Special Review:
Unless
some heretofore untapped NBC security camera footage surfaces in the
coming years, this should be the final word on this legendary musical
event. With over six hours of bonus material spread out over this
three-disc set (much of it never released officially), you not only get
the classic special in its entirety, but all the pieces of the
production in raw, unedited form (mostly in the order of shooting) that
put you smack dab in the middle of a most pivotal period of Presley's
career.
On
Disc 1, both of the sitdown shows from the night of June 27th, 1968 are
released in their entirety for the first time (including performances
of Are You Lonesome Tonight that were cut from previous releases due to
publishing rights). With virtually no filler, one can't help but wonder
why only 10-12 minutes from nearly two-hours of stellar material wound
up in Binder's original cut of the television special. From the early
gig's rendition of That's All Right to the rarely performed When My Blue
Moon Turns to Gold Again that closes the late show, Presley and friends
are constantly mesmerizing whether revisiting gems from both the Sun
and early RCA eras, cracking in-jokes, recallling memorable incidents
from the peak of 1950s Elvis-mania (including a memorable Jacksonville,
Florida appearance filmed by police) and poking fun at the script
rundown ('Elvis will talk about....not touching hands with body....er,
touching body with hands'). But it's the electric, nothing-held-back
performances that make this section one you'll revisit again and again
courtesy of hard-driving highlights including Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Blue
Suede Shoes, and especially the uninhibited 8pm show performance of
Trying to Get to You, where Presley's facial expressions are almost
identical to the black-and-white concert photo that adorned the cover of
his first album; as the wild crowd roars its approval upon the extended
thrashing of its final 'E' chord, watch his reaction: a mixture of
orgasmic post-song relief and a sense of pleasure that seems to say, 'I
made it. I'm back'- truly one of the most transcendent moments in the
history of rock 'n roll music.
Revelatory
as the sitdown shows were, the more traditional stand-up shows of June
29th, 1968 contained on Disc 2 rival them for sheer excitement, thanks
to Presley's revived confidence and the wonderful support by NBC's
resident orchestra supplemented by girl group The Blossoms (including
legendary Phil Spector vocalist Darlene Love) and some of L.A.'s best
sessionmen of that time, including drumming legend Hal Blaine and
six-string wizard Tommy Tedesco. Egged on by highly supportive
audiences, Elvis' initial nervousness disappears within seconds as
stellar versions of Blue Suede Shoes and Don't Be Cruelemerge among
others. However, the peak performance of both shows surfaces via an
inspired, impromptu jam on Baby, What You Want Me to Do? to fill time
due to a technical delay in the production booth. Also included are
pre-concert audience warm-ups by producer Bob Finkel ('Does anybody have
to go to the bathroom?') and between-take banter between Elvis and fans
at the front of the stage (including a wacky spin at MacArthur Park and
a hilarious moment when he gets so in the zone that he momentarily
forgets that there's a piece of musical equipment on stage he needs to
utilize in order to be heard ('Shouldn't I be in front of the
microphone?')
In
a special treat for longtime fans who have bought every home video
version of this material, all four concerts contained on the disc have
been re-edited from scratch by Miller, co-directors Todd Morgan(creative
development director for Graceland) and Gary Hovey. Using a rare video
source taken from one camera angle, the end result compliments original
director Steve Binder's creative visuals (midway cross fades, overhead
angles) by adding livelier, appropriate cutting, more prominent
close-ups of Presley and additional interaction between him and his band
mates.
Filling
out the remainder of Disc 2 and all of Disc 3 is every take from the
four production numbers. With over 100 chapters allotted to these
sequences, watching them all in one sitting is next to impossible. Not
that the material isn't great, but witnessing the amount of work that
Presley and his cast go through (sometimes for edit pieces lasting no
longer than :30s to :45s) is draining yet inspiring; you get a sense of
how tight the Comeback unit was by many moments of applause following
the end of a successful take along with abundant smiles and laughter. I
also admired the non-censoring of those rare working moments when
Presley's legendary temper came into play, not to the point of
embarrassing anyone, but agitated with himself over not coming in on
cue, missing a dance step and so on. But there's more hilarity than huff
including what may be the first recorded example of 'wardrobe
malfunction' and an inspired practical joke courtesy of the production
crew.
Great stuff
In
addition to this digital treasure chest of archival goodness, a brand
new music video for If I Can Dream (incorporating the original
white-suit finale with lip sync footage recorded during the arena
shows), the complete shooting session for the rare NBC Huh-Huh-Huh promo
for the special, a multi-page booklet with many unseen photos
supplemented by an essay by noted rock writer Greil Marcus (Mystery
Train) and the restoration of the smokin' Let Yourself Go to the main
special (part of a risque sequence that the sole sponsor of the show
forced to be cut) round out an indispensible set.
Extras Grade: A+
Final Comments
One
of the defining moments of Elvis Presley's career is given its DVD due
in an amazing multi-disc set. Joining the ranks of Monterey Pop, Gimme
Shelter, The Last Waltz and A Hard Day's Night, Elvis: '68 Comeback
Special-Deluxe Edition is truly an essential 'must-have' for any serious
rock-and-roll fan.
Region: 0
Time: 440 minutes
Colour: Colour
Sound: Dolby 5.1
Chapters:
Disc 1 (running time: 2:40:49)
Chapter 1: Elvis, NBC TV Special Original December 3, 1968 Broadcast (Adapted) (15 tracks)
Chapter 2: Black Leather Sit-Down Show #1, June 27, 1968 (15 tracks)
Chapter 3: Black Leather Sit-Down Show #2, June 27, 1968 (15 tracks)
Disc 2 (running time: 1:48:32)
Chapter 1: Black Leather Stand-Up Show #1, June 29, 1968 (10 tracks)
Chapter 2: Black Leather Stand-Up Show #2, June 29, 1968 (12 tracks)
Chapter 3: Trouble/Guitar Man TV Show Opener - All Takes and Raw Components, June 30, 1968 (10 tracks)
Chapter 4: If Can Dream TV Show Closer - All Takes, June 30, 1968 (4 tracks)
Chapter 5: Huh-huh-huh Promo June 30, 1968
Chapter 6: Elvis Closing Credits Scene Without Credits Roll, June 30, 1968
Chapter 7: If I Can Dream - Special Music Video 2004
Chapter 8: DVD Credits Roll (A Little Less Conversation)
Disc 3 (running time: 2:51:27)
Chapter 1:
Gospel Production Number - All Takes and Raw Components Sometimes I
Feel Like a Motherless Child / Where Could I Go But To the Lord / Up
Above My Head / Saved (21 tracks)
Chapter 2:
Guitar Man Production Number - All Takes and Raw Components Big Boss Man
/ It Hurts Me / Let Yourself Go / Nothingville / Guitar Man / Little
Egypt / Trouble (65 tracks)
'It's been a long time, baby!' - Elvis Presley
Stars:
Elvis
Presley, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Charlie Hodge, Alan Fortas Other
Stars: Lance LeGault, The Blossoms (Darlene Love, Jean King, Fanita
James), Susan Henning, Tanya Lamani, Barbara Burgess, Buddy Arett
Director: Steve Binder, Gary Hovey, Todd Morgan.
My Comment: Truly the king raw and at his best!
A+ A+ A A- A+ 0
* New and sealed *