Introduction
“Gates of Graceland: The Secrets Behind Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special”
In a special episode of Gates of Graceland, aired during Elvis Week 2018, fans were given a rare opportunity to hear the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic Elvis 1968 Comeback Special. Three key creative forces behind the show—director Steve Binder, writer Allan Blye, and musical director Billy Goldenberg—shared unforgettable memories of working with Elvis Presley during this pivotal moment in his career.
Initially, the Comeback Special wasn’t seen as a high-priority project. In fact, Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker, only agreed to it as part of a deal to get funding from NBC for Elvis’s next movie. Parker envisioned a simple Christmas special filled with holiday songs. But when Steve Binder met Elvis and bluntly told him that his career was “in the toilet,” Elvis didn’t get offended—he laughed. It was a wake-up call. Elvis realized it was time to reclaim his artistry.
Binder and his creative team quickly shifted direction. They envisioned a show that celebrated Elvis’s true musical spirit—raw, powerful, emotional, and authentic. The iconic “sit-down jam session,” where Elvis played guitar surrounded by friends and musicians, became a groundbreaking moment in television history.
Most notably, the finale song “If I Can Dream”—a powerful ballad that reflected Elvis’s dreams of peace, unity, and justice—cemented the special’s emotional impact. Despite fierce opposition from Colonel Parker, Elvis insisted on performing the song. It would become one of the most defining statements of his career.
With a passionate team, a star rediscovering his voice, and a format that broke television norms, the Elvis 1968 Comeback Special didn’t just revive Elvis’s career—it reestablished his legendary status in American pop culture. Fifty years later, the special remains a timeless masterpiece of performance art.