Biggest #1 Songs in UK Chart History

UK Official Charts Biggest #1 Songs

This list ranks the biggest songs in the history of the UK singles charts from 1947 to present based on most weeks at #1. All songs with six or more weeks atop the chart have been included on this list. Ties are broken by the songs’ rankings in the overall Dave’s Music Database. Check other lists based on charts, sales, and airplay here. 26 weeks: Bing Crosby “Galway Bay” (1949) 21 weeks: The Ink Spots “Bless You for Being an Angel” (1947) 18 weeks: Frankie Laine “I Believe” (1953) 16 weeks: Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You“ (1991) 15 weeks: Drake with Wizkid & Kyla “One Dance” Wet Wet Wet “Love Is All Around” (1994) 14 weeks: Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” 12 weeks: Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (1951) Jimmy Young “Too Young” (1951) 11 weeks: Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber “Despacito” Tones and I “Dance Monkey” (2019) Ed Sheeran “Bad Habits” (2021) Billy Eckstine “My Foolish Heart” (1950) Slim Whitman “Rose Marie” (1955) Teresa Brewer “Longing for You” (1951) 10 weeks: Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992) Rihanna with Jay-Z “Umbrella” (2007) Vera Lynn “Auf Wiedersheh’n Sweetheart” (1952) Les Paul & Mary Ford “Mockin’ Bird Hill” (1951) Nat “King” Cole “Unforgettable” (1951) David Whitfield with Mantovani & His Orchestra “Cara Mia” (1954) 9 weeks: Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” (2006) Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never” (1960) Olivia Newton-John with John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (1978) Drake “God’s Plan” (2018) Paul Anka “Diana” (1957) Olivia Rodrigo “Drivers License” Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” / “Girls’ School” (1977) Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Two Tribes” (1984) Al Martino “Here in My Heart” (1952) Clean Bandit with Sean Paul & Anne-Marie “Rockabye” (2016) Anita O’Day “Tennessee Waltz” (1951) Eddie Calvert “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) Vera Lynn “The Homing Waltz” (1952) Alma Cogan “The Homing Waltz” (1952) 8 weeks: The Archies “Sugar, Sugar” (1969) The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2019) Ed Sheeran with Justin Bieber “I Don’t Care” (2019) Adele “Easy on Me” (2021) Calvin Harris with Dua Lipa “One Kiss” (2018) Doris Day “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” (1950) Shakespear’s Sister “Stay” (1992) Mel Tormé “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” (1950) Perry Como “Magic Moments” (1958) Frankie Laine “Answer Me, Lord Above” (1953) The Shadows “Wonderful Land” (1962) 7 weeks: Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014) Elvis Presley “ All Shook Up” (1957) The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958) Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996) Cher “Believe” (1998) Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (2007) Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993) The Everly Brothers “Cathy’s Clown” / “Claudette” (1960) Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (1950) Mungo Jerry “In the Summertime” (1970) Lewis Capaldi “Someone You Loved” (2018) The Beatles “Hello Goodbye” (1967) Frank Ifield “I Remember You” (1962) Oliva Newton-John with John Travolta “Summer Nights” (1978) Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” (1956) Tom Jones “Green, Green Grass of Home” (1966) Harry Belafonte “Mary’s Boy Child” (1956) Tab Hunter “Young Love” (1956) The Beatles “From Me to You” (1963) Celine Dion “Think Twice” (1994) Tony Christie with Peter Kay “Is This the Way to Amarillo?” (2005) Robson & Jerome “Unchained Melody/The White Cliffs of Dover” (1995) Encanto Cast “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (2021) Tennessee Ernie Ford “Give Me Your Word” (1955) Eve Young “Silver Dollar (Roll Roll Roll)” (1950) 6 weeks: Abba “Dancing Queen (1976) Procol Harum “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967) Gene Autry “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949) The Beatles “She Loves You (1963) George Harrison “My Sweet Lord (1970) Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011) Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” (2017) Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You” (1997) The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (1969) Stevie Wonder “I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984) Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015) Elton John with Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976) Ariana Grande “Thank U, Next” (2018) Culture Club “Karma Chameleon” (1983) Doris Day “Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Que Sera)” (1956) Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello “Señorita” (2019) Lionel Richie “Hello” (1983) Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake “Where Is the Love?” (2003) Connie Francis “Who’s Sorry Now?” (1958) Engelbert Humperdinck “Release Me” (1967) Mary Hopkin “Those Were the Days” (1968) Teresa Brewer with Dixieland All Stars “Music! Music! Music!” (1950) DaBaby with Roddy Ricch “Rockstar” (2020) Snap! “Rhythm Is a Dancer” (1992) Ariana Grande “Positions” (2020) Freda Payne “Band of Gold” (1970) Brotherhood of Man “Save Your Kisses for Me” (1976) Elvis Presley “The Wonder of You” (1970) Michael Jackson “Earth Song” (1995) Bing Crosby “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1950) Cliff Richard & the Drifters “Living Doll” (1959) Elvis Presley “Wooden Heart” (1961) Art Garfunkel “Bright Eyes” (1979) T-Rex “Hot Love” (1971) Dave Edmunds “I Hear You Knocking” (1970) Black Box “Ride on Time” (1989) Cliff Richard & the Shadows “The Young Ones” (1962) Emile Ford & the Checkmates “What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?” (1969) Rolf Harris “Two Little Boys” (1969) Bay City Rollers “Bye Bye Baby” (1975) Connie Francis “Stupid Cupid” / “Carolina Moon” (1958) Run-D.M.C. with Jason Nevins “It’s Like That” (1998) Jo Stafford “No Other Love” (1950) Joel Corry with MNEK “Head & Heart” (2020) East 17 “Stay Another Day” (1994) Ronnie Hilton “No Other Love” (1956) Calvin Harris with Sam Smith “Promises” (2018) Guy Mitchell “Look at That Girl” (1953) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lists Based on Charts, Sales, and Airplay” Official Charts (4/1/2022). “All the Number One Singles” First posted 4/18/2015; last updated 4/2/2022.

The Marcels hit #1 with “Blue Moon”: April 3, 1961

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Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart made their names as giants of musical theater having written The Garrick Gaieties (1925), A Connecticut Yankee (1927), and Present Arms (1928). Ironically, though, their biggest-selling song TY didn’t become a hit because of an appearance in a musical or movie. The pair wrote a song intended for a 1933 Jean Harlow film which has been said to be called “The Prayer” ^TY and “Make Me a Star.” ^BR1 It underwent several revisions, becoming “The Bad in Every Man” and “Act One,” but continued to be passed over for movies.

Jack Robbins, the head of MGM’s musical publishing division, heard the song and said he’d promote it if the lyrics were rewritten to be more commercial. ^KL The resulting “Blue Moon” became a #1 hit for Glen Gray in 1935. That same year, Benny Goodman had a #2 hit with it and Al Bowlly and Ray Noble took it to #5. In 1949, the song charted again thanks to its appearance in the 1948 film Words and Music. Mel Torme took it to #20 and Billy Eckstine got to #21.

After that, it was featured in movies frequently, including With a Song in My Heart (1952), This Could Be the Night (1957), New York, New York (1977), and An American Werewolf in London (1981). Elvis Presley recorded the song while at Sun Records and had a minor hit with it. However, the song got its biggest boost from a quintet from Pittsburgh who were named after a popular hairstyle. ^BR1

The Marcels went into the studio to record four songs. One was “Blue Moon,” a song which only one of the members knew, but he’d taught to the rest of the group in an hour. In their final eight minutes of recording time, they recorded two takes of the song. The vocal arrangement was borrowed from The Collegians’ 1957 doo-wop classic “Zoom Zoom Zoom,” ^TB a move which Richard Rodgers called “an abomination.” ^KL After New York DJ Murray the K played the Marcels’ recording 26 times one one show at WINS radio, ^BR1 became a hit, launching a doo-wop revival. ^TB It hit #1 in the U.S. on the pop and R&B charts and also topped the charts in the UK.

Blue Moon

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Awards:

• one of the top 1000 songs of all time
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll
• one of the top 20 doo-wop songs of all time
• one of the top 100 songs of the 1960s

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Resources and Related Links:

• DMDB page for “Blue Moon”
• Richard Rodgers’ DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry
• Lorenz Hart’s DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry
• ^BR1 Fred Bronson (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (5th edition). New York, NY: Billboard Books. Page 87.
• ^JA David A. Jasen. (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 24.
• ^KL Jon Kutner/Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits: The Stories Behind Every Number One Single Since 1952. London, Great Britain: Omnibus Press. Page 74.
• ^TB Thunder Bay Press (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 50.
• ^TY Don Tyler (1985). Hit Parade 1920-1955. New York, NY: Quill. Pages 72-3.
• ^PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Page 478.

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Today in Music (1935): “Blue Moon” charted for the first of 9 times on the U.S. pop charts

Blue Moon Glen Gray

Writer(s): Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart (see lyrics here) First Charted: January 5, 1935 Peak: 13 US, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 0.11 video, 0.13 streaming

Blue Moon The Marcels

First Charted: February 27, 1961 Peak: 13 US, 13 CB, 13 HR, 12 RB, 1 UK, 12 CN, 4 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 16.13 video, 34.38 streaming

Awards (Glen Gray version): Click on award for more details. Awards (The Marcels version): Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart made their names as giants of musical theater having written The Garrick Gaieties (1925), A Connecticut Yankee (1927), and Present Arms (1928). Ironically, though, their biggest-selling song TY didn’t become a hit because of an appearance in a musical or movie. The pair wrote a song intended for a 1933 Jean Harlow film which has been said to be called “The Prayer” TY and “Make Me a Star.” FB It underwent several revisions, becoming “The Bad in Every Man” and “Act One,” but continued to be passed over for movies. Jack Robbins, the head of MGM’s musical publishing division, heard the song and said he’d promote it if the lyrics were rewritten to be more commercial. KL The resulting “Blue Moon” became a #1 hit for Glen Gray in 1935. That same year, Benny Goodman had a #2 hit with it and Al Bowlly and Ray Noble took it to #5. In 1949, the song charted again thanks to its appearance in the 1948 film Words and Music. Mel Torme took it to #20 and Billy Eckstine got to #21. After that, it was featured in movies frequently, including With a Song in My Heart (1952), This Could Be the Night (1957), New York, New York (1977), and An American Werewolf in London (1981). Bob Dylan said, “Anyone can play and sing it.” BD He also called it “a universal song that can appeal to anybody at any time.” BD Elvis Presley recorded the song while at Sun Records and had a minor hit with it. However, the song got its biggest boost from a quintet from Pittsburgh who were named after a popular hairstyle. FB In 1961, The Marcels revived the song as a doo-wop hit, showing that “Blue Moon” had an appeal that crossed genres and eras. Dylan said, “The song has traveled through time and crossed every cultural abyss. It has been country crooned and soulfully invoked. It is a cornerstone of doo-wop and a springboard for jazz improvisation.” BD The Marcels went in the studio to record four songs. In their final eight minutes of recording time, they recorded two takes of “Blue Moon.” The vocal arrangement was borrowed from The Collegians’ 1957 doo-wop classic “Zoom Zoom Zoom,” TB a move which Richard Rodgers called “an abomination.” KL After New York DJ Murray the K played the Marcels’ recording 26 times one one show at WINS radio, FB became a hit, launching a doo-wop revival. TB It hit #1 on the U.S. pop and R&B charts and also landed on top of the UK charts. Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Richard Rodgers DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Lorenz Hart DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Glen Gray DMDB Encyclopedia entry for The Marcels FB Fred Bronson (2007). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits (4th edition). Billboard Books: New York, NY. Page 87. BD Bob Dylan (2022). The Philosophy of Modern Song. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. Pages 225-9. KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh. (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press: London, UK. Page 74. TB Thunder Bay Press. (2006). Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts. Outline Press Ltd.: San Diego, CA. Page 50. TY Don Tyler (1985). Hit Parade 1920-1955. New York, NY: Quill. Pages 72-3. First posted 1/5/2013; last updated 11/5/2022.