He may have looked trim, but posthumous accounts (especially Peter Guralnick's Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, the second volume in his definitive biography) confirm what a second look suggests--on this evening, Elvis was alternately overwhelmed and distracted, bravura renditions of signature songs (most triumphantly, the "American Trilogy" medley originated by Mickey Newbury) offset by less-focused readings. Fans may still savor a generous and diverse song list, but viewed beside Presley's earlier, more consistent performances (including a rehearsal the previous night, since released as The Alternate Aloha Concert), this legendary concert anticipates Presley's imminent decline.

In this remastered version, three songs have been deleted due to music clearance issues, while four songs taped after the actual show have been inserted. A fifth bonus track, "No More," makes its first appearance on video. --Sam Sutherland

Amazon.com
Elvis: The Concert Collection includes three shows: '68 Comeback Special, One Night with You, and Aloha from Hawaii.

Five years before he achieved broadcast history with his legendary 1973 global satellite telecast, Aloha from Hawaii, Elvis Presley brought a less grandiose but far more urgent mission to '68 Comeback Special. Isolated from his original audience after a long sojourn on Hollywood soundstages, and threatened by the vibrancy and social gravity of rock, the King sought nothing less than to reclaim his throne. Now this Christmas season network special looms as the Memphis icon's most substantial achievement as a stage performer. If the candy-colored sets and hyperactive choreography of its larger production numbers smack of its network packagers' desperation to be hip, Elvis himself rises to a riveting, assured performance at the peak of his powers. Looking fit and relaxed, and sheathed in black leather, he covers a shrewd song list encompassing early rockabilly hits, gospel (albeit rendered unintentionally hilarious by its florid dance routines), and comparatively restrained ballads.

Originally taped for '68 Comeback Special and never seen during his lifetime, the astonishing live performance One Night with You could accurately be described as Elvis unplugged. Taped in a small studio, the session is a no-frills, intimate presentation of the Memphis rocker jamming with four of his earliest band mates, revisiting early favorites in a relaxed and unrehearsed setting. With the musicians seated in a circle, facing one another while surrounded by a small but rapt audience, One Night with You is far removed from the more conventional staging seen elsewhere in his videography. Elvis's warm interaction with his old allies meanwhile refers directly back to his earliest stage and TV work in trio and quartet configurations. For fans, the comeback special itself still looms as an unsurpassed feast of Presley music at the artist's peak. But this 53-minute companion, first aired by HBO, stands on its own as the tenderloin.

Fans still remember the ambitious 1973 network TV special Aloha from Hawaii as a zenith in Elvis Presley's performing career, punctuated by its extra-musical achievement as the first global satellite broadcast devoted to a single entertainer. Both the broadcast and its companion album captured the King in his most grandiose persona, fueled by Hollywood scale and Vegas glitz, as a caped pop superhero. He may have looked trim, but posthumous accounts confirm what a second look suggests--on this evening, Elvis was alternately overwhelmed and distracted, bravura renditions of signature songs (most triumphantly, the "American Trilogy" medley originated by Mickey Newbury) offset by less-focused readings. Fans may still savor a generous and diverse song list, but viewed beside Presley's earlier, more consistent performances, this legendary concert anticipates Presley's imminent decline. --Sam Sutherland

Speaking of wich, you realize that 4 hours worth of this treatment would proabably seem to put ya to sleep and if it does, dont watch it in a moving autombile ok, you have to catch all the hidden things Elvis is sining about, and it's really like the game "clue", we get to see Elvis grow up but still show us that rock is not just about going nuts,although he proabably did right after, you can tell.

Yes,the 68 special (delux), thats the way it is special edition
and this beautiful concert (s) is not just for fans, but show's what rock could be and contains things we need in rock today if you dig deep enough, so for all you cocky know it all musicians and music lovers out there who dont know_ _ _ _ about Elvis beyond side burns, fat and a thin lipped snarl grunting, better get their head out of the sand and see an actual person instead of lore, and he was not fat, ever, everybody made him bigger than he was, he always had class and didnt die on donuts, and who cares how he died, I mean really, can you predict if you are gonna be dead on the toilet? If Elvis had a choice on where to leave earth, I hardly think he would have chossen the bathroom, so please, from 1954 to 1977 Elvis had his up's and low's but he had twice the up's and even in the end, just study him and youll see how everybody's wrong, there's 900,000,000 fans that are right, Elvis is the king and the sooner you all end the debate, the sooner you can stop living in denial and I'm a big Aerosmith and Metalica fan.


The real Elvis behind the image!! and not faking it.   July 15, 2004
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Ya he is the king but does anyone know why?, maybye becuse HE WAS NOT A WIGGLY PEICE OF CARBOARD THAT THE ALL FAMOUS HOUND DOG LOVERS KEPT TRYING TO TRAP HIM SO HE COULD NOT EXPAND HIS CRAFT could it be?

Ya he flipped off the old Elvis, but not completely, In the Aloha show (delux) Elvis had alot more talent brewing than his makeshift image and he decided (very focused like)that if the entire world is watching, show them what the world didnt see in him.. his secret side and that is the real reason why some would seem bored and yes (in the 77 special, there was more energy) but in this show in particular, Elvis showed us his contempt for life and what made him really tick and PLUS does anybody realize that this was an enormous release to share his fears with the whole planet with nobody controling him, wow!! to see this in the new edition and witness him coming to grips with himself on national t.v is awesome and watch this with that perspective and see all you faithless Elvis bashers fade! (p.s, American trilogy on the jan 12 performance is hands down the best Elvis performance caught on film period.)


THIS WAS ELVIS AT HIS VERY BEST!!!   February 19, 2004
Jimmy H. Frederickson (Gardena, Ca United States)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

I HAVE READ A LOT ON HOW HE FELT BEFORE THIS PERFORMANCE. THE POSITIVE SIDE IS THAT NO OTHER DVD IN SOUND AND VIDEO CAN TOUCH IT! IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND! WHO EVER RE-MASTERED THIS DVD KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING! ITS ELVIS AT HIS VERY BEST! HE'S VERY NERVOUS
BUT DOES SETTLE DOWN AFTER AWHILE! IF YOUR GOING TO BUY ONE ELVIS CONCERT? THIS IS THE BOMB!


WOW!!!   January 12, 2004
Frank Moreno (Las Vegas, NV)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

What a powerful performance! I'd suggest this over any other Elvis Presley DVD. Too bad they're all sold out at Amazon. Still looking for a copy? Try musiccdvideo.com - they have Aloha from Hawaii & '68 Comeback Special for only $20 brand new! Check it Out.