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Posted by: AH Gold Jul 19 2009, 08:36 PM

Does anyone have the Top 100 biggest selling singles of the 1970s. I know Wings - Mull Of Kintyre is No.1, and I heard Wizzard - See My Baby Jive is at 100. Anyone know what's in between?

Also, anyone know the biggest selling single not to reach the UK Top 40/75?

Posted by: zeus555 Jul 19 2009, 08:54 PM

THE UK's TOP 100 BEST SELLING SINGLES OF THE 1970's

NOTE - I've long since realised that this Top 100 is not very accurate, as regards
several of the Hits in it. I over-estimated the Sales of T. Rex Hits, for a start.
Unfortunately someone took this Top 100 & added it to Wikipedia, as their Page
on the UK's Best Selling Singles of the 1970's. I had nothing to do with this,
(inaccurate), Top 100 being added to Wikipedia. Nor do I know who added it.
I did not even know that this Top 100 was on Wikipedia until an extremely
rude fellow was very nasty towards me about it on the Haven Chart Site.
I had long since forgotten about this Top 100, when I realised that it was
not good enough. So, I denied that the Wikipedia List was anything to do
with me. Not because I was lying, but because I truly had forgotten all
about it. (I've since come up with 1970's Top 100's that are far better).

(As compiled by me - using Sales Data gathered by I, & several other Guys in recent Years)

*** = Indicates a Hit that was not a No.1. They are mainly No.2 Hits - unless otherwise stated

Some of these Singles were Re-Issued Hits - after the 1970's. I've only counted their 1970's Sales.
This includes the the 1979 Sales of No.54 - 'Another Brick In The Wall', by Pink Floyd. It has sold
about 995,000 altogether, but about 230,000 of them were in 1980.

[01] MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - Wings (1977) 2,050,000
[02] RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - Boney M (1978) 1,985,000
[03] YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978) 1,855,000
[04] MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - Boney M (1978) 1,799,000
[05] SUMMER NIGHTS - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978) 1,520,000
[06] YMCA - Village People (1979) 1,380,000
[07] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen (1975) 1,190,000
[08] HEART OF GLASS - Blondie (1979) 1,180,000
[09] BRIGHT EYES - Art Garfunkel (1979) 1,155,000
[10] DON'T GIVE UP ON US - David Soul (1977) 1,145,000
[11] I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter (1973) 1,140,000
[12] SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - Brotherhood Of Man (1976) 1,007,000
[13] MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade (1973) 1,006,000
[14] EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra (1972) 1,005,500
[15] LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond (1972) 998,000
[16] DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - Julie Covington (1977) 993,000
[17] I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - New Seekers (1972) 990,000
[18] TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn (1973) 988,000
[19] UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - Showaddywaddy (1976) 985,000
[20] HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - Ian Dury & The Blockheads (1979) 979,500
[21] AMAZING GRACE - Pipes, Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (1972) 962,000
[22] SAILING - Rod Stewart (1975/1976) 955,000
[23] MISSISSIPPI - Pussycat (1976) 947,000
[24] THREE TIMES A LADY - Commodores (1978) 910,000
[25] WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE - Cliff Richard (1979) 900,000
[26] THE FLORAL DANCE - Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (1977) 860,000 ***
[27] YOU WON'T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - New Seekers (1973) 855,000
[28] I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS - Boomtown Rats (1979) 855,000
[29] DANCING QUEEN - ABBA (1976) 850,000
[30] WHEN A CHILD IS BORN (SOLEADO) - Johnny Mathis (1976) 850,000
[31] ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC - Tubeway Army (1979) 850,000
[32] THE SMURF SONG - Father Abraham & The Smurfs (1978) 845,000 ***
[33] WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson (1972/1976) 841,000
[34] DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John & Kiki Dee (1976) 835,000
[35] WELCOME HOME - Peters And Lee (1973) 815,000
[36] WHEN I NEED YOU - Leo Sayer (1977) 810,000
[37] I WILL SURVIVE - Gloria Gaynor (1979) 810,000
[38] WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - Dr Hook (1979) 805,000
[39] HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE - Bee Gees (1977) 801,000 *** (No.3)
[40] MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison (1971) 800,000
[41] IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - Chicago (1976) 795,000
[42] MOULDY OLD DOUGH - Lieutenant Pigeon (1972) 790,000
[43] PUPPY LOVE - Donny Osmond (1972) 785,000
[44] A LITTLE BIT MORE - Dr Hook (1976) 780,000 ***
[45] MY DING-A-LING - Chuck Berry (1972) 780,000
[46] SILVER LADY - David Soul (1977) 775,000
[47] KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU - ABBA (1977) 775,000
[48] MY COO-CA-CHOO - Alvin Stardust (1973) 773,000 ***
[49] GRANDAD - Clive Dunn (1970) 772,000
[50] LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS - Mud (1974) 772,000
[51] WAY DOWN - Elvis Presley (1977) 770,000
[52] ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST) - Benny Hill (1971) 770,000
[53] I FEEL LOVE - Donna Summer (1977) 765,000
[54] ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL - Pink Floyd (1979) 765,000
[55] NIGHT FEVER - Bee Gees (1978) 760,000
[56] SUNDAY GIRL - Blondie (1979) 760,000
[57] BYE BYE BABY - Bay City Rollers (1975) 755,000
[58] BILLY DON'T BE A HERO - Paper Lace (1974) 755,000
[59] DANCE AWAY - Roxy Music (1979) 750,000 ***
[60] RAT TRAP - Boomtown Rats (1978) 750,000
[61] GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR - David Essex (1974) 750,000
[62] IN THE SUMMERTIME - Mungo Jerry (1970) 750,000
[63] FERNANDO - ABBA (1976) 745,000
[64] I'M THE LEADER OF THE GANG (I AM) - Gary Glitter (1973) 745,000
[65] SO YOU WIN AGAIN - Hot Chocolate (1977) 740,000
[66] SEE MY BABY JIVE - Wizzard (1973) 740,000
[67] TAKE A CHANCE ON ME - ABBA (1978) 740,000
[68] BLOCKBUSTER - Sweet (1973) 735,000
[69] MAGGIE MAY/REASON TO BELIEVE - Rod Stewart (1971/1976) 735,000
[70] THE WONDER OF YOU - Elvis Presley (1970) 735,000
[71] I HEAR YOU KNOCKING - Dave Edmunds (1970) 735,000
[72] YES SIR I CAN BOOGIE - Baccara (1977) 730,000
[73] TIGER FEET - Mud (1974) 730,000
[74] ANGELO - Brotherhood Of Man (1977) 725,000
[75] LOVE ME FOR A REASON - The Osmonds (1974) 725,000
[76] CHANSON D'AMOUR - Manhattan Transfer (1977) 720,000
[77] ROCKING ALL OVER THE WORLD - Status Quo (1977) 715,000 *** (No.3)
[78] BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 710,000
[79] CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP CHEEP - Middle Of The Road (1971) 710,000
[80] SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks (1974) 700,000
[81] BLACK IS BLACK - La Belle Epoque (1977) 700,000 ***
[82] KNOCK THREE TIMES - Dawn (1971) 700,000
[83] CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE - Slade (1973) 695,000
[84] AMAZING GRACE - Judy Collins (1970) 690,000 *** (No.5)
[85] HOT LOVE - T.Rex (1971) (690,000)
[86] I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING (BUT MY LOVE) - The Stylistics (1975) 690,000
[87] ONE DAY AT A TIME - Lena Martell (1979) 680,000
[88] I LOVE TO LOVE - Tina Charles (1976) 680,000
[89] MA BAKER - Boney M (1977) 680,000 ***
[90] CRAZY HORSES - The Osmonds (1972) 680,000 ***
[91] THE NAME OF THE GAME - ABBA (1977) 660,000
[92] FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN - Emerson Lake & Palmer (1977) 650,000 ***
[93] WHISPERING GRASS - Don Estelle & Windsor Davies (1975) 650,000
[94] GET IT ON - T. Rex (1971) 650,000
[95] MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - The Police (1979) 650,000
[96] WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - Queen (1977) 630,000 ***
[97] STAND BY YOUR MAN - Tammy Wynette (1975) 630,000
[98] WANDRIN' STAR - Lee Marvin (1970) 610,000
[99] METAL GURU - T. Rex (1972) 600,000
[100] SIDE SHOW - Barry Biggs (1976) 600,000 *** (No.3)


@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@


THE 'OFFICIAL' TOP 100 SINGLES OF THE 1970's - BY THE BMRB

Notice that 'You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me', by the New Seekers, isn't in at all &
that sold 855,000 in the UK. Also, several Million sellers are far too low in the Top 100
- like the Slade Christmas Song at No.67. That had not - quite - sold a Million by the end
of 1979, but it had sold close to a Million, & it should have been much higher than No.67.

THE UK'S TOP 100 BEST SELLING SINGLES OF THE 1970's

(Compiled by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) in December 1979)
Sales go up to, & including, W/E 8th December 1979

*** = Was NOT a No.1 Hit

@ = MILLION SELLER

001 MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL … Wings @
002 RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING … Boney M @
003 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT … John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John @
004 SAILING … Rod Stewart (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
005 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME … Brotherhood Of Man @
006 I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING … New Seekers (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
007 SUMMER NIGHTS … John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John @
008 DON'T GIVE UP ON US … David Soul @
009 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY … Queen @
010 UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE … Showaddywaddy (@ A Million Seller after the 1970's)
011 MISSISSIPPI … Pussycat
012 MY SWEET LORD … George Harrison
013 BRIGHT EYES … Art Garfunkel @
014 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART … Elton John & Kiki Dee (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
015 AMAZING GRACE … Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
016 MARY'S BOY CHILD-OH MY LORD … Boney M @
017 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE … Dawn (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
018 IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW … Chicago
019 Y.M.C.A. … Village People @
020 DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA … Julie Covington (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
021 MOULDY OLD DOUGH … Lieutenant Pigeon
022 DANCING QUEEN … ABBA (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
023 PUPPY LOVE … Donny Osmond
024 WITHOUT YOU … Nilsson
025 FLORAL DANCE … Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band *** (No.2 Hit)
026 EYE LEVEL … Simon Park Orchestra @
027 A LITTLE BIT MORE … Dr Hook *** (No.2 Hit)
028 WHEN I NEED YOU … Leo Sayer
029 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE … Gary Glitter @
030 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE … Bee Gees *** (No.3 Hit)
031 SILVER LADY … David Soul
032 HEART OF GLASS … Blondie @
033 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU … ABBA
034 I FEEL LOVE … Donna Summer (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
035 WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE … Cliff Richard
036 WAY DOWN … Elvis Presley
037 BYE BYE BABY … Bay City Rollers
038 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL … Little Jimmy Osmond (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
039 IN THE SUMMERTIME … Mungo Jerry
040 WELCOME HOME … Peters & Lee
041 FERNANDO … ABBA
042 HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK … Ian Dury & the Blockheads (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
043 THREE TIMES A LADY … Commodores
044 SO YOU WIN AGAIN … Hot Chocolate
045 THE SMURF SONG … Father Abraham & the Smurfs *** (No.2 Hit)
046 MAGGIE MAY/REASON TO BELIEVE … Rod Stewart
047 YES SIR I CAN BOOGIE … Baccara
048 I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS … Boomtown Rats
049 ANGELO … Brotherhood Of Man
050 WHEN A CHILD IS BORN (SOLEADO) … Johnny Mathis
051 CHANSON D'AMOUR … Manhattan Transfer
052 THE WONDER OF YOU … Elvis Presley
053 WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN … Dr Hook
054 I WILL SURVIVE … Gloria Gaynor (@ = A Million Seller after the 1970's)
055 ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC … Tubeway Army
056 CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP CHEEP … Middle Of The Road
057 NIGHT FEVER … Bee Gees
058 DANCE AWAY … Roxy Music *** (No.2 Hit)
059 ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST) … Benny Hill
060 ROCKIN' ALL OVER THE WORLD … Status Quo *** (No.3 Hit)
061 BLACK IS BLACK … La Belle Epoque *** (No.2 Hit)
062 BLOCKBUSTER … Sweet
063 SUNDAY GIRL … Blondie
064 MY DING-A-LING … Chuck Berry
065 AMAZING GRACE … Judy Collins *** (No.5 Hit)
066 ONE DAY AT A TIME … Lena Martell
067 MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY … Slade (@ - A Million Seller after the 1970's)
068 THE NAME OF THE GAME … ABBA
069 I CAN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING (BUT MY LOVE) … Stylistics
070 RAT TRAP … Boomtown Rats
071 FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN … Emerson Lake & Palmer *** (No.2 Hit)
072 WHISPERING GRASS … Windsor Davies & Don Estelle
073 I LOVE TO LOVE … Tina Charles
074 SIDESHOW … Barry Biggs *** (No.3 Hit)
075 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER … Simon & Garfunkel
076 MA BAKER … Boney M *** (No.2 Hit)
077 WAND'RIN' STAR … Lee Marvin
078 LOVE THEME FROM A STAR IS BORN-EVERGREEN … Barbra Streisand *** (No.3 Hit)
079 TIGER FEET … Mud
080 KNOCK THREE TIMES … Dawn
081 HOT LOVE … T.Rex
082 STAND BY YOUR MAN … Tammy Wynette
083 MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE … Police
084 GRANDAD … Clive Dunn
085 THE ROUSSOS PHENOMENON EP … Demis Roussos
086 TAKE A CHANCE ON ME … ABBA
087 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS … Queen *** (No.2 Hit)
088 MATCHSTALK MEN AND MATCHSTALK CATS AND DOGS … Brian & Michael
089 POP MUZIK … M *** (No.2 Hit)
090 GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR … David Essex
091 MOTHER OF MINE … Neil Reid *** (No.2 Hit)
092 LUCILLE … Kenny Rogers
093 SON OF MY FATHER … Chicory Tip
094 MAGIC FLY … Space *** (No.2 Hit)
095 DECEMBER '63 (OH WHAT A NIGHT) … Four Seasons
096 OLIVER'S ARMY … Elvis Costello & the Attractions *** (No.2 Hit)
097 SEASONS IN THE SUN … Terry Jacks
098 CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE … Slade
099 TRAGEDY … Bee Gees
100 SEE MY BABY JIVE … Wizzard

Posted by: fiesta Jul 20 2009, 12:14 PM

The trouble with the BMRB list is that sales over the Christmas weeks have not been counted, because back then it was all done by post and everybody was on their xmas holidays, so no christmas charts were compiled. Hence singles that sold well over the Christmas period tend to rank lower than they should i.e Slade Merry Xmas Everybody & New Seekers You Won't Find Another Fool etc

Posted by: jaybird Jul 21 2009, 09:18 AM

Does anyone know all the singles that sold over 500,000 in the 70's?

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jul 21 2009, 09:28 AM

Exactly right. The BMRB messed up badly. On Capital Radio on New Year`s Day 1980, Alan Freeman featured the top 100 of the 70s as compiled by Record Business. Unfortunately, I can`t find that list...but it was better than the British Market Research Bureau one.

Posted by: Robbie Jul 21 2009, 11:38 AM

It would be good if you could have found that Dave.

The Christmas chart of 1973 was based on sales from 10/12/73 to 15/12/73 and the next chart to be compiled was based on sales of 24/12/73 to 29/12/73 which would be missing one day and probably two and a half days of sales in that period. Slade probably lost at least 300,000 overall sales as a result of the missing week sales and then a short week. The New Seekers will have lost quite a bit too.

the BMRB Top 100 of the 70s was based on Chart Panel sales which wasn't a reliable way of calculating sales when quite a bit of the information was missing.

Posted by: kangarooz Jul 21 2009, 01:05 PM

[29] DANCING QUEEN - ABBA (1976) 850,000

Is this song near a milion sales?

Posted by: fiesta Jul 21 2009, 02:16 PM

Including the 1992 re-issue, brings its sales to about 930,000. What it has sold in Downloads since then I dont know. Though with the Mama Mia film last year, I'm sure if I'm not mistaken DQ re-entred the top 100 singles chart, so sales could well be close to or even over a million by now.

Posted by: Robbie Jul 21 2009, 04:10 PM

It's sold 85,000 copies on download and passed a million sales in total a month ago.

Posted by: zeus555 Jul 21 2009, 04:27 PM

The OCC told me recently, that by the end of June, 'Dancing Queen' had sold
85,000 on Download in the UK. That Alan Jones estimates 920,000 Sales for
it, (1976 + 1992), & added to the Downloads, that makes 1,005,000 Sales
- so far. Although some say that it had sold 935,000 to 940,000 in 1976 & 1992,
& as many as 120,000 on Download, which would be 1,055,000 to 1,060,000 Sales.

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jul 21 2009, 06:11 PM

All I remember from the show that went out was that The Sweet`s "Blockbuster" was #40. Alan stated that there were just 12 hits from 1970-74 in, and 28 from 1975-79 (also in the top 40). That doesn`t mean much. He also stated that every record had sold over 500,000 copies. The most being 2 million.

Posted by: zeus555 Jul 21 2009, 09:59 PM

Dave, wasn't the 1970's Best Selling Singles Chart, (January 1st 1980/Capital Radio), the Top 40 for
the Decade, rather than the Top 100?

You said that Alan Freeman said that 12 Singles in the Chart were from 1970 to 1974, & the other 28
were from 1975 to 1979 - that makes it a Top 40.

'My' 1970's Top 40 also has 12 Singles in it from 1970 to 1974, & that makes the other 28 from 1975
to 1979. And the BMRB 1970's Top 40 has 11 Singles from 1970 to 1974 in it, & the other 29 from 1975
to 1979.

Posted by: Robbie Jul 21 2009, 10:43 PM

Does anyone have an estimate for how much Shame by Evelyn "Champagne" King sold both in the 70s and in total? Alan Jones stated in 1982 that it had sold 250,000 copies but that may be shipments. It was never awarded a Silver disc (though Graham Betts' book has it marked as such) as the single was re-issued in 1979, albeit with the same B side. It must have easily sold about 150,000 copies in 1978 and the other 100,000 may have been as a result of the re-issue and trickle sales over a year or two.

Posted by: zeus555 Jul 22 2009, 09:15 AM

Thanks Dave. Several Singles in my Top 100 - the lower half mainly - have estimated Sales.
'Im The Leader Of The Gang' may well have too high a Sale, & 'Blockbuster' may be too low
- I don't know. As it is 'my' List, I don't really want to try to replicate the January 1980
'Record Business' Top 100. If we all saw their List, we may not agree with where every Single
is in that. These Lists are not an exact science. In the Year End 1978 Chart, 'Night Fever' was
6th for the Year, & 'The Smurf Song', (yeuk!), was 5th. That was the BMRB List for 1978, of
course. But, the Bee Gees Single is lower in both my Top 100 of the 1970's, & in the BMRB's.

Robbie, we cannot really gauge if a Single sold enough to go Gold or Silver, by whether or
not it has a BPI Sales Award. 'Waterloo' by ABBA, sold over 300,000 in 1974, & it never did
get Awarded a Silver Disk. (The 'Waterloo' Album got one - for over 60,000 Sales - but not
the Single). And, in 1980, 'The Winner Takes It All', by ABBA, sold around 565,000 & that never
got a Silver, (250,000+), or Gold, (500,000+), Disk. It was up to Epic Records to apply for
them, & it never got around to doing so for those 1974 & 1980 ABBA No.1's.....So, Evelyn
'Champagne' King, & her 'Shame' Hit, could well have sold over 250,000. It spent 23 Weeks
on the Chart, despite getting no higher than No.39. Had the 'Top Singles Of 1978', been decided
on by Weeks On Chart, it would have been about the 4th Biggest Single of that Year.....

Posted by: jaybird Jul 22 2009, 07:31 PM

Does anyone have the sales of diana ross's I'm still waiting?

Posted by: zeus555 Jul 22 2009, 09:09 PM

I estimated 460,000 Sales for it. (Maybe 430,000 to 460,000 using a 'Sliding Scale' method).

Posted by: jaybird Oct 17 2009, 05:47 PM

Does anyone have the sales for Kate bush's -wuthering heights?

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jun 2 2010, 08:46 PM

I`m bumping this one up, because I`ve located the Record Business Top 40 of the 70s, which comes along as being slightly better than the British Market Research Bureau list. Both came from the end of 1979, of course:

01 MULL OF KINTYRE - WINGS 77 2m
02 RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - BONEY M 78
03 YOU`RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - TRAVOLTA/NEWTON JOHN 78
04 MARYS BOY CHILD-OH MY LORD - BONEY M 78
05 SUMMER NIGHTS - TRAVOLTA/NEWTON JOHN 78
06 YMCA - VILLAGE PEOPLE 78
07 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN 76
08 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - QUEEN 75
09 HEART OF GLASS - BLONDIE 79...more likely 10
10 DON`T GIVE UP ON US - DAVID SOUL 77...more likely 11
11 BRIGHT EYES - ART GARFUNKEL 79...more likely 9
12 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - GARY GLITTER 73 1m
13 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND 72 985,000 ***more likely 14
14 EYE LEVEL - SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA 73 ***more likely 13
15 DON`T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - JULIE COVINGTON 77
16 I`D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - NEW SEEKERS 72
17 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON - DAWN 73
18 UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - SHOWADDYWADDY 76
19 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - SLADE 73
20 HIT ME WITH YOUR RIBBON STICK - IAN DURY 79
21 SAILING - ROD STEWART 75
22 MISSISIPPI - PUSSYCAT 76
23 THREE TIMES A LADY - COMMODORES 78
24 WE DON`T TALK ANYMORE - CLIFF RICHARD 79 900,000
25 FLORAL DANCE - BRIGHOUSE & RASTRICK BRASS BAND 77
26 I DON`T LIKE MONDAYS - BOOMTOWN RATS 79
27 YOU WON`T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - NEW SEEKERS 74 855,000
28 WHEN A CHILD IS BORN - JOHNNY MATHIS 76
29 ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC - TUBEWAY ARMY 79
30 DON`T GO BREAKING MY HEART - ELTON JOHN/KIKI DEE 76 more likely 31
31 WITHOUT YOU - NILSSON 72 more likely 32
32 WELCOME HOME - PETERS AND LEE 73 more likely 33
33 DANCING QUEEN - ABBA 76 more likely 34
34 MY SWEET LORD - GEORGE HARRISON 71 800,000 more likely 35
35 SUNDAY GIRL - BLONDIE 79 ***NME reckon 30 in a 70s poll, more likely 45
36 NIGHT FEVER - BEE GEES 78 ***possibly 32, more likely 44
37 BYE BYE BABY - BAY CITY ROLLERS 75
38 IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - CHICAGO 76 795,000
39 AMAZING GRACE - ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARDS 72 ***possibly 20, because NME say it sold over 960,000
40 BLOCKBUSTER - THE SWEET 73 785,000
41 THE SMURF SONG - FATHER ABRAHAM 78 ***possibly 31, more likely 30
42 WHEN I NEED YOU - LEO SAYER 77 more likely 36
43 I WILL SURVIVE - GLORIA GAYNOR 79 more like 41
44 WHEN YOU`RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - DR HOOK 79 more like 42
45 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE - BEE GEES 77 more like 43
46 PUPPY LOVE - DONNY OSMOND 72
47 MY DING-A-LING - CHUCK BERRY 72
48 SILVER LADY - DAVID SOUL 77 775,000
49 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU - ABBA 77
50 MY COO-CA-CHOO - ALVIN STARDUST 73
51 ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST) - BENNY HILL 71
52 TIGER FEET - MUD 74
53 A LITTLE BIT MORE - DR HOOK 76
54 FERNANDO - ABBA 76
55 GRANDAD - CLIVE DUNN 71
56 LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS - MUD 74
57 WAY DOWN - ELVIS PRESLEY 77
58 I FEEL LOVE - DONNA SUMMER 77 765,000
59 BILLY DON`T BE A HERO - PAPER LACE 74
60 DANCE AWAY - ROXY MUSIC 79 750,000
61 RAT TRAP - BOOMTOWN RATS 78
62 GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR - DAVID ESSEX 74
63 I`M THE LEADER OF THE GANG - GARY GLITTER 73
64 SO YOU WIN AGAIN - HOT CHOCOLATE 77 740,000
65 SEE MY BABY JIVE - WIZZARD 73
66 TAKE A CHANCE ON ME - ABBA 78
67 CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP CHEEP - MIDDLE OF THE ROAD 71
68 I HEAR YOU KNOCKING - DAVE EDMUNDS 70
69 THE WONDER OF YOU - ELVIS PRESLEY 70
70 IN THE SUMMERTIME - MUNGO JERRY 70
71 YES SIR I CAN BOOGIE - BACCARA 77 730,000
72 ANGELO - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN 77
73 CRAZY HORSES - OSMONDS 72
74 LOVE ME FOR A REASON - OSMONDS 74 725,000
75 CHANSON D`AMOUR - MANHATTEN TRANSFER 77

*** This means I reckon the record to be to high or low, a NME list proves it and another site did too (but I couldn`t find that today).

From Record Business Magazine. They did print a top 100, but the bottom of the page is torn off. It finishes at 78 with the split page & "Seasons In The Sun" is 76, with "Cum On Feel The Noise" at 77 & "Maggie May" at 78 credited as 700,000 sales. That probably lists every record (apart from "Another Brick In The Wall") which sold 700,000 plus during that decade. So, it maybe should be included somewhere.

Posted by: Eric_Blob Jun 2 2010, 09:56 PM

Nice to see Poker Face sitting at #89, according to the list in the 2nd post.

Posted by: seanster Jun 2 2010, 10:02 PM

remember the Top selling singles of 1979 had Art Garfunkel at #1, Blondie #2?

Posted by: fiesta Jun 3 2010, 11:38 AM

Thanks for posting! I look forward to seeing the rest of the chart. Do you know how they compiled this chart Dave. Was it using BMRB data or is it using Record Company sales figures. Also were the sales you have listed also given in the magazine or are they ones you have included yourself

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jun 3 2010, 02:07 PM

Yep, I`ve been thinking that too. But all the lists of Best Selling 70s hits, say no.

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jun 3 2010, 02:10 PM

Those sales were mentoined in the magazine. It was all put together by Record Business & EMI. No connections with BMRB. It apparently cuts off on Friday 7th December 1979.

Posted by: fiesta Jun 3 2010, 02:34 PM

Interesting how Night Fever is listed above How deep is your love. On the All Time 100 in 2002, HDIYL was mentioned as the Bee Gees biggest seller at 800,000. Also Amazing Grace sales were bumped up considerably to 960,000 for the same list.

Interesting stuff as I have never seen alot of these sales figures quoted anywhere else, so it is good to get some extra sales info.

Posted by: Victor Meldrew Jun 3 2010, 03:12 PM

I'm more interested in the 70's sales tha the 60's as it's my era.

Posted by: fiesta Jun 4 2010, 12:48 PM

why is the initial top 40 you posted up different to the later top 75 ? Some positions have moved i.e. Cliff Richard and Tubeway Army

Posted by: Dave Taylor Jun 4 2010, 02:50 PM

I typed it wrong the first time! Probably because I was taking a phone call, while I typed.

I`ve just realised that from that particular list, we are being told that "Merry Christmas Everybody" didn`t clear a million during the 70s, and it happened later. I supose it`s feasible?

I just found a top ten of the 50s, with sales which I might post...as it means another entry overlooked in the Top 100 of all time. That is Anton Karas & "The Harry Lime Theme" (from the Third Man). It was a big seller before the charts began during 1949/50.

Posted by: Suedehead2 Jun 4 2010, 03:02 PM

You're right about Merry Christmas Everybody. It didn't reach a million until several years after its initial release.

Posted by: fiesta Jun 4 2010, 03:13 PM

I think I have seen the 50's one is it from the Top 10 Of Music?

I read a Record Mirror article that said that Merry Xmas Everybody sold a million in 1980, certainly I think that is when it was certified platinum.

Posted by: TOP40 Sep 16 2010, 12:36 PM

Does anyone have a list of the "definitive" Top 100 sellers from 1979? I have the list that includes sales only up to 8 December that year but the missing 3 weeks would surely include the top two Christmas hits - Another Brick In The Wall (Pink Floyd) and I Have A Dream (Abba) - which are nowhere to be found in that list. Any assistance appreciated......

Posted by: zeus555 Sep 16 2010, 12:48 PM

I'm working on a massive UK Best Selling Singles of the 1970's List - using
the Top 100 - (that we know the Sales of - more or less) - as a basis.

I'm up to No.437, at present. I last worked on my List in June..