68 Special - 40th Anniversary

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Yes time passes by so quickly, this year sees the 40th anniversary of the 68 Special! It is without a doubt one of the biggest milestones in Elvis' career. Elvis had been hidden in a haze of mediocre films for far to long and came back to remind people of what he was capable of, a reminder of an innocent time long gone.

I watched a program on TV called 'The South Bank Show', it was all about how the whole world was on the edge of a 'Revolution' it talked about how the whole world was raised up in arms about Vietnam, anti war protesters around the world were making their voices heard.

The music around 1968 was about cultural change as opposed the the summer of love only the year before...

I don't want to get into a political debate about the rights and wrongs of 'Vietnam' or discuss the 'Revolution'. What I did want to discuss was how in a world of turmoil did our hero recover from obscurity? Is it because people wanted to hark back to a simpler time or did they realise what they were missing and got with the program?

Any thoughts :hmm:

[Tommy]

All Elvis ever had to do was what he did in 1968 any year before this also, he would have been just as much a sensation then as he was in 1968! I remember it all well. I wish he would have comeback sooner than 68.(y)

It wasn't so much realizing for me, he just was and is.

[LianaKaralivanou]

By 1968, it had been more than 7 years since Elvis had appeared on stage in front of a live audience. So this was the BIG RETURN. The return of a brilliant singer who rocked the world in the 50s and who concentrated mostly in his movie career in the 60s. The return of the voice, the moves, the power and energy on stage, the charisma...He rebonded with his fans. He reminded them of who he really was. Okay, in the 60s he tried to prove himself as an actor and he focused on that but NOW he's BACK...(y) It was as if he found himself again. The fire was always there but it was "sleeping" inside of him. He was also looking at his best. Breathtakingly handsome, vocally mature and the songs were actually very good! The critics and the audience noticed all these things. And they made this appearance the number one TV programme. That's why the "'68 Comeback Special" was indeed, so special...And will always be. :notworthy

[The King's Queen]

Hi Matt! ;)

Personally, I think that the timing was just plain right for that comeback! He had it all together...he was hungry again...and he felt he had something to prove. The fans were curious, I think, to see if he still had it. This show also combined his raw talent with a glimpse into the real Elvis...as it allowed him to do some clips that were unscripted and totally within his control...and he captivated the audience with nothing more than his personality, his sultry sex appeal, and his obvious desire to knock 'em dead! Which, of course, he succeeded at doing! :king:(y):P:P:P

[utmom2008]

Hi Matt! ;)

Personally, I think that the timing was just plain right for that comeback! He had it all together...he was hungry again...and he felt he had something to prove. The fans were curious, I think, to see if he still had it. This show also combined his raw talent with a glimpse into the real Elvis...as it allowed him to do some clips that were unscripted and totally within his control...and he captivated the audience with nothing more than his personality, his sultry sex appeal, and his obvious desire to knock 'em dead! Which, of course, he succeeded at doing! :king:(y):P:P:P

And then he came to my house in Dallas and we went dancing!:lmfao::lmfao: :partytime :partytime

[LORRIELOVESELVIS]

GREAT !!!!!!(y):notworthy:notworthy

[The King's Queen]

And then he came to my house in Dallas and we went dancing!:lmfao::lmfao: :partytime :partytime

Yeah, yeah, yeah...and you branded him on the neck...and the rest is unknown history! :blink::lmfao::lmfao::lmfao:

[utmom2008]

Yeah, yeah, yeah...and you branded him on the neck...and the rest is unknown history! :blink::lmfao::lmfao::lmfao:

Just call it a scientific hickie.
:laughing::laughing::laughing:

[The King's Queen]

Just call it a scientific hickie.
:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Hmmm...I was thinking more along the lines of a Lone Star Hickie....:supriced::lmfao::lmfao:

[Wendy56]

Elvis made history with that show... What else can I say... He did in 50s, 60s and 70s. He marked a tendency to follow.

[elvisfan1992]

Will there be a new release of the 68 Comeback cause of the 40th anniversairy?

[boogie]

He was brilliant......just TOP, there was no one else like him at that time...

[utmom2008]

Hmmm...I was thinking more along the lines of a Lone Star Hickie....:supriced::lmfao::lmfao:

Well...you do realize that we do everything bigger and better here in Texas. Why do you think he liked Texas so much?:lol::lol:

[Suspicious Minds]

Elvis was singing better on this show. Better than the previous films.
I thought the special came about because Elvis and a few others walked down the main street somewhere and no one recognised Elvis at the time.
Did Elvis record the show after that incident?

[utmom2008]

Elvis was singing better on this show. Better than the previous films.
I thought the special came about because Elvis and a few others walked down the main street somewhere and no one recognised Elvis at the time.
Did Elvis record the show after that incident?

Yes...it was after that happened. He went down and stood on a corner of a very busy intersection and as Lisa might say....nobody noticed.:hmm:

[TotallyInsane]

Yes...it was after that happened. He went down and stood on a corner of a very busy intersection and as Lisa might say....nobody noticed.:hmm:

And, apparently, it just ticked him off!!!!

[SleepyJack]

To me the `68 special always seemed like a great big roar of relief to be getting away from the movies and back to rock`n`roll.......It has to be one of the truly great tv music specials of all time...the first time I ever saw it I was just stunned.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

It just occurred to me that with all the other heavy weight acts out there putting out a more hardcore vibe that Elvis would have somehow come across as lightweight.

Elvis was always keen to keep his own views to himself, the younger generation would have perhaps thought that Elvis was old news....

Was it the older generation that re-discovered Elvis or did some of the younger generation opt out of the revolution and decide to get out of the rat race :hmm:

[utmom2008]

And, apparently, it just ticked him off!!!!

I Love Your Avatar!!:lol:(y)

[utmom2008]

It just occurred to me that with all the other heavy weight acts out there putting out a more hardcore vibe that Elvis would have somehow come across as lightweight.

Elvis was always keen to keep his own views to himself, the younger generation would have perhaps thought that Elvis was old news....

Was it the older generation that re-discovered Elvis or did some of the younger generation opt out of the revolution and decide to get out of the rat race :hmm:

I think it was a mixture of both. I was not around to experience Elvis in the 50's, but I was around to experience the 60's. When that special started......I think I fell out of my chair.:cool::jawdrop:

[presley31]

To me the `68 special always seemed like a great big roar of relief to be getting away from the movies and back to rock`n`roll.......It has to be one of the truly great tv music specials of all time...the first time I ever saw it I was just stunned.

I agree Jack and l think the 68 comeback just showed elvis how much he was missing concerts while the movies were really getting boring for him so that change was something elvis needed and longed for in my opinion.

[Diane Lynn]

elvis never lost it he just got sidelined, and off track. after the tours he put on. he never would have lasted if he did not have that break the movies gave him.

[TCBnAflash]

I think the music scene was heading back to its roots. The Beatles, The Stones, The Doors were all getting back to the basics. Even though Blues was always the foundation of these bands. I don't know much about the Stones but I've studied, The Beatles and The Doors and they both give Elvis all the credit for their music.
Steve Binder was right on top of that. Even though Jim Morrison was known as,"The Lizard King" he was also known as "The Leather King" at one point. It didn't stick and Elvis just pulled it off better. From what I understand, Elvis didn't think that the war was wrong. He was of the old school way of thinking in the Government knows what they are doing. I never understood that about him. Such a rebel and then so conservative.
I just think what would've happened to Elvis' career if they had gone with a total Christmas special like the Colonel wanted. I sometimes feel that The Colonel wanted Elvis fail so that he saw Vegas as his only hope. But they ended up there anyway.

[Burning_Love]

It brought him another life.
Something which he missed and he loved doing best. It helped him prove he weren't going to do movies for the rest of his life. And it was amazing.

[Joe Car]

As a performer, he needed to be back home, which was on stage, being the greatest, rocker-entertainer that ever lived! The 1968 special blew everybody away, and till this day, is the epitome of cool. The greatest rock & roll ever performed, by anybody.