| Elvis, starring Elvis Presley, was the title of a 1968 United States television special. It was directed by Steve Binder and produced by Binder and Bones Howe. The executive producer was Bob Finkel, musical director Billy Goldenberg. Sponsored by The Singer Company, it aired on December 3, 1968 on the NBC television network. The special is commonly referred to as 'Elvis' 68 Comeback Special, because of subsequent developments in Presley's career, but the soundtrack album was released simply as NBC-TV Special. On June 27, 1968, Presley took to the stage for the first time in over seven years, resulting in four one-hour live shows being taped at NBC's Burbank studios. A black-clad Presley sat down and jammed with band mates for two shows, each show having a different audience. There was a one hour break between them (enough time for Presley to shower and have his outfit dry cleaned after performing under the hot studio lights.) In the second two, recorded at 8:00 PM, June 29, he remained standing and sang live to a mix of live and pre-recorded backing, again in front of two different audiences. These four sessions are often referred to collectively as "The Burbank Sessions", the name coming from not just the venue, but the titles of two collectible bootleg LPs which feature them. The edited broadcast of December 3, 1968 - combining the big, choreographed numbers, lavish sets and some of the informal live sessions - was an enormous success. The show was the highest-rated television special of the year. According to Binder, it was probably the first one-man TV special to appear on commercial American television. The '68 Special is widely credited with revitalizing his career: chart statistics for the summer of 1968 suggest that Presley's recording career was becoming all but non-existent. After the special, he began his stint in Las Vegas and toured, achieving a string of record-breaking sell-out performances across America. Chart successes returned, including a U.S. number one in 1969 ("Suspicious Minds") and a U.K. number one ("The Wonder of You", (1970)) - his first since 1965. On August 5, 2008, Sony BMG will release a 4-CD compilation of the complete recording sessions for the special to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Special. The track listing of the 4 CD set entitled "ELVIS - THE COMPLETE '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL": |
| Disc 1 | Medley: Trouble/Guitar Man Medley: Lawdy, Miss Clawdy/Baby, What You Want Me To Do/Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog/All Shook Up/.. Medley: Where Could I Go But To the Lord/ Up Above My Head/Saved Medley: Blue Christmas/One Night Memories | Medley: Nothingville/Big Boss Man/ Guitar Man/Little Egypt/Trouble/Guitar Man If I Can Dream It Hurts Me Let Yourself Go Little Less Conversation Memories If I Can Dream |
|---|---|---|
| Disc 2 | Introductions That's All Right Heartbreak Hotel Love Me Baby, What You Want Me To Do Blue Suede Shoes Baby, What You Want Me To Do Lawdy Miss Clawdy Are You Lonesome Tonight? When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again Blue Christmas Trying To Get To You One Night Baby, What You Want Me To Do | One Night Memories Heartbreak Hotel Hound Dog All Shook Up Can't Help Falling In Love Jailhouse Rock Don't Be Cruel Blue Suede Shoes Love Me Tender Trouble Baby, What You Want Me To Do If I Can Dream |
| Disc 3 | Heartbreak Hotel Baby, What You Want Me To Do Introductions That's All Right Are You Lonesome Tonight? Baby, What You Want Me To Do Blue Suede Shoes One Night Love Me Trying To Get To You Lawdy, Miss Clawdy Santa Claus is Back In Town Blue Christmas | Tiger Man When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again Memories Heartbreak Hotel Hound Dog All Shook Up Can't Help Falling In Love Jailhouse Rock Don't Be Cruel Blue Suede Shoes Love Me Tender Medley: Trouble/Guitar Man Medley: Trouble/Guitar Man If I Can Dream |
| Disc 4 | I Got a Woman Medley: Blue Moon/Young Love/Oh, Happy Day When It Rains It Really Pours Blue Christmas Medley: Are You Lonesome Tonight?/That's My Desire That's When Your Heartaches Begin Peter Gunn Theme Love Me When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again Medley: Blue Christmas/Santa Claus is Back In Town | Danny Boy Baby, What You Want Me To Do Love Me Tiger Man Santa Claus is Back In Town Lawdy, Miss Clawdy One Night Blue Christmas Baby, What You Want Me To Do When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again Blue Moon of Kentucky |
Part of Live '68 Elvis Presley Comeback Special > |
Event: ELVIS - THE COMPLETE '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL Release Date: August 5 (Tuesday), 2008 Location: North America |
| SOURCE: ELVIS - THE COMPLETE '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL |
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