Elly Roberts reviews
Elvis: ’68 Comeback Special: Deluxe Edition
Distributed by
BMG UK & Ireland
- Cert:
- Cat.no: 82876613069
- Running time: 420 minutes
- Year: 1968
- Pressing: 2004
- Region(s): 2, PAL
- Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
- Languages: English
- Disc Format: 3 * DVD 9
- Price: £29.99
- Extras:
Deluxe booklet – comprehensive information covering every aspect of the
filming.
Coming in at a whopping 7 hours,
this memorable DVD captures one of the greatest moments in popular culture.
Whether you’re an Elvis fan or not this is essential viewing for everyone who
loves music. With an absence of seven years from performing live, Elvis feared
he was leaving the American psyche. Since 1960, he had concentrated on his
film career. The British Invasion (The Beatles et al) had come and
almost petered out, and his record sales were in decline, so he made a last –
gasp effort to regain his footing. But he shouldn’t have worried, because when
it was aired on 3 December 1968 on NBC – TV, it attracted 42% of the American
viewing audience.
It single headedly resurrected his flagging career, and returned the King to
what he did best – singing –‘ live’. Recorded in the summer of ’68, and
promoted simply as Elvis (but most commonly referred to as The '68 Special or
The '68 Comeback Special) it shows him digging deep into his musical
and performance skills.
Disc 1, with 3 Chapters gives you an adapted version of the original show,
which includes highly choreographed production numbers (which now look dated)
and informal setting for the Black Leather Sit-Down Show, which is the best
part of this whole package. In effect, everything after that is a breakdown
of the component parts which made the final version, and obviously the
omissions, which are equally as fascinating.
Chapters 2 and 3 are full-length versions of these recordings, but only
extracts from show one are placed into the final broadcast. So, what you
get here is a wonderful insight, warts and all, of Elvis interacting in an
almost ‘rehearsal environment’ or jam-sessions with former colleagues D.J.
Fontana, Scotty Moore, Charlie Hodge and Alan Fortas on instruments.
It actually shows him at his best : fooling around, singing some amazing
Rock’n’Roll, Gospel and ballads. Looking absolutely stunning at his peak at
33 years of age, he’d lost none of his charm, as he occasionally interacted
with ladies in the audience. It doesn’t matter that he forgets the song lyrics,
or his guitar lead disconnects, or his leather jacket gets caught in the
microphone – it’s all wonderful stuff. He’s sweating buckets in a skin tight
leather suit (under the intense studio lighting) which looks like a second
skin.
Amazingly, he isn’t fazed by any of it, and just gets on with the gigs.
Biggest problem it seems, he’s supposed to sit down for these sessions,
but he frustratingly has to kick his legs during songs, and eventually stands
for a show-stopping rendition of One Night.
Disc 2 with 5 Chapters, includes two Black Leather Stand – Up shows (filmed on
June 29, two days after the sit – down shows), the TV show opener of Trouble
and Guitar Man – all takes and raw components. Alone on stage with off-stage
orchestra and singers, he goes through the motions with several interruptions,
but, once again, when he gets into the swing of things he’s unstoppable. The
hip-swivelling is all but gone, and there’s a clear indication of moves that
would crop up during his Las Vegas residency twelve months later. Finishing
with the breath-taking show closer, (as he lets rip, using all the Gospel
singing he learnt as a youngster when he attended the First Assembly of God
Church) on If I Can Dream (all takes) both recorded on 30 June.
Disc 3, comprising 2 Chapters, is a chronology of complete and incomplete
takes, spanning nearly three hours. This one is purely for the fans, as
there’s a lot of repetition with retakes etc. It does become rather tedious,
but there are plenty of funny bits as he grapples with the gruelling production
techniques.
Track-listing for this musical marathon, includes Lawdy Miss Clawdy,
Heartbreak Hotel, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Blue Christmas, Memories, Big Boss
Man, If I Can Dream, Blue Suede Shoes etc etc etc. (Full track list in
booklet)
Over half of the seven hours of material has never been seen before, and is
presented with newly remastered sound and picture which makes it essential
viewing.
Further information on
Elly Robert's Elvis DVD and CD reviews:
DVD Elvis: '68 Comeback Special: Deluxe Edition
DVD Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii: Deluxe Edition
CD Elvis: Elvis At Sun
CD Kings of Rock 'N' Roll: Various Artists
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
