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Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 05:39 PM

I made a post pondering about this in the midweek thread the other week but it's even more relevant now so perhaps worthy of a thread ~

The Weeknd I'd say was probably the most consistently omnipresent and successful artist of the last few years who hadn't yet managed a #1 single in the UK up until finally picking one up with 'Blinding Lights' the other week. And he now looks certain to be knocked off #1 by Billie Eilish who could probably have had a claim to be replacing him for that 'honour' (of course she hasn't been relevant for nearly as long as The Weeknd but it's quite surprising that she didn't get a #1 single during the WWAFA,WDWYG? era considering how huge it was). Which just raises the question of who now does take that title?

The biggest names I've thought of are Selena Gomez, Travis Scott and (one I didn't mention before) Kendrick Lamar, and also Cardi B on a similar 'not been around for that long but still surprising she doesn't have a #1 yet' level as Billie Eilish. Any other notable names I am forgetting?

Of course there are also much longer established artists who are long past being relevant to the singles chart at least who never had a #1 - Depeche Mode, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson etc.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Feb 17 2020, 05:42 PM

Bananarama always come to mind when I see threads like this and they never had a number 1 album either

Posted by: sammy01 Feb 17 2020, 05:57 PM

Alanis Morissette springs to mind, given how many albums she has sold no number 1 is amazing.

Posted by: dan.G Feb 17 2020, 06:02 PM

In recent times - Marshmello got quite unlucky with a huge #2, #3 and #4 hit but no #1. Jonas Blue likewise with two #2s, a #3 and #4.

Posted by: coi Feb 17 2020, 06:02 PM

Bruce Springsteen has had 11 number one albums, first in 1984 (and a #2 in 1980 as well) and most recently in 2019, whilst also having four top ten singles including a #2 with Streets of Philadelphia and two others that reached the top five.

More recently Bastille have been robbed with three #2 singles, and two of them were huge (Pompeii and Happier)

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 06:03 PM

I don’t think Ed Sheeran has ever managed to get to #1.

Ok seriously, off the top of my head some names (and not including features)...

Bastille, Jonas Brothers, Lana Del Rey, Mabel, Paloma Faith, Halsey, Anne-Marie, Zara Larsson, Jax Jones, Tiësto, James Bay, Michael Bublé.

If features count then ignore Paloma, Halsey, Anne-Marie, Zara and Jax.

Posted by: DASHER77 Feb 17 2020, 06:06 PM

Janet Jackson?

Posted by: Jordan Lee Feb 17 2020, 06:10 PM

Janet Jackson come to my head first.
Avril Lavigne too and Lana.

Bruce Springsteen and Sting as well.

Posted by: Jonjo Feb 17 2020, 06:10 PM

Lana Del Rey. The closest she got was with 'Don't Call Me Angel' and I'm quite surprised 'Summertime Sadness' couldn't quite do it either.

Posted by: Suedehead2 Feb 17 2020, 06:11 PM

The Who are another old act who never had a number one single.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 06:13 PM

Yes, features do count there are probably quite a few other huge names who have only had #1s via features (Lil Wayne comes to mind, tying into your other thread xx).

Sash! ought to be mentioned as well what with having the record for most #2s without a #1 of course.

Posted by: SKOB Feb 17 2020, 06:20 PM

I love Janet but Bon Jovi is by far the most successful act to not have a #1 single.

Posted by: EU Boy Weeyals Feb 17 2020, 06:23 PM

Does a sample count for Dido though? It’s annoying how she’s appeared on 2 no.1s yet has never been credited.

I can’t really think of anyone huge that hasn’t already been mentioned. Shout out to Anastacia, I guess...

Just thought that the Killers also fall into this category.

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 17 2020, 06:26 PM

DJ Snake is the biggest 'current' 'singles' act I can think of who hasn't been mentioned yet.

If we're not counting features, I'd throw in Sia and Sean Paul.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 06:33 PM

Dido is credited on 'Stan'! (The OCC lists it as just Eminem ik but their crediting is inconsistent at best, she is listed as a feature on the original album tracklist as well as on YouTube/iTunes/Spotify etc.) What's the other #1 she appeared on?

The Killers are definitely a good shout too, another one who are sadly past being realistically able to finally get a #1 (their best shot would genuinely probably be something boosting 'Mr. Brightside' enough for it to somehow get a belated #1 even through permanent ACR).

Posted by: coi Feb 17 2020, 06:37 PM

The other one for Dido might be Band Aid 20?

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 06:40 PM

Ah that would make sense, I was trying to think of another rap song that sampled her or something lol ~

There must be a bunch of artists who have had an uncredited #1 on charity ensemble releases but never in their own right - notably Bastille (or Dan Smith at least) have done so twice, appearing on both Band Aid 30 and Artists For Grenfell.

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 17 2020, 06:42 PM

Neither The Pogues nor Kirsty MacColl have had a #1, but as we know they've come close many times and should continue to do so.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 06:57 PM

Ok Bré you’ve started me on some kind of insane chart project now!

Statistics taken from Polyhex;

Depeche Mode had 35 UK Top 20 singles between 1981-2006 but no #1’s
Bon Jovi had 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006 but no #1’s
Janet Jackson had 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006 but no #1’s
Texas had 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2006 but no #1’s
Tina Turner had 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1966-1999 but no #1’s
50 Cent had 16 UK Top 20 singles between 2003-2013 but no #1’s
Mary J. Blige had 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1995–2008 but no #1’s
Bob Marley had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1977-2016 but no #1’s
Muse had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2010 but no #1’s
Suede had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1992-2003 but no #1’s
Kelis had 13 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2011 but no #1’s
Radiohead had 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1993-2003 but no #1’s
Bruce Springsteen had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1984-1997 but no #1’s
Louise had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2001 but no #1’s
Roxette had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2005 but no #1’s
Travis had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2007 but no #1’s
Embrace had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2006 but no #1’s
Feeder had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1999-2006 but no #1’s
Sash! had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2008 but no #1’s
Shania Twain had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2004 but no #1’s
Cast had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-1999 but no #1’s
Dina Carroll had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-1999 but no #1’s
Faithless had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2005 but no #1’s
Supergrass had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2005 but no #1’s
The Killers had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2002 but no #1’s

I’ll update with any other artists with 10 or more UK Top 20 singles but no #1’s in due course.

Other miscellaneous facts;

Remarkably both Bon Jovi & Janet Jackson have the same number of UK Top 20 hits without a #1 between exactly the same years!

Victoria Beckham is the only Spice Girl not to have a solo #1 single

One Direction’s Harry & Zayn both have solo #1 singles, whereas Liam, Niall, and Louis don’t.

Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Feb 17 2020, 07:17 PM

Snow patrol.

Posted by: Bjork Feb 17 2020, 07:22 PM

Dido was not credited on Stan in the UK, back in the day it was quite controversial as she was even in the video
but at least he put her in the map
but is the same as Seal not been credited in Killer, Sophie Ellis Bextor in Groovejet or Aloe Blacc in Wake Me Up

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 17 2020, 07:50 PM

Also, the OCC site credits Rockabye only to Clean Bandit. So that would bring Anne-Marie into contention...
Rag'n'Bone Man has had two huge #2 hits so would also count, though you could argue he's more of an albums act.

Posted by: EU Boy Weeyals Feb 17 2020, 07:55 PM

This had been my understanding for Stan. And Band Aid 20 was the other no.1 I was thinking of.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 08:11 PM

This is a good example of why I wouldn't take the OCC as gospel for who is and isn't credited on songs. Anne-Marie unambiguously is credited on 'Rockabye', there's no reason at all for the OCC to have not acknowledged that. Dido isn't mentioned on the single cover for 'Stan' so there's slightly more reason for her to have not been credited on that but she is credited everywhere else (including on the small print credits on the CD single, having a quick look on Discogs) so I'd still say she was credited on it regardless of what the OCC archives say.

Posted by: Bjork Feb 17 2020, 08:16 PM

No, Dido was not credited in the UK, everybody knew it back in the day, if you had been following the charts back then you'd know

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 08:17 PM

She was not credited by the OCC. She is credited in the actual real world which I think is more important...

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 08:47 PM

Few more names added to my earlier post. Notably Tina Turner and 50 Cent also.

Posted by: coi Feb 17 2020, 08:54 PM

When is Bruce Springsteen getting added to that list?

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 09:02 PM

Done.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 09:06 PM

50 Cent another good shout! And another one with multiple #2s without a #1. He also had a chance to have had another big hit as recently as last year with his Ed Sheeran feature but of course chart rules meant that ended up not charting at all lol ~

Depeche Mode should be on your list as well Wardy (in fact it looks like they have more top 20 hits than Janet and Bon Jovi but amazingly none of them went higher than #4).

Posted by: coi Feb 17 2020, 09:10 PM

Muse had an impressive 14 top 20 hits (and 21 top 25s) as well as six number one albums but no number one single!

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 09:19 PM

Oh wow I never realised that, but yes you are right Bré, with 35 Top 20 hits and no #1’s it’s the clear leader in this discussion.

Muse! I can’t believe I didn’t think of them!

I should add that the list isn’t a complete work, I’m still adding names to it through the evening.

Posted by: The Hit Parade Feb 17 2020, 09:40 PM

Ringo Starr is of course the only Beatle without a solo chart-topper in the UK, although obviously he's not that big a singles act on his own.

Posted by: King Rollo Feb 17 2020, 09:43 PM

Depeche Mode hold the record of most top 75 hits without a no.1, 43 of them.

Posted by: vibe Feb 17 2020, 09:45 PM

Tina Turner

Janet Jackson

Dannii Minogue 😉

Posted by: The Hit Parade Feb 17 2020, 09:49 PM

Paul Weller had 19 solo Top 20 hits (20 if you count both versions of Out Of The Sinking) without a Number One, though of course the Jam had 4 of them.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 09:50 PM

They're not really directly comparable but Glee Cast broke that record by a considerable margin if you count them collectively as one 'artist'.

Posted by: Steve201 Feb 17 2020, 09:51 PM

Depeche Mode are the biggest never to have imo!

Posted by: tgl92 Feb 17 2020, 09:53 PM

For how big Back To Black was/is, it’s a shame Amy never got a number 1

Posted by: King Rollo Feb 17 2020, 09:53 PM

Here's the OCC article from last year. It says if you add Morrissey's solo hits to The Smiths' ones,he's had 51 top 40 singles without a no.1.

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-huge-pop-acts-who-never-scored-a-number-1-single-in-the-uk__15683/

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 17 2020, 10:00 PM

Yes, Morrissey had 21 solo Top 20 hits (10 of them Top 10) plus another 10 with The Smiths (3 Top 10s)

R.E.M. had 19 Top 20 hits (11 Top 10s).

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 10:29 PM

Updated to include all the artists previously mentioned, both in this thread and from that article on the official charts website, where an artist has at least 10 UK Top 20 singles without a #1;

Depeche Mode had 35 UK Top 20 singles between 1981-2006 but no #1’s
Bon Jovi had 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006 but no #1’s
Janet Jackson had 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006 but no #1’s
Morrissey had 21 UK Top 20 singles between 1988-2008 but no #1’s
Nat King Cole had 21 UK Top 20 singles between 1952-1991 but no #1’s
Paul Weller had 20 UK Top 20 singles between 1992-2008 but no #1’s
R.E.M. had 19 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-2004 but no #1’s
Texas had 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2006 but no #1’s
The Who had 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1965-1981 but no #1’s
Tina Turner had 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1966-1999 but no #1’s
50 Cent had 16 UK Top 20 singles between 2003-2013 but no #1’s
Bananarama had 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1982–2005 but no #1’s
Mary J. Blige had 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1995–2008 but no #1’s
Bob Marley had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1977-2016 but no #1’s
Dannii Minogue had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-2006 but no #1’s
Guns ‘N Roses had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-1995 but no #1’s
Muse had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2010 but no #1’s
Suede had 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1992-2003 but no #1’s
Kelis had 13 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2011 but no #1’s
M People had 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1993-1999 but no #1’s
Radiohead had 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1993-2003 but no #1’s
Alicia Keys had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 2001-2012 but no #1’s
Ash had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2007 but no #1’s
Bruce Springsteen had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1984-1997 but no #1’s
Def Leppard had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1987-1996 but no #1’s
Green Day had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1994-2007 but no #1’s
Louise had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2001 but no #1’s
Roxette had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2005 but no #1’s
Travis had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2007 but no #1’s
Embrace had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2006 but no #1’s
Feeder had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1999-2006 but no #1’s
Sash! had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2008 but no #1’s
Shania Twain had 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2004 but no #1’s
Cast had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-1999 but no #1’s
Dina Carroll had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-1999 but no #1’s
Faithless had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2005 but no #1’s
Selena Gomez had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 2010-2019 but no #1’s
Supergrass had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2005 but no #1’s
The Killers had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 2004-2012 but no #1’s
The Smiths had 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1984-1992 but no #1’s


Other miscellaneous facts;

Remarkably both Bon Jovi & Janet Jackson have the same number of UK Top 20 hits without a #1 between exactly the same years!

Ringo Starr is the only Beatle not to have a solo #1 single.

Victoria Beckham is the only Spice Girl not to have a solo #1 single.

One Direction’s Harry & Zayn both have solo #1 singles, but Liam, Niall, and Louis don’t.

Posted by: Steve201 Feb 17 2020, 10:33 PM

That's a big one too!

Posted by: xajnipi Feb 17 2020, 10:48 PM

Assuming the title of the thread refers to world-wide biggest artists (not just UK), I would add Imagine Dragons

Posted by: Jordan Lee Feb 17 2020, 10:55 PM

Eeeek! I forgot about Alicia Keys.

Empire State Of Mind is one song I always forget didn’t go to #1 until I see threads like this. It feels absolutely huge.

Posted by: Jonjo Feb 17 2020, 11:01 PM

Should this not be "between 2004 - 2017"?

Or have I got the wrong band altogether? Lmao.

Posted by: Bré Feb 17 2020, 11:14 PM

I did mean just in the UK really but Imagine Dragons aren't exactly unpopular here so still worthy of a mention - they perhaps have a decent claim to being the biggest act of recent years to not even have a UK top 10 hit (but they have had a #11, a #12 and a #13 - and the identity of their highest peaking song is probably good fodder for some difficult obscure chart trivia )

I also forgot about Alicia Keys!

Posted by: awardinary Feb 17 2020, 11:32 PM

Thanks Jonjo, updated now, but only to 2012 when they had their last Top 20 single.

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 18 2020, 01:19 AM

I'm a bit late to the party here but all the ones I thought of have been mentioned apart from Def Leppard, who need to be added to the list - they had 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1987-1996 and they managed to hit #2 twice but never #1.

Posted by: Bjork Feb 18 2020, 07:59 AM

was also thinking Def Leppard, also INXS, who were huge, bigger than most on that list

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 18 2020, 08:04 AM

Got to mention Nat King Cole if we're going back in time, as he still holds the record of most weeks (9) at #2 without a #1. 20 Top 20 hits (15 Top 10) minus one of each if you discount the 1987 reissue of When I Fall In Love

Posted by: StoneDragon Feb 18 2020, 08:06 AM

There are a few that immediately came to mind and have already been mentioned like Janet Jackson, Bon Jovi , Bob Marley, Shania Twain, etc. Others that I don't think have been mentioned are Deacon blue (16 top 40 – 7 Top 20), Dire straights (12 Top 40 – 8 Top 20), Supergrass (14 Top 40 – 10 Top 20), Ash (18 Top 40 – 12 Top 20), Keane (10 – Top 40 – 7 top 20), Snow Patrol (12 Top 40 – 7 Top 20) and the big one New order (27 Top 40 – 15 Top 20)

Posted by: vibe Feb 18 2020, 09:05 AM

I always thought in da club by 50 Cent went to number one!

Posted by: N-S Feb 18 2020, 10:07 AM

Bon Jovi have had hits peaking in every position of the top 14 except #1.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 18 2020, 12:07 PM

As per the last few posts, now updated with Nat King Cole, New Order, Ash and Def Leppard.

Posted by: King Rollo Feb 18 2020, 12:07 PM

I think World In Motion would have to count as a no.1 single for New Order.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 18 2020, 12:13 PM

Found another one too, Dr. Dre, had 10 UK Top 20 hits without a #1.

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 18 2020, 12:25 PM

Yeah, was just about the post the same, 'World In Motion' would definitely count in the same way 'Three Lions' would count for the Lightning Seeds.

Posted by: Dobbo Feb 18 2020, 12:35 PM

Lunchmoney Lewis.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 18 2020, 12:43 PM

Agreed. It has been removed from the list.

Posted by: Brett-Butler Feb 18 2020, 01:23 PM

Bob Dylan has 10 top 20 hits without a #1 (which surprises me, as I thought he’d have more than that)

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 18 2020, 01:57 PM

A few more which haven't been mentioned and need to be added to the list:

Kim Wilde - 14 Top 20 hits from 1981-1993
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 12 Top 20 hits from 1994-2006
Ocean Colour Scene - 11 Top 20 hits from 1996-2003
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - 12 Top 20 hits from 1980-1996
Placebo - 10 Top 20 hits from 1997-2006
The Charlatans - 12 Top 20 hits from 1990-2001
Garbage - 11 Top 20 hits from 1995-2005
Linkin Park - 11 Top 20 hits from 2001-2009

Posted by: Hadji Feb 18 2020, 01:58 PM

Sash! would’ve had two #1s to his name if Biggie and Di never died in 1997

Posted by: Steve201 Feb 18 2020, 02:07 PM

OMD is an excellent shout, was surprised they had a big hit as late as 1996 when I checked their history when on totp 1980!

Posted by: StoneDragon Feb 18 2020, 07:10 PM

Good point but I wasn’t sure if World in Motion was credited to EnglandNewOrder and therefore not officially a New Order single?

Another one to add would be Tears for Fears. I would think a lot of people assume they had UK number ones which they only managed in the US.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Feb 19 2020, 02:40 PM

Alright kobbar, calm down.

I always think Janet Jackson, then Depeche Mode for this.

Posted by: Crazy Chris Feb 19 2020, 05:23 PM

I can't really think of one single that stands out from his others that should have been a No.1 though. He only ever had two top 5 singles, Like A Rolling Stone, No.4, and Lay Lady Lay at No.5. So no runner-up even.


Janet Jackson had two No.2 singles.

Posted by: Crazy Chris Feb 19 2020, 05:29 PM

They came closest with Always at No.2.

Posted by: dan.G Feb 19 2020, 05:42 PM

for bob dylan I think like a rolling stone is considered by many to be one of the best written songs of all time so in that respect it should’ve been his number one.

Posted by: dandy* Feb 19 2020, 05:45 PM

I'd argue that Dido is the most appropriate to not be credited out of all of those listed so far... hers was technically a sample (although a very large sample) where as most of the other features are specific vocal recordings for that song.

Posted by: No Sleeep Feb 19 2020, 05:46 PM

TLC - Waterfalls and No Scrubs definitely deserved to be #1s

Posted by: Crazy Chris Feb 19 2020, 07:00 PM

My fave is Lay Lady Lay

Posted by: The Hit Parade Feb 21 2020, 08:04 PM

Wait, you mean this isn't The Killers?

(you've got to admit it does sound a lot like them)

Posted by: Steve201 Feb 22 2020, 01:46 AM

Level 42 are another popular 80s band that never reached the top spot - they had 20 top 40 hits and 6 top 10s!

Their biggest hit from 1985 'Lessons In Love'

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 22 2020, 10:21 AM

I make it 18 Top 40 hits but yeah Level 42's a good spot. I bet there are lots of lesser known bands from the 60s/70s too that have had 15-20 hits without reaching Number 1.

Posted by: EU Boy Weeyals Feb 22 2020, 10:38 AM

Travis would fit into this wouldn’t they? They’ve had at least 10 top 20s but no no.1.

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 22 2020, 11:01 AM

Travis have already been mentioned, and included in the list on the first page

Posted by: StoneDragon Feb 22 2020, 12:17 PM

Good shout with Level 42, they need to be added along with Tears for Fears. It also dawned on me that the Cure should be there too (I think they've had 11 Top 20s) and the Foo Fighters (with 10 top 20s). I thought both would've had more! Two of my favourite bands.

Posted by: Bjork Feb 22 2020, 12:50 PM

but in the case of New Order, World in Motion counts, doesn't matter if it's under a slightly modified name (England New Order)
lots of artists record under different names (P Diddy, Puff Daffy) but all their hits count together

Posted by: Bjork Feb 22 2020, 12:52 PM

agree that it makes sense she wasn't credited cos it was a sample
but the bizarre thing is that she did appear on the video
cannot think of any other case when an artist was sampled but then appeared on the video

Posted by: Drpepper Feb 22 2020, 01:15 PM

Not sure of the numbers, but Brit Award winners Five Star seemed to always be in the charts for many years...

Posted by: King Rollo Feb 22 2020, 01:28 PM

You set me a challenge there. After a little think,I've remembered that Tony Hadley appeared at the end of the video for Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by PM Dawn which samples True by Spandau Ballet.

Posted by: Bjork Feb 22 2020, 02:22 PM

wow, good call, I didn't recall that

Posted by: the s***e Feb 22 2020, 02:27 PM

I knew about Sunchyme but I didn't know there was another dance song that could have made #1 if it wasn't for Candle In The Wind's release.

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 22 2020, 02:36 PM

Another good shout. 15 Top 40 hits with no #1!

Posted by: the s***e Feb 22 2020, 02:37 PM

Genesis (8 top 10 hits between 1978 and 1992 and 21 top 40 hits in all)
Disclosure (5 top 20 hits from 2012 to 2015)

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 22 2020, 02:38 PM

I think the benchmark for this is a minimum of 10 Top 40 hits so Disclosure wouldn't count, good shout on Genesis though

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 22 2020, 04:06 PM

Jay Sean had 10 Top 40 hits but only 8 Top 20... however the biggest of these at #3 was a US #1, and ofc he was sampled on a huge #2 hit very recently.

The Guinness Hit Singles 1994? edition had a similar list, I still have a copy in my loft (somewhere) but from memory I can only add Billy Fury from it (19 Top 20, 11 Top 10) to those already mentioned in this thread.

Posted by: No Sleeep Feb 22 2020, 06:05 PM

Brandy has 10 top 20 hits including "The Girl is Mine". She is credited (as are Destiny's Child) it just doesn't show up on her artist page

https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/uk-top-40-singles-chart/20160122/750140/

Posted by: Cqmerqn Feb 22 2020, 06:06 PM

Avril probably

Posted by: StoneDragon Feb 22 2020, 06:11 PM

Bizarrely I was just listening to Now 9 earlier! and it prompted me to come and suggest Five Star and Genesis (both on the album) but I've been beaten to it. The same album also has Bon Jovi and Bananarama on it - so a real collection of these type of artists.

The other two I thought of are Paul Weller (20 Top 20s) and Sting (13 Top 20s) although of course they both had number ones with the Jam and the Police. Do they count?

***Sorry - just noticed Paul Weller is on the list on Page 3!

Posted by: Dircadirca Feb 22 2020, 07:35 PM

Didn't eventuate but I believe Lil Nas X did try to get Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails to appear in the video for "Old Town Road".

Posted by: The Hit Parade Feb 22 2020, 09:13 PM

Joanna Law appeared on TotP for The Gift by Way Out West, so presumably if there's a video she'd have done that as well.

Posted by: Brett-Butler Feb 22 2020, 09:22 PM

"Rise & Fall" by Craig David samples "Shape of My Heart" by Sting, and he appears in the music video (and is a featured artist as well).

Posted by: Bjork Feb 22 2020, 09:36 PM

^ but in Rise and Fall, Sting also sings part of the song, besides his sample being used

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 22 2020, 11:04 PM

Here's an updated list with everyone who's been mentioned, the benchmark being a minimum of 10 Top 20 singles without a #1 (although I would have set the benchmark at 15 as the list is a bit over-saturated from 10 up to 14):

Depeche Mode - 35 UK Top 20 singles between 1981-2006
Bon Jovi - 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006
Janet Jackson - 33 UK Top 20 singles between 1986-2006
Morrissey - 21 UK Top 20 singles between 1988-2008
Nat King Cole - 21 UK Top 20 singles between 1952-1991
Paul Weller - 20 UK Top 20 singles between 1992-2008 ^
R.E.M. - 19 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-2004
Billy Fury - 19 UK Top 20 singles between 1959-1965
Texas - 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2006
The Who - 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1965-1981
Tina Turner - 18 UK Top 20 singles between 1966-1999
Genesis - 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1977-1992
50 Cent - 16 UK Top 20 singles between 2003-2013
Bananarama - 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1982–2005
Mary J. Blige - 16 UK Top 20 singles between 1995–2008
Bob Marley - 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1977-2016
Dannii Minogue - 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-2006
Guns 'N Roses - 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-1995
Muse - 14 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2010
Suede - 14 UK Top 20 singles between 1992-2003
Kim Wilde - 14 Top 20 hits between 1981-1993
Metallica - 14 Top 20 hits between 1988-2008
Kelis - 13 UK Top 20 singles between 2000-2011
M People - 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1993-1999
Radiohead - 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1993-2003
The Temptations - 13 UK Top 20 singles between 1966-1992
Alicia Keys - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 2001-2012
Ash - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2007
The Stranglers - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1977-1990
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 12 Top 20 hits between 1994-2006
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - 12 Top 20 hits between 1980-1996
Bruce Springsteen - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1984-1997
Def Leppard - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1987-1996
Green Day - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1994-2007
Louise - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2001
Roxette - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1989-2005
Travis - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2007
Five Star - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1985-1988
Sting - 12 UK Top 20 singles between 1982-2004 *^
The Charlatans - 12 Top 20 hits between 1990-2001
Garbage - 11 Top 20 hits between 1995-2005
Linkin Park - 11 Top 20 hits between 2001-2009
Embrace - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2006
Feeder - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1999-2006
Sash! - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1997-2008
Ocean Colour Scene - 11 Top 20 hits between 1996-2003
Shania Twain - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2004
Tears For Fears - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1982-1993
The Cure - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1983-1996
Level 42 - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1983-1994
The Drifters - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1960-1977
Smokie - 11 UK Top 20 singles between 1975-1995
Placebo - 10 Top 20 hits between 1997-2006
Cast - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-1999
Dina Carroll - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1991-1999
Faithless - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2005
Selena Gomez - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 2010-2019
The Killers - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 2004-2012
The Smiths - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1984-1992
INXS - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1988-2001 *
Supergrass - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2002
Dr. Dre - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1996-2011 *
Bob Dylan - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1965-1978
Foo Fighters - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1995-2007
Brandy - 10 UK Top 20 singles between 1998-2015 *

* including remixes or features
^ had number ones as part of a band

The Foo Fighters have been pretty unlucky with Top 20 singles - even though they have 10 to their name, another 5 peaked at either #21 or #22.

There's a big drop between Janet Jackson (33) and Morrissey (21) which makes me think that there must be others in between, more than likely an older artist from the 60s/70s.

Posted by: Robbie Feb 22 2020, 11:41 PM

The Drifters had 11 top 20 hits between 1960 and 1977. Not to be confused with Cliff Richard's backing group of the same name who had to change their name to The Shadows to avoid confusion with The Drifters.

Smokie had 11 top 20 hits (including one with Roy 'Chubby Brown' between 1975 and 1995

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 22 2020, 11:54 PM

I mentioned Billy Fury earlier (19 Top 20 hits between 1959 and 1965).
Metallica had 14 Top 20 hits between 1988 and 2008).

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 23 2020, 12:04 AM

Thanks, updated the list with all of the above.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 23 2020, 12:11 AM

Thanks M4NGO, I was just in the process of updating with all the suggestions this week but glad you got there first. I’ll leave you to make any future updates if there are any more to be added. I didn’t think the list would be as great as it has become in entries, so maybe a minimum of 15 would have been better but certainly I don’t regret making it a count of how many Top 40 singles an artist had or that would be into the hundreds surely!

Maybe Bré can add your updated list to the opening post.

Posted by: awardinary Feb 23 2020, 12:24 AM

I nearly got caught out when I searched “Missy Elliott” in Polyhex and saw she had over 10 Top 20 singles without a #1 but when I checked the dates I was sure she had been releasing music for longer, and then I recalled she went by the alias “Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott” earlier in her career and did indeed have a #1 single with Melanie B in 1998!

Posted by: Bjork Feb 23 2020, 07:05 AM

Style Council had 12 top 20 hits in the early 80s, also 11 top 20 hits for Tears for Fears

Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 23 2020, 09:38 AM

Red hot chilli peppers, Bon Jovi and Tina Turner are the three that spring to mind.

Also poor Victoria Beckham the only solo Spice not to have one, but then she only released 4 singles

Posted by: jimwatts Feb 23 2020, 10:52 AM

Basement Jaxx had 10 Top 20 hits if you count the reissue of Good Luck (for BBC Euro 2004 coverage) - they had 5 others peaking between #21 and #23 too. Their first hit Fly Life (#19) was all over R1 at the time, but many seemed to have forgotten about it 2 years later and mistook Red Alert to be their debut.

Posted by: DanChartFan Feb 23 2020, 09:10 PM

Leo Sayer appears in the official video for Meck's Thunder In My Heart Again, but that may be a case of sampling video of him as well as sampling his vocals from 1977.

Posted by: DanChartFan Feb 23 2020, 09:37 PM

It ran a lot deeper than whether or the OCC credited her on the chart or not. If an artist wasn't on the front of the CD/Tape/Vinyl then DJ's and television presenters usually didn't mention them (at least not beyond the odd 'fun fact' in passing), neither did the charts (whether the Official OCC, the Pepsi network chart, or others like local radio station charts etc), so the chart books did not explicitly credit her either. The shelf edge labels in HMV/Virgin also wouldn't have credited her, and after the single dropped down and was moved to the A-Z section for older singles it would have surplus copies all filled under Eminem, none under Dido. Magazines like Top Of The Pops and Smash Hits would also have referred to it as a purely Eminem single. Bottom line is that the record label chose to credit the single only to Eminem (which made sense as Dido's part was purely sampled) and that is how it was perceived at the time by the majority of people. I understand that Dido's name was in the small print inside the CD sleeve, but that's not what people at the time would have considered to be what it meant to be a 'credited artist' for a single. I bet there must be a lot of other singles that have other artists tucked away in the small print that were never considered to be 'credited artists' at the time.

I think what has happened is the rise of iTunes, then Spotify, and to an extent the rise in the internet in general, has understandably conflated the 'credited artists' on the front and those only mentioned in the small print, into one 'artists' line, so there is no concept of a difference in the two for those people young enough to not remember the pre iTunes days. But it did used to be a significant difference. As a by-the-by I also find it very irrating when download and streaming sites put the 'featured artists' bit at the end of both the artist line AND the title line when there is no good reason to do so. I don't need telling twice about the featured artist, especially when the main artist is only being mention once, and the featured artist is definitely not an actual part of the song's actual title. I can just about accept that occasionally there will be a well know song (say by Ed Sheeran) then a further version is put out that also has a featured artist added, and that in those circumstances it could be important to the record label to ensure fans can differentiate between the well known Ed-only version, and the new variant with the featured artist, so they can made be aware that a new version exists, and that using the title line for that could be seen to make sense. But I don't believe it is necessary to do it for every single featured artist on every single track that has ever existed. The OCC's chart pages even do this for singles in the 1970s and further back, when there is truly no reason to do so as there was almost certainly only that one version of such a single back then anyway (well perhaps a 7" mix and 12 mix etc). Anyway rant over lol...

Posted by: Bré Feb 23 2020, 09:47 PM

I do understand that, but my point is that regardless of whether it was promoted that way or acknowledged by the OCC, it's just factually incorrect to say she wasn't credited on it. What would be the point of them putting 'featuring Dido' on the CD at all (even if hidden in the small print) if it wasn't in some way meant to be credited to 'Eminem featuring Dido'? There are plenty of examples where uncredited guest vocals are listed in the small print as just 'vocals by [x]' but in this case it explicitly says 'featuring' and that's reflected now on every platform.

And again on the parent album her featured credit is very clearly listed and not hidden at all.

Posted by: *CENSORED* Feb 23 2020, 10:15 PM

tl;dr but that level of dedication to the charts *.*

Posted by: Bjork Feb 24 2020, 07:14 AM

just for the heck of it I went and check my Stan CD single from back in the day that I bought in the UK
and it does not mention Dido anywhere in the cover, even on small print, just says Eminem - Stan, on the front, on the side, back, everywhere

anyway, even if uncredited, the important thing is that Eminem put her name out there and she went to have 2 mega-seller albums

Posted by: awardinary Feb 24 2020, 09:05 PM

Couldn’t recall seeing this one challenged, but Sting had 13 solo Top 20 singles without a #1. Of course he did many times with The Police so perhaps that’s why it isn’t on the list. But again, if that is the ruling, then Paul Weller needs to be removed in favour of his #1’s with The Jam.

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 25 2020, 12:31 AM

Sting is already included in my list on the previous page, though I make it 12 Top 20 hits (not 13).

Posted by: awardinary Feb 25 2020, 01:51 AM

I don’t get any pleasure out of correcting you (honest ), but here are the 13 I counted on Polyhex;

14/08/1982 Sting – Spread A Little Happiness 16
07/12/1985 Sting – Russians 12
11/08/1990 Sting – Englishman In New York {1990} 15
13/02/1993 Sting – If I Ever Lose My Faith In You 14
19/06/1993 Sting – Fields Of Gold 16
15/01/1994 Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart And Sting – All For Love 2
29/10/1994 Sting – When We Dance 9
11/02/1995 Sting Featuring Pato Banton – This Cowboy Song 15
02/03/1996 Sting – Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot 15
20/12/1997 Sting And The Police – Roxanne '97 17
25/09/1999 Sting – Brand New Day 13
29/01/2000 Sting Featuring Cheb Mami – Desert Rose 15
10/05/2003 Craig David Featuring Sting – Rise And Fall 2

Posted by: M4NGO Feb 25 2020, 11:07 AM

I didn't count Roxanne '97 because that's Sting and The Police so I was counting it as a Police song but yeah maybe it should be counted idk

Posted by: davidas Feb 25 2020, 04:38 PM

OMG shocked Avril's never had a number 1 here!

Posted by: jimwatts Jun 9 2020, 09:30 PM

A few more to add to the long list on page 5 - these were from an old list (Guinness hit singles 1994 edition) of acts who had spent over 150 weeks in the Top 75 without reaching #1, I've then looked them up on the OCC site:

Duane Eddy - 17 Top 20 (1958 - 1988)
Kool & The Gang - 13 Top 20 (1979 - 1985)
Brenda Lee - 12 Top 20 (1960 - 1964, although of course one of those has been in the Top 20 again in the last few years)
Neil Sedaka - 10 Top 20 (1959 - 1974)

Gloria Estefan - up to 16 Top 20 (1984 - 2005), depending how you count the ones with Miami Sound Machine. The OCC credits 9 to Gloria solo and 4 to both together, with the other 3 just to MSM, so that's at least 13 where Gloria is credited (1988 - 1998), but most editions of Guinness hit singles and similar list them all under Gloria Estefan.

And as Bjork mentioned, Style Council - 12 Top 20 (1983 - 1987)

Posted by: Scene Jun 9 2020, 10:16 PM

Gloria Estefan has had 16 UK top 20 singles without a #1.

EDIT: Okay just seen post above lol!

The Carpenters?