The story behind the '68 Comeback Special is one of the finest in 20th-century pop history. Elvis Presley was once the greatest rock and roll singer, but in the late 1960s that was in the rough. He mainly acted with diminishing success in very sweet Hollywood films. In that line, his dubious manager Colonel Parker thought that Elvis could do a nice Christmas show for the American television channel
… NBC. The young director and producer Steve Binder thought differently and wanted Elvis to tell his own story in an informal way, framed with a lot of music. Parker had to be kept in check, but Elvis thus found himself the immensely talented artist he was. On the television show he performs as a charismatic twink in black leather while he frolics and picks up hits with old band members. We also witness the glorious return of The King in the more choreographed recordings of Guitar Man and If I Can Dream. This deluxe box contains, in addition to the official special and accompanying album, a wealth of residual and rehearsal recordings, completed with a beautifully illustrated book featuring Binder and Presley's widow Priscilla, among others. An indispensable complete edition. (MR)more
