Reviews for Comeback 68 / Elvis the Story of the Elvis Special Steve Binder
'68 at 40 - Retrospective
By Steve Binder with Joe Tunzi
Volume review
| Teaming up with Elvis' 1968 Comeback producer Steve Folder, Joe Tunzi has published '68 At 40 Retrospective' a quality hard-backed book of 120 colour pages. The volume, which features 8 capacity that examine all the different aspects of bringing this life-changing plan to air, is very stylish and beautifully laid-out. |  |
Teaming upward with Elvis' 1968 Comeback producer Steve Binder, Joe Tunzi has published '68 At 40 Retrospective' a quality difficult-backed book of 120 colour pages. Featuring viii chapters which all examine unlike aspects of bringing this life-changing programme to air, the book is very stylish and beautifully laid-out.
The press release promised 100 never-before-seen photos from private collections and, although the settings must be familiar to everyone who has advisedly watched the TV Special, in that location is a real excitement in being able to study every stunning classic Elvis moment in detail. While some of the photos are a little grainy - possibly considering they are zoomed in for closer detail - the overall pattern and printing make up for any pocket-sized thwarting. In particular the blueish-shirt rehearsal shut-ups and 'If I Tin Dream' photos are astounding.
| There are enough of close-ups to revel in where the sweat pouring from Elvis' skin glows as his musical soul is revitalised. In that location are also comments from fans who were at that place at the fourth dimension featured in the volume, including EIN's adept friend Joan Gansky. (Go here for her expect at the 40th Anniversary Celebration in L.A. that was attended by Priscilla, Steve Binder and others) "I don't remember screaming - we were in the moment. I was listening to every word Elvis sang, didn't want to scream. I didn't desire to miss a word of his singing." "Going to the taping was one of the nearly heady things I have e'er washed every bit an Elvis fan. |  |
All-time of all are Steve Binder's recollections, giving us yet more insights on this special event and all the tricky production decisions that he had to make a stand up for. For instance the instance of NBC and Singer wanting Elvis' "sweaty" scenes recut!
>>> Equally far as I was concerned this was not going to exist 'traditional television' but had to be an accurate rock 'n' curl concert. If his pilus was mussed up and he was sweating profusely, so exist information technology! If cameras or equipment, normally subconscious from the goggle box audiences view, was seen in the shot... who cared? Well, NBC and the Singer Company evidently cared a lot. The minute they saw the raw Elvis and sweat pouring downward his face from the hot lights and leather suit, they I asked me to either re-shoot or take those scenes out of the special. One NBC executive, Dick Loeb, actually commented to me, "You lot can actually see sweat stains on his shirt nether his arm pits and y'all won't be able to bear witness that on prime time television. You'll have to edit that out of the testify." Give thanks God they didn't become their way.
| Folder supplies a lot of his fascinating personal memorabilia and also has a very squeamish style of writing that shows his honesty, love of the project and what he ultimately achieved. There are some wonderful artefacts like his 'Snowmen's League Of America' membership bill of fare along with mitt-written notes and some fascinating pre-production sheets. In some early on notes the TV special is to be chosen "But ELVIS" and the last number is just indicated as 'Large Ballad' as opposed to the howeverhoped-for-written 'If I Can Dream'. It is too fascinating to discover that some very different and strange songs were initially idea of. Imagine Elvis singing 'Wooden Heart' or fifty-fifty 'Cotton Processed Land' in the '68 Special! 'Lilliputian Sister' and 'Long Solitary Highway' and Roustabout's 'Wheels on My Heels' were also considered. |  |
Another department of interest is the finer details nearly the known statement with The Colonel who instead wanted a "Perry Como" styled easy-going special of Christmas songs. When yous read about what the wily old Colonel had planned, the thought that Elvis might have given in to his bullying is positively frightening. There seems little doubt that without the resurgence of the artistic and musical power of Elvis, via the Steve Binder produced 68 Improvement as information technology was finally broadcast, there probably would accept been no Vegas resurrection!
It is too fascinating to discover that the devious old Colonel Parker once again managed to trick some of the key creative people in Elvis' life out of their well-deserved earnings.
In this excerpt Steve Binder describes their music production deal.
>> "The contract for the 'Comeback Special', according to a June 13th William Morris Agency memo, stated that Steve Binder & Bones Howe would exist responsible for the writers, choral director, choreographers, and musical conductor/arranger. …
The Colonel phoned me back and personally gave me his word of award that there would definitely exist no RCA song or soundtrack album released from the television special then we had zero to worry about. Fred phoned me to support the Colonel's chat. I was very naive and took the Colonel and the William Morris Bureau at their word.
Here'due south the kicker, earlier the special had even started production, the Colonel fabricated a deal with NBC to plough over the audiotapes from the special to RCA without accuse. A bargain that would have amounted to millions of dollars in music rights. Elvis got a free album out of the budget of the television special.
And after the special was delivered to NBC, the Colonel mailed to my dwelling house a $one,500 check forth with an agreement for me to sign waiving all my legal rights to the soundtrack and congratulating me on the release of the album. Instead of signing the agreement, I sent the unsigned check back to the Colonel with a brusque annotation telling him where he could put it. To this day, Basic or I have never received one penny from the soundtrack earnings."
Stories like these, along with the insightful comments and product notes – and of course the marvellous photographs - makes this retrospective an exciting look into a show that nosotros thought there was null new to acquire well-nigh.
As a bonus, an A4 Steve Binder signed photo, of Elvis and him discussing the production, was likewise supplied with the original release of the volume. The photo tin can be seen beneath in the press release which too shows more content from the volume.
Verdict: This retrospective is a perfect complement to the 'The Complete 1968 Comeback Special' 4CD set and unlike the usual photo volume will provide hours of fun and memories. This book is of course an expensive treat at around $100. Withal if you can afford it, it is an essential buy. In that location is a rumour that most copies have already sold out, so if you are a fan search it out from your local dealer. With then much interest hopefully there will be a re-print. Joe Tunzi's best volume then far.
Go here for more than data the book and JAT publications.
Review by Piers Beagley
Copyright EIN - September 2008
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Source: https://www.elvisinfonet.com/bookreview_JAT68at40.html
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