UK Singles Chart Number Ones

The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. Record charts in the UK began life in 1952 when Percy Dickins from New Musical Express (NME) imitated an idea started in American Billboard magazine and began compiling a hit parade. Prior to this, a song's popularity was measured by the sales of sheet music. Initially, Dickins telephoned a sample of around 20 shops asking for a list of the 10 best-selling songs. These results were then aggregated to give a Top 12 chart published in NME on 14 November 1952. The number-one single was "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino.

Links To Peel
In America, Peel worked for many commercial radio stations, that would often play records that were number one hits in the UK and America, including when he came back to Radio London in 1967, where he initially played songs that hit the number one charts in the UK. Later on as a supporter of underground and alternative music, Peel rarely played UK Singles Chart number ones on his BBC Radio One radio shows, except for a few such as David Bowie & Mick Jagger's Dancing In The Street, which was released for charity and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1985 and also old records that reached number one in the 1950's and 1960's.

Peel introduced the UK Singles Chart on Top Of The Pops when he was a presenter on some shows and was offered to host a one-off Radio One Chart Show in January 2003, which some other DJ's did such as Chris Moyles and Jo Whiley before the BBC relaunched the show, however the organisation decided that they didn't want too many DJ's doing the show before it was re-launched and cancelled his appearance.

Number One Singles
The UK Number One singles played by Peel on his radio shows are listed according to when they reached number one first, rather than by alphabetical order.

Performing Artist | Song | First Known Play

1950s
1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
 * Al Martino: Here In My Heart (21 March 2001) (Pig's Big 78)
 * Frankie Laine: Answer Me (23 September 1999) (Peelenium 1953)
 * Frankie Laine: Answer Me (23 September 1999) (Peelenium 1953)
 * Johnnie Ray: Such A Night (03 August 1987)
 * Dickie Valentine: The Finger Of Suspicion (18 October 2001) (Pig's Big 78)
 * Bill Haley & His Comets: Rock Around The Clock (06 September 1978)
 * Bill Haley & His Comets: Rock Around The Clock (06 September 1978)
 * Lonnie Donegan: Cumberland Gap (03 October 1992)
 * Everly Brothers: Claudette (21 April 1972) (Pig's Big 78)
 * Conway Twitty: It's Only Make Believe (25 July 1984)
 * Conway Twitty: It's Only Make Believe (25 July 1984)

1960s
1960 1961 1962
 * None
 * Johnny Tillotson: Poetry In Motion (07 April 1995)
 * B Bumble & The Stingers: Nutrocker (26 December 1970)
 * Mike Sarne: Come Outside (24 April 1973)

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
 * Elvis Presley: Return To Sender (25 October 1999) (Peelenium 1962)
 * Elvis Presley: Return To Sender (25 October 1999) (Peelenium 1962)
 * Gerry & The Pacemakers: How Do You Do It (24 April 1973)
 * Beatles: She Loves You (Partners In Dispute)
 * Gerry & The Pacemakers: You'll Never Walk Alone (24 April 1973)
 * Beatles: I Want To Hold Your Hand (20 August 1976)
 * Beatles: I Want To Hold Your Hand (20 August 1976)
 * Billy J Kramer: Little Children (24 April 1973)
 * Roy Orbison: It's Over (24 October 1992) (Peelenium 1964)
 * Rolling Stones: It's All Over Now (11 June 1980)
 * Kinks: You Really Got Me (28 February 1980)
 * Rolling Stones: Little Red Rooster (03 October 1992)
 * Unit 4 + 2: Concrete Clay (10 January 2002)
 * Hollies: I'm Alive (12 August 1985)
 * Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man (04 September 1978 (Paul Gambaccini))
 * Rolling Stones: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (30 May 1971)
 * Beatles: Day Tripper (02 August 1967)
 * Rolling Stones: Get Off My Cloud (18 July 1967)
 * Beatles: Day Tripper (02 August 1967)
 * Rolling Stones: Paint It Black (08 January 2003)
 * Kinks: Sunny Afternoon (29 October 1967)
 * Beach Boys: Good Vibrations (04 January 2000)
 * Beatles: All You Need Is Love (July 1967 (Radio London))
 * Beatles: Hello Goodbye (John Peel Remembers 1967)
 * Beatles: Hello Goodbye (John Peel Remembers 1967)
 * Manfred Mann: Mighty Quinn (31 December 1967)
 * Rolling Stones: Jumpin' Jack Flash (19 May 1968)
 * Arthur Brown: Fire! (28 April 1968)
 * Beatles: Hey Jude (20 August 1976)
 * Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women (29 June 1969)

1970s
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1980s
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

1990s
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

2000s
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004