Elvis Presley 68 Comeback Special - Will there be a 50th anniversary release?

Although this is some time away, Christmas 2018 would be the 50th anniversary of this historic tv special and it is tempting to speculate whether they will release a new edition to commemorate the anniversary.

As comprehensive as the 2004 deluxe dvd set is, I find it quite frustrating to watch as I find myself wishing that they edit all the constituent parts into a complete feature length edition. For example, the only way to watch the 'production' performances is to watch the original tv special, yet I would like to watch the complete 'sit down' and 'stand up' rather than highlights.

So I have always wished they would release a version that looks like this :
Opening - Trouble / Guitar Man
The complete stand up show
The Gospel medley
The complete sit down show
The Guitar Man production medley
If I Can Dream

What is also clear from the 2004 dvd is that everything was done at least twice - 2 stand up shows, 2 sit down shows, at least 2 complete takes of each song. So there is also scope for 2 versions of the whole tv special.

I know HBO are making a documentary for release next year which is to put the focus on his music. It would be great if this kick started an interest in releasing some of his filmed performances on blu ray.

A collection of his early tv performances, a comprehensive That's The Way It Is boxset ans Elvis On Tour boxset are also on my wishlist.

 

Anything is possible, but the 2008 audio box set is relatively complete. Any reissue would contain mostly recycled material. As far as a DVD reissue, perhaps a new edit/expansive compilation could be produced, but again, one has to wonder how much potential there is at retail for such a concept in 2018. Expansive reissues of TTWII and EOT remain missing in action because MGM does not see a market for justifying the expense of producing such sets.

 

Recent publicity of dropping sales of Elvis' output say no. Besides, the 2008 DVD set has more than I ever cared to see. Elvis burps, and scratches his nose ? No.

 

Indeed I seem to remember the Estate said they were keen to release deluxe versions of TTWII and EOT in the same way they released the Comeback Special and Aloha from Hawaii but are powerless to do so.

The record company (or indeed film company) are only going to release anything if they consider there to be enough interest which is why I am hoping the HBO documentary will generate some interest amongst the media and the wider public.

Apparently he is on course to being number one in the UK album charts for just another greatest hits collection this week so maybe the interest is there.

 

I've been holding off on a DVD purchase for some time in hope of a future Blu-Ray release. Any word if any of the Elvis videos will make the leap to Blu-Ray? I'm Blu-Ray only for the past 5 years unless I have no choice...

 

In 2018 I'd love to see a re-release of this - the definitive director's cut of the 68 Special - Steve Binder's extended 73 minute edit, (which I prefer over the 2006 single disc DVD) with all the bells and whistles that this historic special deserves.

Blu ray, audio commentaries from Scotty Moore & D.J Fontana - recorded a few years ago, but still sitting in the vaults - and all the other participants who are still alive. Any takers? Could work post the HBO special...

 

How about a '68 Special deluxe box contain EVERYTHING like the TTWII deluxe box from a few years ago? Here's my imagined artwork I posted on FECC a while ago!!



Edit: Woah! My artwork is bigger than I anticipated. Erm, sorry, I'm not sure how to make it smaller...

 

I don't think an extended fan-edit would serve any purpose.
I don't think they can improve the boxed DVD set, and there's no reason at all to put it out on blu-ray, given the resolution of the original videotape.

 

Do cows eat grass?

 

There are some additional recordings from Western Recorders, but I suspect a lot of what remains are false-starts and incomplete snippets of material. It was a major Elvis Presley event and career moment, so it is entirely possible that Sony will revisit the NBC Singer Presents project, but the 2008 anniversary edition was pretty comprehensive. Even if it does get a reissue of some sort, I do not expect it to be revelatory.

 

Probably best chance is nothing happening or maybe a Legacy style release geared toward the mass market that has less than the big box but more than a single cd.

If they did do something deluxe....I think a big box combining all the audio, all the video (preferably Blu Ray with commentaries, etc.) and a nice hardback book could make for a great package. However, with most of the hardcore fans already having the deluxe dvd and cd sets you've got to wonder how much of a market there would be for a package with very little new to offer?

 

I doubt that there will be anything since the well has been pretty much tapped dry on the Comeback Special. Plus, Ernst stated in a recent interview that the big Elvis project for 2018 would be “The Searcher”.

 

I'm in the exact same boat. Bring on the blu-ray!

On a side note, was this filmed on film or video? Could the blu-ray improve the picture quality much?

 

Don't think so except perhaps the added space might allow less compression. (especially on really large screens) Same w/ Aloha. Shot on video. (modern mastering and restoration tools couldn't hurt) What CAN be improved is the audio. Would easily purchase just for hi-rez multi-channel audio. The very lossy DD 5.1 on Aloha is pretty spectacular. A hi-rez version would be most welcome!!

 

double post

 

I figured as much. Thanks.

 

I agree that the extended box set is comprehensive enough. I was thinking more about the single disc version, which isn't a patch on the extended Steve Binder version that hasn't got an upgrade yet. The audio commentaries could be revelatory don't you think? They've been recorded, so let's hear them!

 

Yeah, hard to imagine what else they could do

 

Has the Comeback Special ever been released on Blu-Ray? If not, a 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray edition would make sense. One thing I'd like to see is the inclusion of an "as broadcast" version, that includes everything home audiences saw in 1968 - including commercials. Then we could get an expanded version of the special, and complete stand up and sit down sessions, etc.

 

I don't need the commercials, but gimme the Elvis stuff as broadcasted. I love musical time machines.

 

No Blu Ray release to date. As was stated earlier in the thread, this material was shot on standard definition videotape. (Same goes for the Aloha special and Elvis in Concert special, for that matter.) There is really no way to make this material "high resolution." The only advantage of a Blu Ray release would be to reduce the compression of the DVD somewhat and allow more material to fit on fewer discs.

 

The December 3rd "Broadcast" version, with the NBC logos, the Singer/Elvis tag title, the Singer ads (which features an ad for the Singer "Flaming Star" album) would be wonderful. Maybe a branching BD version where we could see the summer 69 re-run version, with the original ads and the Blue Christmas / Tiger Man switch out. I know, "I Can Dream"

Here are the Singer ads that aired on 12/3/68

 

Which DVD release presents the most sit-down show footage?

 

I think that the Deluxe Edition from about 15 years ago has all of it. It's not very easy to find cheaply anymore. Certainly worth it, though.

https://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Comeba..._title_2?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1524657799&sr=8-1

 

I was looking at that one and was surprised to see it cheaper at ShopElvis: $60, or $80 in a bundle with the deluxe Aloha DVDs. And I recall it going on sale occasionally too.