The '68 Comeback Special (Deluxe Edition DVD)

[Albert]

Product Details:

• Encoding: All Regions
• Format: Color
• Studio: Bmg Distribution
• DVD Release Date: June 22, 2004
• DVD Features:
  
  • Three-disc set featuring all the material shot for Elvis Presley's 1968 television special, including the two complete jam session concerts and the two complete solo concerts, which have never been released in their entirety
  • All takes of the material shot for the original broadcast's two big production numbers and for the show's opening and closing segments
  • Includes the original broadcast version of the special
  • Newly remastered sound and picture
  • Full-screen format
  • Number of discs: 3
• ASIN: B00025L42Q

Review:
Five years before he achieved broadcast history with his legendary 1973 global satellite telecast, Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, Elvis Presley brought a less grandiose but far more urgent mission to this Christmas season network special: isolated from his original audience after a long sojourn on Hollywood soundstages, and threatened by the vibrancy and social gravity of rock, the King sought nothing less than to reclaim his throne.
More than three decades later, what has since become known as Elvis: '68 Comeback Special looms as the Memphis icon's most substantial achievement as a stage performer. If the candy-colored sets and hyperactive choreography of its larger production numbers smack of its network packagers' desperation to be hip, Elvis himself rises to a riveting, assured performance at the peak of his powers. Looking fit and relaxed, and sheathed in black leather, he covers a shrewd song list encompassing early rockabilly hits, gospel (albeit rendered unintentionally hilarious by its florid dance routines), and comparatively restrained ballads.

Standout performances include two intimate stage sets that put him literally within his fans' reach, most strikingly in a brief reunion with four of his earliest bandmates (including guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana). The latter segment is only a brief sample of a session posthumously released on video as One Night with You, which is, if anything, even better than this terrific portrait of a towering American artist.
--Sam Sutherland (Amazon.com)


DeLuxe Edition Features:

• 3DVD set, over 7 hours of material
• includes the original 1968 broadcast version of the special plus 3 1/2 hours of previously unseen material
• Outtakes, false starts, alternate stagings of the skits and dramatized musical numbers
• If I Can Dream - special music video combining white suit finale with black leather performance footage
• DeLuxe booklet with historical text and never-before-seen photo's and memoriabilia

D I S C 1: (running time 2:40:49)

• Available for the first time, the original ELVIS television special as it first aired on NBC on December 3, 1968
• For the first time, both the BLACK LEATHER SITDOWN SHOWS in their entirety featuring jamsessions with original bandmembers and friends

D I S C 2: (running time 1:48:32)

• For the first time both BLACK LEATHER STAND-UP SHOWS in their entirety featuring Elvis performing solo on stage
• Available for the first time in its complete, raw form, used and unused takes:
  
  • TROUBLE/GUITAR MAN opening
  • IF I CAN DREAM show closer
  • "Huh-huh-huh" promotional tag for tv special
• IF I CAN DREAM - bonus music video created for this DVD

D I S C 3: (running time 2:51:27)

• Available for the first time in its complete, raw form, used and unused takes:
  
  • Gospel production number
  • GUITAR MAN production number

[Albert]

"Sensational!"
Reviewed by Marc Haegeman

Sensational is the word that comes to mind while browsing through the new "Elvis - The '68 Comeback Special (Deluxe Edition DVD)". This 3-disc set assembles all the footage related to the famous '68 Comeback Special. A great deal of the material shown is released here for the first time in its entirety, or released for the first time pure and simple.

While some parts, delightful as they are, will definitely be for Elvis fans only (the takes and raw components of the production numbers on disc 3), the bulk of this set is essential watching for any rock enthusiast - the two sit-down shows, the two stand-up shows, and the adapted NBC TV special as it was originally aired on December 3, 1968, represent not only some of Elvis's finest moments of his whole career, but are nothing less than some of the most exciting rock gigs ever filmed. Watching these shows now, in great remastered sound (there's choice between Dolby stereo and Dolby 5.1) and unseen picture quality, and realizing that they have been in the vaults for more than 35 years, one can but wonder why it took them so long to release them.

In his emphatic effort to reinvent himself, Elvis continually transcends the limitations of space and time, revealing along the way as only he could what rock 'n' roll is all about - and we have a true classic performance on our hands.

You can now watch some 7 hours of it. Not to be missed.

? 2004 Marc Haegeman

[Albert]

"The Penultimated Elvis! But the DVD is lacking"
Reviewed by Eddie Nguyen

Okay, this is a 5 star special. Any Elvis Presley fans will want to own Elvis' 1968 TV special, and most probably already have it on VHS. The question is....is the DVD worth purchasing?

To start, the DVD is not complete. Evidently, there was some issue about the rights to "Are you lonesome tonight?" so this song is NOT to be found on the DVD. Other from that, I didn't find anything missing from the DVD. The picture quality is a little soft, a little grainy, and looks like the show was recorded on videotape. Of course, all of this is how the special looked in the first place, so it's not a big deal. In fact, given the limitations of TV broadcasts back in the 60s, the picture quality is acceptable. The soundtrack has the original mono soundtrack. There is also a 5.1 dolby digital remix which sounds good but is maybe a little bass-heavy. Young fans weaned on ultra-glossy DVDs of recent films may be disappointed with the picture/sound quality, but those of us who grew up on Elvis will absolutely love the DVD, which is pretty much the best the special has looked and sounded. The main issue is whether or not to purchase this particular edition....or wait and hope that a future second edition will contain the deleted song. It's a toss-up. Personally, I am happy I bought the DVD and I will probably listen to it quite often!

Other than the special itself, there is little else on the DVD. There is a website link-up and a small slide show. That's it. I would have liked a subtitles option (who wouldn't want to sing along with Elvis?). Or how about some outtakes? So, given the incompleteness of the DVD, I can only rate the DVD 4 stars, although the special itself is 5 stars.

One last thing - this is obviously a 1960s product. The production numbers have a surreal, almost psychedelic quality to them. Elvis himself is in superb voice, and he delivers a performance that cements his image as the king of rock and roll. But Elvis fans already know this. To the uninitiated, there is probably no better way to see the King at the height of his powers as in this special! Recommended!

? 2004 - Eddie Nguyen (Kensington, Maryland USA)

Note: this is a review of the old DVD release, not the 2004 DeLuxe version

[mn-designs]

The colors are soft? .........i think not, this dvd boxset is a real treat for the eyes, i never saw the 68 special in better quality than this one, i have them all: the vhs tapes, the first dvd, the one night with you dvd and all those releases are soft colored. This boxset is a true masterpiece! the estate can be proud, they did a fantastic job on it! They only thing that we all agree on that this special should have recorded in full stereo, back in 1968, the only songs that were recorded in stereo are: The opening scene: Trouble/Guitar man, the gospel section, the road medley and the closing songs: Memories and If i can dream.
And the sound on these recordings are really outstanding...!
This release gets a 5 star from me.
In short: if you had to buy 2 essential dvd's: buy the '68 comeback deluxe edition and Aloha from hawaii deluxe edition, and forget the rest!

[Albert]

I'd like to add the TTWII dvd to that list also Patrick

[mn-designs]

That's right Albert! forgot that one, a few days ago i bought a new copy of this dvd for just ? 9.99!
My first copy was a little scratched..(my oldest son was playing with it on the ground.. , i forgot to put it back in the dvd case) so i came across this supersale. It's really a great movie and totally different than the 1970 version and it's much better! So than you have to buy 3 essential dvd's..

[Lonniebealestreet]

I believe the above review, even if it was recently listed somewhere with the new DVD set, was written in reference to the old DVD.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Got my copy of this last thursday, I still have'nt seen it all yet, watching all the out-takes are quite amusing, I've also got the Aloha DVD also, so plenty to watch!!

[iamhekev]

A1.

Its the one way of saying,its BRILL

KEV.

[Marcel]

Who said there was nothing else missing except "It hurts me"
Parts of it are cut or just missing, as well as the out-takes (other out-takes are there, except that song.
Watch it again... First: watch the first release (on DVD) from Lightyear, and then watch this "thing"
I am so that we've been screwed again by Graceland and EPE.
What do these "people" think about?
What do they think we are?

I've had enough being had by them.

I got some stuff for sale (FTD CD's, and the rest of my original collection).
DVD's will be next.

If they had released it the way they said it would be, and the way it should have been, I wouldn't be here complaining again.
Are they just waiting for a re-re-re-re-re-release and then finally put ABSOLUTELY everything, in 100 years when all Elvis fans are dead, or have spent 1 million dollars on their collection?
Here's one cat that had been screwed one time too many by EPE!

[E.L.V.I.S]

Marcel your totally wrong in my view. It seems to me all the elvis fans can never be 100% happy with anything. Ok im the first to moan about Rca but only when they have done something wrong. Ok so the '68 release has bits missing but ****** rather that then nothing. I have a un-official copy which was realesed many moons ago which contained everything but what poor quaility it was. We all payed for this '68 deluxe edition for many reasons ,e.g new content etc,but the main reason was the QUAILITY and i for one think the bit of money i paid for that dvd was all very well spent.Just be happy with what we got man cause one day there will be nothing left thats new so enjoy the ****** releases while there still coming and enjoy

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I have to agree with E.L.V.I.S. on this one, "You can please some of the people some of the time, You can't please all of the people all of the time"

EPE, BMG, And RCA are always gonna hold something back, at the end of the day they are a business and that means profit, yeah we don't like it because we want it all right here and right now, but if they have more (which we know they do) it leaves us wanting more. If I thought there was nothing left to see then Elvis really would be gone.............

I want there to be more.............................................. .....

[Marcel]

If I am wrong, then YOU are wrong too

It's because of people like you that they always release incomplete material and then re-re-release it 3 times.
People like you take their kick in the butt and say "thank you, may I have another one?"
They know you are docile and gullible, thus easy to fool, cheat and sell crap to.
They will sell you the same thing 3 or 4 times, each time with a LITTLE difference and they know you will buy it.
Why should they stop???
If we all get together and tell them "THAT'S IT! Stop screwing us!" and if we all stop buying their inferior quality "items" until they release what we deserve to get, then maybe, just maybe they'd listen and maybe we'd get what we should get.
We've been fooled for years by Parker, now it's EPE, Graceland and BMG
The worst is that you guys still approve, endorse and encourage them.
They have NO concern for fans other than our money.

You think getting a little (and buy it 5 times) is better than nothing at all?
That's YOUR point of view (and I say your mistake).
Keep buying their stuff, and they'll keep selling it again and again.
Stop buying ... all of you... and the message will be clear (if they have any intelligence).
Let's tell them what WE want... stop buying what THEY want us to buy like gentle little sheeps. (I can hear you say: bahhhh bahhhhh! now...

I've had enough kissing EPE, Graceland, RCA, BMG and others' butt and grease their paw.
You want to keep doing it?
Fine!

But keep your brown nose out of my affairs and my opinion!

I work hard to get money to get their stuff. I am tired of being screwed.
I've had enough of that crappy commercialization of Elvis.
I love the guy and his music, but the way they sell it is a shame and encouraging it and demanding more of the same is even more shameful!
I don't care if you agree with me of not.
I just hope you'll all wake up one day and smell the cash that you are losing and look at what you got in return
The "cheap" Lightyear 68 Comeback had more than the one released now (not talking about the out-takes, just the show itself). Doesn't THAT tell you something?
Probably not....
And I am probably also wasting my time writing this.

Won't waste any more... of my time to answer blindfolded people with no vision and attitude, nor any of my hard earned money to buy more "official EPE" items.
Goodbye

(Answer if that makes you feel good and release your stress, but this cat won't bother reading it). Instead, why don't you watch the INcomplete 68 Comeback?

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I would prefer posts to be constructive without being offensive and yours are niether, so if you have nothing to add without being offensive to other users of this board, don't bother submitting anything else.

[Cherokee]

Just sticking my nose in here

He probably could have articulated his frustrations differently, but I do agree with Marcel's POV. Elvis, in death, is being exploited as much by his legal heirs as he was in life by the "Colonel".
Of course we do get rarities and his entire catalogue of work EVENTUALLY, but the way it has been brought to the fans makes one scratch behind his/her ear and wonder if some total Elvis ignoramuses are responsible for bringing Elvis' work to the public or, and the way the world works these days I'm afraid we need to be cynical enough to see that this is what's really going on, some money hungry business types who simply count on the willingness of the fans to "buy anything, as long as it's Elvis" thereby (partly) rehashing material in slightly altered combos all the time.
If some business type packaging specialists, who aren't really into Elvis, are in charge of issuing Elvis material to the consumer, that would explain, though not excuse!, the reason why so many ommissions keep popping up with each "new" product.
If the second, more cynical possibility, is the case, then we're "being had", and will continue "being had" as long as we do not send out a signal. It may not help. It certainly won't help if only a small group of fans gather the courage to stand up against this. But if you don't say anything, nothing will change for sure. Believe me: they WILL bring out Elvis material as long as they can find it. They have to. Elvis still butters their bread No Elvis products, no income. It is as simple as that. But that doesn't mean they should just keep selling the fans 85 percent of the same old same old, with only 15 percent new stuff each time they bring out a product

Of course it is everybody's personal choice to spend their money the way they wish, but like Marcel I refuse to keep throwing my money on the Presley money pile each time a "new" product is introduced to the market with, say, 20 tracks on it of which in the end only 2 have never seen the light before, and the other 18 have already been brought out on other edits. Personally I seriously doubt if Elvis would have agreed that his fans be treated this way. While he was alive there were already re-issued and slightly altered albums, but mostly those were 'Greatest Hits" or special themed issues.
These days it seems to have become a sport to think up new "project titles" that in the end only represent a different point of view in how they have categorized the same material this time.
You cannot convince me for instance, that with all the money invested in the legal department of EPE or Graceland (the business) to prevent others from making money off Elvis' memory, that they could not make sure a REALLY COMPLETE version of TTWII (including the now all missing songs) could make it to the market in one clean, finished product, instead of what they are now selling the fans under the veil of "some songs have not been legally cleared yet but will probably make it to a next, corrected issue of TTWII"

In other words I think there is a lot of validity to Marcel's words, though he could have stated it differently, and I do understand why he may have felt a bit incensed when bluntly told he was wrong He was merely stating his opinion, be it bluntly, but to tell someone flat out they are wrong is probably just as blunt.

Of course, the above is also just my opinion to which, I hope, I am entitled on this board

[mn-designs]

If I am wrong, then YOU are wrong too

It's because of people like you that they always release incomplete material and then re-re-release it 3 times.
People like you take their kick in the butt and say "thank you, may I have another one?"
They know you are docile and gullible, thus easy to fool, cheat and sell crap to.
They will sell you the same thing 3 or 4 times, each time with a LITTLE difference and they know you will buy it.
Why should they stop???
If we all get together and tell them "THAT'S IT! Stop screwing us!" and if we all stop buying their inferior quality "items" until they release what we deserve to get, then maybe, just maybe they'd listen and maybe we'd get what we should get.
We've been fooled for years by Parker, now it's EPE, Graceland and BMG
The worst is that you guys still approve, endorse and encourage them.
They have NO concern for fans other than our money.

You think getting a little (and buy it 5 times) is better than nothing at all?
That's YOUR point of view (and I say your mistake).
Keep buying their stuff, and they'll keep selling it again and again.
Stop buying ... all of you... and the message will be clear (if they have any intelligence).
Let's tell them what WE want... stop buying what THEY want us to buy like gentle little sheeps. (I can hear you say: bahhhh bahhhhh! now...

I've had enough kissing EPE, Graceland, RCA, BMG and others' butt and grease their paw.
You want to keep doing it?
Fine!

But keep your brown nose out of my affairs and my opinion!

I work hard to get money to get their stuff. I am tired of being screwed.
I've had enough of that crappy commercialization of Elvis.
I love the guy and his music, but the way they sell it is a shame and encouraging it and demanding more of the same is even more shameful!
I don't care if you agree with me of not.
I just hope you'll all wake up one day and smell the cash that you are losing and look at what you got in return
The "cheap" Lightyear 68 Comeback had more than the one released now (not talking about the out-takes, just the show itself). Doesn't THAT tell you something?
Probably not....
And I am probably also wasting my time writing this.

Won't waste any more... of my time to answer blindfolded people with no vision and attitude, nor any of my hard earned money to buy more "official EPE" items.
Goodbye

(Answer if that makes you feel good and release your stress, but this cat won't bother reading it). Instead, why don't you watch the INcomplete 68 Comeback?

Marcel: i really hope that in your future posts you use less strong words and comments!
Most of the people are not really happy with the chosen words you used!
I've gotten some reactions to delete you're post..but i didn't because everyone has the right to write his opnion! but please use a more friendly way to write it!!!!
Thank you and i hope that you have a great time here on the TCB-World forum!

[karlos]

this set is just Brill. i purchased it when it was released . thediscs are great except they for got to put on dvd the song - It Hurts Me - on the U.S.tv version of dvd .

The footage is great with all the sitdown , standup and pre production sections .
This is one of the best dvd releases that came out for a long time .

This is just Great and one of my favourite shows.
(h)
I keep viewing this and the video version very often .

i hope that thbere are more dvds like this in the future . :worthy: :worthy: :worthy:

[Unchained Melody]

I got this dvd set for Christmas and it is great. My favorite is the 2 sit-down shows that Elvis in, I love seeing him and the other guys including Charlie Hodge sitting up there just jammin' it awesome.

[franny]

here's a clip of If I Can Dream...
click on the link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8sCK2PKlQ

[Unchained Melody]

Awesome link thanks Franny.