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'68 Comeback Special - 2
In honor of the new DVD release of the complete
footage from the 1968 TV special, we are taking a behind the scenes look
at the people who worked with
Elvis on this project in June of 1968.
In 1968 Elvis Presley was breathtakingly handsome and
his vocal style was honed to perfection. It was the task of art
director Eugene "Gene" McAvoy to design the showcase that would frame
Elvis visually for the audience. From the opening scene of Elvis
and the 89 guitar men in silhouette (or 89 boys as they were
called in the script) to the finale with Elvis standing in front of his
name in lights, Mr. McAvoy provided sets that complimented the star and
the story. He continued designing for TV specials and received an
Emmy nomination in 1976 for his work on Mary Tyler Moore's "Mary's
Incredible Dream."
Claude Thompson did double duty as the makeup artist
and one of the choreographers. His makeup talents were used in the
1956 movie "Around the World in Eighty Days" and in TV series such as
"The High Chaparral" and "Little House On the Prairie." While his
choreography can be seen in the 1976 movie "King Kong" and the 1985
movie "The Color Purple."
Jaime Rogers was the other choreographer and he too
is diversified in his talents working in the industry not only as a
dancer and choreographer, but as an actor, director and producer.
His dancing talents have been showcased on TV shows such as the 1976
special "Mary's Incredible Dream" for which he received an Emmy Award
nomination and in movies such as "West Side Story" and "Caddyshack II."
The famous tall blonde dancer that Elvis flirts with in the bordello
scene was Susan Henning and you may also recognize her as the mermaid in
Elvis' movie "Live A Little, Love A Little".
Elvis worked with composers Billy Strange and Mac
Davis in the movie "Live A Little, Love A Little." Their song "A
Little Less Conversation" had been used in that film and was for a time
considered to be used in this TV special. It was the version
recorded for this special that was used for the highly successful 2002
remix that has since been used in movies and as the theme song for the
TV series "Las Vegas." Billy Strange and Mac Davis wrote
"Nothingville" and "Memories", both of which were used in the 1968 TV
special. Mr. Strange would go on to work with Elvis again in the movies
"Charro!" and "The Trouble With Girls." They also shared another tie as
Mr. Strange was at one time married to Joan O'Brien, Elvis's leading
lady in "It Happened At The World's Fair."
The musical director was Billy Goldenberg who would
go on to work with Elvis on the film "Change of Habit." His credits
today include over 160 TV series, specials or mini-series that he has
composed for. He has been nominated eleven times for Emmy Awards
winning one for the 1978 mini series "King" and he has been the musical
director for specials with Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross as well.
Elvis began rehearsals on June 17th, becoming so
immersed in the project that he literally moved into his NBC dressing
room for the duration, even sleeping there. It was after
rehearsals one night that Steve Binder came upon Elvis and his friends
in his temporary home, doing what Elvis did naturally to relax -
laughing and jamming. It was then that Mr. Binder had the idea to
add a jam session to the actual special. His first thought was to
film it in the dressing room but later changed the location to an
informal gathering with an audience. This portion has since become
known as the two sit-down shows. Joining him on stage were his
original side men Scotty Moore and D. J. Fontana, and his friends
Charlie Hodge, Alan Fortas and Lance LeGault.
Lance LeGault had worked with Elvis for years as his
movie stand-in and often times fight/stunt choreographer. He has
worked on many films and TV projects and recently was the voice of
Junior the buffalo in the animated "Home on the Range." He can
also be heard as the narrator of the Graceland mansion audio tour.
Recording sessions at Western Recorders began on June
20th. The musicians used on this special were some of the best in
the business, many were a part of Phil Spector's famous "wrecking crew".
On guitars were Tommy Tedesco, Mike Deasy and Al
Casey. It was actually Al Casey's beautiful red Hagsrom guitar
that Elvis used in the opening scenes. Bones Howe had spotted it
in Mr. Casey's instrument trunk and thought that the bright red guitar
with its gold hardware would be perfect for the scene. Hagstrom's
were made in Alvadalen, Sweden between 1958 and 1983 and were known for
their fine quality. This particular instrument is now owned by a casino
corporation out of Illinois.
Charles Berghofer played bass as did Larry Knechtal,
who also played the keyboards. Don Randi was on piano. Hal
Blaine, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 as
a sideman, played the drums. John Cyr and Elliot Franks provided
percussion. Frank DeVito played bongos. Tommy Morgan was on
the harmonica.
Backup vocals were by the Blossoms: Darlene
Love, Fanita James and Jean King. It is Jean King that we hear
sing "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" in the opening of the
gospel production number. There were other backing vocalists as
well.
Billy Goldenberg conducted an orchestra of strings
and horns, all of which added to the final product.
On June 26th. there was an on-set birthday party for
Col. Tom Parker. Colonel was given an autographed portrait of
Executive Producer Bob Finkel dressed as Napoleon. The portrait is
still a part of the Colonel's collection in the Graceland Archives.
Elvis also sang for the Colonel's pleasure a parody of "It Hurts Me"
written for the occasion by Chris Beard and Allan Blye. The new
version of the song went:
"It hurts me to see the budget climb up to the sky.
It hurts me when Finkel gives me trouble, when I see all my money go
just for one g---damned ol' TV show. It hurts me the way that
Finkel spends my dough. The whole town is talkin' they're callin'
me a fool for listenin' to Binder's same ol' lies. Finkel calls
me, says I've got no choice then hangs up the phone in that damned Rolls
Royce. It hurts me when my tears start to flow, they promised me
sure if I would give in that I would-that I would never go wrong, but
tell me the truth is it too much to ask for one lousy tired ol'
Christmas song...?"
By June 27th, rehearsals were winding down and
the taping of the production numbers had begun. Also that evening
there were two sit-down jam session shows taped. On June 29th they
shot the two stand-up shows. On Sunday, June 30th, Elvis
completed taping the "If I Can Dream" finale. Physically and
emotionally spent, Elvis then left for a week's rest in Palm Springs.
On September 11, 1968 "Variety" announced that the
bordello scene had been cut from the TV special, citing it had been
passed by the NBC censors but the sponsor Singer had requested that it
be removed.
The "Elvis" special aired on December 3rd. at 9:00
EST and was seen by 42 percent of the viewing audience, making it the
number one show for the season and giving NBC its biggest ratings
victory of the year. It received rave reviews from the critics and
Elvis was indeed back on top!
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