56 years ago today, NBC aired Elvis Presley’s 1968 Comeback Special. This was HUGE! Elvis hadn’t appeared live in about seven years because he was busy doing movies. Naturally, it topped the ratings!
The special was originally going to be a Christmas special. The special’s director didn’t think that would peak the interests of young people at the time. Instead, the special included a sit-down session that showcased Elvis in an informal setting, surrounded by fans and a small band.
The special was recorded in June of 1968, and despite it not being a Christmas special, it did include one of his biggest Christmas songs – Blue Christmas. Now I could easily play the Elvis version of the song that was a hit, or the new arrangement with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, or even the full 1968 Comeback version for you, but I decided not to.
What I want to play for you is the 1968 Comeback version with a twist. What would it have sounded like if a special guest joined Elvis in a duet of his famous hit? Well, Martina McBride (thanks to a green screen and modern technology) does just that. Check this out:
I LOVE THIS!
Just for fun, here is a behind the scenes video of how it was done…
Prior to this cut, an Elvis Christmas Duets album was released. Martina sings this with him on that album, but it is the “hit version” arrangement. Here is that, just because:
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
interesting to be sure, but I don’t think Elvis needed the help on that one. It really was a comeback for him at the time
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That comeback special was special in every sense of the word. The movies were almost at the end…it was good to see him as a rock guy again.
I loved that Martina video…
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I always loved that song
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I have to say while I like how Elvis and Martina McBride sound together and don’t mind the use of technology to enable that, I have mixed feelings about the video. I guess creating a fake visual takes it to another level for me where you can see how modern technology could be abused.
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I can see what you are saying.
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