Elvis Presley - 1968 Comeback Special
By and large, the 1960s were a bust for Elvis Presley. Since exploding onto the pop scene in 1956, Presley had enjoyed a half-dozen years of hits. But film making and showbiz got in the way of the King's recording career, and he had a top 10 dry spell from 1962 to 1968. Though the soundtracks to his films sold respectably, the non-movie recordings he did, including "Guitar Man" and "You'll Never Walk Alone," would barely dent the charts. Both Elvis and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, knew the situation was desperate. To put Elvis back on the music map, drastic measures had to be taken.
Enter 23-year-old Steve Binder, a director for NBC that had previously
worked on the music program Hullabaloo. Together, Binder, Presley,
and Parker decided it was time for Elvis to return to his roots,
rediscover his primal sexuality, his gritty, blues-based guitar
music, and his innate ability to entertain. The Presley people
wanted to reclaim the magic that had lifted Elvis to the top in
the first place. They put together a television special centered
solely around their star: no guests, no frills -- just the King
singing his heart out.
And, boy, did he ever. Airing at 9 p.m. on Dec. 3, 1968, the Comeback
Special was a media phenomenon that vaulted Presley back into
the limelight. When a national television audience saw him sing
in front of a roaring band and in incredible voice, well, it was
clear they were ready to welcome back the King.
The two-disc souvenir, '68 Comeback Special, is split into two
parts. Disc One, known as the "Stand-Up" performance,
features the highly scripted, impeccably choreographed set done
in front of a live arena audience with a backing band and full
orchestra. Disc Two is informally known as the "Sit-Down"
show, where Presley -- clad in leather and surrounded by women
sitting on the edge of a stage the size of a boxing ring -- performs
with his band from the '50s, including drummer
DJ Fontana and guitarist Scotty Moore. The show is incredibly
raw, and an affirmation of the basics of rock and roll that is
as pleasurable as it is stunning.
On the "Stand-Up" disc, one can hear nearly a decade's
worth of frustration come pouring out of Presley's voice, especially
on the spectacular "Road Medley" and the heavy blues
of Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me to Do." For those
unfamiliar with Elvis' surreal performances at the dawn of rock
and roll, the "Sit-Down" disc is a marvel, chock full
of classics performed with virtually no orchestration. As expected,
Elvis is a little uncomfortable in front of such an intimate audience,
and his patter -- funny, silly, and cheesy -- reflects that awkwardness.
But the music itself is the best Presley material to be found
on disc.
The '68 Comeback Special was an unqualified hit, returning Presley
to the charts as both a singles and album artist. In the words
of then-music journalist Jon Landau, "There is something
magical in watching a man who had lost himself find his way home."
The '68 Comeback Special is indeed the sound of Elvis finding
his way home.
Bob Gulla