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50th Anniversary NBC Special

September 15, 2018 | Music

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
Source:Elvis World Japan
JerryNodak wrote on September 15, 2018
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.
joemin wrote on September 15, 2018
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".
atomic powered poste wrote on September 15, 2018
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.
circleG wrote on September 15, 2018
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.
Ton Bruins wrote on September 16, 2018
Lex what is your opinion in this ? Will it be better ? I have serious doubts.
blackdiamond wrote on September 16, 2018
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.
Bob Finkel wrote on September 16, 2018
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.
O Hooligan wrote on September 17, 2018
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.
Steve V wrote on September 17, 2018
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.
JerryNodak wrote on September 17, 2018
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.
O Hooligan wrote on September 18, 2018
Aha - thanks JerryNodak
Steve Jenkins wrote on September 27, 2018
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
Steve Jenkins wrote on October 11, 2018
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)