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It's Official Now, Again #2

February 20, 2005 | Music
The Virgin site shows the new Top 40, with Elvis' "Surrender" second to Jennifer Lopez' "Get Right". The previous two singles are still on the list too: "Wooden Heart" at 24 and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" at #40.

On the complete Top 75 we also find:
# 46 A Fool Such as I
# 51 One Night
# 61 Its Now or Never
# 64 Jailhouse Rock

The album "Love, Elvis" stays at #8 on the UK Album chart.
Source:Virgin - UK Top 40 Chart

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I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on February 20, 2005
It will be interesting to see what the actual sales figures are, it may give us some indication how many singles were actually available for us to buy. As usual Elvis is the only artist you can not buy in the shops; we'll see what Monday morning brings - got to better than last week's allocation of two records per shop around here (On the other hand knowing RCA they might too be trying for a record one per shop....)
SendToTodd wrote on February 20, 2005
Bernard the shops are full of the singles, with 6 showing in the top 40, all six are being racked. If they are not on sale in your local store it means that they have not ordered them in spite of what they may say. BMG aint holding back so that Lopez makes number one - they want to sell every copy they can.
glynalone wrote on February 20, 2005
Todd, I can assure you the shops in North Wales are not full of the singles. To be honest I don't blame the local stores if they have given up trying to order them by now. Again, I checked six stores today. Every one of them had supplies of Lopez. Not one had a single copy of any of the Elvis ones. All well and good that the dedicated fan can get copies from the fan club, but what a glorious opportunity to get maybe all the #1's back to number one has been scuppered by lack of availability.
Mal wrote on February 20, 2005
Todd wrote:"BMG aint holding back so that Lopez makes number one - they want to sell every copy they can." Well someones holding back either the shops them selves or Bmg. Go into any music store on a wednesday and there won't be any of the current single release, maybe past releases but only when they won't have much influence on the charts, just keep it in for a couple of weeks.
pacer1965 wrote on February 20, 2005
It is a miracle that Surrender got to no 2.I have not seen any of the singles in the shops all week.Ever since A Fool such As I was released these singles have been impossible to get in any record stores.Its even more of a miracle that any of them have charted at all.It must be the pre orders what are getting these singles in the charts
volvo wrote on February 20, 2005
It was really good hearing Surrender on the radio tonight, No. 2 is still worth smiling about! p.s. changing the subject, I love the picture downloads available on this site.
shakyelvis wrote on February 20, 2005
Once again guys, a great result for someone who died nearly 30 years ago now. HMV's website has all the singles available for pre-order, I believe, so if you're having trouble getting them in the shops, over the counter, order on-line. Long Live The King!
Tina S wrote on February 20, 2005
woolworths in Pontypridd had only 6 copys on monday and said they could not get anymore lot of us went without it would have got to no 1 if there was more. BMG didnt want it to
CD King wrote on February 21, 2005
Elvis Presley sets another 2 new all-time records. #1: He is the only artist who's CD singles which you cannot buy from music stores. #2: He's got the most Number Two's and soon we'll get a Compilation of "ELV2S The No.2 Hits Collection."
Rev. Gerhard wrote on February 21, 2005
A great miracle, really a miracle. How can a singer reach #2 without being in the shops? This is a very strange fairytale.The record company should give up to spread "their" idea of the intention to bring Elvis to the top of the charts. You cannot depend on online business. This is not the normal way for a hit to be bought by interested people. But okay. The miracle has happened. However. There is big joy. Also a big need of declaration. Because Elvis' songs are the very best and their position will always be the # 1. :-) but perhaps it's better that a miracle will remain a miracle. My big respect to all the supporting fans!
cockney_bill wrote on February 21, 2005
Just a thought, at the beggining of this campaign my Dad pre-ordered all of the singles, and chose the option to have them all delivered at the end of the campaign to save on postage every week. Lets assume that a thousand or so people may have chose this option, and that none of these sales will count until they are posted out...could this have cost Elvis a couple more Number Ones? Anyone want my Dads phone number so you can blame him personally!
Tony C wrote on February 21, 2005
The problem with ebay is still with us, and obviously hurting the sales counted for the singles chart. Shops have only just opened but already hundreds of copies of "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" have been sold on ebay. Why are people still paying high prices for these singles? We've been told time and again that people will be able to order any missing singles from the OEPFC at the end of the release run, and shops in and around London are full of copies right back to "Jailhouse Rock". HMV and Virgin have got these singles on display in all of their branches here. As for Woolworths, it's as if Elvis Presley never existed!
ranger wrote on February 21, 2005
People obviously don't agree with you, Todd, that 'the shops are full of the singles'. I got mine today, but only after a hasty Plan B was put into action. My first port of call didn't have any copies for the first time in the whole campaign?! However, we seem to be having it easier in and around the big cities...unlike Bernard, Elizabeth, and many others. Can I just add that 'His Latest Flame' / 'Little Sister' is THE post-50s Elvis single in my opinion, and one of the greatest double-A sides ever released. This is the single which I would most like to see get to No.1 again.
ElvinJersey wrote on February 21, 2005
Todd, Im in Jersey and although I managed to obtain my copy of Surrender by someone saving it for me, I can assure you that there has not been any copies on the shelves since it was released either in HMV, Woolworths etc
sdeahkcid wrote on February 21, 2005
Todd the shops are full of the singles? on which planet? sure i had to cue from 8.15 in the snow and just about managed to get one of the last ones of His Latest Flame, although today the shelf was full of Surrender, how weird is that?!!
sdeahkcid wrote on February 21, 2005
One more thing. Elvis may be number 2 again but i havent seen anything about him on any of the chart or music shows, i havent heard any of the singles on the radio. He's just being ignored and its frustrating.
ccrider wrote on February 21, 2005
I went along to my local Woolies lunchtime (I live in Mid Wales) and they had 10 copies of Latest Flame. If that wasn't surprising enough they included numbers 000006, 000007, 000136 and 000137.
SendToTodd wrote on February 21, 2005
From the telephone calls we have received a the Fan Club no one appears to be having difficulty in getting the latest singles at this time. Obviously on this site people only post complaints if they are having difficulties, and there is a reason why some shops have only a few copies. In the US all product is supplied on a "sale or return" basis to retailers, but in the UK it is mostly "firm sale", and if a store orders 100 copies and only sells ten, then they cannot return the 90 unsolds for credit. (There is a 5% returns system but this is neither hear nor there). The record retail industry is having a tough time at present, and I guess their head offices stipulate what they can and cannot order. That said at this time if you still experience problems then ask your store to orde for you. If they won't then find a shop that will or purchase on line. The stock is available but BMG, or EMI or any other record label cannot force retailers to take more copies than they wish to order. And if you still cannot get a satisfactory answer then call SONY-BMG in London.
joemin wrote on February 21, 2005
If some outlets are not putting out th eproduct for sale I suspect that there are individuals who are deliberately trying to sabotage Elvis chart success. Has anyone seen un-numbered copies available for His Latest Flame?? Or is it only numbered copies that are on sale so far??
ranger wrote on February 21, 2005
Joemin, I've seen 8 or 9 copies of His Latest Flame, all numbered from 30,000-36,000. For the first time in the campaign, despite three No.1s and four No.2 placings, the TOTP website doesn't have a review of the Elvis single this week(?). I'm not quite sure what to make of this? Did they realise that rubbishing His Latest Flame / Little Sister wouldn't have been quite as easy as Wooden Heart? After a brief (very brief) look at what is being released, I did notice a cover of Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love, and a cover of an..erm..Go West song from..erm..1985. I can't see myself, or anyone else for that matter, rushing out to buy either of those. Elvis for No.1 this week.
ElFan wrote on February 21, 2005
Hey ccrider that #00006 copy of 'His Latest Flame' is now for sale on e-bay. I would post the link but I don't think I'm allowed to.
sdeahkcid wrote on February 21, 2005
Todd your very wrong " I cant understand why your looking at this situation through rose coloured glasses?? Oh I got my single this morning ok , after cueing from 8.15 am and there were none left when i left the shop plus there were no singles on display for the public, except last weeks ofcourse. Todd why cant you see that singles are being held back to prevent the number one spot for some dispicable reason. Todd these singles are NOT available like ordinary singles for the public to obtain , face up to it please.
Mal wrote on February 21, 2005
Todd it's not just people on this website you only have to look on the official 18 #1's forum people with the same problem from all over the country. but why would people phone the fan club to say they are not having problems??
stu wrote on February 21, 2005
I can only speak from my experience of buying "Surrender" at HMV in Preston last week. The single was not to be seen anywhere in the store! It was just as if it didn't exist. When I asked the "singles" sales assistant where Surrender was, he said to ask at the main till. When I did, they produced the single from under the counter! I didn't know what was going on. Like it was some big secret or something! Today I got 2 copies of HLF from Tesco (both with edition numbers under 10,000) and there were another 2 left on the shelf.
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on February 21, 2005
Well, all I can say is that in Dorset/Somerset, the record shops are not exactly "Full of singles"! In fact, as many other fans are finding, & have been for all 9 singles so far, there are none. Ask the shop to order them? Woolies Dorchester, Yeovil & weymouth tell me that their suppliers EUK cannot supply what they ask for. They tell me they could probably sell 15 per shop, but last week only got 2 per store. Asda also only got two copies. We have asked until we are blue in the face if they can order them for us. The reply is basically that they would be delighted to do so, but they have tried & can not. HMV will not order them, you can only get them if you placed an order right at the start, & some of those orders are not being honoured either. They too can not get the stock. I don't blame the Ebayers, neither will I buy from them, but unless every record shop I ask is lying (& I do not think they are) the fault is 100% with the distribution. We need support in this, not obstruction....
SendToTodd wrote on February 21, 2005
I do understand peoples' frustrations at not seeing dozens of singles on the shelf, but I can only report to you what I have been told by BMG. There is no earthly reason why an RCA single would be deliberately "held-back" to enable an Epic release to top the charts. If you go back over the weeks and read what I have announced in connection with under-the-counter sales to Ebayers, EPE not allowing the Beeb to screen Presley on TOTP, BMG making available more copies of current and past releases, and increasing the quantities to go some way to satisfy demand, it has all be correct information though at the time that I reported these facts many readers took issue with me. I'm not waving a BMG flag here but I will report, unless you prefer that I didn't; what I have been told. We take a minimum of 100 calls a day at the Fan Club, and hardly anyone has reported supply difficuties at this time. Many fans have been amazed to see all the titles stocked, and when you think of it, it has to be the case for Elvis to sustain so many chart positions. If there was no stock, there would be no sales from which the charts are compiled. We all want to see Elvis number one, but Epic want to see Jenny Lopez at number one too, and she has enjoyed 2,000 video plays, Elvis has had none, and no radio airplay either, so that is why there in unfair competition. That said congrats to Elvis and all the fans for achieving number 2. Todd Slaughter
Mal wrote on February 22, 2005
if you could tell us these stores which have all the singles in stock! it would stop us trapsing around looking for these cds. every music store in peterborough is sold out by monday lunchtime if not earlier. yes i could understand when these cds where limited editions that they would be had to get, but since they have become unlimited it seems harder to get them which is the most frustrating thing about this mess!!!
Mal wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd wrote: "I do understand peoples' frustrations at not seeing dozens of singles on the shelf," I'd like to see just one so i could buy one
ttwiise wrote on February 22, 2005
should be interesting this week! ebayers can`t give them away , presumably because everybody knows they will not have to go without. HMV Bournemouth is usually sold out by 9.30am yet today there are cd`s of all the last 3 plus his latest flame in abundance and 10" singles to spare. I predict that although there are obviously more available this week, His latest flame will achieve the lowest sales to date! Just because now it is not a limited edition so people are not compelled to buy! YOU JUST CAN`T WIN!
SendToTodd wrote on February 22, 2005
You might be intersted to know that Jennifer Lopez sold 67,879 copies of "Get It Right", and Elvis "Surrender" notched up 24,439. I guess JLo could hold on to the number one spot this weekend. We really NEED radio airplay for "His Latest Flame" but it's not going to happen because oldies stations do not "sell" records and Top 40 broadcasters will never programme Elvis unless it's a JXL clone. We have McFly and New Order about to release so they could put paid to "Rock a Hula" and "Good Luck Charm". Do you think we should launch a radio request campaign now for "Return To Sender"?
Tony C wrote on February 22, 2005
All Virgin & HMV stores in the London area have copies of all of the CD's, most also still having vinyl copies. As for the theory about record shops conspiring to stop Elvis from getting to number one, words fail me!
sdeahkcid wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd and Kilburn i really dont know what planet you two are living on ! There are no cds of the current Elvis single in the shops to buy after 9.15am every Monday, thats a FACT!! If Jlo notched up 64,000 thats because there were 40,000 more singles available to buy in the shops! This thing too about the radio stations not playing oldies ?? how can number one and number two in todays official singles charts be considered as oldies?! There should be a law againts this kind of boycotting certain artists especially when they have proven themselves to be what most people want to hear, its a mixed up shook up world !
sdeahkcid wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd, I would really like you to react to this please... You have said that there is no earthly reason why a single should be held back to let an epic single get to number one ! Can I please take you back to the A Little Less Converstaion jxl mix, that single was stopped and withdrawen from the shops just to let G.Gates get his first single to number one as ALLC was still selling strong and would have made it to number one for the 5th week keeping G.Gates at number two. So you see they do have reasons for holding back (Elvis) singles, Todd you sound very nieve on this subject.
CD King wrote on February 22, 2005
ELVIS Presley songs oldies? You've got to be kidding. They are timeless. When you and I, Todd Slaughter & Sid Shaw, Garreth Gates and The Beatles are all gone and faded in a hundred years from now, ELVIS Presley will still be hitting No. 1 & No.2 in the Charts. You'd better believe it.
SendToTodd wrote on February 22, 2005
Gates and Elvis at the time of Conversation were on the same label. Jennifer Lopez in not connected with BMG - Epic is part of TEN - The Entertanment Network.
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
I just don't see Elvis CD singles in my area at all. The local Asda get a pittyful 5 copies of every single release. And HMV are even worse, there is never an Elvis Cd in their racks. If this sort of "marketing ploy" is echoed throughout the country is it any wonder that Surrender was miles behind the number one single, in terms of sales?
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
Send toTodd is a lucky person if he or she thinks that the shops have rack fulls of Elvis CD singles. Is'nt this typical of BMG ? They come up with a marketing idea which is second to none. Then they cock it up by unfair distribution tactics.
SendToTodd wrote on February 22, 2005
When this project was first launched by the fan club no one took much interest until eBay dealers took control of the distribution by their back door dealings. Then fans who had not supported Elvis' previous single releases all wanted a piece of the action. Sadly this has set fan against fan, and everyone hates BMG and Todd Slaughter. I'm thick enough and old enough to take it, but think on. This campaign has been hugely successful. Elvis will be in the charts with different titles every week for FIVE MONTHS. If you were one of the directors of BMG and had little interest in Elvis, and someone came along with another tasty idea for another Elvis project, there is a danger that you might just say, "Stuff it, we don't need this grief! And that is what worries me at this point. You know that you'll eventually get every single. I know fans out there that have 20 copies of each as a "nest egg" because they have boasted to me that they've got 'em. I wasn't in the office too long today and took no more that 30 calls, but I made a point of asking those who were phoning the fan club if they were buying the singles without too much difficulty, and every one said "yes". What a different picture to the first three weeks of this campaign when I was fending off 300 - 400 angry disapponted fans every day. I would love Elvis to make number one with every one of these re-releases, but it's not going to happen, and there might be a number 3 number 4 or number 5 in future weeks. Five years ago we would have held a party if Elvis had made the Top 20. If your local HMV only has 5 copies it's not my fault. I run the fan club, I don't own HMV. So complain the them. It's easy putting words on a web site - there's no one at the other end. Call HMV, ring SONY-BMG, ring Radio 2 and ask them why when there are 6 Elvis songs in the charts they are not playlisted - I have, not that it did much good. Radio stations don't get much mail these days, so write to them! Those of you who live in the East Mids know that I co-host the Elvis Hour on Saga 106.6fm and the daily post you can hold in one hand, and we have a quarter of a million listeners. Over the next few weeks Elvis has got to beat Girls Aloud, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Fightstar, Moby, Avril Lavigne, McFly, New Order, G4, Gwen Stefani, Natasha Bedinfield and The Quuens of The Stone Age. All these acts are Top 5 contenders, and some are SONY-BMG artists. Take a chill-pill please, because hating me might make you feel good but it doesn't help the big picture, and in case you've lost sight of the big picture, it is preserving and honoring Elvis' Legacy. Step back from the commercial factors over which we all have no control, and let's celebrate! Todd Slaughter
Lex wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd, I think you are wasting your breathe on this idiots. These hardcore complainers just complain for the fun. If it was an Olympic sport... they would have no competition and a sure Gold medal.
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
I assume that "Lex" is one of the guys who managed to pick up all the singles that have been issued?
Lex wrote on February 22, 2005
Yes, how many do you want? You can have them for € 300 each, but you have to wait until late May.
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
Why is that when they turf you off the dole
Lex wrote on February 22, 2005
Translation?
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
I'm sorry Lex i did'nt realise you were an American
Lex wrote on February 22, 2005
Make that Dutch.
bray1977 wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd I completely agree with you. In my part of Sussex there are now plenty of copies available, a far cry from the beginning of this campaign. I think BMG do a great job of releasing Elvis material and for an artist who has been dead for nearly 28 years to have so many top five hits with songs 40 years old just shows how great Elvis and most of his fans are and always will be. We should be celebrating not moaning.
old shep wrote on February 22, 2005
It's a fact that some areas ARE getting good stocks of the new singles. HMV stores in London also the Virgin Megastore. But they are definately thinner on the ground in the suburbs.
Mal wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd i don't hate you and i don't expect elvis to get to number one every week, it is great that elvis has been in the top 5 sofar during this campaign. yes j lo is not part of bmg and bmg probalby would'nt help her get to number one, but the distribution of the singles seems to be very bad and yes i ave written to hmv and virgin to ask why i can't order them from there shops as i've had no luck in talking to there store managers.
volvo wrote on February 22, 2005
I don't think people hate you Todd, they're just venting their frustrations on this website. Personally, I am enjoying this singles campaign (now that I have them all pre-ordered on-line with HMV). I hope all the people complaining about the lack of singles can sort out their supplies soon, then they can also sit back and enjoy these releases like the rest of us.
sdeahkcid wrote on February 22, 2005
Todd, I really do agree with you on this that this was well planned by BMG. Not in a malicious way but in a way to keep Elvis in the charts for a long time I dont believe that they expected all the singles to get to number one, what they looked at was that if they found a way to keep him in the charts for a long period with 5 or 6 singles at a time, then theyv accomplished a hell of a lot. Todd i really just wanted you to aknowledge the fact that the singles are not available after 9.15 am every Monday. But i do think this was well planned by BMG, by having more of the singles in the shops the week after insures the title will stay in the charts longer and not just drop out like a lead weight. so there is method behind the apparent maddness.
sdeahkcid wrote on February 22, 2005
Old Shep haha very funny comments towards Lex, keep it up.
Lex wrote on February 23, 2005
I don't care if people make fun of me, but I'd like to know why... so if anybody can give a translation. they are more than welcome.
dailyone wrote on February 23, 2005
sometimes poo is better than ones
Elvis girl wrote on February 23, 2005
Poor Todd!! Why are people being so horrid to him? As he says it isn't his fault if we can't get the singles there is no point in taking it out on him. I for one don't care what people say i have always thought what a bloody great job he does of running the Elvis fan club he has always had Elvis's interest at heart and will do his utmost to promote him in any way he can. Stop taking it out on him and just do like me and get out there and try your damndest to get the singles....