Elvis All-Star Tribute

The Elvis All-Star Tribute special was aired last night on NBC and is now history.

It was a 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1968 Singer Presents...Elvis, also on NBC (more commonly known as the '68 Comeback Special). The producers tried to recapture the Presley special with a similar setting.

The show was entertaining (it was two hours long), but over half of the performers, I must confess, were totally unfamiliar to me.

The line-up and songs:

“Trouble”/ “Guitar Man” – Blake Shelton
“Hound Dog” – Shawn Mendes
“Burning Love” – Keith Urban
“Baby, What You Want Me to Do” – Keith Urban and Post Malone
“Jailhouse Rock” – John Fogerty
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Ed Sheeran
“Always on My Mind” – Kelsea Ballerini
“Heartbreak Hotel” – Jennifer Lopez
“One Night” – Darius Rucker
“Suspicious Minds” – Blake Shelton
“Love Me Tender” – Alessia Cara
“Memories” – Mac Davis
“A Little Less Conversation” – John Legend
“Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Little Big Town
“Blue Suede Shoes” – Adam Lambert
“Love Me” – Pistol Annies
“That’s All Right”/“Don’t Be Cruel”/“Blue Suede Shoes” – Mac Davis, Post Malone, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton
“How Great Thou Art”/“He Touched Me”/“You’ll Never Walk Alone” – Carrie Underwood and Yolanda Adams
“Little Sister” – Dierks Bentley
“It’s Now or Never” – Josh Groban
“If I Can Dream” – Elvis Presley, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood

If was fun to see Mac Davis. He looked pretty good for his age (77) and he was the only performer there who actually knew Elvis. He noted this by saying that everyone else is dead.

The original 1968 producer, Steve Binder talked about the show and there were also appearances by Priscilla Presley and Lisa Maria Presley. The special also included clips from the 1968 special.

To read more, go here.

Blake Shelton To Host Elvis Tribute Special

1968 was a pivotal year in many respects. Both good and bad. 

The bad was the war in Viet Nam, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. The good was the mission of Apollo 8 to the moon and the Singer (as in sewing machines) television special, "Elvis".

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of that television special, NBC is airing a tribute special hosted by Blake Shelton.

According to NewsOk:

Now that the calendar has turned over to 2019, mark it for this must-see TV event.
NBC will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's 1968 “Comeback Special” with the “Elvis All-Star Tribute Special,” to air on Sunday, Feb. 17. 

Participating performers have not yet been announced, according to Variety, but we do know that Oklahoma native, country music star and NBC's "The Voice" coach Blake Shelton will host the tribute special.  

And we can expect to have a list of performers unveiled soon. 

For those who aren't familiar with country music or Shelton in particular, here's his current hit:




To read more, go here.

News From Graceland

Celebrate '68 Special Anniversary with Box Set The 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's groundbreaking 1968 special will be commemorated with the release of a deluxe box set on November 30. "Elvis Presley – '68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition)" is the definitive chronicle of one of the greatest rock 'n' roll performances ever televised. For the first time ever, all previously-released audio and newly-restored video from the taping of the special will be available in one package – including unused performances and studio outtakes that spotlight the real Elvis. Fans who pre-order"’68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition)" from Shop Graceland will receive an exclusive gift with purchase: a ’68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Coin (while supplies last). Pre-Order Now Graceland Lights Up for Christmas on November 15 The king's castle will light up for the holiday season with the annual Lighting Ceremony on November 15! Country stars Scotty McCreery and Marty Stuart will flip the switch on Graceland's lights, followed by a special performance by McCreery. Immediately following the ceremony, we'll celebrate the world premiere of the new Hallmark Original Movie, "Christmas at Graceland." Director Eric Close and star Wes Brown will be on hand for the premiere. The movie will air exclusively on the Hallmark Channel on November 17. The Lighting is free and open to the public. The "Christmas at Graceland" premiere is a by-invitation, ticketed event, however complimentary tickets will be made available that night at the door, based on availability. Get the Details Holiday Concert Weekend Features Music, Archives Presentation, More Join us for an expanded Holiday Concert Weekend on December 14-15! The weekend features three concerts that celebrate Elvis, his favorite holiday tunes, his gospel music and his biggest rock 'n' roll hits. Guitarist James Burton of Elvis' TCB Band will perform at the weekend's rock 'n' roll concert. In addition to the concerts, guests can attend Christmas tips, tricks and crafts seminars, explore two newly expanded exhibits at Elvis Presley's Memphis and learn more about "Christmas at Graceland" with a special Graceland Archives presentation. Tickets and hotel packages are available now! Learn More

"Elvis" 1968 Comeback Special Box Set

In many respects, it hardly seems possible that the turbulent year of 1968 was fifty years ago. I remember much of it well. The year was marked by the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy and the violent Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The year did manage to end on two high notes: the moon orbit of Apollo 8 in December and, also in the same month, the NBC Special, Elvis.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Elvis (now known as the "Comeback Special") a box set is set for release next month.

According to Rolling Stone:

For much of the Sixties, Elvis Presley’s most visible presence was on the big screen, in a seemingly endless series of films that ranged from fun (Viva Las Vegas) to forgettable (Easy Come, Easy Go). For that reason alone, the King’s December 3rd, 1968, “comeback” special for NBC was a welcome return to form. Yet, entirely on its own it remains simply one of Presley’s finest moments as an electrifying entertainer, and a landmark event that revolutionized the presentation of live music via television. 

On November 30th, a comprehensive, deluxe box set featuring a dizzying array of audio and video components will celebrate the special’s 50th anniversary. The five-CD and two-Blu-ray disc set will mark the first time ever that all previously-released audio and newly-restored video from the taping of the special will be available in one package. Spotlighting unused performances and studio outtakes of Presley in his element, the collection also features an entire disc of the legendary sessions for the NBC special, which Presley recorded with the studio musicians collectively known as the Wrecking Crew.

The box set comes with a price: $149.98 at Amazon.

To read more, go here.