Customer Reviews

Elvis: '68 Comeback

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This DVD has just the basics of Elvis' excellent 1968 special. If you want an in-depth presentation, you should get the 2 DVD Deluxe edition. This DVD includes nearly all of the footage of the original show. Elvis' performances are outstanding, especially the "informal" jam session, where Elvis actually plays his guitar instead of just using it as a prop! Elvis' informal jam session was an early precursor of the MTV Unplugged series that would follow more than 20 years later. The bonus material includes some outtakes and photos, but really does not add much to the set. This DVD should be enough for the average fan and it is available at a reasonable price. Hardcore fans will want the deluxe edition.

The original Elvis mania was a little before my time - I rarely can say that about anything anymore, but I can say it about this. I was too busy being a kid during his first wave in the 50s to be very aware of popular music. I didn't really start listening until the British invasion of the 60s, which Elvis, following advice, wisely sat out. He kept busy in Hollywood instead. Until I was 15, I knew him mostly from his string of B movies. A few early ones (including Jailhouse Rock and King Creole), rose to the level of camp classics. The ones from the 60s struck me then as watchable but forgettable.

The time came when Elvis Presley wanted to return to live musical performances. In 1968, I watched the TV special "Elvis" and was blown away. I didn't see this show again until earlier this week, nearly 40 years later. My response was the same. This is classic Elvis at the top of his form before he became a caricature of himself. Others have commented with some justice that, in the 70s, the first Elvis impersonator was Elvis, but no such gibe applies here.

The show featured a mix of performances. Elaborately choreographed stage numbers presaged his later Las Vegas shows; they also presaged, to some degree, the acts of many present day pop stars, which seem to be as much about staging as about music, and which feature "electronic enhancement" (often little different from lip synching) of the voices. The bulk of the show, however, and by far the most effective part of it, is Elvis' straight-up un-enhanced music, played and sung almost casually and with humor in the midst of a fairly small audience.

I became a fan in 1968. What is on this DVD is the reason.

After years and years of making movies and largely neglecting his musical career, Elvis did this TV comeback special in 1968. The success of this show rejuvinated Elvis, and within a year he had recorded "The Memphis Album" (also recommended) which included "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds".

The TV special reunited him with his original 50's band for the intimate small stage set. He is seated and singing some of those classic Sun records "Thats Alright Mama" being perhaps the best known. Then, dressed in black leather he is backed (out of sight) by a bigger band and here Elvis is in rocking form, tearing up the stage with fabulous performances of Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel and many others. During the remainder of the show a full band and Orchestra back him, together with additional dancers and large sets. The show ends with a breathtaking version of "If I Can Dream", which remains my favourite Elvis performance of all time.

This 'special edition' has a few humourous outtakes and some stills, but really its the main film your buying it for. If you want a proper special edition buy the 3 disc edition. If you've never really understood what made Elvis so great, buy this DVD and you will.

OK, let's get this out of the way, the ELVIS ('68 Comeback) is the finest TV special ever presented on American television. So why the 1 star? The editing in this version of the show is appalling, such lazy dilettantes. Every time there is a cut from one scene to another there is a still shot that moves from left to right and then the action resumes. It is grating. The show cuts from sit down performance to stand up and back and forth, all edits being telegraphed with the aforementioned still shot, stop and go routine, it is a real hack job.

I own the 74 minute version put out 15 years ago and the editing follows the original broadcast. When they can, they put in extra footage at the appropriate time (sit down is added to sit down performance, standup to standup so there is a continuous flow). The edits can be made from scene to scene and the original fade to black for the commercials are maintained. In addition they edited out Blue Christmas for crying out loud, what's up with that? Also on the cutting room floor is the little funky rhythm guitar part that immediately follows the intro Guitar Man and the audience clapping, hey remember the part where Elvis gives that sly smile and says, "I think I'll put a strap on this and stand up"? , remember his deadpan delivery of "Man I just work here" , Good thing for your memory `cause it's gone, cut out in favor of those imaginative edits.

For the record to edit from scene to scene, if the action can't be done smoothly, you can always insert an audience shot and then back to Elvis, it's called `editing',people. The picture and sound are otherwise fabulous, it looks the same as the BOX set that I also own, I was hoping to get a version of the performance with extra black leather footage, but I was assuming the editing would be handled by professionals who would try to maintain the spirit, look, and vitality of the original while adding to the show. They ended up subtracting from the overall viewing pleasure. By editing out the Elvis dialog, they've removed the soul of the presentation, the special was all about getting Elvis back in front of a live microphone but also to humanize him, show his gifted sense of humor. What a drag.

A remastered single dvd edition of the famous TV special captures it all (almost). There's the picture, the sound, the song selections, the enthusiasm, and, oh yeah, Elvis! Been an Elvis fan for awhile but listening recently to the cd of the NBC Special really got my interest about viewing the show. Turns out watching the show is even better than I'd thought. The remastering must be fantastic since the picture and sound qualities are very clear. The medley segment is memorable in this memorable show in that Elvis is encompassed by the studio audience while on a small open stage not unlike a boxing ring. Relaxed, yet with an edginess, confident, he's also having a lot of fun. The audience is just mere feet away and taking it all in and clearly enjoying themselves. Recommended.

I know that many fans are disappointed because of Sony/BMG using some new material that should be included on the "De Luxe" edition and because of the never ending discussion about the selections. But this remains a great release, with astounding sound and image quality and with Elvis at the top of the game and rocking stronger than ever. This is also a good choice for non Elvis' fans, who could be less interested in buying a three discs de luxe DVD. This DVD shows no any thing, it shows maybe the best live performer of all time in one of his finest moments, for many the finest. And for those who are disappointed with Elvis making jokes: Elvis used to make jokes in his concerts and he did it even through of some songs; it was one more side of his showmanship and his sense of humour and it worked on stage and made him greater on stage, although it is true that sometimes these clowning arounds went too far; but this is not the case. This is a 5 stars DVD, even someone who posted here said it despite the fact he put only 1 by error.

There is nothing ever recorded that comes close to the 68 Special. The delux version was a smash hit world wide, hitting #1 on the music dvd charts in several countries even though it was released at the same time as the Aloha delux dvd.

This single disc version is ideal for the casual music lover. This is vintage Elvis. Just when popular music was going all squeky and bubbly the KING gets back up on the stage and rock and roll is rejuvenated. Blue Suede Shoes, Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Guitar Man, they're ll there. And of course, Trouble. The voice, the energy, the raw passion, its all there.

Buy this. You'll be glad you did.

I remember watching this show 39 years ago and seeing it again brought chills down my spine. Elvis is the greatest!! At the end of the show and he sang "If I can Dream" I started to cry. It's hard to believe that he's gone. With this dvd it's like he's still here and at his best.

This DVD provides the basic overview of Elvis' 1968 Comeback Special -- a show that I consider one of the best Elvis concerts available on DVD along with Elvis - That's the Way It Is (Two-Disc Special Edition) and Elvis - Aloha from Hawaii (Deluxe Edition DVD).

The DVD starts with the opening production number (Trouble/Guitar Man; That's All Right; and Baby What You Want Me To Do). This is followed by a medley of 9 well-known songs performed in black leather, a gospel production number (4 songs), 7 additional songs performed in black leather, Guitar Man production number (10 songs), and the finale (If I Can Dream). The bonus features include Having Fun with Elvis in Burbank (funny moments from the production of the special), and a photo gallery. This much material should suffice for an average Elvis fan or for those who want to get to know Elvis better.

If you don't want to miss any details, you should consider getting Elvis - The '68 Comeback Special: Deluxe Edition (3DVD) that includes 7 hours of materials on 3 DVDs (complete 2-black leather mini concerts and 2 jam sessions, adapated broadcast version of the concert, unused takes from production numbers, etc.). The Deluxe version also includes Blue Christmas that is unfortunately missing from this DVD.

I've heard about this legendary performance, but had never watched it before. I'm a huge music fan - but for some reason, had never dug deep into the Elvis catalogue. So, I though I owed it to myself to do it.

I wasn't disappointed! What a fantastic show - some production numbers, a great set where Elvis does some medley solo on a small centre stage (his band is on a side stage), and a fantastic mostly acoustic set that he plays intimately with 4 of his band mates. The performances are electifying, and the banter between musicians is great to listen to. Elvis' charism shines through.

Some of the music has a bit of a dated 60's feel to it - overblown horn sections in certain areas. But, it was the 60's! However, the performances are so good, that it doesn't distract.

Definitely a must have.