Despite a mixed critical response (who are these heartless critics? Oh, that will be us then), copies of the new Band Aid record were selling fast yesterday as record shops opened early to cope with demand on the first day of release. Current estimates are that half a million copies will be sold this week alone. A spokesman for Mercury Records, who have released the charity record, say it is "very early days" but added that sales are going "absolutely fantastically well".
Commenting on demand for the single Virgin Megastore's Simon Dornan told reporters: "Everyone knew it was going to be big. There can't be anyone in the country that doesn't know it's out today and like 20 years ago, a lot of people will be buying it for themselves and probably another one or two as presents.
HMV's Gennaro Castaldo also reported fast sales of the new single, although he estimates that overall sales will probably not pass those of the original back in 1984: "I don't think it will match the last one but it will certainly be a million-seller and raise the profile of the problems in Africa."
That the charity single will top the charts this coming Sunday is something of a foregone conclusion. Whether it will maintain the top spot for three weeks, ensuring the Christmas number one, remains to be seen.