weirdes he had ever felt about 3 times and then says the building was made to move and it was moving he said. He curses like himself, and one can sense that he knows the guy and trusts him and he talks about the phone number at the LA house being changed etc: and that Priscilla is redecorating the new house and everyone knows it so she's getting calls at all hours and driving her nuts. So that was why he couldn't get him there. and then he explains that his grandmother and aunt live at Graceland and his dad and family lives in another house but near by etc:. He's very open and friendly with him, and seems unguarded for the most part but he didn't know he was being recorded I'm sure. He just was talking to a friend...and a cop at that. I liked it too because it was more him and not formal or anything.
I think he knew Arlene, because he says right off it's been a long time or something like that and he has that sound I've heard before, you forgot me sound-and she responds in like manner with I didn't forget you or anything like that-and tells him she sent him a birthday gift and did he get it. He says yeah, but I know he didn't have a clue about it by his response though he tried to cover that well enough. He was guarded and being careful-she tells him she getting a divorce and he says, "that happens." Nothing else. other than sorry to hear that, but that happens... something like that.
I liked hearing him talking to other people...it was nice and made me want to hear some more. I think I'm going to listen to one I haven't heard in years and years-maybe I won't bawl my head off this time-but then it might wash the rest of the stuff out of my eyes-might be a good thing! They are getting better-the right one is still tearing but not as sore nor does the nerve hurt that runs beside it. I kind of think it could be something to do with the surgery I had as that nerve has hurt off and on since then. It was cut and it can't forget! wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Bringing this thread back around for anyone that might not have seen before including me! [/list]