Elvis Presley - It's Now or Never - From First Take to the Master

There are some songs which in any location throughout the world, you can mention and people immediately recognise the song and with whom it is associated. 'It's Now or Never' and Elvis Presley is one such example which is both his second best selling single and one of the best selling of all time.
The original studio master was recorded in RCA's Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee on 3 April 1960, and was just the ninth song he recorded after returning to civilian life from the army.
An article published in the NY Times suggests that having heard Tony Martin's rendition of 'There's No Tomorrow', a song based on Italian standard 'O Sole Mio', whilst stationed in Germany, Elvis decided he would also like to record a song based around that melody. Having pitched the idea to his music publisher Freddy Bienstock, he returned to his New York office with the intention of finding some songwriters to develop Elvis' idea, a task that Bienstock had been successful in many times previously.
On his return to New York, he found that the only songwriters in proximity were Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, and just half an hour after being given the task of doing so had written the lyrics to 'It's Now or Never'. These quickly written lyrics would give Elvis a song which would reach the top of charts throughout the world!
In 1960, "It's Now or Never" was a number-one record in the U.S., spending five weeks at number one and the U.K., where it spent eight weeks at the top in 1960 and an additional week at number one in 2005 as a re-issue, and numerous other countries, selling in excess of 25 million copies worldwide, Elvis Presley's biggest international single ever.
It's British release was delayed for some time because of rights issues, allowing the song to build up massive advance orders and to enter the UK Singles Chart at number one, a very rare occurrence at the time.
As with all of these videos, to get the most out of the re-edited audio, I highly recommend you use ear /headphones and turn the volume up as much as you dare!

[@user-fc8zk5bh3b]

One of my favourite songs by Elvis ❤❤

[@profihandwerker4828]

No person on this planet has ever managed to make as many girls cry as ELVIS PRESLEY.

[@andreasmoustakas4042]

My favourite elvis song sang to perfection no other person on this planet can sing or recreate his voice in this way people have tried some have come close but not close enough only ever will there be one Elvis Aaron Presley

[@shirleysanchez1892]

❤ 🎶 "Beautifully 💘 Sensually Heartfelt ; Feelings. Beloved Elvis Presley 💃 an Extraordinary Voice 🎶 and Persona like No other's.. Magnificence 🏆 ln Abundance. Thanks for Sharing Love 💃 and Enjoy a Restful night 🎶 with Sweet Dreams..". 🎶 ❤

[@kangavalma7399]

🙋‍♀️🇦🇺💃🕺🎸💓💕 THANK YOU ELVIS, YOU MAKE LIFE SO MUCH BETTER. GREAT VIDEO 🙏🙋‍♀️🇦🇺🤗🤗👏👏🤟🤙🤗💝

[@marymcgivney9041]

😊love this song always on the radio 😊here in Ireland ❤

[@suzanneoverton7351]

No words 😲 just in awe (even after take 1) thank you

[@krystynagorazdowska3746]

Moja wielka milosc !!❤❤❤❤❤ Elvis na zawsze !!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@debracase4843]

I love this song. He's the only can sing this song. I love you Shelia and whatever I need you to please just give me a little time . Just remembered I do 💕 love you.

[@aparecidacampos1048]

Love The King. Love a belíssima Itália. Elvis forever.thankil 💖 🙏 💖 🙏 💖

[@delorespetree3243]

Love Italian verse and elvis singing puts me in a dream world

[@rayadkins5309]

just a Master class song From The King of Music, Love The Original Recordings of This Song, Thanks Leon, RIP Elvis, Miss You.

[@freesia5345]

🍃🥀🍃 Listening to this song, sung by Elvis's beautiful, soft and sweet voice full of his deep and beautiful emotions, brings me the greatest happiness. 🍃🌺🍃 And especially in the 2014 Re-recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, I can feel the pinnacle of the beauty of this song. Thanks Leon for sharing!! Your channel is the best!! 🍃 💜🍃•🍃🌸🍃•🍃💞🍃•

[@jariheikkila4782]

Good outtakes and great song 🎤🇫🇮

[@sherylmcclure400]

The only singer who just sets my heart and soul on fire ❤️🔥

[@samhugh4965]

O.M.G… this is too good. I have chills.

[@tinapapp7136]

💖Awesome"🎼🌹ELVIS🌹🎼"💜

[@divinorodriguesdemattosrod7228]

Show 🎉❤

[@garydonner7303]

It's what you call perfection 🤩💯

[@ledamarialastrico7033]

I can only say MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!!!!!! That voice is unique in the word !!!!!!!!!

[@betteh3424]

Rough cut to final to Royal version, all are music to the ears of Elvis fans :) Thank You!!

[@resa.walters]

Someone with a less powerful inoperetic voice could not have carried off this song successfully. We had this album, I remember this one and Marie's the name (of his latest flame)

[@jolantakaczorek5087]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@cpames55]

Thanks Leon I’ve always loved that song!

[@pilartena4648]

🌐🙏🌟❤️🎵🎸ELVIS

[@Wildlife_SA.]

Beautiful golden oldie. I love this song as only EP can sing it.. thanks for the video Leon. ⚡👍

[@janetd6686]

Thank you Leon. This is sublime.

[@joe6096]

There is no question that Elvis could have been a successful opera singer. He had that strong tenor/baritone that he could vary with perfect vibrato for the soft and sensitive parts. I know one of his personal heroes was Mario Lanza. Just imagine this: the Three Tenors concert in 1988? Domingo, Carrerras, and Pavaroti? Imagine Elvis Presley with them as the FOUR Tenors! If he'd have survived he'd have only been 53 at that time!

[@syl4058]

Wow!How wonderful!How great!

[@resa.walters]

But is Andrea Bocelli not one of the three tenors? Maybe not as he's only 64. But after all, this song was inspired by o solo mio, was it not?

[@joe6096]

@@resa.walters Yes they took the melody from O Sole Mio. But no Andrea was not part of the Three Tenors. He would have been only about 28 when they started their world tour and album, and was not widely known outside of probably his hometown and maybe a few other cities in Italy. The Three Tenors were already global opera superstars when they formed together: Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, and Placido Domingo. Andrea did not become famous until his #1 hit in 1997, the duet with Sarah Brightman “Its Time To Say Goodby”

[@finnfo4]

Wow.

[@elvispresley1222]

Strepitoso the king

[@smilebrinkstar8106]

👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@helenludlow2331]

Beautiful song - Elvis just makes it his own song and that voice is just sublime - is it still Elvis' best selling single ever?

[@rodriguezthiago318]

Yes. Over 20 million

[@helenludlow2331]

@@rodriguezthiago318 Wow thanks for letting me know - wasn't sure if Way Down overtook it as it was No 1 in loads of countries when he died

[@rodriguezthiago318]

@@helenludlow2331 number 2 is Hound dog/Don't be cruel with aprox. 10 million. It was Elvis' biggest hit in the US. "Waydown" sold over 1 million in the US, despite only reaching number 18 in the Hot 100 (Country #1) . It was also number 1 for 5 weeks in the UK. I don't know about global sales. Elvis ' record sales went crazy after his death

[@helenludlow2331]

@@rodriguezthiago318 👍

[@helenludlow2331]

@@rodriguezthiago318 thanks for the info 👍👍

[@Jeri_C11]

Thanks Leon. That was great. I’m not a big RPO in this song because it sort of felt like his favorite line at the end in which he had to get perfectly right is slightly drowned out. You work so hard at these. God bless.

[@rodegagariusdjampa]

🇧🇷♥️🇧🇷

[@MsKayla130]

❤💛 🎼🎶🎹🎵

[@shirleysanchez1892]

❤ 🏆 ❤

[@shirleysanchez1892]

❤ 💃 ❤

[@kirsty-marie]

My joint 3rd favourite song with can't help falling in love and Jailhouse rock thank you for these Leon! Do you know if there are different versions of songs from the king creole soundtrack? Young dreams is my favourite 💓💞🙏

[@nycsue]

HATE HATE HATE the Orchestra! It's outrageous to do this to this masterpiece!

[@samhugh4965]

Thinking the same thing.

[@LoanShoppingExpert]

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is too loud on Elvis's money shot at the end.