Every Number One Song

One of the most unlikely UK Number One hits was the second to appear at the top of the rankings in 1970: Wand’rin’ Star by Lee Marvin. Although the movie of Paint Your Wagon was a box office flop, its accompanying soundtrack became very popular. Lee Marvin was cast in the film as Ben Rumson, and decided to record his own vocals. This particular track took off and featured Marvin’s gruff and gravelly voice, often described as one that could unblock drains. It remained at Number One for three...

The first brand new Number One song of the 1970s was by studio band, Edison Lighthouse. The group was put together quickly for TV appearances, once Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) started to climb the UK music charts rapidly. Tony Burrows provided the lead vocals, finding himself appearing on Britain’s Top of the Pops programme three times in one show. As a session vocalist he also sang on discs by White Plains and Brotherhood of Man. Love Grows remained as the UK NUmber One for five...

Guy Mitchell’s second Number One of 1953 finally put paid to Frankie Laine’s long run at the summit. Mitchell’s song Look At That Girl reached the top of the UK music chart on September 11, 1953 and remained there for six weeks. Surprisingly, it was not a hit in the United States. [There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.] If you’re looking for more of Guy Mitchell’s recordings, you can’t go wrong with Guy Mitchell: The Hits….And More –...

Mantovani and his Orchestra would be the next artist to interrupt Frankie Laine’s long reign at Number One. His recording of Song From The Moulin Rouge hit the top of the British charts on August 14, 1953, but could only manage one week there before Frankie Laine returned for a third stint as the UK’s best selling single. History shows that this was the first instrumental to top the charts, although a recording by Percy Faith’s Orchestra included vocals by Felicia Sanders which were omitted...

The first song to interrupt Frankie Laine’s long run at Number One was this second and final UK chart topper by American crooner, Eddie Fisher. I’m Walking Behind You was released by several singers during 1953, notably Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Young. But it was Fisher’s version that hit pay dirt in both the UK and the USA, where it also hit the Number One spot. Eddie Fisher would stay at the top of the UK charts for only one week (26 June, 1953) before it was replaced by Frankie Laine’s...

The record that holds the title for the most weeks at Number One on the UK Singles chart started its impressive run on April 24, 1953. I Believe by Frankie Laine has become a standard, and over the years, it has been recorded by a multitude of artists. However, most people associate it with Laine who took the song to Number One for 18 (nonconsecutive) weeks during 1953. Its first run was for nine weeks, a second run of six weeks, and finally, a shorter run of three weeks. By the time its reign had come to an end, the summer was over and the kids were back at school. More importantly, Mount Everest