"A Little Less Conversation"
The original picture sleeve of the 1968 single.
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Almost in Love
A-side"Almost in Love"
ReleasedSeptember 3, 1968
RecordedMarch 7, 1968
StudioWestern Recorders, Hollywood
GenreRock and roll
Length2:28
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Let Yourself Go" / "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby"
(1968)		 "Almost in Love" / "A Little Less Conversation"
(1968)		 "If I Can Dream" / "Edge of Reality"
(1968)

"A Little Less Conversation" is a 1968 song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley, written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange and published by Gladys Music, Inc., originally performed in the film Live a Little, Love a Little. The song became a minor hit in the United States when released as a single with "Almost in Love" as the A-side. A 2002 remix by Dutch musician Junkie XL of a later re-recording of the song by Presley became a worldwide hit, topping the singles charts in nine countries and was awarded certifications in ten countries by 2003.

The song has made numerous appearances in popular culture and has been covered by several artists.

Original recordings

"A Little Less Conversation" was first recorded on March 7, 1968, at Western Recorders in Hollywood, California, and released on a single backed by "Almost in Love", another song from the movie. The song was not released on an LP until November 1970, when it was included on the RCA Camden budget label LP Almost in Love. There are several different takes that were made of the song in the session on March 7. The single version used take 16, which was also used for the soundtrack of the film. The version released on the Almost in Love album is take 10, which is 1 second longer in duration.

The musicians on the March 7 recording session included Hal Blaine, drums; Al Casey, guitar and Larry Knechtel, bass.[1]

1968 television special re-recording

It was thought Presley re-recorded the song in June 1968 for the soundtrack of his 1968 comeback special, with the intent of performing it during the program (in part due to Live a Little, Love a Little being scheduled for release about a month before the special's broadcast date). Ultimately, it was decided not to use this recording, and the song was dropped from the planned special. The newer version transposed the key of A major recording of three months earlier into E major and featured a vocal and heavy reverb with backup vocals from The Blossoms.[2] In the mid-1990s, Joseph A. Tunzi sold this recording to Bertelsmann Music Group and it was initially included on the 1998 release Memories: The '68 Comeback Special. Tunzi had been the first to document this recording in his 1996 book Elvis Sessions II: The Recorded Music of Elvis Aron Presley 1953-1977.[3] After the tapes from the original session were rediscovered, it is now known to be take 2, recorded on March 7, 1968.

Charts

Chart (1968) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 69

Junkie XL / JXL remix

"A Little Less Conversation"
Single by ELVIS VS JXL
from the album ELV1S: 30 No. 1 Hits
ReleasedJune 10, 2002 (2002-06-10)
Recorded
  • 1968 (original vocals and instrumental)
  • 2001 (remix)
Genre
Length
  • 3:30 (radio edit)
  • 6:09 (extended remix)
  • 6:22 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Junkie XL
  • Ad Bradley
Junkie XL singles chronology
"B Y Whop to the Y" / "Siyncho"
(2002)		 "A Little Less Conversation"
(2002)		 "Obsession"
(2002)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

Following the song's use in the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven, "A Little Less Conversation" was remixed by Dutch musician Tom Holkenborg, better known as Junkie XL (billed as JXL). The electronic remix featured Elvis with his baritone voice, and added emphasis to the 1968 guitars, horns, and a funk drum beat. Holkenborg is the first artist outside the Presley organization to receive authorization from the Presley estate to remix a Presley song.[5] (in the 1980s, Elvis' longtime producer Felton Jarvis had overseen remixes of a number of Elvis recordings that saw new backing added to Presley's original vocals, the first of which were released as the album Guitar Man in 1981). The electronic version of the song became a number-one hit in the UK in 2002. The song also became a top 10 hit in upwards of 17 other countries, reaching number-one in 13 of them.

In 2002, the TV special version of "A Little Less Conversation" remixed by Junkie XL was used for Nike's 2002 FIFA World Cup advertising campaign, titled "Secret Tournament".[5] A single, credited to "Elvis vs. JXL", was issued and went on to become a number-one hit in over 20 countries.[6]

At about the same time, a compilation of Presley's US and UK number-one chart hits, titled ELV1S: 30 No. 1 Hits, was being prepared for release. At the last minute, "A Little Less Conversation (Junkie's remix version)" was added as the album's 31st and final track, just before its release in October 2002. The full 6:09 version was edited slightly and extended to 6:22, and this version was featured on the US version of Junkie XL's 2003 album Radio JXL: A Broadcast from the Computer Hell Cabin.[7]

Chart performance

In the United States, the song peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also spent four consecutive weeks at number-one on the UK Singles Chart, which is the only number-one hit by Elvis Presley to be released after his death in 1977.[8] The song was re-released as a single in the United Kingdom in 2005, and reached No. 3.[9]

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[69] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[70] Gold 15,000*
Belgium (BEA)[71] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[72] Platinum 8,000^
France (SNEP)[73] Silver 125,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[74] Gold 40,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[75] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[76] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Sweden (GLF)[77] Platinum 30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[78] Platinum 40,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[80] Gold 500,000*
United States (RIAA)[81]
Video Single 		6× Platinum 300,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom June 10, 2002
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [82][83]
Japan June 12, 2002 CD [30]
Australia June 17, 2002 [84]
United States July 8, 2002 Radio [85]

References

  1. ↑ Jorgensen, Ernst, Elvis Presley, A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions St. Martin's Press, New York, 1998 p. 243
  2. ↑ "Master & Session". elvisrecordings.com. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ Elvis Sessions II: The Recorded Music of Elvis Aron Presley 1953-1977, JAT Publishing, 1996, ISBN 1-88846401-1, Joseph A. Tunzi, Introduction by Al Pachucki, Pages 139 and 399
  4. ↑ "Elvis Presley Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Elvis Makes Chart History". BBC News World Edition. BBC. June 16, 2002. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Elvis's Legacy —". Infoplease.com. 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Elvis and Oasis enjoy chart success". BBC News. July 7, 2002. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Christie holds on to chart reign". BBC News. May 1, 2005. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ↑ "The ARIA Report: ARIA Club Tracks – 17th June 2002" (PDF). ARIA. June 17, 2002. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 26, 2002. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Issue 643" ARIA Top 50 Dance Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  16. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Digital Songs : Page 1". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Oficiální česká hitparáda – 31/2002" (in Czech). IFPI CR. Archived from the original on August 11, 2002. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". Tracklisten.
  21. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 27. June 29, 2002. p. 7. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Elvis vs JXL: A Little Less Conversation" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  23. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  25. ↑ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 6, 2002. Retrieved October 6, 2002.
  26. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  28. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – A Little Less Conversation". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". Top Digital Download.
  30. 1 2 "ア・リトル・レス・カンヴァセーション | エルヴィス・プレスリー" [A Little Less Conversation | Elvis Presley] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  32. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  33. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". Top 40 Singles.
  34. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". VG-lista.
  35. ↑ "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 39/2002". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on May 10, 2003. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Arhiva romanian top 100 Editia 31, saptamina 5.08–11.08, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on May 14, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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  39. 1 2 "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". Singles Top 100.
  40. ↑ "Elvis Presley vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation". Swiss Singles Chart.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  42. ↑ "Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  43. ↑ "Elvis Presley Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  44. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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  46. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2002". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  47. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Dance Singles 2002". ARIA. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  48. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2002". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  49. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2002" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  50. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2002" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
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  52. ↑ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. January 11, 2003. p. 14. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
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  61. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 2002" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  62. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  63. ↑ "2002 Year-end Charts" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Most Broadcast Of 2002 — Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. January 18, 2003. p. 31. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  65. ↑ "ChartsPlusYE2005" (PDF). UKchartsplus.co.uk. Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  66. ↑ "2009 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
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  68. ↑ BBC Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by DJ Nihal on December 29, 2009
  69. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  70. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Elvis vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  71. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2002". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  72. ↑ "Single Top-20 Uge 40, 2002". Hitlisten. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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  76. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
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  80. ↑ "American single certifications – Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation". Recording Industry Association of America.
  81. ↑ "American videosingle certifications – Elvis Presley – A Little Less Conversation". Recording Industry Association of America.
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