A HISTORICAL RECORD OF THE UK SINGLES CHART IN THE 20TH CENTURY

BIGGEST SELLER FOR EACH YEAR

Note that top sellers between 1952 and 1975 are points-based and not retail sales.
Year(s)ArtistTitleLabelPeakWoC
1952 Al Martino Here In My Heart   ♫ Capitol
1
18
1953 Frankie Laine I Believe   ♫ Philips
1
36
1954 Doris Day Secret Love   ♫ Philips
1
29
1955 Tennessee Ernie Ford Give Me Your Word   ♫ Capitol
1
24
1956 Doris Day Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)   ♫ Philips
1
22
1957 Paul Anka Diana   ♫ Columbia
1
25
1958 The Everly Brothers All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette   ♫ London
1
21
1959 Russ Conway Side Saddle   ♫ Columbia
1
30
1960 The Everly Brothers Cathy's Clown   ♫ Warner Bros
1
18
1961 Elvis Presley Wooden Heart   ♫ RCA
1
27
1962 Frank Ifield I Remember You   ♫ Columbia
1
28
1963 The Beatles She Loves You   ♫ Parlophone
1
31
1964 Jim Reeves I Love You Because   ♫ RCA
5
39
1965 Ken Dodd Tears   ♫ Columbia
1
24
1966 Jim Reeves Distant Drums   ♫ RCA
1
25
1967 Engelbert Humperdinck Release Me   ♫ Decca
1
56
1968 Louis Armstrong What A Wonderful World / Cabaret   ♫ His Master's Voice
1
29
1969 Archies Sugar, Sugar   ♫ RCA
1
26
1970 Elvis Presley The Wonder Of You   ♫ RCA
1
20
1971 George Harrison My Sweet Lord   ♫ Apple
1
17
1972 Pipes And Drums And The Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Amazing Grace   ♫ RCA
1
24
1973 Dawn Ft Tony Orlando Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree   ♫ Bell
1
39
1974 Mud Tiger Feet   ♫ Rak
1
11
1975 Bay City Rollers Bye Bye Baby   ♫ Bell
1
16
1976 Brotherhood Of Man Save Your Kisses For Me   ♫ Pye
1
16
1977 Wings Mull Of Kintyre / Girls' School   ♫ Parlophone
1
17
1978 Boney M Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring   ♫ Hansa
1
40
1979 Art Garfunkel Bright Eyes   ♫ CBS
1
19
1980 The Police Don't Stand So Close To Me   ♫ A&M
1
10
1981 The Human League Don't You Want Me   ♫ Virgin
1
13
1982 Dexy's Midnight Runners With The Emerald Express Come On Eileen   ♫ Mercury
1
17
1983 Culture Club Karma Chameleon   ♫ Virgin
1
20
1984 Band Aid Do They Know It's Christmas?   ♫ Mercury
1
13
1985 Jennifer Rush The Power Of Love   ♫ CBS
1
33
1986 The Communards Don't Leave Me This Way   ♫ London
1
14
1987 Rick Astley Never Gonna Give You Up   ♫ RCA
1
18
1988 Cliff Richard Mistletoe And Wine   ♫ EMI
1
8
1989 Black Box Ride On Time   ♫ Deconstruction
1
22
1990 The Righteous Brothers Unchained Melody (Reissue)   ♫ Verve / Polydor
1
14
1991 Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You   ♫ A&M
1
24
1992 Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You   ♫ Arista
1
23
1993 Meat Loaf I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)   ♫ Virgin
1
19
1994 Wet Wet Wet Love Is All Around   ♫ Precious Organisation
1
43
1995 Robson & Jerome Unchained Melody / White Cliffs Of Dover   ♫ RCA
1
17
1996 Fugees Killing Me Softly   ♫ Columbia
1
20
1997 Elton John Something About The Way You Look Tonight / Candle In The Wind 1997   ♫ Rocket
1
25
1998 Cher Believe   ♫ WEA
1
29
1999 Britney Spears ...Baby One More Time   ♫ Jive
1
23