The '68 comeback special--A negative view.

[cadillac-elvis]

Ok, you see the title, so some of this may not be a popular view.
Everyone seems to go overboard with the enthusiasm on the special because
there are alot of positives and it revived Elvis' career....but.....some of the creative choices
made during the editing are more than questionable.
So, my neighbor and I were discussing the special and he really came up with
many of these, and so we made a list of what could have made the special better.
Finally, in no particular order....
1) Why didn't they get Elvis to play the piano on a song or two?
2) Why was "It hurts me" and "Tiger man" cut from the original show? 2 standouts IMO.
3) When the bordello scene was ordered to cut by NBC, why wasn't the footage just replaced
using some of the other cool footage they had to choose from, so that the special was still a 90 minute show?
Why after the cut was it suddenly a 60 minute show?
4) There are quite a bit of repetative songs in the special such as "Trouble"/ "Guitar man" in the opening and then
they turn up once again in the road medley. Why not use songs that hadn't been used, for more song variety?
The road medley is too long as it is anyway.
5) And this is a big one.....With all the edits and cuts they did, and knowing now, how much cool stuff was taped, who
thought that anyone would want to see men in tights dance around for a few minutes. This is the worst part of the special
and should have been cut. No Elvis, and boring as hell. And it took up time which could have been for "Tiger man" for instance.
6) Why use the NBC orchestra for the stand up show? Why not hire real rock n roll musicians such as the guys that Elvis normally would use?

There are a few other minor things, but I didn't want to get to nit picky about it.
Oh, and while we are at it, why on the 50th anniversary set they use the words, " all known" material is included
when there is clearly material not used that is known.
Why did the DVD include takes of "it hurts me", but this big box set didn't? and other stuff was missing too.

Years ago I would have never written such a post, but in today's thinking, I think there are some very valid points to be made here.

[colonel snow]

More then 50 years later on you always can critize how it could be done better in your opinion.
Of course there are some “negative” points in the special (personal choice) but with the result at the end we can be satisfied.

colonel snow

[Colin B]

Talking of negative views, here is something I posted in 2015:



The '68 'Comeback' Show –
New Phone Tape Found.

Transcript of a May, 1968, phone conversation between Steve Binder & Bones Howe.

Howe: Hi Steve - how are the plans going for the Elvis tv show ?

Binder: Hi Bones - not good. The Colonel was really pissed off that Elvis ditched his 'Xmas'
theme, and he's ordered me to make sure the show is naff in every respect !

Howe: Why ?

Binder: Well, in order to sort of get his own back on Elvis.

Howe: A tall order - making Elvis look naff !

Binder: Yeah, and it's an offer I can't refuse, or Parker will ruin me...

Howe: Yeah, I know how he operates !

Binder: Yeah the… [inaudible muttering]

Howe: So what are you going to do ?

Binder: Well, we’ll make Elvis feel ill-at-ease for a start !

Howe: How ?

Binder: Well, what clothing does he never wear, because it reminds him of his poor youth ?

Howe: Blue Denim, I think.

Binder: So, what are we going to dress him in from head-to-toe ?

Howe: Oh, no, not blue denim ?

Binder: You got it !

Howe: That’s wicked ! What else ?

Binder: Well, there’s a ‘nostalgic’ bit where he sings the old 50’s hits.

Howe: So you’ll have him in his trademark gold coat ?

Binder: No – think again.

Howe: Pink jacket & black pants ?

Binder: No – black leather !

Howe: But that wasn’t Elvis, that was Gene Vincent !

Binder: I know, it’s a scream, isn’t it ?

Howe: But will he fall for that ?

Binder: Oh yeah, he’s been fitted for it, didn’t make a peep !

Howe: What about the actual performances ?

Binder: Well, there’s a long section where we are sort of 'sending up' all those
crap 60’s movies where he lip-synched his songs.

Howe: Yeah ?

Binder: Well, we'll get him to lip-synch again !

Howe: That should do it !
But isn't there a really good bit set in a bordello ?

Binder: Oh, we'll make that so raunchy, the sponsors will cut it !

Howe: But that number with all the karate moves sounds fun !

Binder: Yeah – we’ll film it – then not use it.

Howe: Right. But what about the live stand-up stuff in this black leather, he'll look & sound so good then !

Binder: Well, we'll give him the worst backing band you ever heard, as far removed
from rock 'n' roll as we can get, and for good measure, we'll make sure they are under-rehearsed.

Howe: That won't suit Elvis' type of music, will it ?

Binder: No - it's perfect. We’ve even got a flute on Don’t Be Cruel !

Howe: But his passion will show through on the gospel songs, won’t it ?

Binder: Oh, we’ll have him lip-synching again, that will kill off any spontaneity.

Howe: But he'll still sound good singing that new song live in the black leather......

Binder: He won't - I've arranged to switch his mic off for that.
All that will be heard is the pre-recorded song.

Howe: But he’ll insist on singing it live at the end – in the white suit.

Binder: Yeah – can’t get round that – but I’ll have him do it to a pre-recorded backing tape.

Howe: What a stroke of genius !
That should dampen down any urge he has to try anything different with it !
But about this unsympathetic backing band.....

Binder: Yeah ?

Howe: Well, you know that for the sit-down bits he's drafted in Scotty Moore & D J Fontana - they won't sound naff !
Those Moore guitar riffs & D J's drumming are classic !

Binder: Oh, I've thought of that. After a couple of numbers, we'll swap Scotty's electric guitar for Elvis’ acoustic one,
so nobody will hear those Moore riffs !

Howe: Sneaky ! And Fontana ?

Binder: We won't give him any drums to play - just the sticks !

Howe: Brilliant ! But even so, Elvis will be singing his heart out...

Binder: Yes, we'll counter that by recording it all in muffled, mono sound.
And we'll make sure that gabby Hodges guy is on hand to ruin things further.

Howe: Good thinking. I see you got Alan Fortas in the band, too !

Binder: Yep !

Howe: But he can’t play any instrument at all, in fact he’s not a musician !

Binder: Fits the bill perfectly, doesn’t he ?
We’ll get him to bang on a box or something, that should annoy DJ !

Howe: Well, yeah, but about the audio quality, RCA have fine recording equipment on hand, don’t they ?

Binder: Oh, we’ve banned them from the set !
All that will be recorded is what is picked up on the videotape soundtrack.

Howe: All you need now is someone banging away on a tambourine....

Binder: Yes, good idea - I'll work on that....... better not be a trained musician, though…
I’ll think of someone……a bit-part actor or somesuch…

Howe: But even with all this, Elvis' talent & charisma could still shine through...

Binder: I know - but we’ll try to make sure all best bits end up on the cutting room floor.

Howe: Sounds like you got it covered, then…

Binder: I sure do hope so !

Howe: See you around, then, Steve.

Binder: See ya, Bones.

[Mister Moon]

There's no denying the importance of the show for Elvis' career, but it has not aged well. I knew this even when I saw it for the very first time around 1981, thanks to some unofficial Betamax tape somebody lent me.

The only thing I can watch right now are the sit-down concerts, despite Hodge's presence, and of course the finale. The rest of the taped material is crap, even the stand-up shows, with that cheap musical backing.

Oh, even the sit-down shows are spoiled by "Memories".

[N880EAP]

Everyone seems to go overboard with the enthusiasm on the special .....

I tend to agree with this.

Howe: That won't suit Elvis' type of music, will it ?

Binder: No - it's perfect. We’ve even got a flute on Don’t Be Cruel !

That flute on DBC is distracting (and annoying).

There's no denying the importance of the show for Elvis' career, but it has not aged well.

Parts of it have indeed not aged well, at all.

-------------------------

All the above said, some parts of it are timeless though!
(And EP is looking devastatingly fantastic too!)

[John]

Ok, you see the title, so some of this may not be a popular view.
Everyone seems to go overboard with the enthusiasm on the special because
there are alot of positives and it revived Elvis' career....but.....some of the creative choices
made during the editing are more than questionable.
So, my neighbor and I were discussing the special and he really came up with
many of these, and so we made a list of what could have made the special better.
Finally, in no particular order....
1) Why didn't they get Elvis to play the piano on a song or two?
2) Why was "It hurts me" and "Tiger man" cut from the original show? 2 standouts IMO.
3) When the bordello scene was ordered to cut by NBC, why wasn't the footage just replaced
using some of the other cool footage they had to choose from, so that the special was still a 90 minute show?
Why after the cut was it suddenly a 60 minute show?
4) There are quite a bit of repetative songs in the special such as "Trouble"/ "Guitar man" in the opening and then
they turn up once again in the road medley. Why not use songs that hadn't been used, for more song variety?
The road medley is too long as it is anyway.
5) And this is a big one.....With all the edits and cuts they did, and knowing now, how much cool stuff was taped, who
thought that anyone would want to see men in tights dance around for a few minutes. This is the worst part of the special
and should have been cut. No Elvis, and boring as hell. And it took up time which could have been for "Tiger man" for instance.
6) Why use the NBC orchestra for the stand up show? Why not hire real rock n roll musicians such as the guys that Elvis normally would use?

There are a few other minor things, but I didn't want to get to nit picky about it.
Oh, and while we are at it, why on the 50th anniversary set they use the words, " all known" material is included
when there is clearly material not used that is known.
Why did the DVD include takes of "it hurts me", but this big box set didn't? and other stuff was missing too.

Years ago I would have never written such a post, but in today's thinking, I think there are some very valid points to be made here.

You're right, it could have been so much better. I was never that taken with it at the outset. Gradually we've come to see more footage, which a great to see, but not hugely exciting.

As you also say, why use an orchestra? That was bloody awful.

I very rarely watch this show, and don't often play the audio because it isn't that great. It doesn't begin to compare with what Elvis was going to do in Vegas the following year.

[HillbillyCat]

The Special's burned into my memory, when I first saw it on VHS video as a little kid. The opening sequence is just awesome and give me chills every single time. Nowadays I have a kind of wishful thinking about what this Special could have looked like - but, who cares about fanboy fantasies . No matter what obstacles may have been put in his way, Elvis looms over everything with an iconic charisma and mischievous charm, his versatile musical talent, his distinctive voice and his incredible good looks. As far as I'm concerned, I'm "satisfied" with the output.

[rockinrebel]

It's certainly of its time. I have no problem with the repition of Trouble / Guitar Man as it gives continuity to the production sequences. The remake of It Hurts Me is indeed great, but visually, the scene is too reminiscent of Elvis' mid '60's movies for me.

However, when you analyse what was filmed, and what was actually used, perhaps the biggest surprise is how little of the small combo jams that the Special is now synonymous with, were used in the original December 1968 TV edit...

[Yin Yang]

I first heard this TV show through a reel-to-reel tape someone sent me from the USA about a week after the TV broadcast.
In january 1969 I saw bits of the TV show filmed from TV on Super-8 without sound.
I never liked the gospel segment. It ruined the flow of the music.
I saw the TV broadcast later in 1969, but it was heavily cut to an 30 minutes show.
Only when videotape came round, in 1978 or 1979, I saw the complete show and later outtakes escaped until BMG released it all on a multi-DVD-set.
In those days it was fun to be an Elvis fan as there was something new quite regularly.
These days you get the same material with a different cover and "improved" sound which is as bad as the original audience recording it came from.

[rockinrebel]

Editorial choices aside, the music was tremendously exciting. I remember borrowing a copy of the album as a young fan in the late '70's and being totally captived by it.

Likewise, when I started collecting records the likes of Tiger Man on the Flaming Star budget album, and the tracks that featured on the Legendary Performer series just blew me away.

The first time I saw the Special it would have been a late '70's rerun on the BBC. There may have been video recorders at this point, but we didn't have one, so for me the screening was a huge event.

I insisted that the family sat in silence, and my eyes never left the screen once. The movies had been instrumental in making me a fan, but this was something else entirely...

[Mister Moon]

Likewise, when I started collecting records the likes of Tiger Man on the Flaming Star budget album, and the tracks that featured on the Legendary Performer series just blew me away.

I also dug those tracks immensely, but I didn't know where they came from. The albums, as I recall, gave no clues about it, so until I had access to more information (no www in 1980, folks), I stayed in the darkness. Not strangely, I figured the ALP ones were 50s and early 60s recordings, following the chronological sequence of the albums. Innocent times.

[rockinrebel]

Likewise, when I started collecting records the likes of Tiger Man on the Flaming Star budget album, and the tracks that featured on the Legendary Performer series just blew me away.

I also dug those tracks immensely, but I didn't know where they came from. The albums, as I recall, gave no clues about it, so until I had access to more information (no www in 1980, folks), I stayed in the darkness. Not strangely, I figured the ALP ones were 50s and early 60s recordings, following the chronological sequence of the albums. Innocent times.

I'm not sure I was 100% certain those tracks were from the '68 Special the first time I heard them, but they certainly stood out. I agree that RCA were not exactly forthcoming with information on those Legendary Performer albums. I remember trying to place that 'live version' of Blue Hawaii that appeared on Volume Two, and wondering why Elvis appeared to be playing to an empty room...lol

[Rickeap]

In hindsight, certainly it could have been better, but one thing that shines through all the dodgy calls is Elvis. There is no doubt it captures his magnetic presence.
ColinB, love your phone transcript!

[Colin B]

ColinB, love your phone transcript!

Thanks !

Just my jokey way of putting across some criticisms of the show.

It could have been so much better !

[Mister Moon]

Likewise, when I started collecting records the likes of Tiger Man on the Flaming Star budget album, and the tracks that featured on the Legendary Performer series just blew me away.

I also dug those tracks immensely, but I didn't know where they came from. The albums, as I recall, gave no clues about it, so until I had access to more information (no www in 1980, folks), I stayed in the darkness. Not strangely, I figured the ALP ones were 50s and early 60s recordings, following the chronological sequence of the albums. Innocent times.

I'm not sure I was 100% certain those tracks were from the '68 Special the first time I heard them, but they certainly stood out. I agree that RCA were not exactly forthcoming with information on those Legendary Performer albums. I remember trying to place that 'live version' of Blue Hawaii that appeared on Volume Two, and wondering why Elvis appeared to be playing to an empty room...lol

Yes, that version of "Blue Hawaii" was an enigma too.

I absolutely loved those ALP albums, including the interviews. I wish they would reissue them officially, and FTD would be the place to do it. I'm sure many fans, not just old timers but also younger ones, would purchase them if presented attractively packaged, even if everything is available elsewhere. I wonder if the photolithographs of the booklets are still around.