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List of Fab 40 number-one singles
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The Fab 40 (or Fab Forty) was the playlist for the station Wonderful Radio London. Also known as Big L,[1] Wonderful Radio London was a pirate radio station that operated from the MV Galaxy about three-and-a-half miles out from the coast of Frinton-on-Sea, Essex.[2] It was founded by American Don Pierson with a backing of around £500,000, and first aired shortly before Christmas 1964.[1][2][3] The station is credited with introducing to Britain the contemporary hit radio style seen in the United States and the Fab 40 chart is said by Music Week to have been "influential".[4][5] During its tenure, it had disc jockeys such as John Peel, Tony Blackburn and Kenny Everett.[4][6] Based on airplay (not physical music sales)[7] the chart was broadcast on Sunday afternoons.[8] The station closed on 14 August 1967 when the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act came into effect,[2][6] with the last Fab 40 chart show presented the previous week by Tommy Vance.[9][10] Later, when an official chart had been established, rival charts would factor airplay into their charts.[11]
The Fab 40 had a significantly higher turnover of singles than the Record Retailer chart; it had 118 different singles top the chart between 23 January 1965 and 12 August 1967 (by comparison Record Retailer had 53).[12] Additionally, only one single spent three weeks at number one – The Beatles double A-side "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" – while on the Record Retailer chart, 23 singles spent at least three weeks at the top of the chart in the same period.[12] On the Fab 40, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones each had eight number-ones and The Hollies had seven (six of which did not top the Retailer chart).
Number-one singles[]
- Key
- † – The song did not reach number one on the Record Retailer chart which is considered by The Official Charts Company as the canonical source until 15 February 1969.[13][14][15]
- [nb #] – The song spent a week at number one where it shared the top spot with another song.
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Notes[]
- ^ Date is week-ending date of the Sunday – Saturday chart week
- ^ This number-one record was not a single but a six-track extended play (EP). The release is described by Allmusic as a "five-track EP" as the first track, "We Want the Stones", is just a recording of a crowd chanting for the band before a concert. The second track, "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", segues into the third track, "Pain in My Heart", after 35 seconds and is described as "inconsequential". The remaining three tracks, "Route 66", "I'm Moving On" and "" were re-recorded and featured on the US album that shared the same name as the British EP.[39] Although the Fab 40's criteria for chart inclusion is not known or clearly defined, it was not until 1998 that the UK Singles Chart reduced the number of tracks allowed on a single from four to three.[40]
- ^ Jump up to: a b The Tremeloes' "Silence Is Golden" and The Kinks' "Waterloo Sunset" were classified jointly as number one on 20 May 1967. The following week "Waterloo Sunset" claimed the number-one spot outright.[139][140]
- ^ Jump up to: a b The Beach Boys' "Heroes and Villains" and The Tremeloes' "Even The Bad Times Are Good" were classified jointly as number one on 12 August 1967, which was the last chart compiled by Big L.[9]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Miller, Lisa (16 November 2009). "Pirate Radio – The Winds of Change". Imperial Valley News. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "When pirates ruled the waves". . Newsquest. 19 July 2004. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Wonderful Radio London takes to the air again (but not the sea)". Goliath Business News. Pro Sound News Europe. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 10 September 2010. (subscription required)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Payne, Mary. "It was time to introduce American Top 40-style radio to the UK". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Akon scores double top". Music Week. 8 May 2005. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "John Peel Biography" (PDF). BBC Radio 1. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Radio London – Big L Fab Forty 65 – 24th Jan 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 1965, Gert and Machteld". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 6th Aug 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Tommy Vance". The Times. 7 March 2005. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ Marketing Week (9 January 2003). "Stations vie for pole chart show position". Marketing Week. Goliath Business News. Retrieved 10 September 2010. (subscription required)
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Number 1 Singles – 1960s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
- ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1965". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1966". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1967". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
- ^ "Artist Chart History: Len Barry". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 24th Jan 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 31st Jan 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 7th Feb 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 14th Feb 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 21st Feb 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 28th Feb 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 7th Mar 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 14th Mar 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 21st Mar 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 28th Mar 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 4th Apr 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 11th Apr 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 18th Apr 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 25th Apr 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 2nd May 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 9th May 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 16th May 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 23rd May 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 30th May 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 6th Jun 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 13th Jun 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 20th Jun 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Got Live If You Want It! [UK EP]". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ Ashton, Robert (4 April 1998). "CSC acts to solve "fillers" issue". Music Week. ISSN 0265-1548.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 27th Jun 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 4th Jul 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 11th Jul 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 18th Jul 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 25th Jul 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 1st Aug 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 8th Aug 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 15th Aug 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 22nd Aug 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 29th Aug 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 5th Sep 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 12th Sep 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 19th Sep 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 26th Sep 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 3rd Oct 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 10th Oct 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 17th Oct 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 24th Oct 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 31st Oct 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 7th Nov 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 14th Nov 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 21st Nov 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 28th Nov 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 5th Dec 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 12th Dec 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 19th Dec 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 65 – 26th Dec 1965". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 2nd Jan 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 9th Jan 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 16th Jan 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 23rd Jan 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 30th Jan 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 6th Feb 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 13th Feb 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 20th Feb 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 27th Feb 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 6th Mar 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 13th Mar 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 20th Mar 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 27th Mar 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 3rd Apr 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 10th Apr 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 17th Apr 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 24th Apr 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 1st May 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 8th May 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 15th May 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 22nd May 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 29th May 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 5th Jun 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 12th Jun 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 19th Jun 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 26th Jun 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 3rd Jul 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 10th Jul 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 17th Jul 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 24th Jul 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 31st Jul 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 7th Aug 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 14th Aug 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 21st Aug 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 28th Aug 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 4th Sep 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 11th Sep 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 18th Sep 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 25th Sep 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 2nd Oct 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 9th Oct 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 16th Oct 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 23rd Oct 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 30th Oct 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 6th Nov 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 13th Nov 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 20th Nov 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 27th Nov 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 4th Dec 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 11th Dec 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 18th Dec 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 66 – 25th Dec 1966". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 1st Jan 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 8th Jan 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 15th Jan 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 22nd Jan 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 29th Jan 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 5th Feb 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 12th Feb 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 19th Feb 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 26th Feb 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 5th Mar 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 12th Mar 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 19th Mar 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 26th Mar 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 2nd Apr 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 9th Apr 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 16th Apr 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 23rd Apr 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 30th Apr 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 7th May 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 14th May 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 21st May 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 28th May 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 4th Jun 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 11th Jun 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 18th Jun 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 25th Jun 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 2nd Jul 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 9th Jul 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 16th Jul 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 23rd Jul 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Big L Fab Forty 67 – 30th Jul 1967". Radio London Ltd. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- Lists of number-one songs in the United Kingdom