Released in many formats, this is a very recent re-release of Elvis Presley's incredible performance on his NBC-TV special from 1968. At this point, Elvis was a figure from the past, who made too many mediocre films, and this was an approach to bring him back to contemporary culture. Either by Elvis or the producers, they had the brilliant idea to do a set of songs unplugged and little to no sets, but surrounded by an audience.
Covering his Sun-era recordings as well as his early 1950s RCA sides, plus a few Christmas songs (including one of my fave Elvis cuts "Blue Christmas"), he's not only back, but also to my ears has the energy of a young proto-punk band. The Cramps came to mind when I hear this album, and it's not that weird of a comparison or aesthetic. The sad thing is that Elvis regained his 'moment' but then lost it in the 1970s, at least image-wise. Often bloated, but I would argue his magnificent voice never failed him. Now, I wonder if Elvis actually had made a bad record? Weak ones, yes, but a terrible record? Still, clad in an all-leather outfit, and an f**K you to 1960s haircut and stance, he's magnificent.
For one, to see him with his band is like being in a foreign country to me. It's William Faulkner coming to life, and the happy relationship between him and the group, is very much like a small club where the membership is secret, and although he and they are human, it is still very much of a foreign culture. But that's me, the ultimate Southern California fellow! If The Cramps are exotic then so is "The King In The Ring." It's a double album, of two live sets recorded for the TV special. The idea was to film both shows and then edit the songs together for the final program. So, as a listener, we are hearing repeated but different performances such as Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me To Do" (five times) "One Night (three times) and so forth. Each version has its charms, and all are phenomenal.
The band is basically the original Elvis group of Scotty Moore and drummer D. J. Fontana (playing on a guitar case used as drums), Charlie Hodge guitar and backup vocals, and two Memphis Mafia guys on percussion. It's a superb band, with Elvis on guitar, and that remarkable voice that cuts down all sense of fakeness, yet theatrical in its presence. Elvis was a unique artist, where his landscape turned against him, yet, among the rubble, he came out like a pauper King. These recordings are my favorite Elvis. It's up there with the Sun Records, but also I like them even better than the RCA early 50s recordings. They're loose, and he's on fire.
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