List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1980s

UK Singles Chart number ones
UK Singles Chart
Official Charts Company
Christmas number one

The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. Until 1983, it was compiled weekly by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) on behalf of the British record industry with a two-week break each Christmas.[1] The BMRB used motorcycle couriers to collect the sales figures taken up to the close of trade on Saturday. This 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 Music Week.[1] On 4 January 1983, the chart was taken over by Gallup who expanded the chart from the Top 75 to the Top 100[2] and began the introduction of computerised tills which automated the data collection process.[1][2] 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.[3]

During the 1980s there were a total of 191 singles which took the UK chart number 1 spot.[4] In terms of number-one singles, Madonna was the most successful single act of the decade, as six of her singles reached the top spot. George Michael had significant involvement with seven number-one singles; with two number-one singles as a solo artist, four as a member of pop duo Wham!, and one as a duet with Aretha Franklin. The longest duration of a single at number one was nine weeks, achieved by Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" in 1984.[5]

The best-selling single of the decade was "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, selling over 3.5 million copies, and passing "Mull of Kintyre" by Wings' to become the best-selling single ever.[6] "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is currently the second best-selling song after "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John.[7]

The 1980s saw the introduction of the cassette single (or "cassingle") alongside the 7-inch and 12-inch record formats and in 1987 major record labels developed a common format for the CD single.[8] For the chart week ending 3 May 1989, chart regulations confined Kylie Minogue's song "Hand on Your Heart" to number two. Minogue would have reached number one if sales from cassette singles were included but they were sold for £1.99 – cheaper than was allowed at the time. Following the debacle the British Phonographic Industry reduced the minimum price for cassette singles to become eligible towards sales figures.[9]

Number-one singles

The Jam managed four number ones during the 1980s, two in 1980 and two in 1982.
In 1980, ABBA had two number ones and their last being Super Trouper.
John Lennon was murdered in 1980 and his song, "Imagine", reached number one posthumously.[10]
During the 1980s, Michael Jackson had number-one singles with "One Day in Your Life", "Billie Jean" and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You".
Bucks Fizz scored three number-one singles during the 1980s.
During the 1980s, Culture Club had two number ones, including the best-selling single of 1983, "Karma Chameleon".
George Michael was one of the most successful artists of the 1980s, with two number-one singles as a solo artist, four with Wham! and one as a duet with Aretha Franklin.
Bob Geldof co-wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which was the biggest-selling single of the decade.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood had three consecutive singles reach number one, of which two, "Relax" and "Two Tribes", sold over one million copies.
In 1985, Jennifer Rush was the first solo female to have a single sell over a million copies.
The 1980s saw the beginning of Madonna's music career, where she scored six number ones, her first being "Into the Groove" in 1985.
During the 1980s, the Pet Shop Boys gained four number ones, "West End Girls", "It's a Sin", "Always on My Mind" and "Heart".
Mel and Kim were the only British girl group to achieve a number one during the 1980s.
In 1988, Kylie Minogue went to number one with her debut single "I Should Be So Lucky", and achieved three more number ones, including as a part of Band Aid II.
Key
Best-selling single of the year[11]
Best-selling single of the decade[11]
* Indicates a single that did not reach number one in the NME singles chart, which was compiled separately until 4 May 1988
Contents
No. Artist[nb 1] Single[nb 1] Week ending date[nb 1] Weeks at
number one[nb 1]
1980
448 Pink Floyd"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" 15 December 19795
449 Pretenders"Brass in Pocket" 19 January 19802
450 The Special A.K.A. feat. Rico The Special A.K.A. Live![nb 2] 2 February 19802
451 Rogers, KennyKenny Rogers"Coward of the County" 16 February 19802
452 Blondie"Atomic" 1 March 19802
453 Kinney, FernFern Kinney"Together We Are Beautiful" 15 March 19801
454 The Jam"Going Underground" / "Dreams of Children" 22 March 19803
455 Detroit Spinners"Working My Way Back to You – Forgive Me Girl" * 12 April 19802
456 Blondie"Call Me" 26 April 19801
457 Dexys Midnight Runners"Geno" 3 May 19802
458 Logan, JohnnyJohnny Logan"What's Another Year" 17 May 19802
459 The Mash"Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)" 31 May 19803
460 McLean, DonDon McLean"Crying" 21 June 19803
461 Newton-John, OliviaOlivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra"Xanadu" 12 July 19802
462 Odyssey"Use It Up and Wear It Out" 26 July 19802
463 ABBA"Winner Takes It All, TheThe Winner Takes It All" 9 August 19802
464 Bowie, DavidDavid Bowie"Ashes to Ashes" 23 August 19802
465 The Jam"Start!" 6 September 19801
466 Marie, KellyKelly Marie"Feels Like I'm in Love" * 13 September 19802
467 The Police"Don't Stand So Close to Me" † 27 September 19804
468 Streisand, BarbraBarbra Streisand"Woman in Love" 25 October 19803
469 Blondie"Tide Is High, TheThe Tide Is High" 15 November 19802
470 ABBA"Super Trouper" 29 November 19803
471 Lennon, JohnJohn Lennon"(Just Like) Starting Over" 20 December 19801
472 St Winifred's School Choir"There's No One Quite Like Grandma" * 27 December 19802
1981
473 Lennon, JohnJohn Lennon"Imagine" 10 January 19814
474 Lennon, JohnJohn Lennon"Woman" * 7 February 19812
475 Joe Dolce Music Theatre"Shaddap You Face" 21 February 19813
476 Roxy Music"Jealous Guy" 14 March 19812
477 Shakin' Stevens "This Ole House" 28 March 19813
478 Bucks Fizz"Making Your Mind Up" 18 April 19813
479 Adam and the Ants"Stand and Deliver" 9 May 19815
480 Robinson, SmokeySmokey Robinson"Being with You" 13 June 19812
481 Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson"One Day In Your Life" 27 June 19812
482 The Specials"Ghost Town" 11 July 19813
483 Shakin' Stevens"Green Door" 1 August 19814
484 Aneka"Japanese Boy" 29 August 19811
485 Soft Cell"Tainted Love" † 5 September 19812
486 Adam and the Ants"Prince Charming" 19 September 19814
487 Stewart, DaveDave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin"It's My Party" 17 October 19814
488 The Police"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" 14 November 19811
489 Queen and David Bowie"Under Pressure" 21 November 19812
490 Iglesias, JulioJulio Iglesias"Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)" 5 December 19811
491 The Human League"Don't You Want Me" 12 December 19815
1982
492 Bucks Fizz"Land of Make Believe, TheThe Land of Make Believe" 16 January 19822
493 Shakin' Stevens"Oh Julie" * 30 January 19821
494 Kraftwerk "Computer Love" / "The Model" 6 February 19821
495 The Jam"Town Called Malice" / "Precious" 13 February 19823
496 Tight Fit"Lion Sleeps Tonight, TheThe Lion Sleeps Tonight" 6 March 19823
497 Goombay Dance Band"Seven Tears" 27 March 19823
498 Bucks Fizz"My Camera Never Lies" 17 April 19821
499 McCartney, PaulPaul McCartney and Stevie Wonder "Ebony and Ivory" 24 April 19823
500 Nicole"Little Peace, AA Little Peace" 15 May 19822
501 Madness"House of Fun" 29 May 19822
502 Ant, AdamAdam Ant"Goody Two Shoes" 12 June 19822
503 Charlene"I've Never Been to Me" 26 June 19821
504 Captain Sensible"Happy Talk" 3 July 19822
505 Cara, IreneIrene Cara"Fame" 17 July 19823
506 Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express "Come On Eileen" † 7 August 19824
507 Survivor"Eye of the Tiger" 4 September 19824
508 Musical Youth"Pass the Dutchie" 2 October 19823
509 Culture Club"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" 23 October 19823
510 Grant, EddyEddy Grant"I Don't Wanna Dance" 13 November 19823
511 The Jam"Beat Surrender" 4 December 19822
512 Renée and Renato"Save Your Love" 18 December 19824
1983
513 Collins, PhilPhil Collins"You Can't Hurry Love" 15 January 19832
514 Men at Work"Down Under" 29 January 19833
515 Kajagoogoo"Too Shy" 19 February 19832
516 Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson"Billie Jean" 5 March 19831
517 Tyler, BonnieBonnie Tyler"Total Eclipse of the Heart" 12 March 19832
518 Duran Duran"Is There Something I Should Know?" 26 March 19832
519 Bowie, DavidDavid Bowie"Let's Dance" 9 April 19833
520 Spandau Ballet"True" 30 April 19834
521 New Edition"Candy Girl" 28 May 19831
522 The Police"Every Breath You Take" 4 June 19834
523 Stewart, RodRod Stewart"Baby Jane" 2 July 19833
524 Young, PaulPaul Young"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" 23 July 19833
525 KC and the Sunshine Band"Give It Up" 13 August 19833
526 UB40"Red Red Wine" 3 September 19833
527 Culture Club"Karma Chameleon" † 24 September 19836
528 Joel, BillyBilly Joel"Uptown Girl" 5 November 19835
529 The Flying Pickets"Only You" 10 December 19835
1984
530 McCartney, PaulPaul McCartney"Pipes of Peace" 14 January 19842
531 Frankie Goes to Hollywood"Relax" 28 January 19845
532 Nena"99 Red Balloons" 3 March 19843
533 Richie, LionelLionel Richie"Hello" 24 March 19846
534 Duran Duran"Reflex, TheThe Reflex" 5 May 19844
535 Wham!"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 2 June 19842
536 Frankie Goes to Hollywood"Two Tribes" 16 June 19849
537 Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael"Careless Whisper" 18 August 19843
538 Wonder, StevieStevie Wonder"I Just Called to Say I Love You" 8 September 19846
539 Wham!"Freedom" 20 October 19843
540 Khan, ChakaChaka Khan"I Feel for You" 10 November 19843
541 Diamond, JimJim Diamond"I Should Have Known Better" 1 December 19841
542 Frankie Goes to Hollywood"Power of Love, TheThe Power of Love" * 8 December 19841
543 Band Aid"Do They Know It's Christmas?" ‡ 15 December 19845
1985
544 Foreigner "I Want to Know What Love Is" 19 January 19853
545 Paige, ElaineElaine Paige and Barbara Dickson"I Know Him So Well" 9 February 19854
546 Dead or Alive"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" 9 March 19852
547 Bailey, PhilipPhilip Bailey (duet with Phil Collins)"Easy Lover" 23 March 19854
548 USA for Africa"We Are the World" * 20 April 19852
549 Nelson, PhyllisPhyllis Nelson"Move Closer" 4 May 19851
550 Hardcastle, PaulPaul Hardcastle"19" 11 May 19855
551 The Crowd"You'll Never Walk Alone" 15 June 19852
552 Sister Sledge"Frankie" 29 June 19854
553 Eurythmics"There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" 27 July 19851
554 Madonna"Into the Groove" 3 August 19854
555 UB40 and Chrissie Hynde"I Got You Babe" 31 August 19851
556 Bowie, DavidDavid Bowie and Mick Jagger"Dancing in the Street" 7 September 19854
557 Ure, MidgeMidge Ure"If I Was" 5 October 19851
558 Rush, JenniferJennifer Rush"Power of Love, TheThe Power of Love" † 12 October 19855
559 Sharkey, FeargalFeargal Sharkey"Good Heart, AA Good Heart" 16 November 19852
560 Wham!"I'm Your Man" 30 November 19852
561 Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston"Saving All My Love for You" 14 December 19852
562 Shakin' Stevens"Merry Christmas Everyone" * 28 December 19852
1986
563 Pet Shop Boys"West End Girls" 11 January 19862
564 a-ha"Sun Always Shines on T.V., TheThe Sun Always Shines on T.V." 25 January 19862
565 Ocean, BillyBilly Ocean"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going" 8 February 19864
566 Ross, DianaDiana Ross"Chain Reaction" 8 March 19863
567 Richard, CliffCliff Richard and The Young Ones"Living Doll" 29 March 19863
568 Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael"Different Corner, AA Different Corner" 19 April 19863
569 Falco"Rock Me Amadeus" 10 May 19861
570 Spitting Image"Chicken Song, TheThe Chicken Song" 17 May 19863
571 Doctor and the Medics"Spirit in the Sky" 7 June 19863
572 Wham!"Edge of Heaven, TheThe Edge of Heaven" 28 June 19862
573 Madonna"Papa Don't Preach" 12 July 19863
574 de Burgh, ChrisChris de Burgh"Lady in Red, TheThe Lady in Red" 2 August 19863
575 Gardiner, BorisBoris Gardiner"I Want to Wake Up with You" 23 August 19863
576 The Communards"Don't Leave Me This Way" † 13 September 19864
577 Madonna"True Blue" 11 October 19861
578 Berry, NickNick Berry"Every Loser Wins" 18 October 19863
579 Berlin"Take My Breath Away (Love Theme from Top Gun)" 8 November 19864
580 Europe"Final Countdown, TheThe Final Countdown" 6 December 19862
581 The Housemartins"Caravan of Love" 20 December 19861
582 Wilson, JackieJackie Wilson"Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)" 27 December 19864
1987
583 Hurley, Steve "Silk"Steve "Silk" Hurley"Jack Your Body" * [nb 3] 24 January 19872
584 Franklin, ArethaAretha Franklin and George Michael"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" 7 February 19872
585 King, Ben E.Ben E. King"Stand by Me" 21 February 19873
586 George, BoyBoy George"Everything I Own" 14 March 19872
587 Mel and Kim"Respectable" 28 March 19871
588 Ferry Aid"Let It Be" 4 April 19873
589 Madonna"La Isla Bonita" 25 April 19872
590 Starship"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" 9 May 19874
591 Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" 6 June 19872
592 The Firm"Star Trekkin'" 20 June 19872
593 Pet Shop Boys"It's a Sin" 4 July 19873
594 Madonna"Who's That Girl" 25 July 19871
595 Los Lobos"La Bamba" 1 August 19872
596 Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson and Siedah Garrett"I Just Can't Stop Loving You" 15 August 19872
597 Astley, RickRick Astley"Never Gonna Give You Up" † 29 August 19875
598 MARRS"Pump Up the Volume" / "Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)" 3 October 19872
599 Bee Gees"You Win Again" 17 October 19874
600 T'Pau"China in Your Hand" 14 November 19875
601 Pet Shop Boys"Always on My Mind" 19 December 19874
1988
602 Carlisle, BelindaBelinda Carlisle"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" 16 January 19882
603 Tiffany"I Think We're Alone Now" 30 January 19883
604 Minogue, KylieKylie Minogue"I Should Be So Lucky" 20 February 19885
605 Aswad"Don't Turn Around" 26 March 19882
606 Pet Shop Boys"Heart" 9 April 19883
607 S-Express"Theme from S-Express" 30 April 19882
608 Fairground Attraction"Perfect" 14 May 19881
609 Wet Wet Wet
Billy Bragg and Cara Tivey
"With a Little Help from My Friends"
"She's Leaving Home"
21 May 19884
610 The Timelords"Doctorin' the Tardis" 18 June 19881
611 Bros"I Owe You Nothing" 25 June 19882
612 Medeiros, GlennGlenn Medeiros"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" 9 July 19884
613 Yazz and the Plastic Population"Only Way Is Up, TheThe Only Way Is Up" 6 August 19885
614 Collins, PhilPhil Collins"Groovy Kind of Love, AA Groovy Kind of Love" 10 September 19882
615 The Hollies"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" 24 September 19882
616 U2"Desire" 8 October 19881
617 Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston"One Moment in Time" 15 October 19882
618 Enya"Orinoco Flow" 29 October 19883
619 Beck, RobinRobin Beck"First Time" 19 November 19883
620 Richard, CliffCliff Richard"Mistletoe and Wine" † 10 December 19884
1989
621 Minogue, KylieKylie Minogue and Jason Donovan"Especially for You" 7 January 19893
622 Almond, MarcMarc Almond feat. Gene Pitney"Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" 28 January 19894
623 Simple Minds"Belfast Child" 25 February 19892
624 Donovan, JasonJason Donovan"Too Many Broken Hearts" 11 March 19892
625 Madonna"Like a Prayer" 25 March 19893
626 The Bangles"Eternal Flame" 15 April 19894
627 Minogue, KylieKylie Minogue"Hand on Your Heart" 13 May 19891
628 The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman"Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" 20 May 19893
629 Donovan, JasonJason Donovan"Sealed with a Kiss" 10 June 19892
630 Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" 24 June 19894
631 Sonia"You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" 22 July 19892
632 Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers"Swing the Mood" 5 August 19895
633 Black Box"Ride On Time" † 9 September 19896
634 Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers"That's What I Like" 21 October 19893
635 Stansfield, LisaLisa Stansfield"All Around the World" 11 November 19892
636 New Kids on the Block"You Got It (The Right Stuff)" 25 November 19893
637 Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers"Let's Party" 16 December 19891
638 Band Aid II"Do They Know It's Christmas?" 23 December 19893

By artist

American entertainer Madonna was the most successful act of the decade in terms of number-one singles. She had six number ones: "Into the Groove" (1985); "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue" (both 1986); "La Isla Bonita", "Who's That Girl" (both 1987); and "Like a Prayer" (1989). George Michael had significant involvement with seven number-one singles; he was also involved with Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" but his contribution was less significant. He had two number-one singles as a solo artist, four as a member of pop duo Wham!, and one as a duet with Aretha Franklin. The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1980s.

Artist Number ones Weeks at
number one
Madonna 6 14
Pet Shop Boys 4 12
Bowie, DavidDavid Bowie 4 11
Shakin' Stevens 4 10
The Jam 4 9
Wham! 4 9
Frankie Goes to Hollywood 3 15
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers 3 9
Minogue, KylieKylie Minogue 3 9
The Police 3 9
Collins, PhilPhil Collins 3 8
McCartney, PaulPaul McCartney 3 8
Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael 3 8
Donovan, JasonJason Donovan 3 7
Lennon, JohnJohn Lennon 3 7
Bucks Fizz 3 6
Houston, WhitneyWhitney Houston 3 6
Blondie 3 5
Jackson, MichaelMichael Jackson 3 5

Million-selling and platinum records

The British Phonographic Industry classified singles and albums since 1973 by the number of units sold, with the highest threshold being a "platinum record". Before 1989, a platinum record was given to singles that sold over 1,000,000 units, a gold record for 500,000 unit sales and a silver record for 250,000.[26] For singles released after 1 January 1989, the number of sales required to qualify for platinum, gold and silver records was dropped to 600,000 units (platinum), 400,000 units (gold) and 200,000 units (silver).[26][27][28] Fifteen records were classified platinum in the 1980s.[29] These include two songs from the 1970s that were classified platinum in the 1980s: Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", released in 1973, re-entered the charts and was classified platinum in 1980 and sold over one million copies in 1985. Pink Floyd's 1979 release "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" was classified platinum at the beginning of 1980 and, although certified as selling 0.995 million units, is believed to have surpassed a million copies in the 1980s when sales not "over-the-counter" are included.[30][31]

In the 1980s, twelve songs were released that were classified platinum in the decade; eleven of these also sold one million units in that time.[30] The double A-side, "Last Christmas" / "Everything She Wants" by Wham!, is notable for being the only million-selling single of the decade not to reach number one due to Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? being released at the same time.[32] In addition, a new version of Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid II was released in December 1989 and was classified platinum in 1990 and John Lennon's "Imagine" (originally released in 1975), reached number one in 1981 following his death and sold over a million copies.[10][30]

Twelve other songs originally released in the 1980s have since sold one million units, eleven of them following the introduction of music downloads in 2004.[33][34][35][36][37][38] The other song released in the 1980s to sell a million copies is Blue Monday by New Order which charted in several years during the 80s, but was not listed as a million seller until later.

Artist Song Date released Date certified
platinum
Year of millionth
sale
Lennon, JohnJohn Lennon"Imagine" 1 October 1975 1 February 1981 1981
The Human League "Don't You Want Me" 27 November 1981 1 January 1982 1981
Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express "Come On Eileen" 1 June 1982 1 September 1982 1982
New Order"Blue Monday" [No. 3] 7 March 1983 1983
Culture Club"Karma Chameleon" 6 September 1983 1 October 1983 1983
Frankie Goes to Hollywood"Relax" 1 January 1984 1 March 1984 1984
Frankie Goes to Hollywood"Two Tribes" May 1984 1 June 1984 1984
Michael, GeorgeGeorge Michael"Careless Whisper" 23 July 1984 1 September 1984 1984
Wonder, StevieStevie Wonder"I Just Called to Say I Love You" 17 August 1984 1 September 1984 1984
Band Aid"Do They Know It's Christmas?" 28 November 1984 1 December 1984 1984
Wham!"Last Christmas" / "Everything She Wants"[No. 2] 3 December 1984 1 January 1985 1984
Jennifer Rush"Power of Love, TheThe Power of Love" 28 May 1985 1 November 1985 1985
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers"Swing the Mood" June 1989 1 August 1989
Black Box"Ride On Time" 18 August 1989 1 October 1989 2004–10
Band Aid II"Do They Know It's Christmas?" 11 December 1989 1 April 1990
Adam and the Ants"Stand and Deliver" 1 May 1981 2004–10
Tight Fit"Lion Sleeps Tonight, TheThe Lion Sleeps Tonight" 1 January 1982 2010–12
Cara, IreneIrene Cara "Fame" 1 June 1982 2004–10
Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" 2 July 1982 2004–10
Joel, BillyBilly Joel "Uptown Girl" 30 September 1983 2004–12
Parker, Jr., RayRay Parker, Jr. "Ghostbusters"[No. 2] 17 August 1984 2004–10
The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl "Fairytale of New York"[No. 2] 23 November 1987 2011
UB40"Red Red Wine" 20 August 1983 2014
Journey"Don't Stop Believin'"[No. 62] 1 December 1981 2014
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan"Especially For You" 28 November 1988 2014

Additional information

[No. 2]: The singles "Last Christmas", "Ghostbusters" and "Fairytale of New York" peaked at number two in the UK singles chart.

[No. 3]: "Blue Monday" was originally released as a 12" single in 1983, where it peaked at number 9 in the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released in 7" format in 1988 as "Blue Monday 1988" where it reached a higher peak of number 3. It has also been re-released on other occasions, most notably 1995. New Order's label, Factory Records, were not a member of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) so they never received any sales certifications. However, "Blue Monday" sold more than one million units through combined sales total.

[No. 62]: "Don't Stop Believin'" originally peaked in the UK at number 62 in 1982, but reached number 6 in 2010 following performances on X Factor.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 The artist, song name, week-ending date of number-one and consecutive number of weeks at the top are those given by The Official Charts Company. The dates are those for the Saturday after publication. The actual sales week represented is that up to and including the previous Saturday (i.e. from 13 to 7 days prior to the chart date).[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
  2. This number-one record was not a single but a five-track extended play (EP) with "Too Much Too Young" as the lead track.[22] The rules now require at most four distinct songs to be eligible for the UK Singles Chart.[23] Although the EP is credited to The Special A.K.A. on the record sleeve the record label credits The Specials.[24]
  3. "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.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smith, Alan. "50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!". Dave McAleer's website. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  4. "Project Retro: Every music track which featured in the UK Top 40 singles chart during the 1980s". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. "Project Retro: Every music track which featured in the UK Top 40 singles chart during the 1980s". Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  6. Leadbetter, Russell (17 May 2010). "Macca proves he's no sellout". The Herald. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  7. Lakhani, Nina (7 February 2010). "Charity & the charts: The hits and the misses". The Independent. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  8. Pareles, Jon (2 September 1987). "Cassette Singles: New 45's". The New York Times. p. 21. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  9. Jones, Alan (6 May 1989). "This Week's Charts Analysed" (PDF). Record Mirror: 48.
  10. 1 2 "Singing from beyond the grave". BBC News. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Chart Archive - 1980s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  12. "All the Number One Singles: 1980". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  13. "All the Number One Singles: 1981". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  14. "All the Number One Singles: 1982". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  15. "All the Number One Singles: 1983". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  16. "All the Number One Singles: 1984". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  17. "All the Number One Singles: 1985". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  18. "All the Number One Singles: 1986". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  19. "All the Number One Singles: 1987". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  20. "All the Number One Singles: 1988". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  21. "All the Number One Singles: 1989". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  22. "Too Much Too Young". The Specials. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  23. "Rules For Chart Eligibility" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. August 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  24. "Record Details – The Special A.K.A. Live!". 45cat. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  25. "Record-Breakers and Trivia: Quirks Of The Number One Position". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  26. 1 2 Gallup (4 February 1989). "The Top of the Pops Chart" (PDF). Record Mirror: 4. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  27. "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  28. "International Certification Award levels" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  29. "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
    Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year.
  30. 1 2 3 "Stats and Facts: Million Sellers". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  31. "Million-Selling Singles". everyHit. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  32. "Sold on Song: Last Christmas". BBC Radio 2. April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  33. Jones, Alan (25 December 2011). "Christmas Singles Chart analysis: Military Wives run away with it". Music Week.
  34. Jones, Alan (1 June 2010). "Pendulum and Black Eyed Peas make historic week for sales charts". Music Week.
  35. "Digital generation pushes the oldies into the million-sellers club". Music Week. 6 September 2010.
  36. "Billy Joel". Chart Watch. 8 March 2004. Archived from the original on 30 March 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  37. "Black Box". Chart Watch. 8 March 2004. Archived from the original on 24 March 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  38. Ken Bruce (presenter) (30 August 2010). "UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce". BBC. BBC Radio Two. Missing or empty |series= (help)

Further reading

External links

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