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It's Now Or Never Flying

January 25, 2005 | Music
In the singles market Elvis Presley is once again flying out of the shops with the fifth in his series of anniversary re-issues, and could well be number one again replacing Ciara's crunk'n'b anthem Goodies.

A plethora of other new release singles are also heading for the Top 20, including Ashanti, Mike Reid's One World Project, Lovefreekz, Hanson, Lemon Jelly, Ashlee Simpson, Mylo and Phixx.
Source:Music Week

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loftmanuk wrote on January 25, 2005
Will the powers that be let Elvis get to No 1 this week? How many copies available this week then? Not up against a lot is he though. Don't think the charity aid single is being released until next month sometime (unless someone knows different). The saga continues!
derekd wrote on January 25, 2005
Called into our local Woolies store [Monday 9-15am] They only got 5 [FIVE] copies of Now or Never in, 3 already sold. They where unable to find covers for the other 2 and i was told they could not therefore supply me. I asked if they find the cover[s] could they keep me one. The answer was NO. No sign of the extra AFSAI copies either. INoN is waiting for me at HMV, but they did not get AFSAI either. So bmg/sony were are the copies we're promised.?
Eddie White wrote on January 25, 2005
If Elvis is No.1 this Sunday I will sit in the chair my wife bought me for Xmas and plug it in like she told me to.
Rita wrote on January 25, 2005
The situation here in my home town here in the UK regarding the 'Now or Never' single is absolutely chaotic. On Monday morning at 9 o'clock queues were forming at the HMV Record Shop, they only had just a few singles reserved for customers only, the sales assistant said that they just cannot get the singles, it is a complete MESS! She said that last week they had problems getting the 10" version, this week it's the CDs. Another shop was only allocated three copies instead of the usual 12. Virgin Megastore did not have any and have no intentions of getting any copies when they are released again on Thursday and Friday. MVC Record Store will only get one copy on Thursday or Friday. There was literally no spare copies available yesterday in the shops. I think the situation next week will be even worse than it is now! Is it really worth even trying to get any of the next singles if you have not got any on order? It is disgusting how they are treating Elvis and his fans, what about these people who are unable to get into town early on a Monday eg nurses, office workers, manual workers etc. that want to get the disc, they have no chance!
Jim Semple wrote on January 25, 2005
I'll probably get shot for saying this, but I've gone past caring now ! I feel mentally drained driving miles, searching stores and what for at the end of the day ! Im continually empty handed like virtually everyone else. Plus, no radio play, no footage, think I'll stick to my own collection from now on. BMG / Sony / EPE, should be ashamed of this pitiful performance. I can understand a shortfall for Jailhouse Rock, being the very first one, but have lessons been learnt since - have they f**k !!.
Elvis girl wrote on January 25, 2005
I am in total agreement with Rita, i too had no hope of getting Its now or never yesterday, like she said what about those of us who can't get to the stores til after lunch because of work and children, it is totally unfair.....i couldn't get the CD or the vinyl yesterday and last week came away empty handed too...i am so disappointed, i was looking forward to collecting this set but there is just no hope!I feel that Sony/BMG are totally unfair to us fans by not providing enough copies.
data wrote on January 25, 2005
Flying, could be:at great speed nobody has seen them.
joemin wrote on January 25, 2005
Don't give up!! There are 35,000 copies of It's Now or Never cd single, that is 15,000 more than origonally planned. How many fans are there?? Do we need 40,000?? Do we need 50,000?? Everyone email BMG and let them know. Also email BBC and any media people you know to make a big deal about this. The extra singles will reduce the price on EBAY, and the retailers will stop scamming. Once the price on EBAY tapers off, later singles will not be hi-jacked.
Pedro Nuno wrote on January 25, 2005
Fantastic Cover! What a picture!
MauriceColgan wrote on January 25, 2005
"It's Now or Never", was a Milestone release back in 1960 it was a huge hit which won over a lot of Elvis's critics. I remember all the old people buying it! I was eighteen:-) A press release website based in India is keeping a positive Elvis story at the top of google Elvis news. Please help keep it there. When you have read every page on this excellent website of course. Meanwhile. Business is taking care of Elvis.
Glenny boy wrote on January 25, 2005
Jim Semple youve hit the nail on the head ive driven miles and taken days off what a farce, 40 years a fan and still BMG just dont care .Release them again I say, follow me people lets go get them, BMG i mean not the singles!! SORT IT OUT BMG please
stu wrote on January 25, 2005
DEREKD I went into my local Woolies for AFSAI. When asked for the single, they too could not find the sleeve!! What sort of scam are these retailers up to?
Shaky wrote on January 25, 2005
With 35,000 copies available we should not be getting this chaotic situation again this week?? My Local area: Virgin had people cue-ing up since 5.30am in Walsall. Woolworths in Dudley had 9 copies - sold out in first 5 mins. HMV had 20 copies - all pre-ordered. ASDA in Oldbury had 4 Copies - all reserved!. How can we get Elvis back to No.1 again if everyone you talk to is not getting the single because they CAN'T find it on the shelves.
Jim Semple wrote on January 25, 2005
Anybody daft enough to cure up at 5.30am, can only be hardcore Ebay sellers.
Glenny boy wrote on January 25, 2005
Even so pop pickers i bet we never thought that 28 years later our boy would still be riding the charts and causing queues at record shops hey! Still we'd all give it up to have him back here.
Damian wrote on January 25, 2005
Reference Jim Semple comments ....couldn't agree more with you regarding your "past caring" comment. It seems you've got more chance of locating a top class elvis impersonator than actually finding a record or cd in the shops ! ( i.e no chance) I've been a fairly active buyer on e-bay for Elvis stuff over the past couple of years but am disgusted at the profiteering going on and would call upon all fans to do exactly what I intend to do which is refuse to buy the stuff from them. As long as there are desperate fans prepared to pay silly money (and I can fully understand why) these characters will carry on and all we're doing if we buy off them is encouraging it. I guess I'm being unduly optimistic but given the outpouring of negative comments from fans on various sites I think action will be taken. I did see a suggestion on one site yesterday that BMG had been in contact with e-bay regarding this matter. It would be great to see these sellers stopped and some sanity restored...here's hoping
asd123 wrote on January 25, 2005
I thought the flood charity single will be available this week, and that it might make it hard for elvis, to become nr. 1 again!? Which single is it or am i wrong?
circleG wrote on January 25, 2005
Record company unable/unwilling to supply the demand. Artist' estate unwilling to supply any images. Hi-jacked by crooked retailers and ebayers. And to top it all impersonators on Tv. Don't care anymore.
pacer1965 wrote on January 25, 2005
Its Now or Never flying I dont know how because i cant get it !
ep1tcb wrote on January 25, 2005
I can't understand what the problem is with the availability of the CD/Vinyl singles. In what countries do you all live. I've got no problem to get the singles i want. Maybe you all should move to my country. If i want 5 CD singles and 15 vinyl singles next week ??.... no problem. Next week they're in my house, for sure. By the way.... i live in the netherlands. It's a small country... but BIG in Elvis.
Cr wrote on January 25, 2005
Again a number 1.?? In holland i can't get the single .And someone from the the recordshop told me there's not enough and they gonna released it again.But not numbered anymore I also waiting for the vinyl version.i'll have to be paticient But it's a shame that they sell it for higher prices on ebay while the people they ordered can't get it The bastards on ebay wants only the money and give a damn about Elvis and his fans.And that's a shame
pacer1965 wrote on January 25, 2005
Your not the only one past caring Jim because i have had enough as well.I could not get Its now or never either. I would have more chance of seeing Elvis walk down the street than getting these singles
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on January 25, 2005
Singles "flying out the shops"? They would be, if we could only buy them. People queuing at 8.00 o'clock outside Dorchester Woolies (inc me!) to try & get the pathetic 4 copies they were allocated, & the pattern repeated throughout the whole country. What the hell are Sony /BMG playing at? This is the 5th single & still they are failing to meet the demand – it is hardly rocket science to press more copies. They have the nerve to send us an email saying how great it is that Elvis is number 2!? If those complacent fools had pressed enough copies Elvis would have had a world beating 3rd number one. It only needed slightly over a 1,000 copies to beat the current no. one. The demand was there, but... the singles were not. We now have a moderator & I don't like bad language on web sites, so all I can say is words fail me to express my opinion of RCA's total failure to help us fans get Elvis back to his rightful place at number one...
Mac Saoirse wrote on January 25, 2005
I totally agree with circleG's comment. I've lost all interest. BMG are to blame for not making enough copies. Where are all the extra copies of 'A fool Such As I' that were promised? Then again, I've stopped caring.
hot dog wrote on January 25, 2005
The fact the charity single is out soon shouldnt make any difference. I am sure that if 50.000 copies of the next Elvis release were made available next Monday, then they would all sell. The charity single would not suffer in terms of sales due to the Elvis release. However the number one spot is very important to the record companies and if a new act comes along then they are going to do all they can to get it there. They will probably dribble the Elvis singles out slowly. It should be made an even playing field for everyone, it is all about chart rigging. It happend with a little less conversation 2 years ago. Pulled from the charts to make way for Garath Gates (same lable) to get to the top spot. Oh well thats 2005 for you , s**t music and cheats.
ranger wrote on January 25, 2005
I know that this is a tall order but does anyone know what kind of store will be stocking the extra singles on Thursday (or is it Friday?). Will Woolies have it? What about smaller branches of HMV? Is it only going to be available in 'flagship' branches of HMV, Virgin etc.?
Miss Clawdy wrote on January 25, 2005
I agree with circleG! What a sad sad piece of Elvis history :-( Be ashamed EPE & BMG!
Viva wrote on January 25, 2005
I find it more interesting these days not to wonder about where to find the latest Elvis single, but to wonder how EPE and BMG are going to f**k it up this time. I think this week on Top Of The Pops we will have the gorgeous Fearne proudly announcing that Elvis has made chart history by having the most pretentious and dim-witted management company on four separate occasions, and also the longest run of silence in response to criticism. OK pop pickers, here's the top five from the Elvis singles stitchup chart: New at 5 it's "I've Lost You" by HMV & Woolworths non mover at 4 it's "Where did they go lord" by BMG Down at 3 it's "(Don't) Put the blame on me" by EPE Up at 2 it's "I'm gonna get a back hander somehow" by EPE & BMG And this weeks brand new number 1, despite not being available anywhere and being buried six miles underground in an old disused salt mine it's "Wearin' That Shat On Look" by The Elvis Fans. Unfortunately, we cannot show the video for this record, but EPE have kindly supplied us with a model made out of an old washing up liquid bottle with pipe cleaners for arms and lentils for eyes; and they only charged us twenty grand for it, god bless 'em.
dailyone wrote on January 26, 2005
this is it this is the song that changed elvis following to being a bit of a rascal in the 50's to the man . the divisions stopped with this single today on this release united everyone young and old to accept elvis . the snowball got bigger until about 1965 . elvis from here on and in the next few years elvis voice at his best . buy england buy . i still think that this single will go to number 1 and so it should .
Elvis girl wrote on January 26, 2005
I too agree with circle G!!!
Carole OCallaghan wrote on January 26, 2005
I can only repeat what I said last week. This whole episode has been a farce. True fans can't get the singles "legitimately" but there seem to be hundreds available for ebayers. Someone somewhere is pulling the wool over our eyes. And if I hear Todd say once more what a wonderful campaign it is for Elvis, I swear I won't be responsible for my actions.
ranger wrote on January 26, 2005
That made me laugh viva, but I'm sure you're not too far from the truth. eagleone, I promise you that this is not a wind-up (we've all had enough of them during this campaign), but you can't be serious when you believe the greatest Elvis period to be between 1960 and 1965. So far, I've managed to track down all the singles apart from 'It's Now Or Never', and I consider the absolute vital purchases to be those from the 50s. Although I do have a bit of a soft spot for the 'Little Sister'/'His Latest Flame' single, I'm not going to tear myself up over missing 'Wooden Heart', 'Rock-A-Hula Baby' or 'Crying In The Chapel', although Elvis does look good on many of the sleeves. However, there was no way I was going to miss 'Jailhouse Rock' or 'I Got Stung' (so much better than 'One Night'). Elvis is still the talisman he is because of his 50s material; I can't help but feel that after leaving the army the great man had an unnatural leaning towards the middle-of-the road/Sinatra territory that, to this day, I find, well, quite...like the Rat Pack themselves...bland. His US No.1s are far more to my taste: 'Don't Be Cruel', 'Hound Dog', 'Heartbreak Hotel' etc. Have I said a bad thing?
E.J.F... wrote on January 26, 2005
By now we must all realize EPE, Sony/BMG, Record Retailers, BBC et al do NOT give a flying f*$k whether Elvis gets to #1, in the charts at all even. In fact I think they are doing their best(!) not to. EPE & BMG know that Elvis is a steady seller and that all copies will be sold eventually. I for one, having trouble in getting copies on first day of release, will end up buying the whole set when it becomes available through the various fan clubs. I'm sure there are thousands of other fans, both in the UK and around the world who will do the same. Then, in about 10 years time BMG will reward a Platinum Disc for sales! This has been their policy for ages. Shame on them and EPE. Some fans may argue it is not important for Elvis to be #1 and no matter what, he remains the most influential Artist of The Century. But I feel pride and joy when he beats all the current (mostly crap) artists of today. And just how many of his contemporaries like Berry, Anka, Lee Lewis, Little Richard etc have the same success today like he does. Of course this does not diminish their artistry one iota but getting to that coveted #1 spot keeps an artist in the news and in the public eye which is what we would like, even though sometimes the media tends to give a bad image of him rather than his positive side.
miked wrote on January 26, 2005
Ranger, you haven't said a bad thing. in fact you've pointed out the reality. I like the late 60's, early 70's best, with early 60's next, around the army times. Others some may well prefer the movie era and some, probably many, like you, hanker for the 50's material. Just proves the point, diversity in tastes and style shows why the man's at the top of the tree. I agree with some others that Its now or never was a turning point for many of the public and their thoughts of Elvis, needless to say I've no noubt that every one of the Kings records had some effect on someone. that's the way it is!!
Buddy Holly wrote on January 26, 2005
It's not that important if Elvis gets to the top of the charts or not because the charts themselves are not that important anymore. But isn't it fun to piss off all those current crap artists and their fans by getting a number one with a song already widely available on numerous compilations for years? That puts all those current crap in their place as well as fans and critics that don't respect Elvis.
2001 wrote on January 26, 2005
In the Swedish single chart, Jailhouse rock enters at #37
Flippar1954 wrote on January 26, 2005
Perhaps the simplest way to circumvent this shop staff creaming off the "preorders" only stock, (all the local HMV INON stock ie "customer" preorders were sitting behind the counter in the staff box all day on Monday)was to have issued a booklet with 17 vouchers, redeemable against the post ASO singles on a weekly basis on a given span of dates,inside the ASO/N1s box.Same way as the football season ticket principle works. So if a shop sold 15 boxes they would then get 15 copies of each single redeemable against the voucher only each week. Instead of the farce the first week where 8 boxes and no copies of JR were on sale the first day, all gone to those "customer" preorders. ps anyone still looking for the Hawaii/68 dvds in the UK , ignore HMV where they have marked the prices up again and check out Morrisons supermarkets where they are much cheaper (Hawaii £14 and 68 £22) pps Channel 4 Wales chart show had a great clip of El off the 68 dvd on Saturday
job wrote on January 26, 2005
Lets stop buying the cds its just a rep off sony knows Elvis fans will buy anything they put out
ranger wrote on January 26, 2005
Picture the scene. it's Monday 17th January and Elvis fans, and greedy ebayers alike, are falling over themselves to try to get a copy of 'A Fool Such As I', either to lovingly play or sell on for a quick buck. Most are disappointed. Fast forward nine days, and Miss Marple walks into her local Woolies in the dim hope of picking up 'It's Now Or Never', and there, standing out like a beacon against the Robbies and Kylies, are two copies of 'A Fool Such As I' (numbered in the 18,000s). Miss Marple smells a rat; why weren't these copies available to buy in the first week? Don't get Miss Marple wrong, it doesn't matter that much to the lady where her beloved Elvis is in the Pop Charts but, as she surveys the scene of the crime, it must have mattered to someone...
Viva wrote on January 26, 2005
Ooh, this is exciting. How does it end? Does Miss Marple take out a sawn off shotgun and dish out some justice to the perptrators of this nasty crime? Or does she, in a rare loss of temper, empty her colostomy bag over them? Either suits me.
gribz wrote on January 27, 2005
Wait until you get to the 'Wonder Of You, 'Crying in The Chapel, and a couple of others. These have meaning in todays world. Only six weeks away!
RobIreland wrote on January 27, 2005
Just been thinking, The 10" vinyl covers wont stay the same the whole way through. Wont the sixties and seventis have picture covers ? or am i wrong ?
Son Of Mark 64 wrote on January 27, 2005
Sorry Rob you are wrong. the covers till its the wonder of you will be the same then the wonder of you should be gren and white moody blue shoukd be blue andelvis vjxl football cover all these covers are what they should be but who knowswhat bmg will do they havent been correct on all the other box sets
Son Of Mark 64 wrote on January 27, 2005
sorry just noticed excuse speling mistakes. ps I rec its now or never on tuesday morning like all the rest i pre ordered them in december from hmv on the net sorry i cant complain not yet any way
RobIreland wrote on January 27, 2005
ah well Mark R and there I had nice shiny picture covers imagined for Devil In Disguise etc. Thanks for that info Mark.
emjel wrote on January 28, 2005
HMV Oxford St had an additional 30 copies of CDs delivered yesterday, and mid afternoon had about 12 left. No vinyl though. Virgin had nothing. With reference to sleeves, my copy of TWOY came in a picture sleeve, but without any titles (the same pic from Suspicious Minds single). Now here's a thought for the collectors. The whole US singles catalog on CD singles. Now that really would be a box set worth having.
Juliepresleyfan wrote on January 29, 2005
does anyone know out there if ive any chance of getting are you lonesome tonight this monday, because i think i dont have any hope, a local asda has 4 copies and they said people will cue up and rush in, at 8 oclock monday morning. what hope have i got with my arthritic legs by the time i get there i will be in time for wooden heart next monday LOL. so im taking my sister with me who also has arthritis but can run faster. need rocket shoes, nobody mentions adrians, the video shop, i got one night there when a kind soul put 1 under for me, then following week when i tried again they said only put under if pay by phone, i hesitated and lost but a pal got me 1. the week after i decided ok i will pay on the phone they said no, only preorders allowed, this week someone said in adrians phone by 9 am, but im thinking they will say no again. and get this last week MVC had no deliverys of its now or never last week at all, whats going on has it been hijacked by ebay bandits ?. if it wasnt so tragic i would try and find some humour in this farce , but sadly i cant find that either humph. summing up the whole thing it is a comedy of errors worthy of shakespear, forsoothe i am fedest up.
pacer1965 wrote on January 29, 2005
I have sent my sons into Ipswich today to see if they can get Its Now or Never and if they get it i am going to faint ! I have gave up going myself. I wish i could give you an answer Julie but i cant. Julie have you ever been to the Elvis discos in Pitsea ?
Juliepresleyfan wrote on January 29, 2005
no pacer i havent been to the Elvis discos in pitsea. i dont go out much, i wouldnt go on my own anyway, im a quiet nervous person.
RobIreland wrote on January 29, 2005
Julie im sure someone who lives close to u could pick you up a copy. Pacer can you help Julie out?
pacer1965 wrote on January 29, 2005
I wish I could Rob but i have had no luck getting Its Now or Never today. I have had no luck at all this week !