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The [[UK Singles Chart]] is the official [[record chart]] in the United Kingdom. Prior to 1969 there was no official singles chart;<ref name="McAleer">{{cite web|last=McAleer|first=Dave|title=50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!|url=http://www.davemcaleer.com/page19.htm|work=davemcaleer.com|accessdate=15 May 2010|authorlink=Dave McAleer}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-charting-the-number-ones-that-somehow-got-away-1145809.html|title=Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away|last=Leigh|first=Spencer|date=20 February 1998|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="BrownKutnerWarwick">{{cite book|last1=Warwick|first1=Neil|last2=Kutner|first2=Jon|last3=Brown|first3=Tony|title=The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums|edition=3rd|year=2004|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|location=London|isbn=1-84449-058-0|page=v|quote=Until 15th February 1969, there was no officially compiled chart.}}</ref> however, [[The Official Charts Company]] and Guinness' [[British Hit Singles & Albums]] regard the canonical sources as [[NME|''New Musical Express'' (''NME'')]] before 10 March 1960 and ''[[Record Retailer]]'' from then until 15 February 1969 when ''Retailer'' and the [[BBC]] jointly commisioned the [[BMRB Ltd|British Market Research Bureau (BMRB)]] to compile the charts.<ref name="McAleer"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 May 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|archivedate=10 January 2008}}</ref> The choice to use ''Record Mirror'' as the canonical source for the 1960s has been contentious because ''NME'' (which continued compiling charts beyond March 1960) had the biggest circulation of periodicals in the decade and was more widely followed.<ref name="McAleer">{{cite web|last=McAleer|first=Dave|title=50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!|url=http://www.davemcaleer.com/page19.htm|work=davemcaleer.com|accessdate=15 May 2010|authorlink=Dave McAleer}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-charting-the-number-ones-that-somehow-got-away-1145809.html|title=Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away|last=Leigh|first=Spencer|date=20 February 1998|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref> As well as the charts compilers mentioned previously, ''[[Melody Maker]]'', ''[[Disc (magazine)|Disc]]'' and ''[[Record Mirror]]'' all compiled their own charts during the decade. Due to the lack of any official chart the [[BBC]] aggregated results from all these charts to announce its own ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'' chart.<ref name="McAleer"/> One source explains that the reason for using the ''Record Retailer'' chart for the 1960s was that it was "the only chart to have as many as 50 positions for almost the entire decade".<ref name="BrownKutnerWarwick"/> The sample size of ''Record Retailer'' in the early 1960s was around 30 stores whereas ''NME'' and ''Melody Maker'' were sampling over 100 stores.<ref name="McAleer"/> In 1969, the first BMRB chart was compiled using postal returns of sales logs from 250 record shops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 May 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|archivedate=10 January 2008}}</ref>
The [[UK Singles Chart]] is the official [[record chart]] in the United Kingdom. Prior to 1969 there was no official singles chart;<ref name="McAleer">{{cite web|last=McAleer|first=Dave|title=50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!|url=http://www.davemcaleer.com/page19.htm|work=davemcaleer.com|accessdate=15 May 2010|authorlink=Dave McAleer}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-charting-the-number-ones-that-somehow-got-away-1145809.html|title=Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away|last=Leigh|first=Spencer|date=20 February 1998|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref><ref name="BrownKutnerWarwick">{{cite book|last1=Warwick|first1=Neil|last2=Kutner|first2=Jon|last3=Brown|first3=Tony|title=The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums|edition=3rd|year=2004|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|location=London|isbn=1-84449-058-0|page=v|quote=Until 15th February 1969, there was no officially compiled chart.}}</ref> however, [[The Official Charts Company]] and Guinness' [[British Hit Singles & Albums]] regard the canonical sources as [[NME|''New Musical Express'' (''NME'')]] before 10 March 1960 and ''[[Record Retailer]]'' from then until 15 February 1969 when ''Retailer'' and the [[BBC]] jointly commisioned the [[BMRB Ltd|British Market Research Bureau (BMRB)]] to compile the charts.<ref name="McAleer"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 May 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|archivedate=10 January 2008}}</ref> The choice to use ''Record Mirror'' as the canonical source for the 1960s has been contentious because ''NME'' (which continued compiling charts beyond March 1960) had the biggest circulation of periodicals in the decade and was more widely followed.<ref name="McAleer">{{cite web|last=McAleer|first=Dave|title=50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!|url=http://www.davemcaleer.com/page19.htm|work=davemcaleer.com|accessdate=15 May 2010|authorlink=Dave McAleer}}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/music-charting-the-number-ones-that-somehow-got-away-1145809.html|title=Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away|last=Leigh|first=Spencer|date=20 February 1998|work=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref> As well as the charts compilers mentioned previously, ''[[Melody Maker]]'', ''[[Disc (magazine)|Disc]]'' and ''[[Record Mirror]]'' all compiled their own charts during the decade. Due to the lack of any official chart the [[BBC]] aggregated results from all these charts to announce its own ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'' chart.<ref name="McAleer"/> One source explains that the reason for using the ''Record Retailer'' chart for the 1960s was that it was "the only chart to have as many as 50 positions for almost the entire decade".<ref name="BrownKutnerWarwick"/> The sample size of ''Record Retailer'' in the early 1960s was around 30 stores whereas ''NME'' and ''Melody Maker'' were sampling over 100 stores.<ref name="McAleer"/> In 1969, the first BMRB chart was compiled using postal returns of sales logs from 250 record shops.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=16 May 2010|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php|archivedate=10 January 2008}}</ref>


In terms of number-one singles, [[The Beatles]] were the most successful group of the decade having seventeen singles reach the top spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/BEATLES/|title=Featured Artists: The Beatles|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=6 August 2010}}</ref> The longest duration of a single at number-one was eight weeks and this was achieved on three occasions: "[[It's Now or Never (song)|It's Now or Never]]" by [[Elvis Presley]] in 1960; "[[Wonderful Land]]" by [[The Shadows]] in 1962 and "[[Sugar, Sugar]]" by [[The Archies]] in 1969. [[The Beatles]]' song "[[She Loves You]]" became the best-selling single of all time in 1963, to be overtaken in 1973 by band member [[Paul McCartney]]'s [[Wings (band)|Wings]] song "[[Mull of Kintyre (song)|Mull of Kintyre]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Leadbetter|first=Russell|title=Macca proves he’s no sellout|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/macca-proves-he-s-no-sellout-1.1028162|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|accessdate=31 May 2010|date=17 May 2010}}</ref> "She Loves You" was the best-selling song of the decade and one of thirteen songs believed to have sold over one million copies in the 1960s.<ref name="Million"/><ref name="EveryHit"/>
In terms of number-one singles, [[The Beatles]] were the most successful group of the decade having seventeen singles reach the top spot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/BEATLES/|title=Featured Artists: The Beatles|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=6 August 2010}}</ref> The longest duration of a single at number-one was eight weeks and this was achieved on three occasions: "[[It's Now or Never (song)|It's Now or Never]]" by [[Elvis Presley]] in 1960; "[[Wonderful Land]]" by [[The Shadows]] in 1962 and "[[Sugar, Sugar]]" by [[The Archies]] in 1969. [[The Beatles]]' song "[[She Loves You]]" became the best-selling single of all time in 1963, to be overtaken in 1977 by band member [[Paul McCartney]]'s [[Wings (band)|Wings]] song "[[Mull of Kintyre (song)|Mull of Kintyre]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Leadbetter|first=Russell|title=Macca proves he’s no sellout|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/macca-proves-he-s-no-sellout-1.1028162|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|accessdate=31 May 2010|date=17 May 2010}}</ref> "She Loves You" was the best-selling song of the decade and one of thirteen songs believed to have sold over one million copies in the 1960s.<ref name="Million"/><ref name="EveryHit"/>


==Number-one singles==
==Number-one singles==

Revision as of 16:41, 13 August 2010

This page is about the chart compiled by Record Retailer. For other singles charts compiled in the 1960s, see here
UK singles chart number ones
UK singles chart
Other charts
Related

The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. Prior to 1969 there was no official singles chart;[1][2][3] however, The Official Charts Company and Guinness' British Hit Singles & Albums regard the canonical sources as New Musical Express (NME) before 10 March 1960 and Record Retailer from then until 15 February 1969 when Retailer and the BBC jointly commisioned the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) to compile the charts.[1][4] The choice to use Record Mirror as the canonical source for the 1960s has been contentious because NME (which continued compiling charts beyond March 1960) had the biggest circulation of periodicals in the decade and was more widely followed.[1][2] As well as the charts compilers mentioned previously, Melody Maker, Disc and Record Mirror all compiled their own charts during the decade. Due to the lack of any official chart the BBC aggregated results from all these charts to announce its own Pick of the Pops chart.[1] One source explains that the reason for using the Record Retailer chart for the 1960s was that it was "the only chart to have as many as 50 positions for almost the entire decade".[3] The sample size of Record Retailer in the early 1960s was around 30 stores whereas NME and Melody Maker were sampling over 100 stores.[1] In 1969, the first BMRB chart was compiled using postal returns of sales logs from 250 record shops.[5]

In terms of number-one singles, The Beatles were the most successful group of the decade having seventeen singles reach the top spot.[6] The longest duration of a single at number-one was eight weeks and this was achieved on three occasions: "It's Now or Never" by Elvis Presley in 1960; "Wonderful Land" by The Shadows in 1962 and "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies in 1969. The Beatles' song "She Loves You" became the best-selling single of all time in 1963, to be overtaken in 1977 by band member Paul McCartney's Wings song "Mull of Kintyre".[7] "She Loves You" was the best-selling song of the decade and one of thirteen songs believed to have sold over one million copies in the 1960s.[8][9]

Number-one singles

The Beatles who had seventeen number-one singles in the 1960s
Key
 †  – Best-selling single of the year[10][nb 1]
 ‡  – Best-selling single of the decade[10]
Contents
← 1950s · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970s →
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Michael Holliday "Starry Eyed" 29 January 1960 1
Anthony Newley "Why" 5 February 1960 4
Adam Faith "Poor Me" 4 March 1960 2
Johnny Preston "Running Bear" 17 March 1960 2
Lonnie Donegan "My Old Man's a Dustman" 31 March 1960 4
Anthony Newley "Do You Mind?" 28 April 1960 1
The Everly Brothers "Cathy's Clown" 5 May 1960 7
Eddie Cochran "Three Steps to Heaven" 23 June 1960 2
Jimmy Jones "Good Timin'" 7 July 1960 3
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "Please Don't Tease" 28 July 1960 1
Johnny Kidd & The Pirates "Shakin' All Over" 4 August 1960 1
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "Please Don't Tease" 11 August 1960 2
The Shadows "Apache" 25 August 1960 5
Ricky Valance "Tell Laura I Love Her" 29 September 1960 3
Roy Orbison "Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)" 20 October 1960 2
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" 3 November 1960 8
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "I Love You" 29 December 1960 2
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Johnny Tillotson "Poetry in Motion" 12 January 1961 2
Elvis Presley "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" 26 January 1961 4
Petula Clark "Sailor" 23 February 1961 1
The Everly Brothers "Walk Right Back" / "Ebony Eyes" 2 March 1961 3
Elvis Presley "Wooden Heart" 23 March 1961 6
The Marcels "Blue Moon" 4 May 1961 2
Floyd Cramer "On the Rebound" 18 May 1961 1
The Temperance Seven "You're Driving Me Crazy" 25 May 1961 1
Elvis Presley "Surrender" 1 June 1961 4
Del Shannon "Runaway" 29 June 1961 3
The Everly Brothers "Temptation" 20 July 1961 2
Eden Kane "Well I Ask You" 3 August 1961 1
Helen Shapiro "You Don't Know" 10 August 1961 3
John Leyton "Johnny Remember Me" 31 August 1961 3
Shirley Bassey "Reach for the Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" 21 September 1961 1
John Leyton "Johnny Remember Me" 28 September 1961 1
The Shadows "Kon-Tiki" 5 October 1961 1
The Highwaymen "Michael" 12 October 1961 1
Helen Shapiro "Walkin' Back to Happiness" 19 October 1961 3
Elvis Presley "Little Sister" / "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" 9 November 1961 4
Frankie Vaughan "Tower of Strength" 7 December 1961 3
Danny Williams "Moon River" 28 December 1961 2
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "The Young Ones" 11 January 1962 6
Elvis Presley "Rock-A-Hula Baby" / "Can't Help Falling in Love" 22 February 1962 4[nb 4]
The Shadows "Wonderful Land" 22 March 1962 8
B. Bumble and the Stingers "Nut Rocker" 17 May 1962 1
Elvis Presley "Good Luck Charm" 24 May 1962 5
Mike Sarne with Wendy Richard "Come Outside" 28 June 1962 2
Ray Charles "I Can't Stop Loving You" 12 July 1962 2
Frank Ifield "I Remember You" 26 July 1962 7
Elvis Presley "She's Not You" 13 September 1962 3
The Tornados "Telstar" 4 October 1962 5
Frank Ifield "Lovesick Blues" 8 November 1962 5
Elvis Presley "Return to Sender" 13 December 1962 3
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" 3 January 1963 3[nb 5]
The Shadows "Dance On!" 24 January 1963 1
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan "Diamonds" 31 January 1963 3
Frank Ifield "The Wayward Wind" 21 February 1963 3
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "Summer Holiday" 14 March 1963 2
The Shadows "Foot Tapper" 28 March 1963 1
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "Summer Holiday" 4 April 1963 1
Gerry & The Pacemakers "How Do You Do It?" 11 April 1963 3
The Beatles "From Me to You" 2 May 1963 7
Gerry & The Pacemakers "I Like It" 20 June 1963 4
Frank Ifield "Confessin' (That I Love You)" 18 July 1963 2
Elvis Presley "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" 1 August 1963 1
The Searchers "Sweets for My Sweet" 8 August 1963 2
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas "Bad to Me" 22 August 1963 3
The Beatles "She Loves You" 12 September 1963 4
Brian Poole and The Tremeloes "Do You Love Me" 10 October 1963 3
Gerry & The Pacemakers "You'll Never Walk Alone" 31 October 1963 4
The Beatles "She Loves You" 28 November 1963 2
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 12 December 1963 5
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
The Dave Clark Five "Glad All Over" 16 January 1964 2
The Searchers "Needles and Pins" 30 January 1964 3
The Bachelors "Diane" 20 February 1964 1
Cilla Black "Anyone Who Had a Heart" 27 February 1964 3
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas "Little Children" 19 March 1964 2
The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" 2 April 1964 3
Peter & Gordon "A World Without Love" 23 April 1964 2
The Searchers "Don't Throw Your Love Away" 7 May 1964 2
The Four Pennies "Juliet" 21 May 1964 1
Cilla Black "You're My World (Il Mio Mondo)" 28 May 1964 4
Roy Orbison "It's Over" 25 June 1964 2
The Animals "House of the Rising Sun" 9 July 1964 1
The Rolling Stones "It's All Over Now" 16 July 1964 1
The Beatles "A Hard Day's Night" 23 July 1964 3
Manfred Mann "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" 13 August 1964 2
The Honeycombs "Have I the Right?" 27 August 1964 2
The Kinks "You Really Got Me" 10 September 1964 2
Herman's Hermits "I'm Into Something Good" 24 September 1964 2
Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman" 8 October 1964 2
Sandie Shaw "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" 22 October 1964 3
Roy Orbison "Oh, Pretty Woman" 12 November 1964 1
The Supremes "Baby Love" 19 November 1964 2
The Rolling Stones "Little Red Rooster" 3 December 1964 1
The Beatles "I Feel Fine" 10 December 1964 5
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Georgie Fame "Yeh Yeh" 14 January 1965 2
The Moody Blues "Go Now" 28 January 1965 1
The Righteous Brothers "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" 4 February 1965 2
The Kinks "Tired of Waiting for You" 18 February 1965 1
The Seekers "I'll Never Find Another You" 25 February 1965 2
Tom Jones "It's Not Unusual" 11 March 1965 1
The Rolling Stones "The Last Time" 18 March 1965 3
Unit 4 + 2 "Concrete and Clay" 8 April 1965 1
Cliff Richard "The Minute You're Gone" 15 April 1965 1
The Beatles "Ticket to Ride" 22 April 1965 3
Roger Miller "King of the Road" 13 May 1965 1
Jackie Trent "Where Are You Now (My Love)" 20 May 1965 1
Sandie Shaw "Long Live Love" 27 May 1965 3
Elvis Presley "Crying in the Chapel" 17 June 1965 1
The Hollies "I'm Alive" 24 June 1965 1
Elvis Presley "Crying In The Chapel" 1 July 1965 1
The Hollies "I'm Alive" 8 July 1965 2
The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" 22 July 1965 2
The Beatles "Help!" 5 August 1965 3
Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe" 26 August 1965 2
The Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" 9 September 1965 2
The Walker Brothers "Make It Easy on Yourself" 23 September 1965 1
Ken Dodd "Tears" 30 September 1965 5
The Rolling Stones "Get Off of My Cloud" 4 November 1965 3
The Seekers "The Carnival Is Over" 25 November 1965 3
The Beatles "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" 16 December 1965 5
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
The Spencer Davis Group "Keep On Running" 20 January 1966 1
The Overlanders "Michelle" 27 January 1966 3
Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" 17 February 1966 4
The Walker Brothers "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" 17 March 1966 4
The Spencer Davis Group "Somebody Help Me" 14 April 1966 2
Dusty Springfield "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" 28 April 1966 1
Manfred Mann "Pretty Flamingo" 5 May 1966 3
The Rolling Stones "Paint It, Black" 26 May 1966 1
Frank Sinatra "Strangers in the Night" 2 June 1966 3
The Beatles "Paperback Writer" 23 June 1966 2
The Kinks "Sunny Afternoon" 7 July 1966 2
Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames "Getaway" 21 July 1966 1
Chris Farlowe "Out of Time" 28 July 1966 1
The Troggs "With a Girl Like You" 4 August 1966 2
The Beatles "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" 18 August 1966 4
Small Faces "All or Nothing" 15 September 1966 1
Jim Reeves "Distant Drums" 22 September 1966 5
Four Tops "Reach Out I'll Be There" 27 October 1966 3
The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" 17 November 1966 2
Tom Jones "Green, Green Grass of Home" 1 December 1966 7
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
The Monkees "I'm a Believer" 19 January 1967 4
Petula Clark "This Is My Song" 16 February 1967 2
Engelbert Humperdinck "Release Me" 2 March 1967 6
Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra "Somethin' Stupid" 13 April 1967 2
Sandie Shaw "Puppet on a String" 27 April 1967 3
The Tremeloes "Silence Is Golden" 18 May 1967 3
Procol Harum "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 8 June 1967 6
The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" 19 July 1967 3
Scott McKenzie "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" 9 August 1967 4
Engelbert Humperdinck "The Last Waltz" 6 September 1967 5
Bee Gees "Massachusetts" 11 October 1967 4
The Foundations "Baby Now That I've Found You" 8 November 1967 2
Long John Baldry "Let the Heartaches Begin" 22 November 1967 2
The Beatles "Hello, Goodbye" 6 December 1967 7
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Georgie Fame "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde" 24 January 1968 1
Love Affair "Everlasting Love" 31 January 1968 2
Manfred Mann "Mighty Quinn" 14 February 1968 2
Esther and Abi Ofarim "Cinderella Rockefella" 28 February 1968 3
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich "The Legend of Xanadu" 20 March 1968 1
The Beatles "Lady Madonna" 27 March 1968 2
Cliff Richard "Congratulations" 10 April 1968 2
Louis Armstrong "What a Wonderful World" / "Cabaret" 24 April 1968 4
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap "Young Girl" 22 May 1968 4
The Rolling Stones "Jumpin' Jack Flash" 19 June 1968 2
The Equals "Baby Come Back" 3 July 1968 3
Des O'Connor "I Pretend" 24 July 1968 1
Tommy James and the Shondells "Mony Mony" 31 July 1968 2
Crazy World of Arthur Brown "Fire" 14 August 1968 1
Tommy James and the Shondells "Mony Mony" 21 August 1968 1
The Beach Boys "Do It Again" 28 August 1968 1
Bee Gees "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" 4 September 1968 1
The Beatles "Hey Jude" 11 September 1968 2
Mary Hopkin "Those Were the Days" 25 September 1968 6
Joe Cocker "With a Little Help from My Friends" 6 November 1968 1
Hugo Montenegro "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" 13 November 1968 4
The Scaffold "Lily the Pink" 11 December 1968 3
Artist[nb 2] Single[nb 2] Reached
number 1[nb 2][nb 3] 		Weeks at
number 1[nb 2]
Marmalade "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" 1 January 1969 1
The Scaffold "Lily the Pink" 8 January 1969 1
Marmalade "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" 15 January 1969 2
Fleetwood Mac "Albatross" 29 January 1969 1
The Move "Blackberry Way" 5 February 1969 1
Amen Corner "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" 12 February 1969 2
Peter Sarstedt "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" 26 February 1969 4
Marvin Gaye "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" 26 March 1969 3
Desmond Dekker & The Aces "Israelites" 16 April 1969 1
The Beatles with Billy Preston "Get Back" 23 April 1969 6
Tommy Roe "Dizzy" 4 June 1969 1
The Beatles "The Ballad of John and Yoko" 11 June 1969 3
Thunderclap Newman "Something in the Air" 2 July 1969 3
The Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women" 23 July 1969 5
Zager and Evans "In The Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" 26 August 1969 3
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Bad Moon Rising" 16 September 1969 3
Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg "Je t'aime... moi non plus" 7 October 1969 1
Bobbie Gentry "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" 14 October 1969 1
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" 21 October 1969 8
Rolf Harris "Two Little Boys" 16 December 1969 6

By artist

The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1960s.

Artist Number-one hits
The Beatles 17
Elvis Presley 11
The Rolling Stones 8
Cliff Richard 7
The Shadows 5
Frank Ifield 4
The Everly Brothers 3
Georgie Fame 3
Gerry and the Pacemakers 3
The Kinks 3
Roy Orbison 3
Sandie Shaw 3
The Searchers 3

Million-selling and gold records

Although official music recording sales certifications were not introduced until the British Phonographic Industry was formed in 1973, Disc introduced an initiative in 1959 to present a gold record to singles that sold over one million units.[31] Information about when a record was classified gold by Disc is "not well documented".[31] The awards relied on record companies correctly compiling and supplying sales information. This could lead to errors, such as The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" incorrectly being awarded a gold disc in January 1970. Such inaccuracies led to the instigation of official classifications by the BPI.[31]

The Shadows instrumental, "Apache", is the first known song to being awarded Disc's gold record but it is disputed whether one million copies were sold.[nb 6] The awarding of fifteen gold records (one erroneously) is documented and, notably, five were awarded to releases by The Beatles. No song is believed to have sold one million copies after 1967 – "The Last Waltz" by Engelbert Humperdinck – and before BPI instigated its platinum record (still one million units) in 1973.[8][9][32][nb 7]

Artist Song Gold record
(Disc)[31] 		Year of millionth
sale[8][9]
The Shadows "Apache" Yes N/A[nb 6]
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" Yes 1960
Acker Bilk "Stranger on the Shore" Yes 1961–62
Cliff Richard and The Shadows "The Young Ones" Yes 1962
Frank Ifield "I Remember You" Yes 1962
The Beatles "She Loves You" Yes 1963
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" Yes 1963
The Beatles "Can't Buy Me Love" Yes 1964
The Beatles "I Feel Fine" Yes 1964
Ken Dodd "Tears" Yes 1965
The Seekers "The Carnival Is Over" Yes 1965
The Beatles "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" Yes 1965–66
Tom Jones "Green, Green Grass of Home" Yes 1966
Engelbert Humperdinck "Release Me" Yes 1967
Engelbert Humperdinck "The Last Waltz" Yes 1967
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" Yes[nb 8] N/A[nb 8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In the 1960s three songs were the best-selling of the year but did not reach number one:
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao The artist, song name, date of number-one and duration are those given by The Official Charts Company.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j There are discrepancies in when a single reached number one prior to 30 August 1969. As of 2010 the Official Chart Company website lists all weeks as ending on the Saturday back until 20 March 1960. However, the old Official Chart Company lists chart weeks from 19 July 1967 until 23 July 1969 as ending on a Wednesday, weeks from 10 March 1960 until 8 June 1967 as ending on a Thursday, and weeks prior to 5 February 1960 as ending on a Friday.[nb 2]
  4. ^ Although the The Official Chart Company list of number ones for 1962 says the single was number one for 1 week the site elsewhere and previously stated it as being number one for four weeks.[29][18]
  5. ^ Although the The Official Chart Company list of number ones for 1963 says the single was number one for 1 week the site elsewhere and previously stated it as being number one for three weeks.[30][18]
  6. ^ a b Despite being awarded a gold record (for selling one million units) by Disc,[31] other sources suggest the record did not sell one million copies.[8][9]
  7. ^ The number of sales required to qualify for a platinum record was later dropped in 1989 to the current thresholds of 600,000 units.[32][33][34]
  8. ^ a b "Sugar, Sugar" was erroneously awarded a gold record by Disc having sold approximately 945,000 copies. The RCA informed Disc that one million copies had been shipped, however not all were sold.[31][8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McAleer, Dave. "50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!". davemcaleer.com. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b Leigh, Spencer (20 February 1998). "Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away". The Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  3. ^ a b Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. v. ISBN 1-84449-058-0. Until 15th February 1969, there was no officially compiled chart.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Featured Artists: The Beatles". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  7. ^ Leadbetter, Russell (17 May 2010). "Macca proves he's no sellout". The Herald. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Stats and Facts: Million Sellers". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Million-Selling Singles". everyHit. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Chart Archive - 1960s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  11. ^ McAleer, Dave. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine diferent magazine charts!". davemcaleer.com. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive: 13th January 1962". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  13. ^ "Chart Stats – Acker Bilk – Stranger on the Shore". ChartStats. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Artists: Jim Reeves". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Chart Stats – Jim Reeves – I Love You Because". ChartStats. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  16. ^ "Artists: Frank Sinatra". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  17. ^ "Chart Stats – Frank Sinatra – My Way". ChartStats. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  18. ^ a b c "Number 1 Singles – 1960s". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  19. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1960". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  20. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1961". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  21. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1962". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  22. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1963". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  23. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1964". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  24. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1965". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  25. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1966". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  26. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1967". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  27. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1968". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  28. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1969". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  29. ^ "Featured Artists: Elvis Presley". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  30. ^ "Featured Artists: Cliff Richard". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  31. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Alan. "UK First Charts & Silver Discs". Dave McAleer's website. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  32. ^ a b Gallup (4 February 1989). "The Top of the Pops Chart" (PDF). Record Mirror: 4. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  33. ^ "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  34. ^ "International Certification Award levels" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 2010. p. 7. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
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