Elvis vs JXL: A Little Less Conversation
- Elvis makes UK chart history
(CNN, June 16, 2002)
Elvis Presley has made pop history 25 years after his death as a new single clinches the UK No1 spot giving him more hits than any artist. A remix of his 1968 song "A Little Less Conversation," which features in a Nike advert for the World Cup, topped the UK charts on Sunday, ahead of new songs from Kylie Minogue and Eminem.
- The King beats pop princess to No. 1 and makes history
(Ananova, June 16, 2002)
Elvis Presley has stormed to the top of the singles charts, rewriting pop history 25 years after his death. The King has now had more number ones than any artist in the pop chart's 50-year history thanks to the remix of a forgotten track, A Little Less Conversation. This, Presley's 18th number one, breaks the record he held with The Beatles. Now he has been brought to a whole new generation thanks to a relatively unknown Dutch DJ, JXL. The DJ was previously known as Junkie XL but altered his monicker because the Elvis estate did not want him to remix the track if his name contained what could be perceived as a reference to drugs. A Little Less Conversation first appeared in one of Elvis's movies in the 1960s and as the B-side to his 1968 single, Almost in Love. It eventually featured on a budget Elvis album in 1971 but was virtually forgotten. JXL's track, which has been A-listed by Radio 1, is the most played pre-released tune on national radio and the soundtrack to the World Cup Nike advert featuring Manchester United striker Eric Cantona. As well rewriting history, Elvis has managed to pip the country's favourite pop princess, Kylie Minogue, to number one. Her new single, Love At First Sight, which was released in the same week as the Elvis track, stands at number two in the singles charts.
- Elvis makes chart history
(BBC, June 16, 2002)
Chart history has been rewritten with Elvis Presley hitting the top of the UK charts 25 years after his death. The King has now enjoyed more number one singles than any other artist as a remix of his little known track A Little Less Conversation takes the number one spot. Presley had shared the singles record with the Beatles of 17 singles up until Dutch DJ JXL added his own touch to the tune. As well as being given a fresh sound, the song has been boosted by its inclusion in a high-profile Nike World Cup advertising campaign. The advert features some of the world's biggest footballing names including Eric Cantona, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Thierry Henry.
- ELVIS KING OF THE CHARTS AGAIN
(Teletext, June 16, 2002)
Elvis Presley has stormed to the top of the singles charts, rewriting pop history 25 years after his death. The King has now had more number ones than any artist in the pop chart's 50-year history thanks to the remix of the track A Little Less Conversation.
- Elvis Lives! at Least on Top of UK Pop Charts
(Yahoo! News / Reuters, June 16, 2002)
The King has grabbed the British pop crown, and bested the Beatles to do it. With a little help from a Dutch DJ and a dash of World Cup fever, Elvis Presley has soared to the top of the British charts 25 years after his death with a new version of an obscure tune that made little splash when it was first released. Figures from the Official UK Charts Company showed on Sunday that a dance remix by the Amsterdam-based DJ and record producer JXL of Presley's "A Little Less Conversation," came straight into the charts at No. 1. ... "If you hear the first minute of the song, you would have no idea that it's Elvis. It sounds like a techno song," RCA general manager Richard Sanders said this week. "And when you hear his voice kick in, it's like, 'Oh, my, that's Elvis!"' Sanders said it marks the first contemporary remix of Presley's music allowed by RCA, a unit of Bertelsmann AG ( news - web sites)'s BMG. RCA owns rights to the original master recordings of Presley's entire catalog, a spokesman said in Los Angeles this week. By taking the top slot, "A Little Less Conversation" knocked Will Young's remake of The Doors' "Light My Fire" to sixth place after two weeks at No. 1.
- Dutch Musician Remixes Elvis Song
By The Associated Press
(Yahoo! News, June 15, 2002)
Elvis Presley is expected to score a posthumous hit with a Dutch remix of 1968's "A Little Less Conversation." Dutch musician Tom Holkenburg, known in Europe as the disc jockey of the techno-group Junkie XL, remixed the song for a Nike television commercial. Although a contemporary remix, "Elvis vs. JXL - a Little Less Conversation" leaves Presley's distinctive vocals intact. The single, which was released throughout Europe on Monday, sold more than 67,000 copies in Britain the first day, more than the total sales of last week's No. 1 on the British charts, "Light My Fire" by Will Young. Figures for sales in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe were unavailable.
- King of the in-swingers
By Geraldine Baybutt
(Preston Online, June 13, 2002)
The charts are being all shook up by Elvis Presley this week putting tribute singers in a spin. Fans across Lancashire believe the remix of Elvis's A Little Less Conversation will storm to the top spot on Sunday. The smash mix is the soundtrack to the Nike football ad featuring former Manchester United star Eric Cantona. If it does hit the top, it will mean Elvis has chalked up 18 number one hits, one more than The Beatles and more than any other artist in the pop chart's 50-year history. One fan who will be celebrating will be Preston's Elvis tribute singer Bernie Costello, a sergeant with the 5 Medical Regiment based at Fulwood Barracks.
- Elvis set to climb the charts with Nike ad remix
(Hello!, June 13, 2002)
As Elvis Presley fans prepare to mark the 25th anniversary of his passing in August, the King looks set to soar up the music charts once again. The dance remix of the crooner's little-known 1968 track A Little Less Conversation has been a hot seller since being released on Monday. Boosting the song in the charts, of course, is its role in Nike's epic three-minute Scorpion Football ad starring former Manchester United star Eric Cantona and 24 of the world's top players. The three-minute ad, directed by former Monty Python star Terry Gilliam, features Cantona as the referee of a secret dog-eat-dog tournament on a ship moored off the coast of Japan. Showing on TV and in cinemas it has emerged as cult viewing over the World Cup series. Elvis's contribution, which he performed in the film Live A Little, Love A Lot [sic], has been updated by Amsterdam-based DJ and producer JXL to include a minute-long electronic intro and some dance loops. The original version of it also featured on the soundtrack of the movie Ocean's Eleven starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
To see the ad click on Nike's homepage at www.nike.com.
- SINGLE: Elvis vs JXL Remix - A Little Less Conversation
(Bolton Evening News, June 13, 2002)
ELVIS has left the building -- and he's singing on a ship off the coast of Italy with lots of famous footballers. We've all seen the ad and we all know the tune. It's a fantastic song which, given that the World Cup is now in full swing, will probably be played to death by anyone and everyone. Out Monday.
- Elvis poised to hit No. 1 in UK with remix
(CNN, June 12, 2002; also reported in Stuff Entertainment, June 13, New Zealand)
The king is back. A dance remix of "A Little Less Conversation," which Presley performed in his 1968 film "Live a Little, Love a Little," has been drawing brisk sales and heavy radio airplay in Britain since it was released there as a single on Monday. The recording is expected to top the British singles charts next week, breaking the long-running tie between Presley and the Beatles for the most No. 1 hits in the United Kingdom, which currently stands at 17 apiece, an RCA spokesman said. The original version of the song reached No. 69 on the U.S. singles charts in 1968 and failed to chart at all in Britain. But the record books will contain an asterisk, as the new recording takes some liberties with the song as it was originally performed by the King of Rock 'n' Roll. The updated version of "A Little Less Conversation" adds a minute-long electronic introduction, surrounds Presley's vocals with new rhythms and beats and extends the song with dance loops and techno tracks "If you hear the first minute of the song, you would have no idea that it's Elvis. It sounds like a techno song," said RCA general manager Richard Sanders. "And when you hear his voice kick in, it's like, 'Oh, my, that's Elvis!" Sanders said it marks the first contemporary remix of Presley's music allowed by RCA, a unit of Bertelsmann AG's BMG. RCA owns rights to the original master recordings of Presley's entire catalog, a spokesman said. The six-minute-plus recording is the work of popular Amsterdam-based DJ and producer JXL. He was licensed by RCA and Elvis Presley Enterprises to remix the song for the soundtrack to Nike's $90 million worldwide ad campaign tied to the World Cup soccer tournament. The full-length remix, a three-minute version edited for radio and the original version of the song are all contained on the single, which is due for release in the United States on June 25. The original song also appeared last year on the soundtrack to the hit movie "Ocean's Eleven," which starred George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
- Elvis fan's king-sized order
(Huddersfield Daily Examiner, June 12, 2002)
HUDDERSFIELD Elvis Presley fan Chris Hart is determined to help The King make musical history this weekend. Chris astounded staff at the town's MVC store when he bought up their stock of 65 copies of the remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation A Little More Action. The song, which is used in the latest Nike advert, is a strong contender to top the UK singles chart this Sunday. Mr Hart, 52, said: "There is a chance for history to be made when the charts are announced on Sunday. "Elvis and the Beatles both have 17 UK number ones. It would be fantastic for Elvis to get an 18th - and set a record that would probably never be beaten."
- Elvis Presley Re-release Might Top Chart & Topple Beatles Record
By Sue Falco
(Yahoo News, June 11, 2002)
Nearly 25 years after his death, the re-release of a little-known Elvis Presley track is poised to climb to the top of the chart and possibly change chart history in the U.K. A remix version of "A Little Less Conversation" was released in the U.K. on Monday (June 10). For decades, Elvis Presley and the Beatles have been tied with 17 U.K. Number One singles, but if this new release makes it to Number One, Presley will become the sole artist with 18 chart toppers. "A Little Less Conversation" first appeared in a '60s Presley film, and was the B-side to the 1968 single "Almost In Love." A previously unreleased version of the song showed up late last year on the soundtrack to the remake of the "Rat Pack" comedy Ocean's Eleven. Sports giant Nike chose to use "A Little Less Conversation" in its massive advertising campaign for the World Cup and hired progressive Dutch DJ Tom Holkenborg -- also known as DJ JXL -- to remix the song after securing permission from the Presley estate. Early radio support for the single is strong -- Radio 1, one of England's biggest stations, placed the song on their top playlist weeks ago. "A Little Less Conversation" will be released in the U.S. on June 25.
- OLD TOPPLES YOUNG! Elvis set to topple Will Young from top of UK singles chart
(NME.com, June 11, 2002)
Elvis Presley looks set to knock 'POP IDOL' winner WILL YOUNG from the top of the charts with new single 'A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION', according to midweek sales figures today (June 11). The track has been remixed by Dutch DJ Junkie XL, who was forced by the Presley estate to become JXL on the sleeve as they were unhappy at the drug reference of his name. The track could take the King's tally of number ones to 18, stepping ahead of The Beatles, with whom he has been tied on 17 for years. Kylie Minogue is tipped to triumph again in the disco diva stakes, with latest offering 'Love At First Sight' ahead of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Get Over You', though both should be Top Five entries.
- Elvis to score for Ocean's 11
(Tiscali Musix, June 10, 2002)
Elvis Presley could top the charts once again with the re-release of forgotten track A Little Less Conversation - 25 years after his death. A remix version of the song is released on Monday and has built up strong appeal thanks to its use on a Nike advert. But the Dutch DJ who helped create the new Presley single has been forced to change his name to satisfy the King's estate. Dutch remixer Tom Holkenborg has dropped his normal alias, Junkie XL, to become just JXL because Elvis's relatives were unhappy about the reference to drugs. Whatever the label credits, the new record is seen as likely to give Elvis a new number one and change chart history.
- Elvis could change chart history
By Matt Shepherd
(BBC News Online, June 10, 2002)
Elvis's last number one was Way Down in 1977. Elvis Presley could top the charts once again with the re-release of forgotten track A Little Less Conversation - 25 years after his death. A remix version of the song is released on Monday and has built up strong appeal thanks to its use on an advert and in a recent movie. But the Dutch DJ who helped create the new Presley single has been forced to change his name to satisfy the King's estate. ... If the King does get to number one then he will be back in the Guiness Book Of Records as the artist with the most number ones. But the King will face stiff competition from Kylie Minogue, who also releases her latest song on Monday. The song first appeared in one of Elvis's 1960s movies and as the B-side to his 1968 single, Almost In Love. It eventually appeared on a budget Elvis album in 1971 and was soon virtually forgotten by all but the die-hard Elvis fans. A previously un-released version of A Little Less Conversation appeared on the soundtrack album for Ocean's 11, the recent remake of the rat pack classic. It was this version that sport giants Nike decided to use in its massive advert campaign for the world cup. ... Record collectors have been rushing to bid on auction websites for promotion copies of the song, which is finally released on 10 June after weeks of airplay - and copies have been changing hands for £70.
- Elvis Scores A Hit From The Grave
(Sky, June 9, 2002)
The DJ who created what is set to be a new hit record for Elvis Presley was forced to change his name to satisfy the King's estate. Dutch remixer Tom Holkenborg had to dump his normal alias Junkie XL to become just JXL because Elvis's relatives disliked the drug reference. The unknown DJ's new version of Presley's A Little Less Conversation is virtually guaranteed to clinch number one when it is released on Monday. That would give Elvis a new record with 18 chart-toppers, more than any other act. It would also break the almost 25-year deadlock which has seen both he and The Beatles tieing on 17. And it will be the second time he has topped the charts since his death in August, 1977.
- More chart action for Elvis
(Teletext, June 9, 2002)
The DJ who created what is set to be a new hit record for Elvis Presley was forced to change his name to satisfy the King's estate, he has revealed. Dutch remixer Tom Holkenborg had to dump his alias Junkie XL to become just JXL because Elvis's relatives were unhappy with the drug reference. The remix of A Little Less Conversation could give Elvis a record 18 number 1s.
- Junkie XL and Dave Clarke to headline Gatecrasher London
Author
(Ananova, June 6, 2002)
Junkie XL, Dave Clarke and Smokin Jo will be headlining this month's Gatecrasher London residency. It takes place at Heaven on Friday June 28. Joining Junkie XL in the main room will be resident Matt Hardwick and a special guest to be announced. The following night, Gatecrasher holds its relaunched monthly residency at the Republic in Sheffield. Headlining DJs are Ferry Corsten, Judge Jules, John 00 Fleming, Armin Van Buuren and Mario Piu. JXL's remix of Elvis's A Little Less Conversation is tipped to top the charts when it is released on June 10. They also co-produced Sasha's new album Airdrawndagger, out in August.
- Elvis Presley: 'A Little Less Conversation' [French]
(Yahoo News, June 1, 2002)
Elvis Aaron Presley est considere comme l'une des figures les plus importantes du rock 'n roll. 'A Little Less Conversation' est le premier remix d'une chanson de Presley et vient feter le 25e anniversaire de sa mort. Ecoutez 'Elvis versus JXL' sur Yahoo!
- How the World Cup saved Elvis
By Alex Hannaford
(This is London / Evening Standard / Associated Press, June 1, 2002)
The most expensive advertisement of the year is, somewhat predictably, a star-studded, action-packed ode to the World Cup, with Nike parading its galaxy of stars - such as Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry - to an ultra-cool soundtrack under the direction of Terry Gilliam. But the biggest sports company in the world didn't pick a band such as U2 or Oasis or even Fatboy Slim to front its campaign. For the hippest thing in music today is the man who died a drug-addled wreck the last time the Queen celebrated a jubilee. Welcome back Elvis. Now, Elvis Presley looks set to top the charts again (for the 18th time) when A Little Less Conversation from the Nike advert is released next week. Already, it's hardly off the radio, and, if it makes the top, it will pip The Beatles to the record of most number one UK chart hits. ... We still try to forget that drug-raddled bloke in a jumpsuit, while resurrecting the Elvis we all - secretly - want to be. Jet-black hair, sexy voice, sublime sense of humour and that trademark sway of the hips designed to ensnare any woman.
Comments to: letters@standard.co.uk
- REMIX OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S "A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION" HAS EVERYONE TALKING [Media release]
(BMG, May 29, 2002) Full text
RCA / BMG and Elvis Presley Enterprises announce first remixed Presley song by a contemporary DJ / artist. Presley's classic "A Little Less Conversation," re-mixed by progressive DJ JXL, will be released by RCA/BMG as a commercial single on the 17th of June.
- Elvis remix could see him take chart-topping record
(Ananova, May 17, 2002)
Elvis Presley's first DJ remix could see him become the most successful singles artist ever, in terms of UK number ones. The King is currently tying with The Beatles, with each having 17 number singles in the UK. JXL's remix of "A Little Less Conversation" is tipped to top the charts when it is released on June 10. The track currently features in the Nike Scorpion TV ad. The last time Elvis hit the number one spot was in August 1977 - shortly after his death - with the single "Way Down". The Beatles' last number one single came in June 1969, with "The Ballad of John and Yoko".
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