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)
Artist
Title
Label
Peak
WoC
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