List of UK charts and number-one singles (1969–1988)

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UK Singles Chart number ones

UK Singles Chart

Other charts

UK Singles Chart
Official Charts Company
Christmas number one

The UK Singles Chart is the official chart for the United Kingdom of singles. The chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company and the beginning of an "official" singles chart is generally regarded as February 1969 when the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) was formed to compile the chart in a joint venture between the BBC and Record Retailer. Charts were used to measure the popularity of music and, initially, were based on sheet music. In 1952, NME imitated an American idea from Billboard magazine and began compiling a chart based on physical sales of the release. Rival publications such as Record Mirror, Melody Maker, Disc began to compile their own charts in the mid-to-late 1960s. Trade paper Record Retailer compiled its first chart in March 1960.

This list covers the period from the start-up of the BMRB in February 1969 to the last independently compiled charts of NME and Melody Maker in May 1988 (after which both published the Market Research Information Bureau chart).[1] This period includes the point at which compilation of the UK Singles Chart was taken over by Gallup in January 1983.

During these 19 years, there were a total of 343 canonical number-ones, plus an additional 149 that are not recognised by the Official Charts Company. From 1969 to 1971, the figure also included additional number-ones from Top Pops (which changed its name to Music Now in 1970); in 1969, six of the non-canonical number-ones only reached the top of their charts, a figure that would never be repeated.[2] 36 non-canonical number-ones only made the top of NME's charts, while Melody Maker had 44 stand-alone number-ones. Eleven of the number-ones in the Official Charts' canon did not make the top of any of the other charts.

Notable differences between the canonical and non-canonical charts include the Christmas 1980 season, when NME and Melody Maker had Jona Lewie's "Stop the Cavalry at number-one while the canonical seasonal number-one was "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" by St Winifred's School Choir. One of the more controversial instances of the BMRB era involved the Sex Pistols' anti-monarchy single "God Save the Queen," which NME had at number-one during the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[3][4] The single, released by Virgin Records, was the highest-selling single of the week[5][6] but had been banned by the BBC and some major retailers.[3] To prevent it from reaching the top of the BMRB chart, for one-week compilers "decreed that shops which sold their own records could not have those records represented in the chart", thus sales from Virgin Megastores were not counted.[7] Despite reaching number-two on the official chart, it is sometimes referred to as reaching number one.[8][9][10] However, "God Save the Queen" reached no higher than number five on the Melody Maker chart.

Main charts[]

Queen, who spent nine weeks at number one with "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1975, also had two number-ones that are not recognised in the Official Charts Company's canon.

British Market Research Bureau (BMRB)[]

On 15 February 1969, the BMRB was commissioned in a joint venture by the BBC and Record Retailer to compile the singles and album charts. BMRB compiled the first chart from postal returns of sales logs from 250 record shops.[11] The sampling cost approximately £52,000 and shops were randomly chosen and submitted figures for sales taken up to the close of trade on Saturday. The data was compiled on Monday and given to the BBC on Tuesday to be announced on Johnnie Walker's afternoon show and later published in Record Retailer (rebranded Music Week in 1972).[2] However, the BMRB often struggled to have the full sample of sales figures returned by post. The 1971 postal strike meant that data had to be collected by telephone but this was deemed inadequate for a national chart, and by 1973 the BMRB was using motorcycle couriers to collect sales figures.[2] A World in Action documentary exposé in 1980 revealed corruption within the industry; stores' chart-returns dealers would frequently be offered bribes to falsify sales logs.[12]

New Musical Express (NME)[]

ABBA, who had a total of eleven number-one singles between 1974 and 1982 – nine of which topped the official charts, and an additional two not recognised in the Official Charts Company's canon.

The New Musical Express (NME) chart was the first in the United Kingdom to gauge musics' popularity by physical sales – previously sheet music sales were used. NME's co-founder Percy Dickins imitated the chart produced by American Billboard magazine and began to compile Britain's first hit parade in 1952.[2][13] Other periodicals produced their own charts and The Official Charts Company and Guinness' British Hit Singles & Albums regard NME as the canonical British singles chart until 10 March 1960.[11] After this Record Retailer is regarded as the canonical source until February 1969, when the BMRB was formed. However, during the 1960s NME had the biggest circulation of charts in the decade and was the most widely followed.[2][7]

After 1969, NME continued to compile charts in the 1970s and 1980s and ended its time as the longest running independently compiled in May 1988.[1]

Melody Maker[]

Paul McCartney with wife and Wings band member Linda. McCartney wrote the Wings song "Mull of Kintyre" which was the best selling record of the decade; in 1976 the band had two additional number-ones (one on each of the "other" charts) that are not recognised in the Official Charts Company's canon.

Melody Maker compiled its own chart from 1956 until 1988 which was used by many national newspapers.[2] It was the third periodical to compile a chart and rivaled existing compilers NME and Record Mirror. Melody Maker's chart, like NME's, was based on a telephone poll of record stores.[2][1] Melody Maker compiled a Top 20 for its first chart using figures from 19 shops on 7 April 1956.[2] During the 1950s, sample sizes ranged from around 14–33 shops and on 30 July 1960 the phoning of record shops was supplemented with postal returns; the first chart to use this method sampled 38 stores from 110 returns. On 26 August 1967, Disc, owned by the same company as Melody Maker, stopped compiling their own chart and started using the Melody Maker chart.[14] In its 9 February 1963 edition, Melody Maker disclosed that it received chart returns from 245 retailers and that its chart was audited by auditors supplied by Middlesex County Council.[15] By the end of 1969, however, with the establishment of the BMRB, Melody Maker and NME had reduced their sample pool to 100 stores.[16]

Top Pops[]

During the 1980s, Culture Club had two "official" number ones, plus two others not recognised in the Official Charts Company's canon.

Top Pops was founded initially as a monthly publication in May 1967. In May 1968 it began compiling a chart based on the telephone sample of 12 W H Smith & Son stores. The charts and paper became weekly the following month. Rebranded Music Now by 1970, the chart and paper ceased publication the following year.[1]

Gallup[]

Rick Astley (pictured in 2017) had the distinction of charting the last non-canonical number-one in 1988 with "Together Forever."

On 4 January 1983, compilation of the UK single and album charts was taken over by Gallup who began the introduction of computerised tills which automated the data collection process.[2][11] The chart was based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets and announced on Tuesday until October 1987, when the Top 40 was revealed each Sunday, due to the new automated process.[17] Gallup would continue to compile the single and album charts for a few more years past the elimination of NME and Melody Maker's independently compiled charts after the 14 May 1988 issues and their switching starting the next week to charts compiled by the Market Research Information Bureau.,[1] until 30 June 1990 when the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) terminated its contract with them[18][19] and switched to a new entity, Chart Information Network[nb 1], which would change its name to The Official UK Charts Company in November 2001.

Comparison of chart number-ones (1969–1988)[]

Key
1–10 The number of weeks spent as a number-one single on a chart regarded as canonical by the Official Charts Company.
No The single did not reach number one on the chart regarded as canonical at the time.
1–10 The number of weeks spent as a number-one single on a chart regarded not as canonical by the Official Charts Company.
No The single did not reach number one on the listed chart (which was not regarded as canonical at the time).
* One of the weeks as number-one single was spent jointly with another single and, for the purposes of sorting, is considered less than acts whose time at number one was outright.
The canonical sources referred to above are BMRB for number ones 266–512 and Gallup for number ones 512–608

Edit by chart considered the canonical source: BMRBGallup

No.
[nb 2]
Artist Single BMRB
[nb 3]
NME
[nb 4]
Melody
Maker

[40]
Top
Pops

[nb 5]
Gallup
[nb 6]
Weeks at number one
0266 Amen Corner "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" 2 1 2 2
0267 Peter Sarstedt "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" 1 4 4 2
0268 Marvin Gaye "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 3 3 3 2
0269 Desmond Dekker & The Aces "Israelites" 1 2 1 1
0270 The Beatles with Billy Preston "Get Back" 6 5 5 3
Herman's Hermits "My Sentimental Friend" No No No 2
0271 Tommy Roe "Dizzy" 1 2 2 2
0272 The Beatles "The Ballad of John and Yoko" 3 2 3 2
0273 Thunderclap Newman "Something in the Air" 3 2 1 1
Edwin Hawkins Singers "Oh Happy Day" No No No 2
Elvis Presley "In the Ghetto" No 1 1 1
0274 The Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women" 5 5 5 2
Robin Gibb "Saved by the Bell" No No No 2
Stevie Wonder "My Cherie Amour" No No No 1
0275 Zager and Evans "In The Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" 3 3 3 4
0276 Creedence Clearwater Revival "Bad Moon Rising" 3 3 5 No
Bee Gees "Don't Forget to Remember" No No No 1
0277 Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg "Je t'aime... moi non plus" 1 No No 2
0278 Bobbie Gentry "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" 1 3 3 2
0279 The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" 8 4 4 2
Fleetwood Mac "Oh Well" No 1 No 2
The Tremeloes "(Call Me) Number One" No No No 2
Stevie Wonder "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" No 1 1 No
Kenny Rogers and The First Edition "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" No 1 No 1
0280 Rolf Harris "Two Little Boys" 6 6 6 6
Marmalade "Reflections of My Life" No 1 1 1
0281 Edison Lighthouse "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" 5 3 3 3
The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" No 1 1 3
0282 Lee Marvin "Wand'rin' Star" 3 3 3 No
0283 Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge over Troubled Water" 3 4 4 5
0284 Dana "All Kinds of Everything" 2 No No No
0285 Norman Greenbaum "Spirit in the Sky" 2 2 4 4
0286 England World Cup Squad "70" "Back Home" 3 3 1 1
The Moody Blues "Question" No 1 No No
0287 Christie "Yellow River" 1 1 3 1
0288 Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime" 7 4 4 4
Free "All Right Now" No 3 3 4
The Kinks "Lola" No 1 No No
0289 Elvis Presley "The Wonder of You" 6 3 5 3
0290 Smokey Robinson and The Miracles "The Tears of a Clown" 1 4 2 4
0291 Freda Payne "Band of Gold" 6 5 5 5
Deep Purple "Black Night" No 1 1 1
0292 Matthews' Southern Comfort "Woodstock" 3 3 3 3
0293 Jimi Hendrix Experience "Voodoo Child" 1 1 No No
Don Fardon "Indian Reservation" No No 1 1
0294 Dave Edmunds's Rockpile "I Hear You Knocking" 6 3 2 2
McGuinness Flint "When I'm Dead and Gone" No 1 3 3
0295 Clive Dunn "Grandad" 3 4 3 3
0296 George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" 5 6 7 4
0297 Mungo Jerry "Baby Jump" 2 1 1
Paul McCartney "Another Day" No 1 No
0298 T. Rex "Hot Love" 6 5 1.5*5*
0299 Dave and Ansel Collins "Double Barrel" 2 2 1.5*2*
The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" No 1 No
0300 Dawn "Knock Three Times" 5 3 3
Free "My Brother Jake" No 1 No
Tony Christie "I Did What I Did for Maria" No 1 1
0301 Middle of the Road "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 5 5 5
0302 T. Rex "Get It On" 4 3 3
The New Seekers "Never Ending Song of Love" No 1 4.5*1*
0303 Diana Ross "I'm Still Waiting" 4 3 4.5*3*
0304 The Tams "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" 3 2 3
0305 Rod Stewart "Reason to Believe" / "Maggie May" 5 6 6
0306 Slade "Coz I Luv You" 4 3 3
0307 Benny Hill "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" 4 5 5
0308 The New Seekers "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" 4 4 4
America "A Horse with No Name" No 1 No
0309 T. Rex "Telegram Sam" 2 1 2
0310 Chicory Tip "Son of My Father" 3 2 2
Don McLean "American Pie" No 1 1
0311 Nilsson "Without You" 5 6 5
0312 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards "Amazing Grace" 4 4 5
0313 T. Rex "Metal Guru" 4 4 3
0314 Don McLean "Vincent" 2 3 3
Gary Glitter "Rock and Roll Parts 1 & 2" No No 1
0315 Slade "Take Me Bak 'Ome" 1 1 No
0316 Donny Osmond "Puppy Love" 5 4 4
0317 Alice Cooper "School's Out" 3 3 3
0318 Rod Stewart "You Wear It Well" 1 2 2
0319 Slade "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" 3 2 2
T. Rex "Children of the Revolution" No 1 1
0320 David Cassidy "How Can I Be Sure" 2 1 1
0321 Lieutenant Pigeon "Mouldy Old Dough" 4 4 5
0322 Gilbert O'Sullivan "Clair" 2 2 2
0323 Chuck Berry "My Ding-a-Ling" 4 3 5
Slade "Gudbuy T'Jane" No 1 No
0324 Little Jimmy Osmond "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" 5 4 2
David Bowie "The Jean Genie" No 1 1
0325 Sweet "Blockbuster" 5 4 4
Strawbs "Part of the Union" No 2 2
0326 Slade "Cum On Feel the Noize" 3 2 2
0327 Donny Osmond "The Twelfth of Never" 1 2 2
0328 Gilbert O'Sullivan "Get Down" 2 1 1
0329 Dawn featuring Tony Orlando "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" 4 5 3.5*4*
0330 Wizzard "See My Baby Jive" 4 2 4.5*3*
0331 Suzi Quatro "Can the Can" 1 3 3
0332 10cc "Rubber Bullets" 1 1 1
0333 Slade "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" 3 2 2
0334 Peters and Lee "Welcome Home" 1 2 1
0335 Gary Glitter "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!)" 4 3 3
The Carpenters "Yesterday Once More" No No 3
0336 Donny Osmond "Young Love" 4 2 1
Barry Blue "Dancin' (on a Saturday Night)" No No 3
0337 Wizzard "Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad)" 1 1 1
David Essex "Rock On" No 1 No
Sweet "The Ballroom Blitz" No 1 1
0338 Simon Park Orchestra "Eye Level (Theme From The Thames TV Series "Van Der Valk")" 4 4 4
0339 David Cassidy "Daydreamer" / "The Puppy Song" 3 2 3
The Osmonds "Let Me In" No 1 No
0340 Gary Glitter "I Love You Love Me Love" 4 4 4
0341 Slade "Merry Xmas Everybody" 5 2 3
0342 New Seekers feat. Lyn Paul "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" 1 2 No
Leo Sayer "The Show Must Go On" No 1 3
Sweet "Teenage Rampage" No 1 No
0343 Mud "Tiger Feet" 4 3 3
0344 Suzi Quatro "Devil Gate Drive" 2 2 3
0345 Alvin Stardust "Jealous Mind" 1 2 1
0346 Paper Lace "Billy Don't Be a Hero" 3 3 3
0347 Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun" 4 2 3
Mud "The Cat Crept In" No 1 1
0348 ABBA "Waterloo" 2 2 3
0349 The Rubettes "Sugar Baby Love" 4 4 2
R. Dean Taylor "There's a Ghost in My House" No No 1
Showaddywaddy "Hey Rock and Roll" No No 1
0350 Ray Stevens "The Streak" 1 2 1
0351 Gary Glitter "Always Yours" 1 1 1
0352 Charles Aznavour "She" 4 3 4
0353 George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" 3 3 2
0354 The Three Degrees "When Will I See You Again" 2 3 3
Donny and Marie Osmond "I'm Leaving It (All) Up to You" No No 1
0355 The Osmonds "Love Me for a Reason" 3 2 1
0356 Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" 3 4 2
357 John Denver "Annie's Song" 1 No 1
Peter Shelley "Gee Baby" No 1 No
358 Sweet Sensation "Sad Sweet Dreamer" 1 No 2
359 Ken Boothe "Everything I Own" 3 2 3
Queen "Killer Queen" No No 2
0360 David Essex "Gonna Make You a Star" 3 5 1
Gary Glitter "Oh Yes! You're Beautiful" No No 1
0361 Barry White "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" 2 1 1
0362 Mud "Lonely This Christmas" 4 3 3
0363 Status Quo "Down Down" 1 1 1
Ralph McTell "Streets of London" No 2 1
0364 The Tymes "Ms Grace" 1 1 2
0365 Pilot "January" 3 2 2
The Carpenters "Please Mr. Postman" No 1 No
0366 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" 2 1 2
0367 Telly Savalas "If" 2 2 2
0368 Bay City Rollers "Bye Bye Baby" 6 6 6
Bobby Goldsboro "Honey" No 1 1
0369 Mud "Oh Boy" 2 No No
Minnie Riperton "Lovin' You" No 1 2
0370 Tammy Wynette "Stand by Your Man" 3 3 3
0371 Windsor Davies and Don Estelle "Whispering Grass" 3 2 2
Showaddywaddy "Three Steps to Heaven" No 1 No
0372 10cc "I'm Not in Love" 2 2 3
0373 Johnny Nash "Tears on My Pillow" 1 2 1
0374 Bay City Rollers "Give a Little Love" 3 1 1
0375 Typically Tropical "Barbados" 1 2 2
0376 The Stylistics "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" 3 2 3
0377 Rod Stewart "Sailing" 4 4 4
Leo Sayer "Moonlighting" No 3 No
0378 David Essex "Hold Me Close" 3 3 3
0379 Art Garfunkel "I Only Have Eyes for You" 2 2 1
0380 David Bowie "Space Oddity" 2 2 4
0381 Billy Connolly "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." 1 1 No
Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing" No 1 1
0382 Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" 9 6 7
Sailor "A Glass of Champagne" No 1 No
0383 ABBA "Mamma Mia" 2 2 3
0384 Slik "Forever and Ever" 1 1 2
0385 The Four Seasons "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" 2 2 No
Manuel and the Music of the Mountains "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto de Aranjuez" No No 1
0386 Tina Charles "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)" 3 3 4
0387 Brotherhood of Man "Save Your Kisses for Me" 6 5 4
0388 ABBA "Fernando" 4 6 5
0389 J. J. Barrie "No Charge" 1 1 1
0390 The Wurzels "The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)" 2 No 1
Wings "Silly Love Songs" No 1 No
0391 Real Thing "You to Me Are Everything" 3 2 3
Candi Staton "Young Hearts Run Free" No 1 2
0392 Demis Roussos "Excerpts From "The Roussos Phenomenon" (EP)" 1 1 1
0393 Elton John & Kiki Dee "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" 6 7 5
Wings "Let 'Em In" No No 1
0394 ABBA "Dancing Queen" 6 5 4
Real Thing "Can't Get By Without You" No No 1
0395 Pussycat "Mississippi" 4 3 2
0396 Chicago "If You Leave Me Now" 3 4 6
0397 Showaddywaddy "Under the Moon of Love" 3 3 3
0398 Johnny Mathis "When a Child Is Born (Soleado)" 3 3 3
0399 David Soul "Don't Give Up on Us" 4 3 1
0400 Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" 1 3 2
0401 Leo Sayer "When I Need You" 3 2 4
Heatwave "Boogie Nights" No No 1
0402 The Manhattan Transfer "Chanson D'Amour" 3 2 2
0403 ABBA "Knowing Me, Knowing You" 5 6 4
David Soul "Going In With My Eyes Open" No No 1
0404 Deniece Williams "Free" 2 3 1
0405 Rod Stewart "I Don't Want to Talk About It" / "The First Cut Is the Deepest" 4 3 5
Joe Tex "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" No No 1
Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" No 1 No
0406 Kenny Rogers "Lucille" 1 No No
0407 The Jacksons "Show You the Way to Go" 1 2 2
0408 Hot Chocolate "So You Win Again" 3 1 2
Boney M. "Ma Baker" No 1 No
0409 Donna Summer "I Feel Love" 4 5 5
0410 Brotherhood of Man "Angelo" 1 1 No
0411 The Floaters "Float On" 1 No 2
Space "Magic Fly" No 3 3
Jean-Michel Jarre "Oxygène (Part IV)" No No 1
0412 Elvis Presley "Way Down" 5 3 1
0413 David Soul "Silver Lady" 3 1 No
La Belle Epoque "Black Is Black" No No 2
0414 Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 1 1 No
Rod Stewart "You're in My Heart" No 1 2
0415 ABBA "The Name of the Game" 4 2 2
Status Quo "Rockin' All Over the World" No 1 1
0416 Wings "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" 9 9 8
0417 Althea & Donna "Uptown Top Ranking" 1 2 3
0418 Brotherhood of Man "Figaro" 2 No No
0419 ABBA "Take a Chance on Me" 3 3 3
Rose Royce "Wishing on a Star" No No 1
0420 Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights" 4 3 1
Blondie "Denis" No 2 3
0421 Brian and Michael "Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs (Lowry's Song)" 3 No No
Showaddywaddy "I Wonder Why" No 1 2
0422 Bee Gees "Night Fever" 2 4 3
0423 Boney M. "Rivers of Babylon" 5 4 4
0424 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 9 10 9
0425 Commodores "Three Times a Lady" 5 4 6
0426 10cc "Dreadlock Holiday" 1 2 No
0427 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "Summer Nights" 7 6 6
John Travolta "Sandy" No No 1
0428 The Boomtown Rats "Rat Trap" 2 3 2
0429 Rod Stewart "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" 1 1 2
0430 Boney M. "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" 4 4 4
0431 Village People "Y.M.C.A." 3 3 1
0432 Ian Dury and The Blockheads "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" 1 2 2
0433 Blondie "Heart of Glass" 4 3 4
ABBA "Chiquitita" No 1 No
0434 Bee Gees "Tragedy" 2 1 1
Elvis Costello "Oliver's Army" No 1 1
0435 Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" 4 2 4
Village People "In the Navy" No 1 No
0436 Art Garfunkel "Bright Eyes" 6 6 5
M "Pop Muzik" No 1 1
0437 Blondie "Sunday Girl" 3 1 2
Roxy Music "Dance Away" No 1 1
0438 Anita Ward "Ring My Bell" 2 3 2
0439 Tubeway Army "Are "Friends" Electric?" 4 3 3
Janet Kay "Silly Games" No 1 1
0440 The Boomtown Rats "I Don't Like Mondays" 4 4 5
0441 Cliff Richard "We Don't Talk Anymore" 4 3 3
0442 Gary Numan "Cars" 1 2 2
0443 The Police "Message in a Bottle" 3 2 2
0444 The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" 1 2 2
0445 Lena Martell "One Day at a Time" 3 1 No
0446 Dr. Hook "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" 3 4 2
The Jam "The Eton Rifles" No No 1
0447 The Police "Walking on the Moon" 1 1 2
0448 Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" 5 4 4
0449 Pretenders "Brass in Pocket" 2 2 2
Madness "My Girl" No 1 1
0450 The Special A.K.A. feat. Rico "Too Much Too Young"[nb 7] 2 1 2
0451 Kenny Rogers "Coward of the County" 2 2 1
0452 Blondie "Atomic" 2 3 3
0453 Fern Kinney "Together We Are Beautiful" 1 1 1
0454 The Jam "Going Underground" / "Dreams of Children" 3 2 3
0455 The Detroit Spinners "Working My Way Back to You – Forgive Me Girl" 2 No 1
Liquid Gold "Dance Yourself Dizzy" No 2 No
0456 Blondie "Call Me" 1 2 1
0457 Dexys Midnight Runners "Geno" 2 1 3
0458 Johnny Logan "What's Another Year" 2 2 1
Hot Chocolate "No Doubt About It" No 1 No
0459 The Mash "Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)" 3 2 4
Lipps Inc "Funkytown" No 1 No
0460 Don McLean "Crying" 3 2 1
Splodgenessabounds "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please" No No 1
0461 Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra "Xanadu" 2 3 2
0462 Odyssey "Use It Up and Wear It Out" 2 1 2
Diana Ross "Upside Down" No 1 1
0463 ABBA "The Winner Takes It All" 2 2 2
0464 David Bowie "Ashes to Ashes" 2 2 2
0465 The Jam "Start!" 1 1 1
0466 Kelly Marie "Feels Like I'm in Love" 2 No No
Randy Crawford "One Day I'll Fly Away" No 2 2
0467 The Police "Don't Stand So Close to Me" 4 4 4
0468 Barbra Streisand "Woman in Love" 3 3 2
0469 Blondie "The Tide Is High" 2 2 2
0470 ABBA "Super Trouper" 3 2 2
0471 John Lennon "(Just Like) Starting Over" 1 1 1
Jona Lewie "Stop the Cavalry" No 2 3
0472 St Winifred's School Choir "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" 2 No No
0473 John Lennon "Imagine" 4 4 1
Adam and the Ants "Antmusic" No No 1
Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight" No 2 2
0474 John Lennon "Woman" 1 No No
Ultravox "Vienna" No 1 2
0475 Joe Dolce Music Theatre "Shaddap You Face" 3 2 2
0476 Roxy Music "Jealous Guy" 2 2 2
Kim Wilde "Kids in America" No No 1
0477 Shakin' Stevens "This Ole House" 3 3 2
0478 Bucks Fizz "Making Your Mind Up" 3 2 2
Ennio Morricone "Chi Mai (Theme from The Life and Times of David Lloyd George)" No 1 1
Starsound "Stars on 45" No 1 1
0479 Adam and the Ants "Stand and Deliver" 3 2 2
Shakin' Stevens "You Drive Me Crazy" No No 1
0480 Smokey Robinson "Being with You" 2 2 3
0481 Michael Jackson "One Day In Your Life" 2 3 1
0482 The Specials "Ghost Town" 3 2 3
Spandau Ballet "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" No 1 No
0483 Shakin' Stevens "Green Door" 4 3 2
Stevie Wonder "Happy Birthday" No 1 1
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Hooked on Classics" No No 1
0484 Aneka "Japanese Boy" 1 1 1
0485 Soft Cell "Tainted Love" 2 1 2
0486 Adam and the Ants "Prince Charming" 4 5 3
The Police "Invisible Sun" No No 1
0487 Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin "It's My Party" 4 2 3
Altered Images "Happy Birthday" No 1 1
0488 The Police "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 1 2 1
0489 Queen and David Bowie "Under Pressure" 2 2 3
0490 Julio Iglesias "Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)" 1 1 1
0491 The Human League "Don't You Want Me" 5 3 5
ABBA "One of Us" No 1 No
0492 Bucks Fizz "The Land of Make Believe" 2 2 1
0493 Shakin' Stevens "Oh Julie" 1 No No
0494 Kraftwerk "Computer Love" / "The Model" 1 4 3
The Stranglers "Golden Brown" No No 1
0495 The Jam "Town Called Malice" / "Precious" 3 3 3
0496 Tight Fit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" 3 4 7
0497 Goombay Dance Band "Seven Tears" 3 2 2
Imagination "Just an Illusion" No No 1
0498 Bucks Fizz "My Camera Never Lies" 1 2 No
Chas & Dave "Ain't No Pleasing You" No No 1
0499 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder "Ebony and Ivory" 3 2 4
Ph.D. "I Won't Let You Down" No 1 No
0500 Nicole "A Little Peace" 2 1 1
Yazoo "Only You" No No 1
0501 Madness "House of Fun" 2 2 2
0502 Adam Ant "Goody Two Shoes" 2 3 1
Soft Cell "Torch" No No 1
0503 Charlene "I've Never Been to Me" 1 1 1
0504 Captain Sensible "Happy Talk" 2 1 1
Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra" No 1 No
0505 Irene Cara "Fame" 3 2 3
0506 Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express "Come On Eileen" 4 4 4
0507 Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 4 3 2
Dire Straits "Private Investigations" No 1 2
The Jam "The Bitterest Pill" No 1 1
0508 Musical Youth "Pass the Dutchie" 3 2 2
0509 Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" 3 3 3
0510 Eddy Grant "I Don't Wanna Dance" 3 2 3
Dionne Warwick "Heartbreaker" No 1 No
The Human League "Mirror Man" No 1 1
0511 The Jam "Beat Surrender" 3 2 3
0512 Renée and Renato "Save Your Love"[nb 8] 3 1 No 1
Culture Club "Time (Clock of the Heart)" No 2 No No
0513 Phil Collins "You Can't Hurry Love" 2 3 2
0514 Men at Work "Down Under" 3 3 3
Tears for Fears "Change" No 1 No
515 Kajagoogoo "Too Shy" 2 1 2
516 Michael Jackson "Billie Jean" 2 2 1
517 Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" 2 2 2
The Style Council "Speak Like a Child" No 1 No
518 Duran Duran "Is There Something I Should Know?" 2 1 2
519 David Bowie "Let's Dance" 3 4 3
520 Spandau Ballet "True" 2 3 4
Heaven 17 "Temptation" No 1 No
521 New Edition "Candy Girl" No 1 2
522 The Police "Every Breath You Take" 3 3 4
David Bowie "China Girl" 1 1 No
523 Rod Stewart "Baby Jane" 1 2 3
524 Paul Young "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" 5 4 3
Freeez "I.O.U." No 1 No
525 KC and the Sunshine Band "Give It Up" 1 1 3
Spandau Ballet "Gold" 2 2 No
526 UB40 "Red Red Wine" 3 3 2
527 Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" 6 6 6
Lionel Richie "All Night Long (All Night)" No 1 No
528 Billy Joel "Uptown Girl" 3 2 5
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson "Say Say Say" No 1 No
The Assembly "Never Never" 1 1 No
Paul Young "Love of the Common People" 1 No No
529 The Flying Pickets "Only You" 5 5 5
530 Paul McCartney "Pipes of Peace" 1 1 2
531 Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Relax" 4 6 5
Queen "Radio Ga Ga" 1 No No
532 Nena "99 Red Balloons" 4 3 3
533 Lionel Richie "Hello" 5 5 6
Phil Collins "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" 1 4 No
534 Duran Duran "The Reflex" 2 No 4
The Pointer Sisters "Automatic" 2 1 No
535 Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 2 3 2
536 Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Two Tribes" 8 7 9
537 George Michael "Careless Whisper" 3 4 3
538 Stevie Wonder "I Just Called to Say I Love You" 6 5 6
Culture Club "The War Song" 1 1 No
539 Wham! "Freedom" 3 3 3
540 Chaka Khan "I Feel for You" 3 4 3
541 Jim Diamond "I Should Have Known Better" 1 No 1
542 Frankie Goes to Hollywood "The Power of Love" No 1 1
543 Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 5 5 5
Wham! "Everything She Wants" / "Last Christmas" 1 1 No
544 Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is" 2 1 3
Prince "1999" No 1 No
545 Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson "I Know Him So Well" 2 1 4
King "Love and Pride" 1 2 No
546 Dead or Alive "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" 2 3 2
547 Philip Bailey (duet with Phil Collins) "Easy Lover" 3 4 4
Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" 1 No No
548 USA for Africa "We Are the World" No No 2
Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" 3 4 No
549 Phyllis Nelson "Move Closer" 1 1 1
550 Paul Hardcastle "19" 5 5 5
551 The Crowd "You'll Never Walk Alone" 1 2 2
Madonna "Crazy for You" 1 1 No
552 Sister Sledge "Frankie" 3 1 4
Harold Faltermeyer "Axel F" No 2 No
553 Eurythmics "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" 2 1 1
554 Madonna "Into the Groove" 4 5 4
555 UB40 and Chrissie Hynde "I Got You Babe" 1 No 1
556 David Bowie and Mick Jagger "Dancing in the Street" 3 5 4
557 Midge Ure "If I Was" 1 No 1
558 Jennifer Rush "The Power of Love" 4 3 5
a-ha "Take On Me" 1 2 No
Elton John "Nikita" 1 No No
559 Feargal Sharkey "A Good Heart" 2 2 2
560 Wham! "I'm Your Man" 2 2 2
561 Whitney Houston "Saving All My Love for You" 3 4 2
562 Shakin' Stevens "Merry Christmas Everyone" No No 2
563 Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" 2 2 2
564 a-ha "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." 3 2 2
Nana Mouskouri "Only Love" No 1 No
565 Billy Ocean "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" 4 3 4
566 Diana Ross "Chain Reaction" 2 3 3
David Bowie "Absolute Beginners" 1 No No
567 Cliff Richard and The Young Ones "Living Doll" 3 3 3
568 George Michael "A Different Corner" 3 3 3
Janet Jackson "What Have You Done for Me Lately" No 1 No
569 Falco "Rock Me Amadeus" 1 No 1
Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald "On My Own" No 1 No
570 Spitting Image "The Chicken Song" 2 1 3
Peter Gabriel "Sledgehammer" No 2 ��� No
571 Doctor and the Medics "Spirit in the Sky" 4 No 3
Simply Red "Holding Back the Years" No 1 No
Nu Shooz "I Can't Wait" No 1 No
572 Wham! "The Edge of Heaven" 1 2 2
573 Madonna "Papa Don't Preach" 3 3 3
574 Chris de Burgh "The Lady in Red" 2 1 3
575 Boris Gardiner "I Want to Wake Up with You" 3 2 3
576 The Communards "Don't Leave Me This Way" 5 5 4
577 Madonna "True Blue" 1 1 1
578 Nick Berry "Every Loser Wins" 3 3 3
579 Berlin "Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun)" 3 5 4
580 Europe "The Final Countdown" 3 No 2
Erasure "Sometimes" No 1 No
581 The Housemartins "Caravan of Love" 3 3 1
582 Jackie Wilson "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)" 3 2 4
583 Steve "Silk" Hurley "Jack Your Body"[nb 9] No 2 2
Robbie Nevil "C'est La Vie" 1 No No
584 Aretha Franklin and George Michael "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" 3 3 2
585 Ben E. King "Stand by Me" 3 3 3
586 Boy George "Everything I Own" 1 1 2
587 Mel and Kim "Respectable" 1 2 1
588 Ferry Aid "Let It Be" 2 3 3
Club Nouveau "Lean on Me" No 1 No
589 Madonna "La Isla Bonita" 3 1 2
Judy Boucher "Can't Be with You Tonight" No 1 No
590 Starship "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" 3 3 4
591 Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 3 3 2
592 The Firm "Star Trekkin'" 2 1 2
593 Pet Shop Boys "It's a Sin" 3 3 3
594 Madonna "Who's That Girl" 1 2 1
595 Los Lobos "La Bamba" 2 1 2
596 Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" 3 2 2
597 Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" 4 4 5
598 MARRS "Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)" 2 3 2
Abigail Mead and Nigel Goulding "I Want to Be Your Drill Instructor" 1 No No
599 Bee Gees "You Win Again" 3 3 4
George Michael "Faith" 1 2 No
600 T'Pau "China in Your Hand" 3 4 5
Rick Astley "When I Fall in Love" 3 3 No
601 Pet Shop Boys "Always on My Mind" 3 1 4
602 Belinda Carlisle "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" 2 2 2
603 Tiffany "I Think We're Alone Now" 2 3 3
604 Kylie Minogue "I Should Be So Lucky" 2 2 5
Bomb the Bass "Beat Dis" 1 1 No
Rick Astley "Together Forever" 1 2 No
605 Aswad "Don't Turn Around" 3 3 2
606 Pet Shop Boys "Heart" 2 2 3
607 S-Express "Theme from S-Express" 2 1 2
608 Fairground Attraction "Perfect" 1 2 1

Notes[]

  1. ^ Spotlight Publications is a subsidiary of United Newspapers[20]
  2. ^ According to the Official Charts Company and the canonical sources, chronologically, which number one it was.[21][22][23]
  3. ^ The names, singles and duration of the number-ones are those given by The Official Charts Company.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]
  4. ^ The names, singles and duration of the number-ones are from the NME.[39]
  5. ^ The names, singles and duration of the number-ones are from Top Pops (later Music Now).
  6. ^ The names, singles and duration of the number-ones are those given by The Official Charts Company.[41][42][43][44][45][46][38]
  7. ^ This number-one record was not a single but a five-track extended play (EP) with "Too Much Too Young" as the lead track.[47] The rules now require at most four distinct songs to be eligible for the UK Singles Chart.[48] Although the EP is credited to The Special A.K.A. on the record sleeve the record label credits The Specials.[49]
  8. ^ The first three weeks of this record's number-one run was from the last three charts compiled by the BMRB; its last week at number one was from the first chart compiled by Gallup. Its run is thus divided accordingly.
  9. ^ "Jack Your Body" was released on a 12" single that was over 25 minutes long, exceededing the maximum time for a record to be classified as a single. The track should have been classified as an album instead (as it was in NME) and, during the two weeks it spent at number one, "Reet Petite" would have been number one for a fifth week and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" would have become number one a week earlier.[50]

References[]

Footnotes
  1. ^ a b c d e Smith, Alan. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine different magazine charts!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith, Alan. "50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b Ascherson, Neal (2 June 2002). "Is the UK OK?". The Observer. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  4. ^ Murthi, R. S. (9 May 1993). "Infectious Rage of Punk". New Straits Times. p. 17. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  5. ^ Donovan, Patrick (3 June 2002). "Melbourne & punk: 25 years on". The Age. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  6. ^ Munckton, Stuart (2 August 2000). "When the oppressed express themselves". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  7. ^ a b Leigh, Spencer (20 February 1998). "Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away". The Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  8. ^ "Sex Pistols reunite for anti-jubilee gig". BBC News. 28 July 2002. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  9. ^ O'Connor, Tim (27 June 1986). "John Lydon: Sex Pistols gone but the anger remains". Ottawa Citizen. p. F18. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Sex Pistols cover tops chart". BBC News. 14 March 2001. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  11. ^ a b c "Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  12. ^ Hennesey, Mike (30 August 1980). "Inquiry Expected After Claims Of U.K. Chart Hyping". Billboard. London. pp. 1, 78, 83. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  13. ^ Williams, Mark (19 February 2002). "Obituary: Percy Dickins". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  14. ^ Coryton & Murrells 1990, p. 9.
  15. ^ Source: Melody Maker 9th February 1963.
  16. ^ "Sixties City - British Music Record Charts 60s History". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  17. ^ Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  18. ^ Clark-Meads, Jeff (6 January 1990). "BPI clears the deck for Nineties chart". Music Week. ISSN 0265-1548.
  19. ^ "New chart on course". Music Week. 30 June 1990. ISSN 0265-1548.
  20. ^ Monopolies and Mergers Commission (23 June 1994). "The supply of recorded music". Cm 2599. London: HMSO: 134. Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2010. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. ^ "Number 1 Singles – 1960s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  22. ^ "Number 1 Singles – 1970s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  23. ^ "Number 1 Singles – 1980s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  24. ^ "All The Number 1 Singles". Official Charts Company. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  25. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1970". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  26. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1971". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  27. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1972". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  28. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1973". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  29. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1974". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  30. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1975". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  31. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1976". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  32. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1977". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  33. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1978". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  34. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1979". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  35. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1980". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  36. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1981". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  37. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1982". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  38. ^ a b Rees, Lazell & Osborne 1995, pp. 82–205.
  39. ^ Rees, Lazell & Osborne 1995, pp. 217–351.
  40. ^ Coryton & Murrells 1990, pp. 244–248.
  41. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1983". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  42. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1984". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  43. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1985". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  44. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1986". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  45. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1987". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  46. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1988". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  47. ^ "Too Much Too Young". The Specials. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  48. ^ "Rules For Chart Eligibility" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  49. ^ "Record Details – The Special A.K.A. Live!". 45cat. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  50. ^ "Record-Breakers and Trivia: Quirks Of The Number One Position". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
Sources
  • Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.
  • Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-058-0.
  • Coryton, Demitri; Murrells, Joseph (1990). Hits of the '60s: the million sellers. London: B.T. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-5851-8.
  • Sterling, Christopher H. (2004). The Museum of Broadcast Communications encyclopedia of radio. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN 1-57958-452-7.
  • Briggs, Asa (1995). The history of broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Sound and vision. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-212967-8.
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