Channel 5 using OCC sales figures

 

Biggest selling songs of the 1970s (pure sales)

1 Bohemian Rhapsody - 2,620,395

2 Mull of Kintyre - 2,088,617

3 You're the one that I want - 2,082,478

4 Rivers of Babylon - 2,036,598

5 Mary's boy child - 1,896,786

6 Imagine - 1,734,228

7 Summer nights - 1,650,959

8 YMCA - 1,527,375

9 Heart of glass - 1,337,102

10 Merry Xmas everybody - 1,323,644

11 Bright eyes - 1,228,143

12 Don't give up on us - 1,170,110

13 Another brick in the wall - 1,163,149

14 Dancing Queen - 1,161,343

15 I feel love - 1,148,668

 

Original vinyl sales plus downloads but not streams. Up to date totals.

Boney M - 2 singles in the T5!!

Thanks for sharing Ben! Will never understand why Mull Of Kintyre was so big. The rest of the top 10 feel like they have more legacy than that one.

Sales very biased toward the 1977-79 period as this was the biggest sales era of the decade. David Soul sold so well in 1977 with ‘Don’t Give Up’

Thanks Ben. Do you have No.'s 15 to 30 as can't find them online.

Thanks Ben. Do you have No.'s 15 to 30 as can't find them online.

I've posted them here

Thanks for sharing that Jim. Thought I would check these against the 'millionaires' pure sales list they released Sept 2017 to see the growth since then. Obviously physical/download sales are in the pan but you get an idea of how songs have held up and which have a better legacy than others.

 

1 Bohemian Rhapsody - 2,620,395 (+79,791)

2 Mull of Kintyre - 2,088,617 (+2,434)

3 You're the one that I want - 2,082,478 (+10,443)

4 Rivers of Babylon - 2,036,598 (+3,942)

5 Mary's boy child - 1,896,786 (+11,512)

6 Imagine - 1,734,228 (+19,877)

7 Summer nights - 1,650,959 (+10,287)

8 YMCA - 1,527,375 (+13,698)

9 Heart of glass - 1,337,102 (+14,786)

10 Merry Xmas everybody - 1,323,644 (+17,078)

11 Bright eyes - 1,228,143 (+5,913)

12 Don't give up on us - 1,170,110 (+2,739)

13 Another brick in the wall - 1,163,149 (+16,601)

14 Dancing Queen - 1,161,343 (+28,055)

15 I feel love - 1,148,668 (+21,157)

16 I Love You Love Me Love - 1,146,665 (+614)

17 Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - 1,136,140 (+6,771)

18 I Will Survive - 1,097,385 (+15,347)

19 Sailing - 1,076,564 (+12,526)

20 Don't Go Breaking My Heart - 1,043,466 (+14,224)

21 Don't Cry For Me Argentina - 1,034,894 (+2,598)

22 Save Your Kisses For Me - 1,028,657 (+3,293)

23 I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing - 1,018,936 (+2,496)

24 Under The Moon Of Love - 1,018,003 (+3,528)

25 Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree - 1,015,219 (+3,561)

26 Eye Level - 1,009,012 (+955)

27 Long Haired Lover From Liverpool - 1,007,469 (+808)

28 Amazing Grace [bagpipes version] - 998,509 (unknown)

29 Mississippi - 980,383 (unknown)

30 My Sweet Lord - 975,434 (+14,873)

Thanks for sharing Ben! Will never understand why Mull Of Kintyre was so big. The rest of the top 10 feel like they have more legacy than that one.

Yeah, exactly this. It's really not a great song!

Thanks Ben. Do you have No.'s 15 to 30 as can't find them online.

 

Biggest selling songs of the 1970s (continued)

16 I love you love me - 1,146,665

17 Hit me with your rhythm stick - 1,136,140

18 I will survive - 1,097,385

19 Sailing - 1,076,564

20 Don't go breaking my heart - 1,043,466

21 Don't cry for me Argentina - 1,034,894

22 Save your kisses for me - 1,028,657

23 I'd like to teach the world to sing - 1,018,936

24 Under the moon of love - 1,018,003

25 Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree - 1,015,219

26 Eye level - 1,009,012

27 Long haired lover from Liverpool - 1,007,469

 

28 Amazing grace - 998,509

29 Mississippi - 980,383

30 My sweet lord - 975,434

 

Very little change in the pure sales from September 2017.

Gary Glitter was on 1,146,051, now it's 1,146,665. (i.e. 614 downloads)