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 would play records, that sometimes would go to number one in the UK Singles chart or number one singles that ended up in the Festive Fifty. Other times Peel would sometimes be nostalgic about records that turned out to be old number one singles and play them on his shows.

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 Peel's appearance.

Festive Fifty Entries
UK Number One singles tracks that have been in the Festive Fifty:
 * The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash (Promo Video 1968) HD Festive Fifty: Rolling Stones: Jumpin' Jack Flash #39
 * 1976 Festive Fifty: Rod Stewart: Maggie May #34
 * 1976 Festive Fifty: Jimi Hendrix Experience: Voodoo Chile #16
 * 1976 Festive Fifty: Beatles: Hey Jude #14
 * 1977 Festive Fifty: Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking #02
 * 1979 Festive Fifty: Tubeway Army: Are 'Friends' Electric? #39
 * 1979 Festive Fifty: Specials: Too Much Too Young #36
 * 1981 Festive Fifty: Specials: Ghost Town #21
 * 1982 Festive Fifty (All Time): Specials: Ghost Trian #43
 * 1982 Festive Fifty: Clash: Should I Stay Or Should I Go #26
 * 1982 Festive Fifty: Jam: Town Called Malice #11
 * 1982 Festive Fifty: Dexys Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen #19
 * 1982 Festive Fifty: Musical Youth: Pass The Dutchie #36
 * 1984 Festive Fifty: Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Two Tribes #25
 * 1987 Festive Fifty: M/A/R/R/S: Pump Up The Volume #46
 * 1996 Festive Fifty: Prodigy: Firestarter #37
 * 1996 Festive Fifty: White Town: Your Woman #31
 * 1997 Festive Fifty: Cornershop: Brimful Of Asha #01
 * 2000 Festive Fifty (All Time): Beach Boys: Good Vibrations #46

Peelenium
UK Number One singles tracks that have been in the Peelenium:
 * Frankie Laine - Answer Menium 1953: Frankie Laine: Answer Me
 * Peelenium 1962: Elvis Presley: Return To Sender
 * Peelenium 1964: Roy Orbison: It's Over
 * Peelenium 1971: Tams: Hey Girl Don't Bother Me
 * Peelenium 1971: Rod Stewart: Maggie May
 * Peelenium 1971: Nilsson: Without You
 * Peelenium 1974: Status Quo: Down Down
 * Peelenium 1981: Specials: Ghost Town

Pig's Big 78
UK Number One singles tracks that have been in the Pig's Big 78:
 * Al Martino: Here In My Heart
 * Dickie Valentine: The Finger Of Suspicion
 * Everly Brothers: Claudette

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
 * Johnny Kidd & The Pirates: Shakin' All Over (14 November 1977)
 * 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)
 * Chris Farlowe: Out Of Time (30 September 1982)
 * Small Faces: All Or Nothing (18 August 1976)
 * Beach Boys: Good Vibrations (04 January 2000) (All Time 2000 Festive Fifty #46)
 * Beatles: All You Need Is Love (July 1967 (Radio London))
 * Scott McKenzie: San Francisco (17 July 1967)
 * Engelbert Humperdinck: The Last Waltz (John Peel Remembers 1967)
 * 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) (1976 Festive Fifty #39)
 * Arthur Brown: Fire! (28 April 1968)
 * Beatles: Hey Jude (20 August 1976) (1976 Festive Fifty #14)
 * Joe Cocker: With A Little Help From My Friends (22 September 1968)
 * Scaffold: Lily The Pink (27 October 1968)
 * Scaffold: Lily The Pink (27 October 1968)
 * Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through The Grapevine (20 October 2004)
 * Desmond Dekker: Israelites (10 April 1980)
 * Rolling Stones: Honky Tonk Women (29 June 1969)
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bad Moon Rising (11 May 1969)

1970s
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
 * Norman Greenbaum: Spirit In The Sky (21 February 1970)
 * Mungo Jerry: In The Summertime (23 May 1970)
 * Smokey Robinson and The Miracles: The Tears Of A Clown (27 November 1979)
 * Freda Payne: Band Of Gold (30 August 1979)
 * Matthews Southern Comfort: Woodstock (12 August 1976)
 * Jimi Hendrix Experience: Voodoo Chile (12 May 1972) (1976 Festive Fifty #16)
 * George Harrison: My Sweet Lord (26 December 1970)
 * T. Rex: Hot Love (16 December 2004)
 * T. Rex: Get It On (31 August 1981)
 * Tams: Hey Girl Don't Bother Me (11 November 1999) (Peelenium 1971)
 * Rod Stewart: Maggie May (18 August 1976) (Peelenium 1971)
 * T. Rex: Telegram Sam (25 January 1972)
 * Chicory Tip: Son Of My Father (04 September 1992)
 * Nilsson: Without You (11 November 1999) (Peelenium 1971)
 * T. Rex: Metal Guru (30 March 1981)
 * Alice Cooper: Schools Out (20 June 1972)
 * Rod Stewart: You Wear It Well (14 July 1972)
 * 10cc: Rubber Bullets (03 April 1973)
 * Mud: Lonely This Christmas (20 December 2001)
 * Mud: Lonely This Christmas (20 December 2001)
 * Status Quo: Down Down (24 June 1999) (Peelenium 1974)
 * Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) (14 September 1999)
 * 10cc: I'm Not In Love (19 December 1975)
 * David Bowie: Space Oddity (06 July 1969)
 * Rod Stewart: Sailing (19 December 1975)
 * None
 * Rod Stewart: I Don't Want To Talk About (24 December 1976)
 * Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking (11 October 1977) (1977 Festive Fifty #02)
 * Boomtown Rats: Rat Trap (29 September 1978)
 * Ian Dury And The Blockheads: Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (04 December 1978)
 * Tubeway Army: Are 'Friends' Electric? (24 May 1979) (1979 Festive Fifty #39)
 * Gary Numan: Cars (25 June 1979)
 * Police: Message In A Bottle (30 July 1979)
 * Pink Floyd: Another Brick In The Wall (12 November 1979)

1980s
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
 * Pink Floyd: Another Brick In The Wall (12 November 1979)
 * Specials: Too Much Too Young (15 January 1980) (1979 Festive Fifty #36)
 * Jam: Going Underground (26 February 1980)
 * Dexys Midnight Runners: Geno (13 March 1980)
 * Jam: Start! (04 August 1980)
 * John Lennon: Imagine (10 April 1975)
 * Adam & The Ants: Stand And Deliver! (04 May 1981)
 * Specials: Ghost Town (02 June 1981) (1981 Festive Fifty #21) (All Time 1982 Festive Fifty #43) (Peelenium 1981)
 * Adam & The Ants: Prince Charming (15 September 1981)
 * Human League: Don't You Want Me (05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles))
 * Human League: Don't You Want Me (05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles))
 * Jam: Town Called Malice (18 February 1982) (1982 Festive Fifty #11)
 * Dexys Midnight Runners: Come On Eileen (27 December 1982) (1982 Festive Fifty #19)
 * Musical Youth: Pass The Dutchie (24 August 1982) (1982 Festive Fifty #36)
 * Jam: Beat Surrender (25 November 1982)
 * None
 * Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Relax (01 December 1983)
 * Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Two Tribes (25 December 1984) (1984 Festive Fifty #25)
 * Frankie Goes To Hollywood: The Power Of Love (29 October 1984)
 * Paul Hardcastle: 19 (26 August 1985)
 * David Bowie & Mick Jagger: Dancing In The Street (19 August 1985)
 * Housemartins: Caravan Of Love (14 April 1986)
 * M/A/R/R/S: Pump Up The Volume (August 1987 (Rockradio)) (1987 Festive Fifty #46)
 * None
 * None

1990s
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
 * England New Order: World In Motion (09 May 1990)
 * Clash: Should I Stay Or Should I Go (22 December 1982) (1982 Festive Fifty #26)
 * Shamen: Ebeneezer Goode (31 July 1992)
 * Shaggy: Oh Carolina (06 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles))
 * George Michael & Queen: Somebody To Love (07 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles))
 * None
 * None
 * Prodigy: Firestarter (22 December 1996) (1996 Festive Fifty #37)
 * Fugees: Ready Or Not (06 April 1996)
 * White Town: Your Woman (22 December 1996) (1996 Festive Fifty #31)
 * Blur: Beetlebum (05 May 1997)
 * Cornershop: Brimful Of Asha (30 July 1997) (1997 Festive Fifty #01)
 * None

2000s
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
 * None
 * None
 * George Harrison: My Sweet Lord (26 December 1970)
 * None
 * None