Maps of Music

NBC-TV Special (1968)

Where the lyrics of NBC-TV Special take you, and where it was really made.

A TV special's soundtrack revived a singer whose records had been slipping, and its live tracks were captured at NBC Studios in Burbank.

Key places

Live recording at NBC Studios, Burbank (1968)

Live show The Enterprise (Burbank) — The live material for the album was recorded at NBC Studios in Burbank, California, in June 1968. The pin marks the city area, not the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional studio work at Western Recorders (1968)

Recording site EastWest Studios — Additional studio work for the album took place at Western Recorders in Hollywood in June 1968. The pin uses the studio's building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Soundtrack album for Elvis Presley's 1968 NBC television special of the same title
• Released by RCA Records, December 1968
• Mixes studio and live recordings from the special
• Audio-only version of the TV special

Background

• The special and album revived a career that had lost commercial and critical success over several years
• Presley was genuinely excited by this project, unlike the feature film soundtrack sessions
• The format presented him in three settings: medley-based production numbers, a small band playing full songs before a live audience, and two original numbers backed by an orchestra
• Presley insisted the mono mixes of the two ballads be kept for the album

Recording

• Recorded live in June 1968 at NBC Studios in Burbank, California
• Additional studio work in June 1968 at Western Recorders
• Sit-down small-group tracks and stand-up orchestra tracks are mixed together

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi; family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13.
• Began his career in 1954 at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring African-American music to a wider audience.
• Recorded "That's All Right" with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black in July 1954.
• A pioneer of rockabilly, a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues.

Members

• Classic quartet: Presley (vocals, guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass), and D. J. Fontana (drums), who joined in 1955.

Career

• RCA Victor acquired his contract in 1955 for $40,000; "Heartbreak Hotel" hit number one in the US in 1956.
• Became a leading figure of rock and roll, though his style was considered a threat to white American youth by some.
• Made his film debut in Love Me Tender (1956) and devoted much of the 1960s to Hollywood films.
• Returned to the stage with the 1968 NBC special Elvis, followed by a Las Vegas residency and tours.
• Gave the first solo-artist concert broadcast worldwide, Aloha from Hawaii, in 1973.
• Died August 16, 1977 at Graceland, aged 42.
• Estimated to have sold 500 million records worldwide; won three Grammy Awards.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album and the TV special together revitalized Presley's career after years of diminishing commercial and critical success
• The single If I Can Dream peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest-charting single since 1965
• Memories was released over two months after the broadcast, backed with the title song of his next film, Charro!
• The two ballads from the album were issued as singles

Records

• Billboard 200: peaked at No. 8
• The album reached the top ten after his previous album had charted at a dismal No. 82
• RIAA Gold certification on July 22, 1969
• RIAA Platinum certification on July 15, 1999

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• If I Can Dream was backed on its B-side by a song from his film Live a Little, Love a Little, then in theaters, making a double promotion on one record
• Memories was backed with the title song of his next film, Charro!
• Presley insisted the mono mixes of these songs be retained for the album
• Several hours of music were recorded for the special, and the unused material has been reissued in many formats over the years

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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