This 7-Disc definitive box set Contains all known recordings/rehearsals from the RCA vaults and from original NBC-TV videotapes available November 30
’68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition) is the definitive chronicle of the now legendary NBC-TV show, Elvis. After years of making formulaic movies, Elvis was finally unleashed to perform live again on an intimate stage with his original sidemen, Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana. Playing “That’s All Right”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” and many of his great hits, the sheer rawness and excitement of the performances attracted unanimous critical acclaim. Greil Marcus in his book Mystery Train said, “If ever there was music that could bleed, this was it”. 1968 was a profound year for America. Martin Luther King had been assassinated, and while Elvis was making the special, Bobby Kennedy was shot. The closing song “If I Can Dream” encapsulates every emotion that Elvis and the entire production crew felt during the making of the special. NBC-TV’s Elvis is as raw and inspirational today as it was in 1968.
This 50th Anniversary Edition includes all the known audio recordings from RCA’s vault and all the videotaped performances are here for the first time on Blu-ray.
For millions of fans, including a young Bruce Springsteen, the Elvis ‘68 Comeback Special was a life-changing event. “I remember I waited for weeks for the ’68 Special,” Springsteen recollected recently. “I knew it was coming. I can remember exactly where our TV was set up in the dining room, the exact place I was sitting. I mean, it’s one of those things that’s imprinted on my memory forever.”
CAREER-DEFINING ’68 COMEBACK
• 7-Disc definitive box set chronicles the pivotal NBC-TV ’68 special called Elvis and takes you behind the scenes in audio and remastered 4:3 Blu-ray video
• Contains ALL KNOWN recordings/rehearsals from the RCA vaults and from original NBC-TV videotapes
• 80-page book includes a new, oral history on the special, crafted from interviews with producer Steve Binder, recording engineer Bones Howe, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Priscilla Presley, Emmylou Harris, Scotty Moore conducted for Thom Zimny’s 2018 documentary, “Elvis Presley: The Searcher.”
• The book also features rare photos and memorabilia and full recording data
• Over 7.5 hours of footage across 2 newly mastered Blu-ray discs, overseen by Thom Zimny.
Elvis Presley re-established himself as The King of Rock and Roll with Elvis, the widely-seen “comeback special” broadcast on NBC at the end of 1968. The show’s many highlights included laid-back live performances recorded in the round before a small audience and featuring a powerful ensemble—including guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana, both part of Elvis’ original, classic backing band. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elvis, both electrifying, intimate “sit-down” sets will be released widely on vinyl for the first time in a 2LP package with a newly created gatefold sleeve.
’68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition) Track Listing:
CD 1
The Original Album
1. Trouble / Guitar Man (Opening)
2. Medley:
Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
Baby, What You Want Me To Do
Dialogue; Medley: Heartbreak Hotel / Hound Dog / All Shook Up
Can’t Help Falling In Love
Jailhouse Rock
Dialogue; Love Me Tender
3. Medley:
Dialogue; Where Could I Go But To The Lord / Up Above My Head / Saved
4. Medley:
Dialogue; Blue Christmas (5:34)
Dialogue; One Night
5. Memories
6. Medley:
Nothingville / Dialogue; Big Boss Man / Guitar Man / Little Egypt / Trouble / Guitar Man
7. If I Can Dream
Bonus Cuts
8. It Hurts Me (splice/edit of part 1 – take 7, part 2 – take 7 & part 1 – take 6)
9. Let Yourself Go (splice/edit of part 1 – take 1 & part 2 – take 2)
10. Memories
11. If I Can Dream
CD 2
First “Sit Down” show
1. That’s All Right
2. Heartbreak Hotel
3. Love Me
4. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
5. Blue Suede Shoes
6. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
7. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
8. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
9. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
10. Blue Christmas
11. Trying To Get To You
12. One Night
13. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
14. One Night
15. Memories
First “Stand Up” show
16. Heartbreak Hotel
17. Hound Dog
18. All Shook Up
19. Can’t Help Falling In Love
20. Jailhouse Rock
21. Don’t Be Cruel
22. Blue Suede Shoes
23. Love Me Tender
24. Trouble
25. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
26. If I Can Dream
CD 3
Second “Sit Down” show
1. Heartbreak Hotel
2. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
3. Introductions
4. That’s All Right
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
6. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
7. Blue Suede Shoes
8. One Night
9. Love Me
10. Trying To Get To You
11. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
12. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
13. Blue Christmas
14. Tiger Man
15. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
16. Memories
Second “Stand Up” show
17. Heartbreak Hotel
18. Hound Dog
19. All Shook Up
20. Can’t Help Falling In Love
21. Jailhouse Rock
22. Don’t Be Cruel
23. Blue Suede Shoes
24. Love Me Tender
25. Trouble/Guitar Man
26. Trouble/Guitar Man
27. If I Can Dream
CD 4
First rehearsal
1. I Got A Woman
2. Blue Moon / Young Love / Oh, Happy Day
3. When It Rains It Really Pours
4. Blue Christmas
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight? / That’s My Desire
6. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
7. Peter Gunn Theme
8. Love Me
9. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
10. Blue Christmas / Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Second rehearsal
11. Danny Boy
12. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
13. Love Me
14. Tiger Man
15. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
16. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
17. One Night
18. Blue Christmas
19. Baby, What You Want Me To Do
20. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
21. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
CD 5
The Wrecking Crew Sessions
1. Nothingville (Guitar Man’s Evil #1) – takes 5 & 6
2. Guitar Man (Guitar Man’s Evil #1) – take 2
3. Let Yourself Go, part 1 (Guitar Man’s Evil #2) – take 5 & 7/M
4. Let Yourself Go, part 2 (Guitar Man’s Evil #3) – take 7/M
5. Guitar Man (Escape #1, fast) – takes 1, 2 & 5
6. Big Boss Man (Escape #3) – take 2
7. It Hurts Me, part 1 (Escape #4) – take 5
8. It Hurts Me, part 2 (After Karate #1) – take 3
9. Guitar Man (After Karate #2) – take 1
10. Little Egypt (After Karate #2) – take 6
11. Trouble / Guitar Man (After Karate #3) – take 2
12. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child / Where Could I Go But To The Lord (Gospel #1) – rehearsal & take 1 (5:23)
13. Up Above My Head / Saved (Gospel #2) – takes 4 & 7
14. Saved (Gospel #3) – takes 2 & 4
15. Trouble / Guitar Man (Opening) – takes 6 & 7
16. If I Can Dream – take 1
17. If I Can Dream – takes 2, 3 & 4
18. Memories – takes 3 & 4/vocal overdub #1
19. Let Yourself Go (closing instrumental)
Blu-ray Disc 1:
Elvis NBC TV Special originally broadcast on December 3, 1968
Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1 – June 27, 1968
Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2 – June 27, 1968
Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1 – June 29, 1968
Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2 – June 29, 1968
Blu-ray Disc 2:
Trouble/Guitar Man TV Show Opener – June 30, 1968 – All Takes and Raw Components
If I Can Dream TV Show Closer – June 30, 1968 – All Takes
Huh-Huh-Huh Promo – June 30, 1968
Elvis Closing Credits Without Credit Roll – June 30, 1968
If I Can Dream Special Music Video 2004 – June 30, 1968
Gospel Production Number – All Takes and Raw Components
Guitar Man Production Number – All Takes and Raw Components
Blu-ray Special Feature Re-Cut
The King In The Ring ~ 2 LP Vinyl Track Listing:
Disc 1, Side A
1. That’s All Right
2. Heartbreak Hotel
3. Love Me
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do
5. Blue Suede Shoes
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do
7. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
Disc 1, Side B
1. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
2. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
3. Blue Christmas
4. Trying To Get To You
5. One Night
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do
7. One Night
8. Memories
Disc 2, Side C
1. Heartbreak Hotel
2. Baby What You Want Me To Do
3. Introductions
4. That’s All Right
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do
7. Blue Suede Shoes
8. One Night
Disc 2, Side D
1. Love Me
2. Trying To Get To You
3. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
4. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
5. Blue Christmas
6. Tiger Man
7. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
8. Memories
