Product Details

• Actors: Elvis Presley, Buddy Arett, Barbara Burgess, D.J. Fontana, Alan Fortas
• Directors: Gary Hovey, Steve Binder, Todd Morgan
• Writers: Allan Blye, Chris Bearde
• Producers: Gary Hovey, Bob Finkel, Bones Howe
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Bmg Marketing
• DVD Release Date: June 22, 2004
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (111 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00025L42Q
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,266 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #21 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > Presley, Elvis
  #31 in	Music > Rock > Oldies & Retro > Rockabilly
  #70 in	Music > Pop > Vocal Pop > Classic

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video
Released in conjunction with a two-disc deluxe edition of Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, the three-disc deluxe edition of Elvis's '68 Comeback Special is another incredible treasure trove of footage documenting a high point of the King's career and a milestone of televised musical performances. Taped and broadcast in 1968 after Elvis had seemingly abandoned live performing in favor of a movie career, the '68 Comeback Special was a remarkably intimate show, Elvis singing his old songs on a small stage, often alone, surrounded on all sides by a rapt audience. The show's numbers fall into three general categories: the black leather stand-up shows, in which Elvis performs solo on stage; the black leather sit-down shows, in which Elvis jams with former bandmates Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana and others; and big production numbers, often overdone and now looking as dated as any other 1960s variety show.

In addition to the complete, uncut TV special (with the bordello number that was deemed too daring for TV), this DVD set includes both of the original stand-up shows and both of the original sit-down shows (the first was released mostly complete as One Night with You), and multiple takes of numerous production numbers. The numerous glitches and stumbles of the production numbers have limited replay value, but the complete stand-up and sit-down sessions are like gold for those who couldn't get enough of them during the 73-minute television special. Decades after the original telecast, Elvis has made another comeback. --David Horiuchi

Product Description
1. Trouble/Guitar Man - SHOW OPENER; Trouble\ Guitar Man (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 2. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 3. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 4. Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog/All Shook Up; Heartbreak Hotel\ Hound Dog\ All Shook Up (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 5. Can't Help Falling In Love (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 6. Jailhouse Rock (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 7. Can I borrow your little whatchacallit?/This leather suit's hot (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 8. Love Me Tender (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 9. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 10. Rock & roll music is . . . (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 11. Gospel Production Number; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head\ Saved (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 12. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 13. Blue Christmas (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 14. Man, I just work here./No strap. (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 15. One Night (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 16. Memories (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 17. Guitar Man Production Number; Nothingville\ Guitar Man\ Let Yourself Go\ Guitar Man\ Big Boss Man\ It Hurts Me\ Guitar Man\ Little Egypt\ Trouble\ Guitar Man (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 18. If I Can Dream - Show Closer. (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 19. Credits Roll (Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted)) 20. Elvis takes the stage. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 21. Elvis introduces band-mates. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 22. That's All Right (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 23. Heartbreak Hotel (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 24. Love Me (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 25. Swapping axes./Are we on television? (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 26. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 27. Touching body with hands./Rock & roll music is . . . (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 28. Blue Suede Shoes (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 29. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 30. Something wrong with my lip./He's gotta be crazy. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 31. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 32. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 33. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 34. Blue Christmas (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 35. Trying To Get To You (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 36. One Night - Somebody pulled the plug, man. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 37. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 38. Man, I just work here./No strap. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 39. One Night (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 40. Memories (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1) 41. Audience warm-up./Mr. Elvis Presley. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 42. Elvis talks. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 43. Heartbreak Hotel (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 44. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 45. Elvis refers to script./Introduces band-mates. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 46. That's All Right (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 47. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 48. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 49. Can't even touch myself./You gonna get arrested, boy. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 50. Blue Suede Shoes (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 51. We don't have a strap?/Lines from MacArthur Park. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 52. One Night (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 53. Love Me (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 54. Hanky flies about./The new music./My style came from . . . (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 55. Trying To Get To You (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 56. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 57. Girl saves Elvis tissue lint./Never ceases to amaze me, baby. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 58. Santa Claus Is Back In Town (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 59. Blue Christmas (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 60. Tiger Man (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 61. Another tissue girl./MacArthur Park lines. (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 62. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 63. Memories (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 64. Credits Roll (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 65. Audience warm-up./Here's Elvis Presley. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 66. Medley: Heartbreak Hotel/One Night - Sound Goes Out.; Heartbreak Hotel\ One Night - Sound Goes Out (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 67. Medley: Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog/All Shook Up; Heartbreak Hotel\ Hound Dog\ All Shook Up (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 68. Can't Help Falling In Love (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 69. Jailhouse Rock (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 70. Don't Be Cruel (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 71. Blue Suede Shoes (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 72. Love Me Tender (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 73. Anybody got a handkerchief? (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 74. Trouble (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 75. Baby, What You Want Me To Do - Impromptu Jam. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 76. If I Can Dream - Lip-Synch Performance. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1) 77. Audience warm-up./And it stars Elvis Presley./Heartbreak Hotel - False start.; Audience warm-up./And it stars Elvis Presley.\ Heartbreak Hotel - False Start. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 78. Medley: Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog/All Shook Up; Heartbreak Hotel\ Hound Dog\ All Shook Up (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 79. Can't Help Falling In Love (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 80. Jailhouse Rock (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 81. Don't Be Cruel - Moby Dick! (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 82. Blue Suede Shoes - False start. One more time, gently. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 83. Blue Suede Shoes (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 84. Can I borrow your little whatchacallit?/This leather suit's hot. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 85. Love Me Tender (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 86. Preparation./Who's that strange man out there, Elvis? (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 87. Trouble - Should I be on the microphone here? (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 88. Trouble - I got my lip hung on the microphone. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 89. Trouble/Guitar Man; Trouble\ Guitar Man (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 90. Lines from MacArthur Park and Tiptoe Through The Tulips (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 91. Trouble/Guitar Man; Trouble\ Guitar Man (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 92. If I Can Dream - Lip-Synch Performance. (Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2) 93. Trouble/Guitar Man (920 Incomplete Take. Slings chord at end.) 94. Trouble/Guitar Man (921 Incomplete Take. Ran outta breath.) 95. Trouble/Guitar Man (922 Incomplete take. You watch my clacker.) 96. Trouble/Guitar Man (923 Incomplete Take) 97. Trouble/Guitar Man (924 Incomplete Take) 98. Trouble/Guitar Man; Trouble\ Guitar Man (925 Completed take.) 99. Trouble/Guitar Man; Trouble\ Guitar Man (926 Guitar inserts. Close-up shots of hands and guitar.) 100. Trouble/Guitar Man; Trouble\ Guitar Man (927 Stills. Performance insert shots.) 101. If I Can Dream (915 False start.) 102. If I Can Dream (916 Completed take.) 103. If I Can Dream (917 Completed take.) 104. If I Can Dream (918 Completed take. Chosen for the TV special.) 105. Huh-Huh-Huh Promo (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 106. Elvis Closing Credits Without Credits Roll (Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2) 107. If I Can Dream - Special Music Video 2004 108. DVD Credits Roll (A Little Less Conversation) 109. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (501 Completed take. Declared a good rehearsal.) 110. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (502 Incomplete take. Dance solo problem.) 111. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (503 Completed take.) 112. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (504 Incomplete take. Dance solo problem.) 113. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (505 Incomplete take. Elvis misstep on the stairs.) 114. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head; Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child\ Where Could I Go But To The Lord\ Up Above My Head (506 Completed take.) 115. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (507 Incomplete take.) 116. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (508 Incomplete take.) 117. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (509 Completed take. Elvis flings tambourine to sky.) 118. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (510 Completed take. Elvis wants another one.) 119. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (511 Completed take. Elvis gives "outta here" thumb.) 120. Up Above My Head/Saved; Up Above My Head\ Saved (512 Completed take. Waiting for Darlene.) 121. Saved (513 Incomplete take. Problem with dancers' cue.) 122. Saved (514 Incomplete take.) 123. Saved (515 Completed take. Elvis missed his 'ho-ho, yeah.') 124. Saved (516 Completed take.) 125. Saved (517 Completed take. You got it!) 126. Saved (518 Erroneous 518 slate. 601 called but not slated. Cast chatter.) 127. Saved (602 Incomplete take. Elvis can't hear the playback.) 128. Saved (604 Completed take.) 129. Big Boss Man (101 Incomplete take. Match doesn't go out.) 130. Big Boss Man (102 Incomplete take.) 131. Big Boss Man (103 Completed take. Guitar doesn't break.) 132. Big Boss Man (104 Completed take.) 133. Big Boss Man (105 Incomplete take. Guitar strap comes undone.) 134. Big Boss Man (106 Incomplete take. Elvis cracks up.) 135. Big Boss Man (107 Completed take. Guitar doesn't break.) 136. Big Boss Man (108 Completed take.) 137. Big Boss Man (109 Completed take. Guitar doesn't quite break.) 138. Big Boss Man (110 Completed take.) 139. It Hurts Me (111 Incomplete take.) 140. It Hurts Me (112 Incomplete take. Elvis splits his pants.) 141. It Hurts Me (113 Completed take.) 142. It Hurts Me (114 Completed take.) 143. It Hurts Me (115 Completed take.) 144. It Hurts Me (116 Incomplete take. Bottle doesn't break.) 145. It Hurts Me (117 Incomplete take.) 146. It Hurts Me (118 Incomplete take. Did I anticipate?) 147. It Hurts Me (119 Incomplete take. Somebody's gonna have sore arms tomorrow.) 148. It Hurts Me (120 Completed take.) 149. It Hurts Me (121 Incomplete take. I don't know upstage from downstage.) 150. It Hurts Me (122 Incomplete take. ". . . Too blind to see" is where you walk in, Elvis.) 151. It Hurts Me (123 Incomplete take.) 152. It Hurts Me (126 Completed take.) 153. Let Yourself Go (605 False start. 601 slate label corrected. Gospel label not.) 154. Let Yourself Go (606 Completed take.) 155. Let Yourself Go (607 Completed take.) 156. Let Yourself Go (608 Incomplete take. Gospel label on slate corrected.) 157. Let Yourself Go (609 Completed take.) 158. Let Yourself Go (610 Completed take.) 159. Let Yourself Go (611 False start.) 160. Let Yourself Go (612 Nearly completed take.) 161. Let Yourself Go (613 Nearly completed take. Not to mention Bones Howe.) 162. Let Yourself Go (614 Completed take. Did I miss the lip-synch on the very last line?) 163. Let Yourself Go (615 Completed take.) 164. Let Yourself Go (616 Completed take.) 165. Let Yourself Go (617 Completed take.) 166. Bordello - Insert Shots (619 Grapes (No 618 slate) Put your warm, red grapes on mine.) 167. Bordello - Insert Shots (620 Palms together. Andy Williams sings "Downtown") 168. Bordello - Insert Shots (621 Dip) 169. Bordello - Insert Shots; I Get A Kick Out Of You\ Blues In The Night\ I Enjoy Being A Girl\ My Man\ I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair (Spooning. Phyllis Diller medley.) 170. Bordello - Insert Shots (623 Ladies dance with chairs.) 171. Bordello - Insert Shots (624 Ladies dance with chairs.) 172. Bordello - Insert Shots (625 Ladies dance with chairs.) 173. Bordello - Insert Shots (626 Ladies dance.) 174. Bordello - Insert Shots (627 Ladies dance.) 175. Bordello - Insert Shots (628 Ladies dance.) 176. Bordello - Insert Shots (629 Ladies dance.) 177. Bordello - Insert Shots (631 Ladies lounge about.) 178. Nothingville (901 No take. Elvis wants to walk this through.) 179. Nothingville (902 Completed take.) 180. Nothingville (903 Completed take.) 181. Guitar Man (904 Completed take.) 182. Guitar Man (905 Completed take.) 183. Guitar Man (907 Completed take. Plus tax. Wanna do another one, Steve?) 184. Guitar Man (908 False start.) 185. Guitar Man (909 Incomplete take. Swingin' little mother grabber.) 186. Guitar Man (910 Completed take.) 187. Guitar Man (911 Completed take.) 188. Guitar Man (1001 Completed take. My boy, my boy.) 189. Guitar Man (1002 Completed take. My boy, my boy.) 190. Guitar Man (1003 Incomplete take. Guitar strap comes undone.) 191. Guitar Man (1004 False start.) 192. Guitar Man (1005 Completed take. My girl, my girl.) 193. Guitar Man (1006 Completed take. My girl, my girl.) 194. Little Egypt/Trouble; Little Egypt\ Trouble (1007 Incomplete take. Watch that cobra. Growl and grin.) 195. Little Egypt/Trouble; Little Egypt\ Trouble (1008 No take. Topless lady band/LBJ imitation/Tinkling of Tanya/My belly, my belly.) 196. Little Egypt/Trouble; Little Egypt\ Trouble (1009 Completed take. Another one for myself.) 197. Little Egypt/Trouble; Little Egypt\ Trouble (1010 Completed take.) 198. Trouble (1011 Incomplete take. Sh--.) 199. Trouble (1012 Completed take. To spend one night witchoo.) 200. Trouble (1013 Completed take. I sho hope I got a little voice left.) 201. Trouble (1014 Incomplete take. Elvis eyeballs the mike and cracks up.) 202. Trouble (1015 Completed take. More laughter.)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Penultimated Elvis! But the DVD is lacking., August 21, 2000

By	Ed N "Ed" (Kensington, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elvis - '68 Comeback Special (DVD)

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!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any rock collection - an absolute classic, March 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The '68 Comeback Special [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Elvis at his best looking, arguably best sounding, and most creative, plays with his original drummer and guitarist, often in the first "unplugged" format, surrounded by fans on all four sides. Elvis is so close to the audience that it has a surreal quality to it. His voice is impeccable, raw, thick, and tough, at turns sweet and gentle for the ballads, and the skill with which he effortlessly and naturally moves between the two is amazing. This is a one of a kind experience showcasing arguably the best of the best of a brilliant career. Those who don't even think they like Elvis will be converts - incredible.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis at his Finest, August 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis - '68 Comeback Special (DVD)

I remember back in 1968 anxiously waiting for this special to air on December 3rd. I knew from reading articles about the special that Elvis was going to perform some of his classic songs like "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock". Judging from his recent movie work, I thought he might not do the classic songs justice. Was I wrong! He did them better! Quoting critic Greil Marcus, "Elvis gave everything he had - more than anyone knew was there."

In my opinion, this is Elvis at his peak. He did some great things after this special, but nothing that captures the raw power of his performance on this special.

The audio and video on this DVD are good; as good as one might expect considering the television recording and video technology of 1968.

In closing, I have been an Elvis fan since 1960. This special is how I want to remember him.