50 yrs today : Elvis comeback special

[paulbearer]

Dec 3rd , 1968....

[Deleted]

One of the best comebacks of all time...


Also f*** drug addiction, which perhaps could've made Elvis even bigger in life.

[paulbearer]

Truth is it started in the army late 50s , he was always on drugs during 60s but he had a handle on it....just watch difference 1970 and '72 , something happened that period and not just the divorce

His bodyguard Red tried acid in '65 but found out it was not for him , rumors has it they forged Presleys signature to get drugs themselves and Sweet Inspirations was on speed to keep up with concerts

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Elvis was absolutely excellent during this time period.

It was JUST before he got too showbiz, and he was still one of the sexiest men alive. An energy that he had, but with the gravitas of a showman by '68 rather than the raw kid he was in the fifties.

The footage of them getting his old buddies from Memphis out for some blues jamming is some of the greatest musical footage out there. Elvis is having so much fun. That version of 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy' is the definitive one in my book.

And his hot streak would continue from here too. From here, we get From Elvis In Memphis and Elvis Country, which are two of the finest albums he ever released in a career that is surprisingly lacking in good-quality, long-playing experiences.

[Paul]

"I'll have a Blue Christmas with you .. er.. without you...".

[Kyn]

Dec 3, 2018 16:17:00 GMT -5 ani said:

Also f*** drug addiction, which perhaps could've made Elvis even bigger in life.

Phrasing.


Going to watch this now. Elvis was one of a kind.

[Display Name]

Was actually in Memphis for the first time last week and did the Graceland tour, amongst other Elvis-related things. I’m a dude from L.A. and never thought I would be in the “Jungle Room”.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Dude did look badass in the leather.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Dec 4, 2018 12:58:28 GMT -5 Display Name said:

Was actually in Memphis for the first time last week and did the Graceland tour, amongst other Elvis-related things. I’m a dude from L.A. and never thought I would be in the “Jungle Room”.

Tacky as Hell ain't it? Been there a couple times. One of the last times in Memphis, I got HAMMERED, and we ended up walking in Memphis (my feet 10 feet off of Beale...and Overton..and everywhere) ended up outside Graceland this time around 1030 at night...drunk me considered jumping the fence.


If you get a chance, The Sun Studio tour is cool.

[Natural Born Farmer]

This was before my time, but did he ever really need to “come back”? My understanding is he was still popular as hell, just not as interested in a full time album/tour/repeat schedule. Even when he did the Hawaii album he sounded great despite being really out of shape. Was this a comeback so much as a “hey, I’m still here”?

[Perd]

Elvis, in that black leather suit, might be the best looking person that ever lived.

[Display Name]

Dec 4, 2018 17:50:42 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Dec 4, 2018 12:58:28 GMT -5 Display Name said:

Was actually in Memphis for the first time last week and did the Graceland tour, amongst other Elvis-related things. I’m a dude from L.A. and never thought I would be in the “Jungle Room”.

Tacky as Hell ain't it? Been there a couple times. One of the last times in Memphis, I got HAMMERED, and we ended up walking in Memphis (my feet 10 feet off of Beale...and Overton..and everywhere) ended up outside Graceland this time around 1030 at night...drunk me considered jumping the fence.


If you get a chance, The Sun Studio tour is cool.

I walked into Sun Studio and it was shoulder-to-shoulder packed in that small ass room. They only had room for me later on the day, but I had plans I needed to make. I just ended up looking at the merch and moved on.

[Beets by Schrute]

And to think his manager Tom Parker wanted a Christmas special instead of this. The man really screwed over Elvis’ career by having him doing the same 30 movies for a decade and touring him to exhaustion. Not to mention his legal problems cost Elvis a huge, potential international pay day.

[Beebs is the Final Girl]

I love this. I have watched this so many times with my mom. It's awesome on their 70" tv.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Dec 5, 2018 4:13:39 GMT -5 Display Name said:

Dec 4, 2018 17:50:42 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Tacky as Hell ain't it? Been there a couple times. One of the last times in Memphis, I got HAMMERED, and we ended up walking in Memphis (my feet 10 feet off of Beale...and Overton..and everywhere) ended up outside Graceland this time around 1030 at night...drunk me considered jumping the fence.


If you get a chance, The Sun Studio tour is cool.

I walked into Sun Studio and it was shoulder-to-shoulder packed in that small ass room. They only had room for me later on the day, but I had plans I needed to make. I just ended up looking at the merch and moved on.

Yeah it's tiny. Still, seeing the mics and such the quartet used was great as a Johnny Cash fan.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Dec 4, 2018 20:16:43 GMT -5 Natural Born Farmer said:

This was before my time, but did he ever really need to “come back”? My understanding is he was still popular as hell, just not as interested in a full time album/tour/repeat schedule. Even when he did the Hawaii album he sounded great despite being really out of shape. Was this a comeback so much as a “hey, I’m still here”?

He was absolutely artistically dead at this point. After he came back from the army and made some good stuff (although some still say he never came back from the army) he spent the 60s making shit soundtrack albums to even shittier movies. His critical stock was dead. Still making good money as far as I know, but not like he used to. The comeback special was designed to give him critical weight again and make him a star again, and it did both. The tour he did that followed made huge, huge money, until he got marooned in Vegas and never left.

[Paul]

Tom Parker nearly ruined his career with those movies.

[paulbearer]

Yes , but nobody forced Presley to sign those contracts....both men were cash grabs : as much money possible for as little work possible

The films were still profitable in 1965 despite the poor scripts

E turned down Barbras ASIB , again its easy to use Parker as a scape goat but i dont think E had it in him in '75 imo (also Parker would obsess over the billing , Es name would have to come first)

Same with touring overseas , if E had really wanted it , it prolly wouldve happened before 1975 , i never got the impression E wanted to tour overseas those last two yrs (Parker turned down 10 mill for '75 Egypt gig)


IMO , Presley was in pretty good shape in '73 , a few pounds extra since previous yr , but he could still deliver good concerts

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

I specifically referenced his artistic stock over everything else.

And I was under the impression Parker was against overseas touring because he was an illegal immigrant.

[Paul]

Dec 6, 2018 23:48:29 GMT -5 paulbearer said:

Yes , but nobody forced Presley to sign those contracts....both men were cash grabs : as much money possible for as little work possible

The films were still profitable in 1965 despite the poor scripts

E turned down Barbras ASIB , again its easy to use Parker as a scape goat but i dont think E had it in him in '75 imo (also Parker would obsess over the billing , Es name would have to come first)

Same with touring overseas , if E had really wanted it , it prolly wouldve happened before 1975 , i never got the impression E wanted to tour overseas those last two yrs (Parker turned down 10 mill for '75 Egypt gig)


IMO , Presley was in pretty good shape in '73 , a few pounds extra since previous yr , but he could still deliver good concerts

Elvis was afraid to do anything without Parker. He knew that Parker had brought him to where he was and he was afraid of everything falling apart without him.