By Bob Hayden
June 2, 2002
Red West interview
for " ELVIS COLLECTOR'S GOLD "
Red and Pat West are
currently touring Australia for the Elvis Presley Fan Club of
Queensland and The Wintersun Rock and Roll Festival.
There were many requests
from all around Australia for club interviews but because of
time constraints all were declined.
Long time and well
know Australian Elvis music researcher, and extremely keen Elvis
follower (for the past 40 years) Bob Hayden was personally sent
an invitation by Red and Pat to conduct a one on one interview
during that tour. This was conducted in Sydney on Sunday 2nd
of June.
The interview was
so detailed that Bob has picked out some of the highlights of
that interview for "EPGOLD" readers. Bob explained
that the general run of the mill questions were not asked during
their entire time together. So much rubbish has been written
over the years on topics that really did not and never have
interested me, Bob and RED advised "EPGOLD".. The
whole point of the interview was Elvis' music first and foremost,
Red's music and writing talents, and then the friendship that
Elvis gave both Pat and Red and many others.
Bob. To you and
Pat, welcome to Australia.
RED. Thank you Bob,
it is great to finally get here after those long flights. Pat
and I are looking forward to meeting all the Elvis fans and
then seeing as much of Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney especially
and Queensland with Katrina.
Bob.Can we discuss
your songwriting and start with "A Thousand Years".
RED. Bob this is the
very first song I wrote and had recorded. It is very special
to me let me tell you, and it was done by our friend Pat Boone.
Is this record the local issue as the label does not look like
the USA issue?
I said yes and Red
said I like the label design. Big memories here Bob with this
song. Pat recorded an album full of my songs at the same time
and to this day they have not been released, and they cannot
find the tapes for me listen to them. All the songs on that
demo were written by me and please do not ask me what the song
titles were.
Bob. Well what
about these 2 records with BIG BIG WORLD by the Burnette's Johnny
and Dorsey.?
RED. Gee they were
two great guys to be friends with and boy they were tough and
could box. Johnny had the original recording and I was really
happy when Dorsey put out a version. They were real honest to
good buddies and were always there when you needed a friend.
Bob. This record
you wrote both songs and recorded it yourself "My Thanks
to You" / "Ain't Anybody Gonna Take My Place".
RED. You have a copy
of that here? Yes, well I do not own a copy these days of that
record. Got lost somewhere in our travels and moving over the
years. I will say this about my songs, I liked writing them
but preferred it when other artists sang them. They were better
than me.
Here Red started to
hum to lines to the song
Bob. In many articles
it is questioned that you wrote and recorded the following songs,
"My Babe", "The FBI Story', and "Midnight
Ride"?
RED I wrote and recorded
all those songs in the early 60's and Bob don't remind me of
them please Red said with a laugh on his face. Pat started to
laugh as well and said "The FBI Story" I remember
that one for sure Bob.
Red did all those.
They were fun days and Red really enjoyed his short reign as
a singer!
WRITING
FOR ELVIS
Bob.
What about the biggest and the best first "If Everyday
Was Like Christmas".
RED. That was not
the correct title for that song. The title was a lot longer
than that, but the record company cut it down, and the new title
was given. I went along with it, and had a few hundred copies
pressed for myself on the BRENT label (named after our son)
and hit the road with it, but it did not go anywhere. Elvis
really liked it and one day said "Hey Red" lets put
it down soon. And true to his word "He Did", and I
have been getting paid ever since. I think that this is one
of the better songs I have written.
(It must be noted
here that Elvis did not have the entire lyrics released on vinyl
for this song. The last verse has never been issued to my knowledge,
and maybe Andylon you can ask Ernst "next time you talk
to him" if there are any tapes with alternative or part
done versions of "IEDWLC" still in the can at BMG/RCA.)
Bob.
Separate Ways as I passed some sheet music and album covers
for Red to look at?
RED. I always thought
deep down that this would be a biggie if Elvis recorded it.
It was for him. I had written it a long time before I gave it
to him, and when things in his life started to change I thought
now is the right time to pitch it to him, and it worked.
This album here Bob
I have never seen in my life. Is it an Australian only album
and I said "Yes it is", you can have it if you wish?..but
Red and Pat declined the offer.
Bob. Have you ever
seen this sheet music before I asked? It was "If You Talk
In Your Sleep".
RED. I have seen every
other song Elvis recorded that had sheet music BUT this one
is fantastic. Pat look at this, Elvis at his best? It is a fine
song but Elvis always had a dig at me when he sang it live now
and then.
TIMES
TOGETHER
Bob. What about
the 50's and very early 60's?
RED. These were far
and away the best times of our lives. This was when he was just
another guy and our friendship was strong and healthy every
day we were together. I cannot and will not forget those times,
the tours around the country and so many cherished memories
that will say with me forever.
Bob What about
the movies?
RED. Some very good,
some good and some really bad ones not worth discussing. I was
really lucky, sometimes I got parts in his movies, and other
times I got work on other non related Elvis movies, whilst Elvis
was doing his own thing. Every movie job I did, I got in one
way or another via Elvis.
Bob. The 68 Comeback?
RED. Awesome in the
end. Brilliant, and after that Elvis came home a different and
revitalized human being. Singing was his exceptional talent
and it was in him again because of the songs in front of him.
Bob. Opening night/week
in Las Vegas.
RED. Another stunner,
great shows, and really some fantastic memories. Red mentioned
too many to write about.
Bob. The "ALOHA"
concert.?
RED. This is the ultimate
- we all had goose bumps and the skin was itching all over our
bodies before and after the show. Both Red and Pat said "He
was at his very, very best here. Superbly fit and in condition.
Man was he in condition and his looks were out of this world.
He selected the correct material to sing, and it all fell into
place. He was a nervous wreck the entire time we were there,
but he did the show with EASE. No other performer could have
pulled that off - HE WAS JUST BRILLIANT -
Pat then told the
ladies present this "Elvis was the best looking man she
had ever seen and met, but at Aloha he was absolutely stunning."
Bob. Well his life
did not finish the way we all would have liked but?
RED. No, that is true
and it was a pity, but you cannot help someone who does not
want to help themselves. That's why I did what I did, and have
no regrets what so ever.
Bob. Finally, would
you like to give us a few highlights of your long association
with Elvis, and events that center around Graceland to this
day before we close.
RED. Bob, I have had
the best time in my life being with Elvis. His friendship, kindness
and love to Pat and I can never be replaced. It was a period
in my life I will always cherish. He was a great human being.
In regards Graceland, They are doing a good job and good on
them, BUT, When Elvis left us, so did the warmth, love the times
with had with his mother and family. That has all gone and will
never be replaced, no matter, how long Graceland is there, and
it will be there for a long long time.
To all the Elvis fans
in Australia like you Christine and Joan, who loved his music
and him in your own ways, he was a "ONE" of and there
will never ever be another like him.
My greatest disappointment
was that not seeing ELVIS fulfill his desire to perform all
over the world. If only we all knew about the Colonel and other
related events earlier. I know Elvis would have come to Australia,
Europe and other countries , not in that order, to sing for
you all. He always said "It's the fans", that kept
me here all these years and I really want to repay them with
a visit.
Bob... Red, can
you recall all the times that Elvis yourself and others did
JAM sessions and were they put onto tapes?
RED.. Bob, there
were many times, especially in Germany when we had many a singing/jam
session as you call it. Some of those sessions have been deliberately
issued without authority, and some have or are being released
by BMG so I am lead to believe. There was a heap of tapes we
did in Germany and they all came home and were in Graceland.
I can tell you that because I saw them there and we played them
now and then. There was many tapes done stateside, and where
they are I have no Idea, but the Germany tapes, gee there was
a stack of them with all of us having a great time. Some maybe
good enough to use, but most were DELIBERATELY taped in part
and with heavy talking and laughing, so that they could not
be used at all. Really they were never done for anybody but
ELVIS and us. It was our way of having fun and enjoying ourselves
whilst we were away or in Graceland. In regards this beautiful
packaged "GREETINGS FROM GERMANY' ..a lot of what is written
as liner notes is totally incorrect. There is NO I repeat NO
Elvis writing or autographs contained as stated. Pat and I can
tell you that here and now.
I asked RED to autograph
this digipak and he said these words "Bob, I cannot write
the truth on this "? I said please do and so Red did. If
you want to see the written words please send a request via
Andylon, because I thought it was terrific. it contained one
word that says it all!
There may be some
songs that could be of interest to people like yourself that
are into researching Elvis' recordings, but Nothing will be
found that will shake the world again There will not be anything
from the early days, except for one tape that Elvis did after
a hayride show, and he gave that to Sam and then the song came
out on Sun. The song title I do not recall.
It was only one song
and Elvis said that Scotty, Bill and the sound guy who taped
all the Hayride shows went back to the radio station and did
it.
The sound guy had
a funny German car and Elvis told us he had a few drives in
it? Does that help you Bob? I said "that I have heard of
this and I do have some data stored at home" If my memory
is correct it maybe "I'm left you're right she's gone?
Oh that was a terrific song when it came out Red said to us.
Bob Red are you
sure that no other Elvis unreleased songs will be found.
RED. I think there
will be some, but not full songs, we did bits and pieces, so
If they got out of Graceland no one could use them.........
Andylon, These Q&A
were taken from the interview that lasted a very long time and
so I have selected the best for your readers.
EpGold.Com would like
to thank Red West and Bob Hayden for their enlightened interview.
