By Andylon Lensen
of the Elvis International Shop
As you all know BMG
stopped almost all participating of their employees on fan club
magazines and websites. They have plans and canals of their
own to distribute information if needed. So this is probably
the last interview with Ernst Jorgenson for a while.
Andylon: It's
great honour for me and ElvisNews.com
to do this exceptional interview with you, it really makes me
proud and excited to get some answers I was longing for to ask.
I do remember you told me on the phone, it was hard to say "no"
to me to do this interview , because I was to your own words:
"That I am very persuasive in the Elvis World (Am I glad I cached
a big fish)".
Ernst: Well,
Andylon, giving up never got us anywhere.
Andylon: from
the conversation mentioned below and the emails that followed
this interview is the result.
Andylon: Ernst,
we had a discussion on the phone for nearly 20 minutes, concerning
the interview on Joe
Franklin, in week 43 - 2001. We both decided to react on
this incredible news, mentioned by Mr. Franklin that Elvis was
a host at his show singing the song " Shortnin Bread". Ernst,
what was your first reaction ?
Ernst: Hmmm,
well the right word is "curiosity !!!"
Andylon: You
also mentioned to me by phone that Graceland reacted on this
interview, could you tell this once again to our readers of ElvisNews.com ?
Ernst: They
wanted to see if they had any information that could either
verify or dispel this story. But nothing matched, and I think
we all agreed that unless we got some more precise information,
we didn't believe the story.
Andylon:
Also,
you contacted RCA/BMG New York about this to check, if there
was any truth on this interview, I did with Joe Franklin.
Ernst: No,
I am BMG New York to some extent.
Andylon: You
said ; there was old staff-member from RCA who remembered Elvis
unexpectedly (do you know his name ?) was invited to do a television
show. While Elvis only went with Tom Parker , to discuss the
contract and go through some new songs, right ?
Ernst: Yes,
Chick Crumpacker was Elvis' host the first few times he visited
RCA in New York
Andylon:
So,
he didn't carry his guitar with him ?
Ernst: No,
I am sure of that.
Andylon: Could
it be possible that the members of J. Franklin orchestra lend
him a guitar? Or that Elvis rushed himself to buy a guitar in
a music store, so he was able to do this show? Elvis always
played at that time only one brand guitar, right?
Ernst: Elvis
played Martin guitars D18 & D 28, and Chick does not remember
anything like this
Andylon:
Also,
Elvis never used lead sheets, but Joe told me that Elvis besides
his guitar he also left some lead sheets in his dressing room
, while he appeared on his show. Can you explain this Ernst.
Ernst: Elvis
could off course have had lead sheets, but if he had performed
he enough songs not have to do this.
Andylon: What
about Ann Margret? I think this is really nonsense, she was
14 years old at that time, seems impossible to me. I tried to
reach her but she was touring with a new musical in the U.S..
Later Joe Franklin told me he might be mistaken with Ann Margret,
and that it's maybe another celebrity. Lamar Fike told me, personally
after reading this interview that it's a big lie what J. Franklin
claims. What is your reaction on this ?
Ernst: It does
NOT fit at all, with any information we have up until now.
Andylon:
Also Ray Walker told me : He sure remembers the Joe Franklin
shows, they appeared different times on his shows. Why did Elvis
picked a song like "Shortnin' Bread"?
Ernst: Well
personally, I don't think he did!, Andylon.
Andylon: It
would make more sense of doing some of the songs from his 1st
Album, don't you think so ?
Ernst: If
it happened, it would have happened before the first album-
sometime in late 55 or Jan/Feb of 56.
Andylon: It
also might be that he had a certain concept for that evening
(country music) Yes, read the interview again Ernst, he does
mention this.
Ernst: Well,
the Hayride was country music, that didn't mean that Elvis sang
country.
Andylon: Do
you think we will ever learn more facts about this event in
New York 1954 Elvis did on Joe Franklin television show singing
this song "Shortnin' Bread"?
Ernst: No,
but you never know, strange things can happen !!!
Andylon:
Now,
enough about this, Ernst. On ElvisNews
interviews we always ask some questions on personal favourites
to all the people we interview, so for you, what are your favorite
single, album and film by Elvis ?
Ernst: On Single:
I must say absolutely: "Hound Dog/ Don't be Cruel"
and "Little Sister/His Latest Flame. These are my two favourite
singles. Do you know Andylon with which song I discovered Elvis
? With : "Kiss Me Quik", that was my first single
I got. And it's not my favourite !!!
Andylon: What
do you think about that Home recording "Moonlight Swim"?
I know for 100 % (from insiders) that this is Jimmy Ellis (Orion).
What is your opinion?
Ernst: Have
not listened - and I don't have a copy.
Andylon:
Well,
Ernst I will send you the CD. Oh, no , I know you ban imports
right, right, (hihi) I've heard you already complain to the
postman singing: Return To Sender, and me humming to you Fool,
Fool .. :-). Well Ernst you're not fooling me !!
Now back to another serious question:, as you know, Ernst, I had a close contact with our
dear friend Joan Deary
Two weeks before she
past away, Joan and I talked on the phone for nearly 2 hours
(mostly we talked about feelings-spirituality, never that much
about Elvis). That evening she invited me to visit her in the
US, but sadly it was too late, she also mentioned her oldest
son was changing his job).
She also confided
me, she did have some alternate takes of the album His hand
in mine that RCA/BMG had lost in their vaults. Now you know,
one of my favourite class of music is Gospels from Elvis. Is
it possible for you to tell us, what happened after Joan Deary
past away with these takes ?
Ernst: Joan
Deary was and her family was really helpful to me, and the (only)
tape she had (apart from her own working tapes) was outtakes
from 'His Hand In Mine", including the 'Swing Down Sweet
Chariot" we use on the new box set. And also 3 takes on
the new FTD CD "Fame
And Fortune", "Joshua Fit The Battle", I'm
Gonna Walk Them Golden Stairs" and 'In My Father's House".
She of course was happy to know that the fans were gonna get
to hear these recordings.
Andylon: Well
this is all very interesting to know. Do you have at this moment
hot news, Ernst, I mean about Elvis.
Ernst: Not
really - the news on the box is on all the websites, and nothing
else is decided yet.
Andylon:
Well,
then there is one question I am dying to know for years, Ernst.
Do you know anything about the tapes that were found in the
old white barn on Graceland's property, where Elvis, Scotty
and Bill used to practice in the old days?
Ernst: No -
I'm mystified by that. I have worked closely with EPE checking
all the tapes they could find, and never heard of this one.
Andylon: On
which Elvis project are you the most proud of, what you did
in the past?
Ernst: Hard
to single out, but the 50's box is one -simply because it was
the first project that was done exactly (well, almost) like
I wanted it. On a much smaller scale, I think "Tomorrow
Is A long Time" is an underrated beauty.
Andylon: Who
do you think we should invite for a next interview for
ElvisNews.com?
Ernst: Somebody
who has an interesting new Elvis project - a book?? Maybe Stanley
Oberts who did the "Elvis
In Texas" book.
Andylon:
Well,
this was a refreshing interview, Ernst. I really like to thank
you for this, ElvisNews.com and
our readers all over the world. And I really appreciate that
you made an exception for me and ElvisNews.com
to answered these questions.
Ernst: As you
realize Andylon - I love talking about Elvis and his music.....
Andylon: What
do you think I did all day Ernst ............ (lol)
