Elvis Presley Music Video: Elvis: '68 Comeback Special
Usually referred to as The '68 Special or The '68 Comeback, the actual name of this landmark television special was Elvis. Taped in June 1968, it first aired the following December 3rd on NBC-TV. It stands as one of the great television moments in rock music history and a stunningly brilliant milestone in Elvis Presley's career.
Appearing on stage alone and in jam sessions reuniting him with early bandmates Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, Elvis performs his classic rock and pop hits, introduces new material and reminisces about his career. There's a rousing gospel segment, a semi-autobiographical production number, and, as the finale, Elvis's passionate performance of If I Can Dream.
Above - Elvis Presley's original recording of A Little Less Conversation song was part of the soundtrack of his 1968 movie 'Live a Little, Love a Little'. Later, during a studio session for the pre-recorded portions of his 1968 television special, Elvis laid down a new vocal. Early on in the planning of the special, parts of this new version were to be used as a thematic linking device for various segments of the show. It ended up not being used in the television special at all. On the 2006 single-disc release Elvis: '68 Comeback - Special Edition DVD it is used for the newly produced closing credits with Elvis footage from the special choreographed to it. But, here it is with the closing credits removed, making it purely a music video.
Above - 1969 - The special DVD promo video combining the regular 'white suit' performance with the two previously unutilized 'black leather' performances. This version is included as a bonus feature on Elvis: '68 Comeback Special - Deluxe Edition DVD.
Above - a collection of funny moments we assembled from throughout the shooting of the '68 Special. This was put together for a special promotion of the 2004 3-disc release Elvis: '68 Comeback Special - Deluxe Edition DVD after the deluxe set was finished, so it was not part of that release although all the material it's comprised of is found in its original form in the set. For the 2006 1-disc release Elvis: '68 Comeback - Special Edition we reworked this "funny reel" and expanded it to over 9 minutes and included it as a bonus feature called Having Fun With Elvis In Burbank.
Above Steve Binder producer and director of 'Elvis' talks about Elvis and the production.
Photos
Colonel's Birthday on the Set of the '68 Special On June 26, 1968, Elvis, cast and crew enjoy a party in honor of his manager Colonel Tom Parker's birthday. It "snows" as nod to Colonel's longstanding tongue-in-cheek fraternal order known as the Snowmen's League of America. Elvis performs special new comedic lyrics to the song It Hurts Me, giving a send-up to Colonel and his finagling with the producers. Executive producer Bob Finkel gives Colonel a portrait of himself as Napoleon.
Stop, look and listen baby that's our philosophy .... First thing in the morning, last thing at night ... look, stare everywhere and see everything inside .... Stop, look and listen!
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