The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. Record charts in the UK began life in 1952 when Percy Dickins from New Musical Express (NME) imitated an idea started in American Billboard magazine and began compiling a hit parade. Prior to this, a song's popularity was measured by the sales of sheet music.[1][2] Initially, Dickins telephoned a sample of around 20 shops asking for a list of the 10 best-selling songs. These results were then aggregated to give a Top 12 chart published in NME on 14 November 1952.[1][2] The number-one single was "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino.
Elvis Presley in a publicity photo for "Jailhouse Rock" which was the best-selling single of 1958. Presley had three other number ones in the 1950s.Al Martino's "Here in My Heart" was the first ever number-one single and held the top spot for nine weeks.Bill Haley & His Comets had the biggest-selling single of the decade with "Rock Around the Clock".Doris Day had two number-one singles in the 1950s, one of which, "Secret Love", was the best-selling record of 1954.Cliff Richard achieved his first two number-one singles in the latter half of 1959.
The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1950s. Artists Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell and Elvis Presley were the most successful acts of the decade in terms of number-one singles, each having four singles reach the top of the chart.[nb 1] In total, Laine spent 32 weeks occupying the top of chart in the 1950s; the next highest was Presley who spent a total of 18 weeks at number one.
^ abAlthough The Official Charts Company does not credit Paul Weston as an artist on the singles, Weston was also a contributing artist to four number-one singles in the 1950s.[4]
^The record labels are those given by the OCC.[11]
^There are discrepancies in when a single reached number one prior to 30 August 1969. As of 2010[update] the Official Chart Company website lists all weeks as ending on the Saturday back until 20 March 1960.[12] However, the old Official Chart Company lists chart weeks prior to 5 February 1960 as ending on a Friday.[10]
^ abBoth Frankie Laine's and David Whitfield's version of "Answer Me" were classified jointly as number one on 11 December 1953. In the week before and the week after Laine's version took the number-one spot outright.[13]
Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. ISBN0-7522-0829-2.
Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN1-84449-058-0.
April 09, 2024
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This article is about the chart compiled by New Musical Express For other singles charts compiled in the 1950s see List of UK charts and number one singles 1952 1969 The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom Record charts in the UK began life in 1952 when Percy Dickins from New Musical Express NME imitated an idea started in American Billboard magazine and began compiling a hit parade Prior to this a song s popularity was measured by the sales of sheet music 1 2 Initially Dickins telephoned a sample of around 20 shops asking for a list of the 10 best selling songs These results were then aggregated to give a Top 12 chart published in NME on 14 November 1952 1 2 The number one single was Here in My Heart by Al Martino According to The Official Charts Company and Guinness British Hit Singles amp Albums the NME is considered the official British singles chart before 10 March 1960 3 However until 15 February 1969 when the British Market Research Bureau chart was established there was no universally accepted chart Other charts existed and different artists may have placed at number one in charts by Record Mirror Disc or Melody Maker Alternatively some considered the BBC s Pick of the Pops which averaged all these charts to be a better indicator of the number one single 2 In terms of number one singles Frankie Laine Guy Mitchell and Elvis Presley were the most successful artists of the 1950s having four singles reach the top spot nb 1 The longest duration of a single at number one was eighteen weeks achieved by Frankie Laine s I Believe I Believe still holds the record for the most non consecutive weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart 5 Although official music recording sales certifications were not introduced until the British Phonographic Industry was formed in 1973 Disc introduced an initiative in 1959 to present a gold disc to records that sold over one million units 6 Prior to that it is believed that the three best selling records of the decade Bill Haley amp His Comets Rock Around the Clock Paul Anka s Diana and Harry Belafonte s Mary s Boy Child all sold over one million copies 7 8 9 Contents 1 Number one singles 2 By artist 3 By record label 4 Notes 5 ReferencesNumber one singles edit nbsp Elvis Presley in a publicity photo for Jailhouse Rock which was the best selling single of 1958 Presley had three other number ones in the 1950s nbsp Al Martino s Here in My Heart was the first ever number one single and held the top spot for nine weeks nbsp Bill Haley amp His Comets had the biggest selling single of the decade with Rock Around the Clock nbsp Doris Day had two number one singles in the 1950s one of which Secret Love was the best selling record of 1954 nbsp Cliff Richard achieved his first two number one singles in the latter half of 1959 Key Best selling single of the year 7 Best selling single of the decade nb The song spent a week at number one where it shared the top spot with another song Contents195219531954195519561957195819591960s No Artist nb 2 Single nb 2 Record label nb 3 Week starting date nb 2 nb 4 Weeks atnumber one nb 2 19521 Al Martino Here in My Heart Capitol 14 November 1952 919532 Jo Stafford You Belong to Me Columbia 16 January 1953 13 Kay Starr Comes A Long A Love Capitol 23 January 1953 14 Eddie Fisher Outside of Heaven HMV 30 January 1953 15 Perry Como Don t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes HMV 6 February 1953 56 Guy Mitchell She Wears Red Feathers Columbia 13 March 1953 47 The Stargazers Broken Wings Decca 10 April 1953 18 Lita Roza How Much Is That Doggie in the Window Decca 17 April 1953 19 Frankie Laine I Believe Philips 24 April 1953 910 Eddie Fisher with Sally Sweetland I m Walking Behind You HMV 26 June 1953 1re Frankie Laine I Believe Philips 3 July 1953 611 Mantovani The Song from Moulin Rouge Decca 14 August 1953 1re Frankie Laine I Believe Philips 21 August 1953 312 Guy Mitchell Look at That Girl Philips 11 September 1953 613 Frankie Laine Hey Joe Philips 23 October 1953 214 David Whitfield Answer Me Decca 6 November 1953 115 Frankie Laine Answer Me Philips 13 November 1953 7 5 nb 5 8 nb 5 re David Whitfield Answer Me Decca 11 December 1953 0 5 nb 5 1 nb 5 195416 Eddie Calvert Oh Mein Papa Columbia 8 January 1954 917 The Stargazers I See the Moon Decca 12 March 1954 518 Doris Day Secret Love Philips 16 April 1954 1re The Stargazers I See the Moon Decca 23 April 1954 119 Johnnie Ray Such a Night Philips 30 April 1954 1re Doris Day Secret Love Philips 7 May 1954 820 David Whitfield with Mantovani and his Orchestra Cara Mia Decca 2 July 1954 9 1021 Kitty Kallen Little Things Mean a Lot Brunswick 10 September 1954 122 Frank Sinatra Three Coins in the Fountain Capitol 17 September 1954 323 Don Cornell Hold My Hand Vogue 8 October 1954 424 Vera Lynn My Son My Son Decca 5 November 1954 2re Don Cornell Hold My Hand Vogue 19 November 1954 125 Rosemary Clooney This Ole House Philips 26 November 1954 126 Winifred Atwell Let s Have Another Party Philips 3 December 1954 5195527 Dickie Valentine with the Stargazers The Finger of Suspicion Decca 7 January 1955 128 Rosemary Clooney Mambo Italiano Philips 14 January 1955 1re Dickie Valentine with the Stargazers The Finger of Suspicion Decca 21 January 1955 2re Rosemary Clooney Mambo Italiano Philips 4 February 1955 229 Ruby Murray Softly Softly Columbia 18 February 1955 330 Tennessee Ernie Ford Give Me Your Word Capitol 11 March 1955 731 Perez Prado and his Orchestra Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White HMV 29 April 1955 232 Tony Bennett Stranger in Paradise Philips 13 May 1955 233 Eddie Calvert Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White Columbia 27 May 1955 434 Jimmy Young Unchained Melody Decca 24 June 1955 335 Alma Cogan Dreamboat HMV 15 July 1955 236 Slim Whitman Rose Marie London 29 July 1955 1137 Jimmy Young The Man from Laramie Decca 14 October 1955 438 The Johnston Brothers Hernando s Hideaway Decca 11 November 1955 239 Bill Haley amp His Comets Rock Around the Clock Brunswick 25 November 1955 340 Dickie Valentine Christmas Alphabet Decca 16 December 1955 31956re Bill Haley amp His Comets Rock Around the Clock Brunswick 6 January 1956 241 Tennessee Ernie Ford Sixteen Tons Capitol 20 January 1956 442 Dean Martin Memories Are Made of This Capitol 17 February 1956 443 The Dream Weavers It s Almost Tomorrow Brunswick 16 March 1956 244 Kay Starr Rock and Roll Waltz HMV 30 March 1956 1re The Dream Weavers It s Almost Tomorrow Brunswick 6 April 1956 145 Winifred Atwell The Poor People of Paris Decca 13 April 1956 346 Ronnie Hilton No Other Love HMV 4 May 1956 647 Pat Boone I ll Be Home London 15 June 1956 548 The Teenagers Why Do Fools Fall in Love Columbia 20 July 1956 349 Doris Day Whatever Will Be Will Be Que Sera Sera Philips 10 August 1956 650 Anne Shelton Lay Down Your Arms Philips 21 September 1956 451 Frankie Laine A Woman in Love Philips 19 October 1956 452 Johnnie Ray Just Walking in the Rain Philips 16 November 1956 7195753 Guy Mitchell Singing the Blues Philips 4 January 1957 154 Tommy Steele Singing the Blues Decca 11 January 1957 1re Guy Mitchell Singing the Blues Philips 18 January 1957 155 Frankie Vaughan The Garden of Eden Philips 25 January 1957 3 5 nb 6 4 nb 6 re Guy Mitchell Singing the Blues Philips 1 February 1957 0 5 nb 6 1 nb 6 56 Tab Hunter Young Love London 22 February 1957 757 Lonnie Donegan Cumberland Gap Pye Nixa 12 April 1957 558 Guy Mitchell Rock a Billy Philips 17 May 1957 159 Andy Williams Butterfly London 24 May 1957 260 Johnnie Ray Yes Tonight Josephine Philips 7 June 1957 361 Lonnie Donegan Gamblin Man Puttin On the Style Pye Nixa 28 June 1957 262 Elvis Presley All Shook Up RCA 12 July 1957 763 Paul Anka Diana Columbia 30 August 1957 964 The Crickets That ll Be the Day Vogue Coral 1 November 1957 365 Harry Belafonte Mary s Boy Child RCA 22 November 1957 7195866 Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls of Fire London 10 January 1958 267 Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock RCA 24 January 1958 368 Michael Holliday The Story of My Life Columbia 14 February 1958 269 Perry Como Magic Moments RCA 28 February 1958 870 Marvin Rainwater Whole Lotta Woman MGM 25 April 1958 371 Connie Francis Who s Sorry Now MGM 16 May 1958 672 Vic Damone On the Street Where You Live Philips 27 June 1958 1 5 nb 7 2 nb 7 73 The Everly Brothers All I Have to Do Is Dream Claudette London 4 July 1958 6 5 nb 7 7 nb 7 74 The Kalin Twins When Brunswick 22 August 1958 575 Connie Francis Stupid Cupid Carolina Moon MGM 26 September 1958 676 Tommy Edwards It s All in the Game MGM 7 November 1958 377 Lord Rockingham s XI Hoots Mon Decca 28 November 1958 378 Conway Twitty It s Only Make Believe MGM 19 December 1958 5195979 Jane Morgan The Day the Rains Came London 23 January 1959 180 Elvis Presley One Night I Got Stung RCA 30 January 1959 381 Shirley Bassey As I Love You Columbia 20 February 1959 482 The Platters Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Mercury 20 March 1959 183 Russ Conway Side Saddle Columbia 27 March 1959 484 Buddy Holly It Doesn t Matter Anymore Coral 24 April 1959 385 Elvis Presley A Fool Such as I I Need Your Love Tonight RCA 15 May 1959 586 Russ Conway Roulette Columbia 19 June 1959 287 Bobby Darin Dream Lover London 3 July 1959 488 Cliff Richard and the Drifters Living Doll Columbia 31 July 1959 689 Craig Douglas Only Sixteen Top Rank 11 September 1959 490 Jerry Keller Here Comes Summer London 9 October 1959 191 Bobby Darin Mack the Knife London 16 October 1959 292 Cliff Richard and the Shadows Travellin Light Columbia 30 October 1959 593 Adam Faith What Do You Want Parlophone 4 December 1959 2 5 nb 8 3 nb 8 94 Emile Ford and the Checkmates What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For Pye 18 December 1959 5 5 nb 8 6 nb 8 Contents195219531954195519561957195819591960s By artist editThe following artists achieved three or more number one hits during the 1950s Artists Frankie Laine Guy Mitchell and Elvis Presley were the most successful acts of the decade in terms of number one singles each having four singles reach the top of the chart nb 1 In total Laine spent 32 weeks occupying the top of chart in the 1950s the next highest was Presley who spent a total of 18 weeks at number one Artist Number ones Weeks atnumber oneFrankie Laine 4 32Elvis Presley 4 18Guy Mitchell 4 14Johnnie Ray 3 11The Stargazers 3 10By record label editThe following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1950s Record label Number onesPhilips 19Decca 15Columbia 13London 10HMV 7Capitol 6RCA 6MGM 5Notes edit a b Although The Official Charts Company does not credit Paul Weston as an artist on the singles Weston was also a contributing artist to four number one singles in the 1950s 4 a b c d The artist song name date of number one and its consecutive duration are those given by The Official Charts Company 10 The record labels are those given by the OCC 11 There are discrepancies in when a single reached number one prior to 30 August 1969 As of 2010 update the Official Chart Company website lists all weeks as ending on the Saturday back until 20 March 1960 12 However the old Official Chart Company lists chart weeks prior to 5 February 1960 as ending on a Friday 10 a b Both Frankie Laine s and David Whitfield s version of Answer Me were classified jointly as number one on 11 December 1953 In the week before and the week after Laine s version took the number one spot outright 13 a b Both Frankie Vaughan s The Garden of Eden and Guy Mitchell s Singing the Blues were classified jointly as number one on 1 February 1957 Vaughan held the number one spot outright for the week before and the two weeks afterwards 14 a b Both Vic Damone s On the Street Where You Live and The Everly Brothers s All I Have to Do Is Dream were classified jointly as number one on 4 July 1958 For the following six weeks All I Have to Do Is Dream claimed the number one spot outright 15 a b Both Adam Faith s What Do You Want and Emile Ford and the Checkmates What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For were classified jointly as number one on 18 December 1959 For the following five weeks What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For claimed the number one spot outright 16 References editFootnotes a b Williams Mark 19 February 2002 Obituary Percy Dickins The Guardian Retrieved 22 July 2010 a b c Smith Alan 50s amp 60s UK Charts The Truth Dave McAleer s website Archived from the original on 3 September 2011 Retrieved 4 November 2010 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 Warwick Kutner amp Brown 2004 pp 1 4 Most Weeks at No 1 Singles The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 29 September 2007 Retrieved 26 July 2010 Smith Alan UK First Charts amp Silver Discs Dave McAleer s website Archived from the original on 2 September 2011 Retrieved 4 November 2010 a b The biggest song of every year revealed Official Charts Company 9 January 2016 Retrieved 23 March 2018 Stats and Facts Million Sellers The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 16 April 2008 Retrieved 19 July 2010 Million Selling Singles everyHit Retrieved 12 June 2010 a b Number 1 Singles 1950s The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 5 April 2008 Retrieved 19 July 2010 Artist Chart History London Official Charts Company 2010 Archived from the original on 3 September 2011 Retrieved 6 August 2011 All the Number One Singles The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 17 July 2010 Retrieved 19 July 2010 All the No 1 s David Whitfield Answer Me The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 8 January 2008 Retrieved 22 July 2010 Rees Lazell amp Osborne 1995 pp 43 44 All the No 1 s Vic Damone On The Street Where You Live The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 8 January 2008 Retrieved 22 July 2010 All the No 1 s Adam Faith What Do You Want The Official Charts Company Archived from the original on 8 January 2008 Retrieved 22 July 2010 SourcesRees 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1950s amp oldid 1217661890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
