UK singles chart records and statistics

The UK Singles Chart was first compiled in 1969. However the records and statistics listed here date back to 1952 because the Official Charts Company counts a selected period of the New Musical Express chart (only from 1952 to 1960) and the Record Retailer chart from 1960 to 1969 as predecessors for the period prior to 11 February 1969, where multiples of competing charts coexisted side by side. For example the BBC compiled its own chart based on an average of the music papers of the time; many songs announced as having reached number one on BBC Radio and Top of the Pops prior to 1969 may not be listed here as chart-toppers since they do not meet the legacy criteria of the Charts Company.

Most number ones

See also: List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones

The following is a list of all the acts with 5 or more UK number one songs:
Note 1: Acts with equal total amount of chart toppers ordered chronologically
Note 2: Those denoted with an asterisk (*) reached number one as a featured artist

• 21 – Elvis Presley including 1 as Elvis vs. JXL and 3 re-releases under different catalogue numbers
• 17 – The Beatles including 1 as The Beatles with Billy Preston
• 14 – Cliff Richard including 1 with The Drifters, 6 with The Shadows and 1 with The Young Ones
• 14 – Westlife
• 13 – Madonna including 1 with Justin Timberlake
• 12 – The Shadows including 7 with Cliff Richard (1 as The Drifters)
• 11 – Take That including 1 featuring Lulu
• 9 – ABBA
• 9 – Spice Girls
• 9 - Cheryl Cole*
• 8 – The Rolling Stones
• 8 – Oasis
• 8 – Rihanna*
• 8 – Eminem
• 7 – Kylie Minogue
• 7 – George Michael
• 7 – Michael Jackson
• 7 – Elton John*
• 7 – U2
• 7 – McFly
• 7 – Robbie Williams
• 6 – Slade
• 6 – Rod Stewart
• 6 – Blondie
• 6 – Boyzone
• 6 – Queen
• 6 – Sugababes
• 6 – JLS*
• 6 – Britney Spears*
• 6 - Calvin Harris*
• 5 – The Police
• 5 – David Bowie
• 5 – The Bee Gees
• 5 – All Saints
• 5 – Beyoncé*
• 5 – Dizzee Rascal*
• 5 – The Black Eyed Peas
• 5 – David Guetta*
• 5 – Ne-Yo*
• 5 – Flo Rida*
• 5 – Olly Murs*

Progression of the record

Al Martino was the first act to have a number one single, with "Here In My Heart" in November 1952. Seven months later Eddie Fisher became the first act to have two number one singles, with "I'm Walking Behind You" following "Outside Of Heaven". In November 1953 Frankie Laine scored a third number one single with "Answer Me" and a fourth with "A Woman In Love" in October 1956. In 1960 "It's Now or Never" gave Elvis Presley his fifth number-one single. He broke his own record ten times until June 1965 when "Crying In The Chapel" became his 15th number one. The Beatles then took the record to 17 with "Get Back" and their last number one to date "The Ballad of John and Yoko". After his death in August 1977, Elvis scored a 17th chart topper with "Way Down" to tie.

In 2002, having been used in a Nike World Cup advertisement, a 1968 Elvis song "A Little Less Conversation" was remixed as Elvis vs JXL and went straight to the top for 4 weeks, giving Elvis his 18th number one single. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of his birthday, all of Elvis' 18 number ones were re-issued in 2005. Despite being re-issues, they were given different catalogue numbers and therefore count as separate singles, giving Elvis 21 number one singles.

^ Note: The Shadows, or The Drifters as they were originally called, are credited on twelve #1 singles. Seven of these share credit with Cliff Richard and some lists recognise only their 5 chart-topping singles without Richard.

Most combined weeks at number one on the UK singles charts

Rank	Artist	Weeks at # 1
1	Elvis Presley	80
2	The Beatles	69
3	Cliff Richard	46
4	The Shadows	44
5	Frankie Laine	32
6	ABBA	31
7	Madonna	29
8	Take That	28
9	Rihanna	24
10	Elton John	23
11	Wet Wet Wet	23

Most weeks at number one

In 1991, Bryan Adams spent 16 consecutive weeks at the top with his hit single, "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", the theme song from the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. To date, no-one has beaten this record.

The record for most non-consecutive weeks at No.1 is 18 by Frankie Laine's "I Believe" in 1953. It spent 9 weeks at number one, dropped down for a week, returned to number one for 6 weeks, dropped down for a further week and returned to number one for a third time for 3 weeks. It is also the only song to return to number one more than once under the same catalogue number.

Below is a table of all singles that have spent 10 or more weeks at the top of the charts:

Position	Artist	Single	Year	Weeks
1st	Frankie Laine	"I Believe"*	1953	18 weeks
2nd	Bryan Adams	"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"	1991	16 weeks
3rd	Wet Wet Wet	"Love Is All Around"	1994	15 weeks
4th	Queen	"Bohemian Rhapsody"*	1975/76 & 1991/92	14 weeks
5th	Slim Whitman	"Rose Marie"	1955	11 weeks
6th	David Whitfield	"Cara Mia"	1954	10 weeks
	Whitney Houston	"I Will Always Love You"	1992
	Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z)	"Umbrella"	2007

* not consecutive weeks at the top of the charts

Number-ones by different artists

"Unchained Melody" is the only song to have reached number one four times by different artists and the only one to achieve a million sales with three different versions.

Four artists

• "Unchained Melody" — Jimmy Young (1955), The Righteous Brothers (1990), Robson & Jerome (1995) and Gareth Gates (2002)

Three artists

• "Spirit in the Sky" – Norman Greenbaum (1971), Doctor and the Medics (1986) and Gareth Gates and The Kumars (2003)
• "You'll Never Walk Alone" — Gerry & The Pacemakers (1963), The Crowd (1985) and Robson & Jerome (1996)
• "With a Little Help from My Friends" — Joe Cocker (1968), Wet Wet Wet (1988) and Sam & Mark (2004)
• "Do They Know It's Christmas?" — Band Aid (1985), Band Aid II (1989) and Band Aid 20 (2004)

Two artists

• "Answer Me" — David Whitfield/Frankie Laine (1953)
• "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" — Perez Prado/Eddie Calvert (1955)
• "Singing the Blues" — Guy Mitchell/Tommy Steele (1957)
• "Young Love" — Tab Hunter (1957) and Donny Osmond (1973)
• "Mary's Boy Child" — Harry Belafonte (1957) and Boney M. (1978)
• "Living Doll" — Cliff Richard and The Drifters (1959) and Cliff Richard and The Young Ones feat Hank Marvin (1986)
• "Can't Help Falling in Love" — Elvis Presley (1962) and UB40 (1993)
• "I Got You Babe" — Sonny & Cher (1965) and UB40 and Chrissie Hynde (1985)
• "Somethin' Stupid" — Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra (1967) and Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001)
• "Baby Come Back" — The Equals (1967) and Pato Banton feat UB40 (1994)
• "What a Wonderful World" — Louis Armstrong (1968) and Katie Melua and Eva Cassidy (2007)
• "Dizzy" — Tommy Roe (1969) and Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff (1991)
• "Without You" — Harry Nilsson (1972) and Mariah Carey (1994)
• "Seasons in the Sun" — Terry Jacks (1974) and Westlife (1999)
• "Everything I Own" — Ken Boothe (1974) and Boy George (1987)
• "Tragedy" — Bee Gees (1979) and Steps (1999)
• "The Tide Is High" — Blondie (1980) and Atomic Kitten (2002)
• "Uptown Girl" — Billy Joel (1983) and Westlife (2001)
• "The Power Of Love" — Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) and Gabrielle Aplin (2012)
• "Eternal Flame" — The Bangles (1989) and Atomic Kitten (2001)
• "You Are Not Alone" – Michael Jackson (1995) and X Factor Finalists 2009 (2009)
• "Lady Marmalade" — All Saints (1998) and Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa and Pink (2001)
• "Mambo No. 5" — Lou Bega (1999) and Bob the Builder (2001)
• "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" — Mariah Carey feat Westlife (2000) and Steve Brookstein (2005)

Most number ones from chart debut

In 1963, Gerry & the Pacemakers became the first act to have their first three singles reach number one when "How Do You Do It?", "I Like It" & "You'll Never Walk Alone" all hit the top spot.

The record was equalled by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984 and five years later by Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers.

During 1996 and 1997, the Spice Girls took their first six singles to number one from "Wannabe" to "Too Much".

Westlife, became the first act to have their first seven singles ("Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Flying Without Wings", "I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun", "Fool Again", "Against All Odds" & "My Love") reach number one in 2000.

Biggest-selling singles

See also List of best-selling singles in the United Kingdom

Below is a list of the ten best selling singles to date.

Best-selling singles in the UK

No.	Single	Artist	Record label	Released	Chart peak	Sales
1	"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"	Elton John	Rocket	September 1997	1	4,920,000
2	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"	Band Aid	Mercury	November 1984	1	3,750,000
3	"Bohemian Rhapsody"	Queen	EMI	October 1975	1	2,440,000
4	"Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"	Wings	Parlophone	November 1977	1	2,080,000
5	"You're the One That I Want"	John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John	RSO	May 1978	1	2,050,000
6	"Relax"	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	ZTT	January 1984	1	2,030,000
7	"Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring"	Boney M.	Atlantic/Hansa	April 1978	1	2,020,000
8	"She Loves You"	The Beatles	Parlophone	August 1963	1	1,910,000
9	"Love Is All Around"	Wet Wet Wet	PolyGram	May 1994	1	1,860,000
10	"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"	Boney M.	Atlantic/Hansa	November 1978	1	1,860,000

Posthumous number ones

The first artist to score a number one single after their death was Buddy Holly in April 1959 with "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". It became common for artists to top the charts after their death, but only those who made a significant contribution to the music industry were generally able to make it to the top. Singer Eddie Cochran made #1 after being killed in a taxi crash with "Three Steps to Heaven" in June 1960. Being killed in a plane crash just like Buddy Holly, Jim Reeves scored a #1 single with "Distant Drums" in September 1966. Amazingly this was two years after his death.

Dying in 1970, Jimi Hendrix scored his only chart topping single with "Voodoo Child" two months after his death, in November. After this the only other artists to receive one posthumous number one single were:

• Jackie Wilson who died of pneumonia in 1984 and hit the top with "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl in Town)"
• Freddie Mercury with "Living On My Own" in 1993 (also Queen topped the chart a few weeks after Mercury's death in 1991 with "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"These Are The Days Of Our Lives")
• Aaliyah who died aged 22 in a plane crash and hit the top with "More Than a Woman" in 2002
• George Harrison who died of cancer in 2001 and hit the top in 2002 with "My Sweet Lord", which had previously been a #1 single for him in 1971
• Tupac Shakur with "Ghetto Gospel" in 2005
• The Notorious B.I.G. with "Nasty Girl" in 2006
• Eva Cassidy featuring Katie Melua with "What a Wonderful World" in 2007

Harrison took over from Aaliyah at the top, marking the only time in UK chart history one posthumous act has replaced a different posthumous act at number one.

Elvis Presley and John Lennon have both accumulated 3 or more posthumous chart toppers. John Lennon did not receive any #1 singles during his lifetime, but after his death there was a massive frenzy of buying his singles, as a result of which he became the act to obtain 3 chart toppers quicker than any other. "(Just Like) Starting Over" hit the top in late 1980 and was replaced at the top after a week by "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma", which became the Christmas number one. Then after 2 weeks, it was knocked off the top by a re-entry of a #6 hit from 1975, "Imagine" which is the biggest selling posthumous hit with over 1.5 million copies sold. Remaining at the top for 4 weeks, Lennon became the second act to replace themselves at the top of the UK charts when "Woman" took over for a 2 week spell at the top. Shortly after this Roxy Music's version of "Jealous Guy" also reached #1, meaning that from December 1980 to March 1981 four out of six chart toppers were written by Lennon.

Elvis holds the record for the most posthumous chart toppers. Following his death in August 1977, "Way Down" instantly shot to the top for 5 weeks. Then 25 years later, an old song "A Little Less Conversation" was remixed by JXL and used in a Nike World Cup advert. It became so popular, it shot straight to the top of the charts and remained there for 4 weeks. Then in 2005, RCA decided to re-issue all 18 of his #1 singles for his 70th birthday anniversary. "Jailhouse Rock", "One Night/I Got Stung" and "It's Now or Never" became 3 more chart toppers for the superstar giving him 21 chart toppers and 5 posthumous chart toppers. In 2007, the 30th anniversary of his death, one of Elvis's albums reached the top spot.

American rapper Tupac Shakur died in September 1996. His friend, the Notorious B.I.G., was killed a few months later in 1997. Neither reached the top of the UK charts during their lifetimes, but in 2005, Tupac reached number one with "Ghetto Gospel" sharing the credit with Elton John. A few months later, in 2006 the Notorious B.I.G. matched his rival with "Nasty Girl" (sharing the credit with Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge & Avery Storm).

Lowest selling number one

Unfortunately we cannot take into account many #1 singles from the 1950s and early 1960s as precise sales records were not kept. It was only in 1969 that cumulative totals for the entire UK were kept and although at their lowest then, they quickly rose. Therefore, the lowest selling number one by the 90s was Iron Maiden's "Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter". It was the heavy metal band's only #1 single and hitting the top for two weeks after Christmas 1990, it sold only 100,000. After a boom of sales in the 1990s with many tracks breaking 1 million and Elton John setting a record, singles sales declined as the 21st century began. After 2002, things got worse, and Kylie Minogue was able to beat Iron Maiden's record with her 7th UK #1, "Slow". This was broken in 2004 by Ja Rule featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti on their #1 single, "Wonderful", which sold around 65,000 copies during its chart run. By February 2005, this was the lowest selling number one single, however with sales being at their absolute worst in early 2005, this record is likely to have been broken several times. Subsequently, things have improved with the introduction of digital downloads into the UK chart.

Lowest weekly sale for a number one single is 17,694 copies held by Orson's "No Tomorrow". This was previously held by the re-issue of Elvis Presley's "One Night/I Got Stung", which sold 20,463 copies in its one week at #1. Presley broke his own record in doing so; the week before the re-issue of "Jailhouse Rock" had set an alltime low sales record with only 23,159 copies sold. Before this, the lowest weekly sale was from Eric Prydz's single, "Call On Me", which sold 23,000 copies upon its return to number one in October 2004. "No Tomorrow" is also the lowest selling number one in its first week at the top, destroying the records held by Elvis's "One Night".

The addition of downloads to the UK charts has made it harder to sell such low amounts overall, but has meant that singles can now reach number one with zero physical sales. The first, but not last, single to achieve this was Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" in early 2006.

Self replacement at number one

It is extremely difficult for an act to replace itself at the top of the UK chart seeing as one single must be popular enough to last at the top until the next song is released, however releases can come quicker due to posthumous releases and re-issues marking certain occasions, including deaths of an act. No non-posthumous act has replaced itself on top of the UK charts with both songs at consecutive runs at the top, however this is not required to be classed as a self-replacement.

Since the inception of the UK Singles Chart in 1952 only three acts have replaced themselves at the top of the UK charts. These are in order of replacement:-

• The Beatles
• John Lennon
• Elvis Presley

Many UK chart books now add in numerous Cliff Richard singles and albums to The Shadows hits. This means that The Shadows replaced themselves at Number 1, in the UK Singles Chart once in 1960, and twice in 1963. They also replaced themselves at Number 1 in the UK Album Chart, in both 1961 and 1963. Also, The Official UK Charts Company gives The Shadows 8 UK Number 1 Albums – 4 as a Group, and 4 with Cliff Richard. It credits them with '40 Golden Greats', a 1977 Number 1 album – which all other sources credit only to Cliff Richard. The other sources give The Shadows 7 Number 1 UK albums – 4 alone, and 3 with Cliff.

In 1963, the Beatles became a phenomenon. They broke chart and sales records across the world and became the biggest selling group of all time and one of the top-selling music acts, based on both singles and albums sales. However, during this year, the Beatles had only just started receiving fame in the UK and were not a worldwide phenomenon. Nonetheless, it didn't stop their being a craze in the UK and breaking several records.

In week ending 14 September, the Beatles' 4th single, "She Loves You" became their 2nd #1 single, storming to the top of the charts. It remained there for 4 weeks and then fell from the top spot and began to decline down the charts. Amazingly, after a total of 7 weeks (becoming the longest gap between a song falling from the top and returning) "She Loves You" returned to the top of the UK charts for 2 weeks. It became the biggest selling single in the UK on its chart run of 29 weeks, selling over 1.89 million copies.

Since the Beatles had already planned to release "I Want To Hold Your Hand" for Christmas, on the week ending 4 December, the song was released and it overtook "She Loves You" at the top. They became the first act to replace themselves at the top of the charts and the only as of January 2005 to not be posthumous when replacing themselves at the top.

The death of ex-Beatle John Lennon shocked the world due to his iconic influence during the 60s and afterwards and with the addition of the cause for his death (he was shot), the impact of this moment was huger than ever. Although never being hugely successful chartwise as a solo artist, his death caused him to become the act to receive 3 chart toppers quicker than any other (having not had any previously). A week after he was shot dead in New York, "(Just Like) Starting Over" – a track from his comeback album Double Fantasy -topped the charts for 1 week (having previously only peaked at #8). It was deposed from #1 by a sentimental release for the Christmas market, "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma".

In the first chart of 1981, another Lennon re-issue, "Imagine" was on top. This topped the charts for 4 weeks and went onto sell 1.51 million copies and was replaced by another track from Double Fantasy, "Woman" which topped the charts for 2 weeks. It made Lennon the second act to replace themselves at the top of the UK charts and the first to do so posthumously.

A re-issue of Elvis' 18 #1 singles to celebrate his 70th birthday anniversary by RCA led Elvis to score more posthumous #1's after "A Little Less Conversation" hit the top in 2002. His first to be re-issued was "Jailhouse Rock", previously at #1 in 1958. The song became his first chart topper in 2005 and his second posthumous chart topper. The following week was the competition for the 1000th #1 single which he scored yet again when "One Night/I Got Stung", previously at #1 in 1959 hit the top. This is the only time that an artist has replaced himself at the top with both songs being at the top for just one week each. Elvis also became the second act to replace themselves at #1 posthumously.

Fastest selling single

In the 1990s, record companies became much more focused at promoting singles and producing ones with maximum chart impact. The fastest selling single became the new phenomenon. This is basically how many copies a single shifts in its first full week of sale.

The record is held by Elton John with "Candle in the Wind 1997" which sold 1.55 million copies in its first week (it sold 658,000 on the first day of release, 13 September 1997). It is also the biggest selling single in the UK as well as the fastest selling, and the biggest selling single in the world (37m copies) and the fastest selling single in many other countries also – it went platinum (sold a million copies) in 24 hours in the US. Elton outsold Dario G's "Sunchyme" by a clear margin, and this is the biggest ratio between #1 and #2 to date. Dario G sold 85,000 to hit the #2 slot that week.

The fastest selling debut single is "Anything is Possible/Evergreen" by Will Young. It sold 1.11 million copies in its first week of sale. Massive publicity had built up in his single due to Pop Idol and the massive phone vote of 8.7 million people phoning in the final showed how popular the show was, with he himself receiving over 4 million votes.

The fastest selling single from a group (and also fastest selling debut from a group) is Hear'Say's debut single, "Pure and Simple". Winning ITV's first series of Popstars, massive interest in the group had built up and their debut single sold 0.55 million copies in its first week. This is only true if we discount Band Aid from being classified as a group whose single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" sold 0.75 million copies in its first week due to the pictures shown of the famine in Ethiopia.

Biggest selling single not to top the chart

The record is held by Wham! and their 1984 Christmas release, "Last Christmas / Everything She Wants". It hit #2 being kept off the top by Band Aid's huge sales. The single itself sold 1.45 million copies and even managed a first week sale of 0.5 million, meaning it would have easily topped the chart any other week.

In 1997, Natalie Imbruglia's worldwide hit, "Torn" sold more than 1.17 million copies without reaching #1 and stalling at #2 for four weeks behind Aqua's Barbie Girl.

In 2011, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera hit "Moves like Jagger" sold 1,447,000 copies without reaching #1, spending seven consecutive weeks at #2.

Just a year earlier, Eminem and Rihanna's song "Love The Way You Lie" was the biggest selling single of 2010 despite never reaching #1.

The biggest selling single to peak at #3 is New Order's "Blue Monday", which has sold over a million copies. However, it garnered its total sales via two further remixes of the track, meaning its one million sales are attributed over all three releases. The biggest selling single to peak at #3 without re-issues is Ed Sheeran's "The A Team", which has sold just over a million copies since its 2011 release.

In 1942, Christmas classic "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby was released which became the second biggest selling single in the world (30 million copies sold). It peaked at #5 in 1977 after Crosby's death and is believed to have sold a million copies (if it has, it has been the million seller taking the longest to achieve the millionth sale – a total of 33 years). It is incredibly likely to have sold a million copies, seeing as it is so popular and has clocked up high sales around the world, but with the inception of the singles chart happening 10 years after the release, we can never be sure. If this is excluded due to uncertainty, "I Love You Because" by Jim Reeves is the biggest selling single to peak at #5. Although total sales are hard to come by, it seems to be the only #5 to have exceeded 750,000 copies with such a high degree of certainty.

The biggest selling single to peak at #6 is Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, which has sold over 1 million copies since its release in 2006, becoming the longest-running song on the top 100 of the chart in the process. The highest-selling #7 hit, which for a long time exceeded the sales of any #6 hits, is LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live" which despite selling around 714,000 copies during 1998, it only managed to peak at #7 (it did however spend 30 weeks in the UK Top 40).

I'm Yours by Jason Mraz only managed to peak at #11 on the singles chart, but has sold an excess of 650,000 copies, making it the highest-selling song to never chart in the Top 10.

As for lower peaking singles, sales get so close, it is hard to make out which singles have sold more overall, and it is usually not in a chart researchers interest to be aware of lower peaking singles sales. Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine, which only reached #23, but has sold over 345,000 copies since release - this is very likely to be the highest-selling song to never chart in the Top 20, while Gold Dust by DJ Fresh also didn't chart within the top 20, only peaking at #22, but has managed to sell over 202,000 copies. It is known, however, that Forever by Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem - charting only at #42 but having so far cleared 150,000 copies - is the highest selling song to miss the top forty.

Downloads

Number one singles on downloads alone

Artist	Song	Date	Sales
Gnarls Barkley	"Crazy"	2 April 2006	31,703
Mika	"Grace Kelly"	21 January 2007	30,500
Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z)	"Umbrella"	20 May 2007	34,164
Sugababes	"About You Now"	30 September 2007	34,068
Duffy	"Mercy"	17 February 2008	38,366
Estelle (feat. Kanye West)	"American Boy"	23 March 2008	51,857
Madonna (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)	"4 Minutes"	20 April 2008	80,634
Coldplay	"Viva la Vida"	22 June 2008	23,212
Dizzee Rascal (feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome)	"Dance Wiv Me"	6 July 2008	49,414
Katy Perry	"I Kissed a Girl"	10 August 2008	45,935
		17 August 2008	44,500
		24 August 2008	41,131
		31 August 2008	40,587
Kings of Leon	"Sex on Fire"	14 September 2008	44,943
Leona Lewis	"Run"	7 December 2008	131,593
		14 December 2008	85,034
Kelly Clarkson	"My Life Would Suck Without You"	1 March 2009	51,115
Flo Rida (feat. Kesha)	"Right Round"	8 March 2009	72,101
Lady Gaga	"Poker Face"	22 March 2009	53,699
		29 March 2009	57,781
		5 April 2009	55,318
Calvin Harris	"I'm Not Alone"	12 April 2009	66,970
The Black Eyed Peas	"Boom Boom Pow"	17 May 2009	74,440
	"I Gotta Feeling"	2 August 2009	61,314
David Guetta (feat. Akon)	"Sexy Bitch"	23 August 2009	55,207
Dizzee Rascal (feat. Chrome)	"Holiday"	30 August 2009	80,070
Jay-Z (feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)	"Run This Town"	6 September 2009	62,836
Rage Against the Machine	"Killing in the Name"	20 December 2009	502,569
Iyaz	"Replay"	10 January 2010	106,237
		17 January 2010	86,814
Eminem feat. Rihanna	"The Monster"	29 October 2013	74,674

With very few singles now issued in a physical format, almost every number-one single since early 2010 has reached number one on downloads alone.

Digital downloads

Downloads grew steadily in popularity after first being integrated into the chart in 2005. Although Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' gained considerable attention for being the first song to enter at number 1 on downloads alone in 2006, this eventually received a physical CD release. The first number 1 to chart without ever receiving a UK physical release was Coldplay's Viva la Vida in June 2008, although a physical was released overseas. As of 2012 very few songs are given a physical release, and almost the entire chart is released solely on digital download.

On 22 June 2008, both songs in the top two were on downloads alone:

1. "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay
2. "Closer" by Ne-Yo

However, on 31 August 2008, this record was broken again and the top three were download only at the time:

1. "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry
2. "Pjanoo" by Eric Prydz
3. "Disturbia" by Rihanna

On 1 March 2009, this record was broken a third time, when the top four were all download only:

1. "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson
2. "Love Story" by Taylor Swift
3. "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
4. "Dead and Gone" by T.I. (feat. Justin Timberlake)

By 13 February 2010, the whole top 9 consisted of download only songs:

1. "Fireflies" by Owl City
2. "Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)" by Jedward (feat. Vanilla Ice)
3. "If We Ever Meet Again" by Timbaland (feat. Katy Perry)
4. "Don't Stop Believin'" by Glee Cast
5. "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" by Alicia Keys
6. "Replay" by Iyaz
7. "Starstrukk" by 3OH!3 (feat. Katy Perry)
8. "One Shot" by JLS
9. "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

The biggest selling single to reach number one on digital downloads alone, based on one week sales, is "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine. Downloaded as a successful attempt to gain the 2009 Christmas number one single, it sold 502,569 in seven days.

Most weeks on UK Singles Chart by decade

1950s

1. Elvis Presley 298 weeks

2. Frankie Laine 268 weeks

3. Pat Boone 239 weeks

4. Lonnie Donegan 213 weeks

5. Perry Como 191 weeks

6. David Whitfield 189 weeks

7. Bill Haley & his Comets 173 weeks

8. Johnnie Ray 163 weeks

9. Guy Mitchell 153 weeks

10. Nat "King" Cole 147 weeks

1960s

1. The Shadows 631 weeks

2. Cliff Richard 537 weeks

3. Elvis Presley 444 weeks

4. The Beatles 333 weeks

5. Roy Orbison 309 weeks

6. Jim Reeves 292 weeks

7. Billy Fury 258 weeks

8. Adam Faith 246 weeks

9. The Hollies 231 weeks

10. The Everly Brothers 222 weeks

1970s

1. Elvis Presley 331 weeks

2. Elton John 223 weeks

3. Diana Ross 220 weeks

4. Paul McCartney/Wings 216 weeks

5. Rod Stewart 209 weeks

6. Marc Bolan/T. Rex 196 weeks

7. David Bowie 196 weeks

8. Cliff Richard 185 weeks

9. Hot Chocolate 176 weeks

10. Abba 173 weeks

1980s

1. Shakin' Stevens 254 weeks

2. Madonna 252 weeks

3. Michael Jackson 241 weeks

4. Cliff Richard 234 weeks

5. UB40 222 weeks

6. Madness 217 weeks

7. Kool & the Gang 196 weeks

8. David Bowie 190 weeks

9. Elton John 190 weeks

10. Adam Ant(& the Ants) 185 weeks

1990s

1. Oasis 282 weeks

2. Madonna 258 weeks

3. Mariah Carey 219 weeks

4. Celine Dion 215 weeks

5. Boyzone 201 weeks

6. Janet Jackson 177 weeks

7. Michael Jackson 175 weeks

8. East 17/E17 170 weeks

9. Whitney Houston 169 weeks

10. Bryan Adams 163 weeks

All-time total weeks on chart (15 Nov 1952 – 31 December 1999)

1. Elvis Presley 1,166 weeks

2. Cliff Richard 1,130 weeks

3. The Shadows/Drifters 769 weeks

4. Diana Ross 661 weeks

5. Elton John 565 weeks

6. Madonna 509 weeks

7. Michael Jackson 490 weeks

8. Rod Stewart 473 weeks

9. Beatles 456 weeks

10. Frank Sinatra 440 weeks

11. David Bowie 438 weeks

12. Stevie Wonder 415 weeks

13. Paul McCartney/Wings 410 weeks

14. Status Quo 408 weeks

15. Queen 402 weeks

16. The Rolling Stones 366 weeks

17. Tom Jones 365 weeks

18. Bee Gees 349 weeks

19. Everly Brothers 345 weeks

20. Roy Orbison 345 weeks

Top chart acts per year by total weeks on chart

Year	Artist	Weeks on Chart
1952	Frankie Laine	13
1953		84
1954		66
1955	Ruby Murray	85
1956	Bill Haley & His Comets	110
1957	Elvis Presley	118
1958	Pat Boone	76
1959	Russ Conway	81
1960	The Shadows	107
1961		118
1962		92
1963		116
1964		75
1965		54
1966	Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich	51
1967	Engelbert Humperdinck	97
1968	Tom Jones	58
1969	Marvin Gaye	60
1970	Elvis Presley	59
1971		66
1972	T. Rex	58
1973	David Bowie	55
1974	The Wombles	65
1975	Mud	45
1976	Rod Stewart	48
1977	Elvis Presley	49
1978	John Travolta	60
1979	Donna Summer	46
1980	Madness	46
1981	Adam & The Ants	91
1982	Soft Cell	49
1983	Michael Jackson	60
1984	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	68
1985	Madonna	84
1986		59
1987		41
1988	Kylie Minogue	54
1989	Bobby Brown	52
1990	New Kids On The Block	56
1991	R.E.M.	36
1992	Michael Jackson	38
1993	Whitney Houston	50
1994	Mariah Carey	45
1995	Oasis	64
1996		134
1997	Spice Girls	57
1998	Aqua	52
1999	Steps	76

Totals include all instances where artist is actually credited as part of the act. Therefore, for example, The Shadows score for their own hits as well as those where they backed Cliff Richard, and Diana Ross scores for both her solo hits and those as Diana Ross & the Supremes. However, Paul McCartney, for example, is not credited for any of The Beatles' hits as he does not have a separate credit, (although his hits with Wings do count towards his total as they are classed together in the Guinness Book of Hit Singles).

Age records

Youngest to...

• Have a number 1 single: Jimmy Osmond was just 9 years old when he hit the summit in 1972 with "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool".
• Have a number 1 single in three decades: Kylie Minogue was 32 years old when "Spinning Around" became her fifth number one single in 2000. She had scored three number ones in the 1980s and one in the 1990s, making her the youngest to achieve a number one single in three different decades.
• Debut at number 1: At the age of 15 Billie Piper became the youngest ever solo artist to debut at number 1, she did this with "Because We Want To". Piper is also the second youngest artist to get a number 1 single, again with "Because We Want To".
• Band ever to have an album debut at number 1: in 2004, McFly's debut album, Room on the 3rd Floor, debuted at number 1 in the UK Album Chart and is certified as double platinum, this led to the band becoming known as the youngest band ever to have an album debut at number 1 – a title taken from The Beatles.

Oldest to...

• Début at number 1: In 1971, TV actor Clive Dunn's only hit, "Grandad", reached the top of the charts on the week of his 51st birthday.
• Have a number 1 single: The oldest singer to reach number one was Tom Jones, who was 68 when "(Barry) Islands in the Stream" reached the top in 2009.

Other records

General

NB: In the following statistics, Elvis Presley's 17 re-issues in 2005, which all made the Top 5, count as separate hits.

• Most Top 75 hits: Elvis Presley (152). Runner-up: Cliff Richard (131)
• Most Top 40 hits: Elvis Presley (128). Runner-up: Cliff Richard (120)
• Most Top 20 hits: Elvis Presley (100). Runner-up: Cliff Richard (95)
• Most Top 10 hits: Elvis Presley (77). Runner-up: Cliff Richard (66)
• Most Top 5 hits: Elvis Presley (54). Runner-up: Madonna (44)
• Most Consecutive Top 5 hits: Westlife (22). Runner-up: Elvis Presley (20)
• Most Consecutive Top 10 hits: Madonna (35). Runner-up: Ronan Keating (30)
• Most Consecutive Top 10 hits by a female group: Girls Aloud (20). Runner-up: Destiny's Child (11)
• Most Consecutive Top 10 hits including debut single by male solo: Rick Astley (8)
• Most Top 40 hits by a female group: The Supremes (30). Runner-up: Bananarama (25) and Sugababes (25)
• Most successful songwriter: Paul McCartney 1695 weeks. Runner-up: John Lennon 1424 weeks
• Most number ones written; Paul McCartney and John Lennon (33). Runner-up: Madonna (13)
• Most weeks on singles chart: Elvis Presley (1277 wks). Runner-up: Cliff Richard (1166 weeks)

Most hits without reaching...

• Most Top 75 hits without reaching No 1: Glee Cast (97)
• Most Top 40 hits without reaching No 1: Depeche Mode (40)
• Most Top 10 hits without reaching No 1: Bon Jovi and Janet Jackson (17)
• Most No 2 hits without a No 1: Sash! (5)

• Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 5: Chris Rea (32)
• Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 5: Gloria Estefan (27)
• Most Top 10 hits without reaching Top 5: Gloria Estefan (5)

• Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 10: Super Furry Animals (21)
• Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 10: Super Furry Animals (19)
• Most Top 20 hits without reaching Top 10: The Levellers and Super Furry Animals (8)

• Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 20: PJ Harvey (15)
• Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 20: The Almighty (8)

• Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 40: Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (8)

Weeks on chart by individual singles

• Most weeks in Top 75 by a single: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra (124 weeks)
• Most consecutive weeks in Top 75 by a single: "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas (63 weeks) (Final week on chart was 18 September 2010).

As of 1 May 2010, "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon has been in the chart for 81 weeks. Take That's "Rule The World" left the chart after spending 71 weeks on the chart. "Sex On Fire" is also the only single in chart history to have two separate chart runs of more than 30 weeks. It first charted on 20 September 2008 and on its initial run left the chart after 42 weeks on 4 July 2009. However, three weeks later it re-entered the top 75 and this time managed a 37 week run with the final week being 3 April 2010.

• Fewest weeks in Top 40 by a No. 1 single (3 weeks):
  • "(Barry) Islands In The Stream" by Vanessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) and Bryn West (Rob Brydon) featuring Sir Tom Jones and Robin Gibb
  • "Beetlebum" by Blur
  • "What a Wonderful World" by Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua
  • "Baby's Coming Back/Transylvania" by McFly
  • "Wishing On A Star by The X Factor finalists 2011 featuring JLS and One Direction
  • "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Justice Collective
• Fewest weeks in Top 75 by a Top 10 single (1 week)
  • "Weightless" by Wet Wet Wet
  • "Leeds Leeds Leeds (Marching On Together)" by Leeds United Team
  • "Forever Yours" by Alex Day
  • "Payphone" by Precision Tunes

• Fewest weeks in Top 75 by a Top 20 single: 1 week. Notable acts to have achieved this include The Wedding Present 6 times, Garbage, The Chemical Brothers, Elvis Presley and Red 'N' White Machines.

• Largest drop by a single (108 places)
  • "Forever Yours by Alex Day

Singles which were first to reach chart milestones

• 20 weeks on chart: "Because You're Mine" by Mario Lanza (28 March 1953)
• 26 weeks on chart: "I Believe" by Frankie Laine (26 September 1953)
• 30 weeks on chart: "I Believe" by Frankie Laine (24 October 1953)
• 40 weeks on chart: "A Scottish Soldier" by Andy Stewart (21 October 1961)
• 50 weeks on chart: "Stranger On The Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk with the Leon Young String Chorale (10 November 1962)
• 52 weeks on chart: "Stranger On the Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk with the Leon Young String Chorale (24 November 1962)
• 60 weeks on chart: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra (11 July 1970)

"My Way" was also the first single to reach each milestone from 70 weeks to 120 weeks as follows:-

• 70 weeks: 19 September 1970
• 80 weeks: 5 December 1970
• 90 weeks: 13 February 1971
• 100 weeks: 1 May 1971
• 110 weeks: 10 July 1971
• 120 weeks: 16 October 1971

Please note all above figures relate to total weeks on the chart as per the "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles". The following are the same details for consecutive weeks on the chart where different from the above:

• 40 weeks on chart: "Stranger on the Shore" (as above)(1 September 1962)
• 60 weeks on chart: "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas (28 August 2010)

Only official chart lengths used as specified by the "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles", therefore the placings between 76 and 200 are not included for the purpose of these records.

Most singles in a year

• Most Top 75 singles in a year: 45 (up to 24 July 2010) by Glee
• Most singles simultaneously in Top 75: 27 (21 solo, 1 with Janet Jackson by Michael Jackson, 3 as part of The Jackson 5 and 2 as part of The Jacksons) (July 2009).
• Most weeks spent on the Top 75 in a calendar year by solo artist: 145 by Lady Gaga (includes 37 weeks Featuring Colby O'Donis ("Just Dance") and 3 weeks Featuring Beyoncé ("Telephone")) (2009).
• Most weeks spent on the Top 75 in a calendar year by a group: 134 by Oasis (1996).

The 21 solo Michael Jackson songs to chart simultaneously on the chart dated 5 July 2009 (the week after his death) were:

• "Man in the Mirror" #2
• "Billie Jean" #10
• "Thriller" #12
• "Smooth Criminal" #13
• "Beat It" #19
• "Black Or White" #25
• "Dirty Diana" #26
• "Earth Song" #33
• "They Don't Care About Us" #32
• "The Way You Make Me Feel" #34
• "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" #38
• "Bad" #40
• "Ben" #46
• "Rock With You" #54
• "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" #57
• "Heal The World" #63
• "Leave Me Alone" #66
• "Off The Wall" #73
• "Give In To Me" #74
• "You Are Not Alone" #35
• "You Rock My World" #60

As well as the six Jackson 5 / The Jacksons / Michael & Janet Jackson singles:

• "ABC" #50
• "I Want You Back" #43
• "I'll Be There" #65
• "Blame It On The Boogie" #55
• "Can You Feel It" #59
• "Scream" with Janet Jackson #70

One other Jackson 5 song had charted ten weeks earlier, bringing the 2009 total of top 75 singles for Jackson to 28:

• "Who's Lovin' You" #54

On the chart dated 12 July 2009 although many of the 27 Jackson songs in the top 75 previously had fallen out, three new ones entered bringing his year total to 31.

• "Will You Be There" #51
• "Human Nature" #62
• "Smile" (Charlie Chaplin cover) #74

Longest time between number one hit singles for an artist

The Hollies went 23 years between their first top hit "I'm Alive" in 1965 and their next top hit, the re-release of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" in 1988. They had eleven other singles in the top 10 in that interim time, including three singles to reach the number 2 spot.

Album with most original number-one hits

Spice by Spice Girls with four number-one original hits from the same album: "Wannabe", "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1" and "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are".

Biggest drop out of the Top 10

Originally, Wet Wet Wet set the record for the second biggest drop out of the Top 10 when "Weightless" fell from number 10 to number 96 in February 2008, a drop of 86 places. The biggest drop ever had been recorded six weeks earlier in January 2008 by the Pogues when they fell from number 9 to number 107 with "Fairytale of New York". In May 2010, "Leeds Leeds Leeds (Marching On Together)" by Leeds United Team & Supporters fell from number 10 to number 112, a drop of 102 places, a new record. On 1 January 2012, Alex Day's "Forever Yours" fell from number 4 to number 112 making it the single with the highest chart placing to spend just one week inside the Top 75 since its inception in May 1978.

Ten biggest drops out of the Top 10

No.	Artist	Single	Top 10 position	Chart position the following week	Total drop in places	Week-ending date
1	Alex Day	"Forever Yours"	4	112	108	7 January 2012
2	Leeds United Team & Supporters	"Leeds Leeds Leeds (Marching On Together)"	10	112	102	30 May 2010
3	The Pogues	"Fairytale of New York"	9	107	98	12 January 2008
4	Wet Wet Wet	"Weightless"	10	96	86	23 February 2008
5	AC/DC	"Highway to Hell"	4	81	77	4 January 2014
6	Precision Tunes	"Payphone"	9	85	76	23 June 2012
7	Union J	"Tonight (We Live Forever)"	9	74	65	6 September 2014
8	The Wizard of Oz Film Cast	"Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead"	2	65	63	21 April 2013
9	delirious?	"History Maker"	4	61	57	17 April 2010
10	The Wedding Present	"Come Play with Me"	10	65	55	23 May 1992

Some singles have been deleted from the charts due to technicalities, and have thus "dropped" out of the Top 10 and the singles chart entirely. Such singles include: "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (1969), "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley (2006) and "Maneater" by Nelly Furtado (2006).

Singles to have stalled at Number 2 twice

This unlucky feat has only been achieved three times in chart history:

"Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro on 1 June 1968 then, on reissue, on 26 April 1975
"Crazy for You" by Madonna on 29 June 1985 then, on reissue on 2/9 March 1991
"One For Sorrow" by Steps on 5 September 1998 then, on reissue on 6 October 2001

First to...

• Eden Kane (real name Richard Sarstedt) and Peter Sarstedt are the first pair of siblings to score no. 1s as solo artists. Eden Kane scored a no. 1 with "Well I Ask You" in 1961 and Peter Sarstedt got a no. 1 with "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" in 1969. A third brother Robin Sarstedt (real name Clive Sarstedt) made the Top 3 in 1976 with "My Resistance Is Low" making them the only set of three brothers to have separate solo Top Three singles.

• The first song recorded completely in a foreign language to reach number-one on the UK Singles Charts is "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin in 1969 (French). There are only four other foreign language number-one songs which are "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco released in 1986 (German), "La Bamba" by Los Lobos released in 1987 (Spanish), "We No Speak Americano", by Yolanda Be Cool Vs DCUP, released in 2010 (Italian/Nepolitan) and "Gangnam Style" by Psy released in 2012 (Korean).. (Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP, both being Australian, both spoke English as their first languages, and "We No Speak Americano" even had a title largely in English, but the song was based entirely on a sample of the Italian language "Tu vuò fà l'americano" by Renato Carasone and as a result was completely Neapolitan.)

See also

• Most weeks on UK Singles Chart