60 Years of the UK Charts, What is your Favourite No1?

Paul@HiFi-Lounge

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Sep 24, 2012
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Hi Guys,

Just heard on the radio that today marks the 60th anniversary of the first recording of single sales in the UK which got me thinking what my favourite UK number one in that period was and what others thought and what stories you have related to it.

Apparently there have been 1200 Number ones in the last 60 years so we have loads of choice, although I probably couldn't name anything in the last 20 years if I'm honest, I guess really I would love to say something like Bowies 'Space Oddity' or Queens 'Bohemian Rhapsody' but they were a little before my time. When I was 9 I remember the impact Elvis's death had on the world and 'Way Down' going to number one which sparked my love of music and my first vinyl purchase but if I'm totally honest being an teenager in the 80's was a great time, especially the first half of the decade so I have to admit, although I'm sure there will be far cooler songs mentioned the No1 that I will always remember and the excitement it caused is -

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (1984)

I'll never forget the day it was knocked of the No1 spot by Nena's '99 Red Balloons' what a travesty, But Relax really seemed to get people excited, it didn't hurt with Mike Reid banning it I guess which seems crazy today, and I became a big Frankie fan collecting all their vinyl from around the world, even today I can't resist yet another greatest hits release purchase.

I found this website that lists all the No1's if anyone would like a look, is anyone going to mention Benny Hills 'Ernie' :)

http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/
 

Xanderzdad

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Jun 25, 2008
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Hi Paul

It's rare that a No 1 song is enjoyed by me as they are normally a lot of 'mass market' blandness but I have to confess to loving FGTH and Relax. As you said, Mike Reid gave them a massive boost! An excellent choice for one of the more memorable No 1's.

I'm off to look at http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/ for any others. :cheers:
 

The_Lhc

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Oct 16, 2008
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Xanderzdad said:
It's rare that a No 1 song is enjoyed by me as they are normally a lot of 'mass market' blandness but I have to confess to loving FGTH and Relax. As you said, Mike Reid gave them a massive boost!

Was this before or after he was in Eastenders, I can never remember?

My favourite Number 1 is probably Vienna by Ultravox...
 
The_Lhc said:
Xanderzdad said:
My favourite Number 1 is probably Vienna by Ultravox...

Although why anyone would want to write a song about Rigsby's cat is beyond me... "Miss Jones!"

The Jam's 'Beat Surrender' was their third and last single to enter the charts at #1. It was grim time for me musically, after hearing, on 'The Tube' with Jools and Paula, that Weller was splitting up the band. They performed 'Precious', the AA single with 'Town Called Malice'. Other than that my favourite number one is erm...erm...erm...
 

MajorFubar

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The_Lhc said:
My favourite Number 1 is probably Vienna by Ultravox...
Ah yes, one of those famous "number 1s which never happened", well not in the UK anyway. The highest it ever got in the UK was no. 2, being kept off the top spot by John Lennon (Woman) and Joe Dolce (Shaddap You Face).
 

The_Lhc

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Oct 16, 2008
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MajorFubar said:
The_Lhc said:
My favourite Number 1 is probably Vienna by Ultravox...
Ah yes, one of those famous "number 1s which never happened", well not in the UK anyway. The highest it ever got in the UK was no. 2, being kept off the top spot by John Lennon (Woman) and Joe Dolce (Shaddap You Face).

Wadda mistak-a to make-a! You'd really think I'd have known that already wouldn't you...?
 

MajorFubar

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biggest irony is it went on to sell more singles than the pair of them and was the 5th best-selling single of 1981. I bought three singles from the same branch of Woolworths one cold winter weekend in January 1981: In The Air Tonight, Vienna and Shaddap You Face. So they can't blame me for keeping it off the number 1 spot.
 

Andrew Everard

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The_Lhc said:
Wadda mistak-a to make-a! You'd really think I'd have known that already wouldn't you...?

Are you channeling

marxc2a.jpg


or

bertorelli.jpg


?
 

DIB

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May 21, 2009
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Though not a number 1, everyone knows that in reality God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols was the top selling single at that time. The powers that be made damn sure it never officially reached the top spot in Jubilee week to save embarrassment etc.

Thats my pick.

.
 

Ravey Gravey Davy

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Apr 28, 2008
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DIB said:
Though not a number 1, everyone knows that in reality God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols was the top selling single at that time. The powers that be made damn sure it never officially reached the top spot in Jubilee week to save embarrassment etc.

Thats my pick.
I had you down for a "Whiter Shade of Pale" man.
 

DIB

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May 21, 2009
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Ravey Gravey Davy said:
DIB said:
Though not a number 1, everyone knows that in reality God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols was the top selling single at that time. The powers that be made damn sure it never officially reached the top spot in Jubilee week to save embarrassment etc.

Thats my pick.
I had you down for a "Whiter Shade of Pale" man.

Thats No 2 on my list
smiley-laughing.gif


No when the Pistols came out I got caught up in all the punk/new wave scene as a spotty 19 year old and had a ball for a couple of years, only listening to my Tull albums in secret
smiley-embarassed.gif


.
 

Ravey Gravey Davy

Well-known member
Apr 28, 2008
225
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DIB said:
Ravey Gravey Davy said:
DIB said:
Though not a number 1, everyone knows that in reality God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols was the top selling single at that time. The powers that be made damn sure it never officially reached the top spot in Jubilee week to save embarrassment etc.

Thats my pick.
I had you down for a "Whiter Shade of Pale" man.

Thats No 2 on my list
smiley-laughing.gif


No when the Pistols came out I got caught up in all the punk/new wave scene as a spotty 19 year old and had a ball for a couple of years, only listening to my Tull albums in secret
smiley-embarassed.gif
Never mind the balls...
 

Sizzers

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Jun 20, 2008
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I don’t necessarily know about it being my favourite, but the first number one which had the biggest impact in my life is “The Legend of Xanadu” by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.

Oooh, those whips! (and I was nine at the time!!), and I’ve just discovered it’s on Spotify…..mmmm, memories.
 

chip47

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May 14, 2012
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Joe Dolce (Shaddap You Face)

Not one of our best exports to the Uk nearly as a bad as Fosters!!!!
 

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