Sony will a release a 5-CD/2-Blu-ray box set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 TV Special in November 2018.
- Definitive box set chronicles the pivotal NBC-TV special that helped Elvis Presley reclaim the title of "The King Of Rock and Roll"
- Original Special included spirited "sit-down" performances with Elvis and original band members Scotty Moore and DJ Fontana plus then-new material, including the classic "If I Can Dream"
- 5CD/2Blu-Ray box set offers all previously released audiovisual material from the special including rare outtakes, plus deluxe book with rare photos and a newly-compiled oral history of the making of the program
I might buy it IF it one of the DVDs includes the special EXACTLY as it was broadcast on NBC TV on December 3. 1968. Then of course, there's the question of price. Don't know about yours, but my checkbook has its limits. Even for Elvis.
Really looking forward to this. Elvis' voice and energy for this show was completely different from all his other material. Yes, price will be a factor, but I think this will be a "must have".
The whole thing was taped for television in '68, on video, the live segments in mono sound. Only because it's been released on Blu-Ray now it's not getting any better in terms of picture- and sound quality. If you have the 3dvd set, you don't need this releases at all.
Hopefully a directors cut in there? The upgrade to Blu Ray from a videotape source is an interesting one. The BBC have released their second Dr Who Blu Ray series with a small but noticeable upgrade in picture quality. We'll find out eventually what this set has in terms of content and wether its worth getting but the Deluxe edition ( is that deleted now?) was a great set and if you have the Cd box then this needs to have some serious attraction.
Lex what is your opinion in this ? Will it be better ? I have serious doubts.
It looks very promising. My PERSONAL opinion is that I never really look at dvd's/blurays. A few years ago BMG released the beautiful 4 cd boxset with the sit down and stand up shows and the dressing room rehearsals. So I'm affraid that the material on the new set will be the same or at least a re-release of the material I already have. But it sure looks promising. It depends how expensive it will be.
Great idea to celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the Special. It will be interesting what are on the 5 CD‘s and the 2 Blurays. Maybe nothing new, but now with better sound and picture. To get it as a Bluray is really great. The picture quality will be a little bit better I hope. But please no 16:9 transfer. It was taped in 4:3. If you like, you can do it by yourself on your TV. But I really hope that they made some progress with the sound. Wishes for the future: Bluray Box with CD’s Aloha from Hawaii.
Didn't the DVD boxset as issued a few years ago omit the "It Hurts Me" scene from the 'as broadcast' version? I'm sure I remember some uproar from back then about that - or some scene that was deleted.
I was not a fan of the 2006 redone version, that had many songs out of order from the original version. I assume thats what this set will be again. If the original broadcast version, or better yet, the Binder version of the special as seen in the 1979 Memories TV special, I may be tempted, but the 5 CDs to me are non-essential at this point. I would only purchase this for the blu-ray, but like I said, it needs to be a version I would enjoy seeing, otherwise the DVD set of 2004 will suffice just fine.
O Hooligan: Firstly, neither "Let Yourself Go" or " It Hurts Me" were included in the original broadcast on 12-3-68. "Let Yourself Go" was added to the DVD package in 2004. The uproar came about because "It Hurts Me" was supposed to be added as well, but somehow was forgotten.
Here’s what featured on the Blu-ray…
Blu-ray Disc 1 (229min.)
Original Broadcast Version
Sit-down Show #1
Sit-down Show #2
Stand-up Show #1
Stand-up Show #2
Blu-ray Disc 2 (241min.)
Trouble/Guitar Man TV Show Opener
If I Can Dream TV Show Closer
Gospel Production Number
Guitar Man Production Number
And here’s the track listing for the 5 CDs…
[CD-1]
The Original Album
1. Trouble / Guitar Man
2. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy / Baby, What You Want Me To Do
Heartbreak Hotel / Hound Dog / All Shook Up
Can't Help Falling In Love
Jailhouse Rock
Love Me Tender
3. Where Could I Go But To The Lord / Up Above My Head / Saved
4. Blue Christmas / One Night
5. Memories
6. Nothingville / Big Boss Man / Guitar Man / Little Egypt / Trouble / Guitar Man
7. If I Can Dream
Bonus Cuts
8. It Hurts Me
9. Let Yourself Go
10. A Little Less Conversation
11. Memories (Stereo Mix)
12. If I Can Dream (Stereo Mix)
[CD-2]
First 'Sit Down' Show (June 27,'68, 6PM)
1. That's All Right
2. Heartbreak Hotel
3. Love Me
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do
5. Blue Suede Shoes
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do
7. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
8. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
9. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
10. Blue Christmas
11. Trying To Get To You
12. One Night
13. Baby What You Want Me To Do
14. One Night
15. Memories
First 'Stand Up' Show (June 29,'68, 6PM)
16. Heartbreak Hotel
17. Hound Dog
18. All Shook Up
19. Can't Help Falling In Love
20. Jailhouse Rock
21. Don't Be Cruel
22. Blue Suede Shoes
23. Love Me Tender
24. Trouble / Guitar Man
25. Baby What You Want Me To Do
26. If I Can Dream
[CD-3]
Second 'Sit Down' Show (June 27,'68, 8PM)
1. Heartbreak Hotel
2. Baby What You Want Me To Do
3. Introductions
4. That's All Right
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do
7. Blue Suede Shoes
8. One Night
9. Love Me
10. Trying To Get To You
11. Lawdy Miss Clawdy
12. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
13. Blue Christmas
14. Tiger Man
15. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
16. Memories
Second 'Stand Up' Show (June 29,'68, 8PM)
17. Heartbreak Hotel
18. Hound Dog
19. All Shook Up
20. Can't Help Falling In Love
21. Jailhouse Rock
22. Don't Be Cruel
23. Blue Suede Shoes
24. Love Me Tender
25. Trouble / Guitar Man
26. Trouble / Guitar Man
27. If I Can Dream
[CD-4]
First Rehearsal (June 24,'68)
1. I Got A Woman
2. Blue Moon / Young Love / Oh, Happy Day
3. When It Rains It Really Pours
4. Blue Christmas
5. Are You Lonesome Tonight? / That's My Desire
6. That's When Your Heartaches Begin
7. Peter Gun theme
8. Love Me
9. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
10. Blue Christmas / Santa Claus Is Back In Town
Second Rehearsal (June 25,'68)
11. Danny Boy
12. Baby What You Want Me To Do
13. Love Me
14. Tiger Man
15. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
16. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
17. One Night
18. Blue Christmas
19. Baby What You Want Me To Do
20. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
21. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
[CD-5]
1. Nothingville (Guitar Man's Evil #1) (Takes 5 & 6)
2. Guitar Man (Guitar Man's Evil #1) (Take 2)
3. Let Yourself Go, part 1 (Guitar Man's Evil #2) (Take 5 & 7/M)
4. Let Yourself Go, part 2 (Guitar Man's Evil #3) (Take 7/M)
5. Guitar Man (Escape #1, fast) (Takes 1, 2 & 5)
6. Big Boss Man (Escape #3) (Take 2)
7. It Hurts Me, part 1 (Escape #4) (Take 5)
8. It Hurts Me, part 2 (After Karate #1) (Take 3)
9. Guitar Man (After Karate #2) (Take 1)
10. Little Egypt (After Karate #2) (Take 6)
11. Trouble / Guitar Man (After Karate #3) (Take 2)
12. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child / Where Could I Go But To The Lord (Gospel #1) (Rehearsal & Take 1)
13. Up Above My Head / Saved (Gospel #2) (Takes 4 & 7)
14. Saved (Gospel #3) (Takes 2 & 4)
15. Trouble / Guitar Man (Opening) (Takes 6 & 7)
16. If I Can Dream (Alternate Take 1)
17. If I Can Dream (Takes 2, 3 & 4)
18. Memories (Takes 3 & 4/vocal overdub #1)
19. Let Yourself Go (Closing Instrumental)
