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The celebration for Elvis Presley’s ’68 “comeback special” is continuing into the new year. Legacy Recordings and RCA have announced a new single-CD collection to coincide with an upcoming NBC-TV tribute to the original December 1968 broadcast.
The Best of the ’68 Comeback Special, coming on February 15, features highlights from the recent ’68 Comeback Special box set with performances culled from both of the “stand-up” and “sit-down” shows recorded in June, 1968 for the special. Additionally, the new release includes the single versions of “Memories,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Burning Love.” While only “Memories” was included in the original program, all three songs will be performed on NBC’s Elvis: All-Star Tribute.
Airing on February 17, the show is hosted by Blake Shelton, and boasts performances of classic Elvis tunes from Shawn Mendes, Keith Urban, Post Malone, John Fogerty, Ed Sheeran, Kelsea Ballerini, Jennifer Lopez, Darius Rucker, Alessia Cara, “Memories” songwriter Mac Davis, John Legend, Little Big Town, Adam Lambert, Pistol Annies, Carrie Underwood, Yolanda Adams, Dierks Bentley and Josh Groban. The tribute also promises rare footage from the making of the original special; interviews with Priscilla Presley and producer-director Steve Binder; plus a special appearance by Lisa Marie Presley. The Best of the ’68 Comeback Special is rounded out with a group finale of “If I Can Dream” on which Elvis is joined by Carrie Underwood, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Darius Rucker, and Blake Shelton.
Finally, Walmart will offer an exclusive CD/DVD edition, adding the original comeback special on DVD. Look for The Best of the ’68 Comeback Special from RCA/Legacy on February 15 at the links below!
The Best Of The ’68 Comeback Special (RCA/Legacy, 2018)
Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Walmart Exclusive CD/DVD: Walmart.com
- Trouble/Guitar Man (Opening)
- Heartbreak Hotel (First “Stand-Up” Show)
- Hound Dog (Second “Stand-Up” Show)
- All Shook Up (Second “Stand-Up” Show)
- Can’t Help Falling In Love (Second “Stand-Up” Show)
- Jailhouse Rock (Second “Stand-Up” Show)
- Don’t Be Cruel (First “Stand-Up” Show)
- Blue Suede Shoes (Second “Sit-Down” Show)
- Baby, What You Want Me To Do (First “Stand-Up” Show)
- Are You Lonesome Tonight? (First “Sit-Down” Show)
- One Night (Second “Sit-Down” Show)
- Love Me Tender (First “Stand-Up” Show)
- Trying To Get To You (Second “Sit-Down” Show)
- Love Me (Second “Sit-Down” Show)
- Memories
- A Little Less Conversation
- Suspicious Minds
- Burning Love
- If I Can Dream – Elvis Presley, Carrie Underwood, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton
Tracks 1-15 from the original ’68 comeback show taping
Tracks 16-18 from original singles
Track 19 from Elvis All-Star Tribute
Home for Christmas: Andy, Perry, Elvis, Doris, Johnny Team with Royal Philharmonic for New Holiday Album
Would You Like To Do a Number: Live Sets Dominate Legacy’s Record Store Day Black Friday Slate
Release Round-Up: Week of August 23
Is the “Sweet Memories” portion of the title actually part of the album title? The reason I ask is because all the press release information I’ve seen hasn’t referred to it as such. Also, are there any plans for a home video DVD / BluRay release of this new NBC special that is airing on February 17, 2019?
Lastly, the Wal-Mart exclusive CD / DVD combo brings up some questions. Is the DVD that is included simply a copy of the 2006 single DVD release of the ’68 Television Special. As you may or may not know, back in 2004, there was a 3 DVD set of the ’68 TV Special video material. However, there were some issues with that release. Those being that a portion of the “Guitar Man – Road Medley” that featured “It Hurts Me” and the “Electronic Karate” was omitted from the first disc of this set and the outtakes of this were not included on the third DVD disc. These same mistakes were repeated on the recent 2 BluRay / 5 CD set. That said, these mistakes were somewhat rectified with the 2006 single DVD release; in that the “Guitar Man – Road Medley” was complete on this release and the missing outtakes were included as a DVD Easter egg as well.
Hi Daryl, the “Sweet Memories” title was erroneously included in the body of the article. It’s since been fixed. I would expect a DVD or Blu-ray release of the NBC special, but one hasn’t been announced yet. As for the print of the ’68 comeback special, I’m certain that the upcoming release will utilize the same Thom Zimny-approved master as the recent box set. Hope this helps!
ENOUGH. Legacy, FTD and BMG before them has reissued the comeback special every way to Sunday (not to mention the special was also the main focus of The Searcher doc). Pretty pitiful that a TV SPECIAL is universally considered the high-water mark of the man’s career, no matter how thrilling the show.
While I agree that this material has been issued multiple times over, I disagree with the disparaging comment that it is “pitiful that a TV Special is universally considered the high-water mark of the man’s career, no matter how thrilling the show.” First of all, Elvis hadn’t appeared on television since May, 1960 on the Sinatra Timex special on ABC. Elvis hadn’t performed in a concert format since the March, 1961 USS Arizona benefit concert at Bloch Arena. So there was demand. Second, Elvis didn’t abuse the entertainment medium of television, unlike other entertainers of the day such as Joey Bishop and Dean Martin, who routinely appeared on a variety of television programs. This continues to this day with some of the entertainers that are performing in the upcoming tribute show. Also, I don’t think Elvis really was a fan of using the television format, considering some of the things he was asked to do as part of his previous television appearances (sing “Hound Dog” to a basset hound on “The Steve Allen Show,” filmed only from the waist up on his third and final appearance on Ed Sullivan, sing a duet with Frank Sinatra). The other thing to consider is that Elvis was the sole star of the ’68 TV Special, unlike other music television specials of the era and even today where you’d also have guest spots for other entertainers.
Would a consumer not be better off buying the 2008 4 CD ’68 Comeback Special which currently lists for about $20.00 on Amazon?
If you already have (or aren’t interested in) the video content and the CD of Wrecking Crew sessions (previously released on a Follow That Dream volume), the 2008 set is certainly a solid option to obtain the main Comeback Special audio.
What’s the point of this?
There are four.
Dollars, pounds, euros, yen.
Hi,
I’m in Australia and i have a question no one seems to be asking and that is – will their be an Album even live or studio of the new NBC special airing on the 17th of Feb in the U.S with all performances of classic Elvis tunes maybe even a double Cd and Vinyl set ? I would have thought this would have been their chance to finally make a duet Album of Elvis singing along side other singers new and older.
Thank you