It quite literally doesn't get any bigger than this.

 

As we celebrate the 70th birthday of the Official Singles Chart, the Official Charts Company is presenting the updated list of the best-selling songs in its 70-year history.

 

To date, 179 singles in UK chart history have surpassed one million sales, the latest of which we're pleased to reveal is Taylor Swift's 2014 singalong pop romp Shake It Off.

 

Marking her first million-selling single, Taylor is the first act to achieve the milestone in two years following Goo Goo Dolls' Iris in February 2020, and the first solo artist since Frank Sinatra saw My Way reach the list in 2018. Read more about Taylor's achievement here.

 

Maintaining its title as the best-selling single in UK chart history, Elton John's Candle In The Wind '97/Something About The Way You Look Tonight reigns supreme at Number 1, with UK chart sales in excess of 4.94 million.

 

Rounding out the Top 5 we have Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? (2) with 3.83 million, Queen's magnum opus Bohemian Rhapsody (3) at 2.63 million, Wings' Mull of Kintyre/Girls' School (4) with 2.1 million and John Travolta & the late, great Olivia Newton-John with Grease OST hit You're The One That I Want (5) at 2.08 million.

 

 

 

MORE: Re-visit every Number 1 on the UK's Official Singles Chart

The best-selling song never to reach Number 1 in the UK is Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera, which lands at Number 34. Previously Wham! held the honour with Last Christmas, until January 2021 when it finally earned its place at the top - some 36 years after its release.

 

22 acts have earned more than one million seller, including The Beatles with a very impressive six; their biggest being 1963 chart-topper She Loves You, with 1.93m.

 

In the wider Top 40, despite the sharp increase in streaming over recent years, there are seven singles that make the cut from the 21st century.

 

In sales order they are; Pharrell Williams' Happy (8), Will Young's Pop Idol winners single Anything Is Possible/Evergreen (19), Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars on Uptown Funk (22), Robin Thicke, Pharrell and TI with Blurred Lines (24), Adele's Someone Like You (25), Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera's Moves Like Jagger (34) and finally Gotye and Kimbra with Somebody That I Used To Know (40).

 

The UK's Official best-selling songs of all time (physical single and download sales)

POS TITLE ARTIST PEAK YEAR

1 SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 97 ELTON JOHN 1997 1

2 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID 1984 1

3 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY QUEEN 1975 1 (1975 & 1991)

4 MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL WINGS 1977 1

5 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 1978 1

6 RELAX FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD 1983 1

7 RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING BONEY M 1978 1

8 HAPPY PHARRELL WILLIAMS 2013 1

9 SHE LOVES YOU THE BEATLES 1963 1

10 LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS WHAM! 1984 1

11 LOVE IS ALL AROUND WET WET WET 1994 1

12 MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD BONEY M 1978 1

13 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU STEVIE WONDER 1984 1

14 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU BRYAN ADAMS 1991 1

15 UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN 1995 1

16 BARBIE GIRL AQUA 1997 1

17 BELIEVE CHER 1998 1

18 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND THE BEATLES 1963 1

19 ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN WILL YOUNG 2002 1

20 IMAGINE JOHN LENNON 1975 1975 No 6 / 1980 No 1

21 EYE OF THE TIGER SURVIVOR 1982 1

22 UPTOWN FUNK MARK RONSON FT BRUNO MARS 2014 1

23 I'LL BE MISSING YOU PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS 1997 1

24 BLURRED LINES ROBIN THICKE/TI/PHARRELL 2013 1

25 SOMEONE LIKE YOU ADELE 2011 1

26 THREE LIONS BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS 1996 1

27 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU WHITNEY HOUSTON 1992 1

28 DON'T YOU WANT ME? HUMAN LEAGUE 1981 1

29 SUMMER NIGHTS JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 1978 1

30 TWO TRIBES FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD 1984 1

31 GANGSTA'S PARADISE COOLIO FEATURING L.V. 1995 1

32 MY HEART WILL GO ON CELINE DION 1998 1

33 ...BABY ONE MORE TIME BRITNEY SPEARS 1999 1

34 MOVES LIKE JAGGER MAROON 5 FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA 2011 2

35 WONDERWALL OASIS 1995 2

36 CAN'T BUY ME LOVE THE BEATLES 1964 1

37 CARELESS WHISPER GEORGE MICHAEL 1984 1

38 PERFECT DAY VARIOUS ARTISTS 1997 1

39 KARMA CHAMELEON CULTURE CLUB 1983 1

40 SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA 2011 1

41 YMCA VILLAGE PEOPLE 1978 1

42 WAKE ME UP AVICII 2013 1

43 TEARS KEN DODD 1965 1

44 I GOTTA FEELING BLACK EYED PEAS 2009 1

45 GET LUCKY DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS 2013 1

46 KILLING ME SOFTLY FUGEES 1996 1

47 THE POWER OF LOVE JENNIFER RUSH 1985 1

48 COME ON EILEEN DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS 1982 1

49 IT WASN'T ME SHAGGY FEATURING RIKROK 2001 1

50 (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS 1955 1

51 WE FOUND LOVE RIHANNA FEATURING CALVIN HARRIS 2011 1

52 THE CARNIVAL IS OVER THE SEEKERS 1965 1

53 I FEEL FINE THE BEATLES 1964 1

54 SEX ON FIRE KINGS OF LEON 2008 1

55 WANNABE SPICE GIRLS 1996 1

56 WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER THE BEATLES 1964 1

57 THINK TWICE CELINE DION 1994 1

58 RELEASE ME ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK 1967 1

59 TAINTED LOVE SOFT CELL 1981 1

60 NEVER EVER ALL SAINTS 1997 1

61 CALL ME MAYBE CARLY RAE JEPSEN 2012 1

62 (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY 2005 1

63 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) BRUNO MARS 2010 1

64 UNCHAINED MELODY GARETH GATES 2002 1

65 TITANIUM DAVID GUETTA FT SIA 2011 1

66 HEART OF GLASS BLONDIE 1979 1

67 IT'S LIKE THAT RUN-D.M.C. VS JASON NEVINS 1997 1

68 HALLELUJAH ALEXANDRA BURKE 2008 1

69 IMPOSSIBLE JAMES ARTHUR 2012 1

70 MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY SLADE 1973 1

71 ALL OF ME JOHN LEGEND 2014 2

72 GANGNAM STYLE PSY 2012 1

73 RATHER BE CLEAN BANDIT FT JESS GLYNNE 2014 1

74 PARTY ROCK ANTHEM LMFAO FEATURING LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK 2011 1

75 LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA 2010 2

76 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL 1987 2

77 BLUE MONDAY NEW ORDER 1983 ORIGINAL 1983 NO 9 / 1988 Remix NO 3

78 IT'S NOW OR NEVER ELVIS PRESLEY 1960 1

79 LET HER GO PASSENGER 2012 2

80 THINKING OUT LOUD ED SHEERAN 2014 1

81 GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME TOM JONES 1966 1

82 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU MARIAH CAREY 1994 1 (2020)

83 ANGELS ROBBIE WILLIAMS 1997 4

84 DIANA PAUL ANKA 1957 1

85 PRICE TAG JESSIE J FEATURING B.O.B 2011 1

86 BRIGHT EYES ART GARFUNKEL 1979 1

87 HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY STEPS 1998 1

88 EARTH SONG MICHAEL JACKSON 1995 1

89 I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING AEROSMITH 1998 1

90 TORN NATALIE IMBRUGLIA 1997 2

91 CHASING CARS SNOW PATROL 2006 6

92 CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD KYLIE MINOGUE 2001 1

93 SATURDAY NIGHT WHIGFIELD 1994 1

94 POKER FACE LADY GAGA 2009 1

95 GHOSTBUSTERS RAY PARKER JR. 1984 2

96 STRANGER ON THE SHORE MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND 1961 2

97 MARY'S BOY CHILD HARRY BELAFONTE 1957 1

98 THE LAST WALTZ ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK 1967 1

99 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID 20 2004 1

100 ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) RIHANNA 2010 1

101 DON'T GIVE UP ON US DAVID SOUL 1976 1

102 NO MATTER WHAT BOYZONE 1998 1

103 SPACEMAN BABYLON ZOO 1996 1

104 DANCING QUEEN ABBA 1976 1

105 HEY JUDE THE BEATLES 1968 1

106 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) PINK FLOYD 1979 1

107 WE ARE YOUNG FUN FT JANELLE MONAE 2011 1

108 COUNTING STARS ONEREPUBLIC 2013 1

109 I FEEL LOVE DONNA SUMMER 1977 1

110 2 BECOME 1 SPICE GIRLS 1996 1

111 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE GARY GLITTER 1973 1

112 CRAZY GNARLS BARKLEY 2006 1

113 ROAR KATY PERRY 2013 1

114 BLUE (DA BA DEE) EIFFEL 65 1999 1

115 DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' JOURNEY 1982 6 (2010)

116 THE A TEAM ED SHEERAN 2011 3

117 HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS 1978 1

118 USE SOMEBODY KINGS OF LEON 2008 2

119 BACK FOR GOOD TAKE THAT 1995 1

120 LOSE YOURSELF EMINEM 2002 1

121 BLEEDING LOVE LEONA LEWIS 2007 1

122 I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF ROBSON & JEROME 1995 1

123 FIREWORK KATY PERRY 2010 3

124 DIAMONDS RIHANNA 2012 1

125 UNCHAINED MELODY THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS 1965 1

126 THAT'S MY GOAL SHAYNE WARD 2005 1

127 ROLLING IN THE DEEP ADELE 2011 2

128 TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" TELETUBBIES 1997 1

129 I REMEMBER YOU FRANK IFIELD 1962 1

130 RIDE ON TIME BLACK BOX 1989 1

131 PURE AND SIMPLE HEAR'SAY 2001 1

132 I WILL SURVIVE GLORIA GAYNOR 1979 1

133 RULE THE WORLD TAKE THAT 2007 2

134 FAME IRENE CARA 1982 1

135 RED RED WINE UB40 1983 1

136 LA LA LA NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH 2013 1

137 UPTOWN GIRL BILLY JOEL 1983 1

138 SAILING ROD STEWART 1975 1

139 DON'T YOU WORRY CHILD SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA/MARTIN 2012 1

140 THE YOUNG ONES CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS 1962 1

141 STAND & DELIVER! ADAM AND THE ANTS 1981 1

142 BAD ROMANCE LADY GAGA 2009 1

143 GIVE ME EVERYTHING PITBULL FEATURING NE-YO, AFROJACK AND NAYER 2011 1

144 MR BRIGHTSIDE KILLERS 2004 10

145 WHITE CHRISTMAS BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA 1942 5 (1977) - since 1952

146 THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT TIGHT FIT 1982 1

147 HERO ENRIQUE IGLESIAS 2002 1

148 MYSTERIOUS GIRL PETER ANDRE FEATURING BUBBLER RANX 1995 1

149 SUGAR SUGAR THE ARCHIES 1969 1

150 FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE CHERYL COLE 2009 1

151 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE 1976 1

152 MAMBO NO.5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...) LOU BEGA 1999 1

153 WHERE IS THE LOVE BLACK EYED PEAS 2003 1

154 YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS 1963 1

155 JAR OF HEARTS CHRISTINA PERRI 2011 4

156 DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA JULIE COVINGTON 1976 1

157 DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER OASIS 1996 1

158 DON'T SPEAK NO DOUBT 1997 1

159 MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE ADELE 2008 4

160 WHOLE AGAIN ATOMIC KITTEN 2001 1

161 CAN WE FIX IT? BOB THE BUILDER 2000 1

162 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME BROTHERHOOD OF MAN 1976 1

163 STARSHIPS NICKI MINAJ 2012 2

164 WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL ONE DIRECTION 2011 1

165 NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP RICK ASTLEY 1987 1

166 PARADISE COLDPLAY 2011 1

167 ESPECIALLY FOR YOU KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN 1988 1

168 I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING THE NEW SEEKERS 1971 1

169 WHEN WE COLLIDE MATT CARDLE 2010 1

170 UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE SHOWADDYWADDY 1976 1

171 MY WAY FRANK SINATRA 1969 5

172 IRIS GOO GOO DOLLS 1998 3

173 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE DAWN FEATURING TONY ORLANDO 1973 1

174 GRENADE BRUNO MARS 2011 1

175 FORGET YOU CEE LO GREEN 2011 1

176 EYE LEVEL THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA 1972 1

177 SEXY AND I KNOW IT LMFAO 2011 5

178 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND 1972 1

179 SHAKE IT OFF TAYLOR SWIFT 2014 2

©2022 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.

 

* Sales for White Christmas have only been counted since the inception of the chart in 1952.

Good to see them updating both lists, and that they have seemingly given up trying to combine them. Would've been nice to have the full sales figures too though.

I wonder how close Happy is to 2 million. They gave sales of 1.90M for Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord and 2.04M for Rivers Of Babylon, so it must be there or thereabouts. Must be the most downloaded song ever.

I wonder how close Run by Leona is to 1 million :( .

I can't believe Happy has sold so much given that it became big after sales had a big drop. I would have thought a song that was a hit in 2011 or 2012 would have been better positioned to sell 2 million.

Most Purchased per year:

 

Ranked osition in particular year / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

2014

001 - 022 - MARK RONSON FT BRUNO MARS - UPTOWN FUNK - #1

002 - 071 - JOHN LEGEND - ALL OF ME - #2

003 - 073 - CLEAN BANDIT FT JESS GLYNNE - RATHER BE - #1

004 - 080 - ED SHEERAN - THINKING OUT LOUD - #1

005 - 179 - TAYLOR SWIFT - SHAKE IT OFF - #2

 

2013

001 - 008 - PHARRELL WILLIAMS - HAPPY - #1

002 - 024 - ROBIN THICKE/TI/PHARRELL - BLURRED LINES - #1

003 - 042 - AVICII - WAKE ME UP - #1

004 - 045 - DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS - GET LUCKY - #1

005 - 108 - ONEREPUBLIC - COUNTING STARS - #1

006 - 113 - KATY PERRY - ROAR - #1

007 - 136 - NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH - LA LA LA - #1

 

2012

001 - 061 - CARLY RAE JEPSEN - CALL ME MAYBE - #1

002 - 069 - JAMES ARTHUR - IMPOSSIBLE - #1

003 - 072 - PSY - GANGNAM STYLE - #1

004 - 079 - PASSENGER - LET HER GO - #2

005 - 124 - RIHANNA - DIAMONDS - #1

006 - 139 - SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA/MARTIN - DON'T YOU WORRY CHILD - #1

007 - 163 - NICKI MINAJ - STARSHIPS - #2

 

2011

001 - 025 - ADELE - SOMEONE LIKE YOU - #1

002 - 034 - MAROON 5 FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA - MOVES LIKE JAGGER - #2

003 - 040 - GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA - SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW - #1

004 - 051 - RIHANNA FEATURING CALVIN HARRIS - WE FOUND LOVE - #1

005 - 065 - DAVID GUETTA FT SIA - TITANIUM - #1

006 - 074 - LMFAO FEATURING LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK - PARTY ROCK ANTHEM - #1

007 - 085 - JESSIE J FEATURING B.O.B - PRICE TAG - #1

008 - 107 - FUN FT JANELLE MONAE - WE ARE YOUNG - #1

009 - 116 - ED SHEERAN - THE A TEAM - #3

010 - 127 - ADELE - ROLLING IN THE DEEP - #2

011 - 143 - PITBULL FEATURING NE-YO, AFROJACK AND NAYER - GIVE ME EVERYTHING - #1

012 - 155 - CHRISTINA PERRI - JAR OF HEARTS - #4

013 - 164 - ONE DIRECTION - WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL - #1

014 - 166 - COLDPLAY - PARADISE - #1

015 - 174 - BRUNO MARS - GRENADE - #1

016 - 175 - CEE LO GREEN - FORGET YOU - #1

017 - 177 - LMFAO - SEXY AND I KNOW IT - #5

 

2010

001 - 063 - BRUNO MARS - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) - #1

002 - 075 - EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA - LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - #2

003 - 100 - RIHANNA - ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) - #1

004 - 123 - KATY PERRY - FIREWORK - #3

005 - 169 - MATT CARDLE - WHEN WE COLLIDE - #1

 

2009

001 - 044 - BLACK EYED PEAS - I GOTTA FEELING - #1

002 - 094 - LADY GAGA - POKER FACE - #1

003 - 142 - LADY GAGA - BAD ROMANCE - #1

004 - 150 - CHERYL COLE - FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE - #1

 

2008

001 - 054 - KINGS OF LEON - SEX ON FIRE - #1

002 - 068 - ALEXANDRA BURKE - HALLELUJAH - #1

003 - 118 - KINGS OF LEON - USE SOMEBODY - #2

004 - 159 - ADELE - MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE - #4

 

2007

001 - 121 - LEONA LEWIS - BLEEDING LOVE - #1

002 - 133 - TAKE THAT - RULE THE WORLD - #2

 

2006

001 - 091 - SNOW PATROL - CHASING CARS - #6

002 - 112 - GNARLS BARKLEY - CRAZY - #1

 

2005

001 - 062 - TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY - (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - #1

002 - 126 - SHAYNE WARD - THAT'S MY GOAL - #1

 

2004

001 - 099 - BAND AID 20 - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? - #1

002 - 144 - KILLERS - MR BRIGHTSIDE - #10

 

2003

001 - 153 - BLACK EYED PEAS - WHERE IS THE LOVE - #1

 

2002

001 - 019 - WILL YOUNG - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN - #1

002 - 064 - GARETH GATES - UNCHAINED MELODY - #1

003 - 120 - EMINEM - LOSE YOURSELF - #1

004 - 147 - ENRIQUE IGLESIAS - HERO - #1

 

2001

001 - 049 - SHAGGY FEATURING RIKROK - IT WASN'T ME - #1

002 - 092 - KYLIE MINOGUE - CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - #1

003 - 131 - HEAR'SAY - PURE AND SIMPLE - #1

004 - 160 - ATOMIC KITTEN - WHOLE AGAIN - #1

 

2000

001 - 161 - BOB THE BUILDER - CAN WE FIX IT? - #1

 

1999

001 - 033 - BRITNEY SPEARS - ...BABY ONE MORE TIME - #1

002 - 114 - EIFFEL 65 - BLUE (DA BA DEE) - #1

003 - 152 - LOU BEGA - MAMBO NO.5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...) - #1

 

1998

001 - 017 - CHER - BELIEVE - #1

002 - 032 - CELINE DION - MY HEART WILL GO ON - #1

003 - 087 - STEPS - HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY - #1

004 - 089 - AEROSMITH - I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING - #4

005 - 102 - BOYZONE - NO MATTER WHAT - #1

006 - 172 - GOO GOO DOLLS - IRIS - #3

 

1997

001 - 001 - ELTON JOHN - SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 97 - #1

002 - 016 - AQUA - BARBIE GIRL - #1

003 - 023 - PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS - I'LL BE MISSING YOU - #1

004 - 038 - VARIOUS ARTISTS - PERFECT DAY - #1

005 - 060 - ALL SAINTS - NEVER EVER - #1

006 - 067 - RUN-D.M.C. VS JASON NEVINS - IT'S LIKE THAT - #1

007 - 083 - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - ANGELS - #4

008 - 090 - NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - TORN - #2

009 - 128 - TELETUBBIES - TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" - #1

010 - 158 - NO DOUBT - DON'T SPEAK - #1

 

1996

001 - 026 - BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS - THREE LIONS - #1

002 - 046 - FUGEES - KILLING ME SOFTLY - #1

003 - 055 - SPICE GIRLS - WANNABE - #1

004 - 103 - BABYLON ZOO - SPACEMAN - #1

005 - 110 - SPICE GIRLS - 2 BECOME 1 - #1

006 - 157 - OASIS - DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER - #1

 

1995

001 - 015 - ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN - UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER - #1

002 - 031 - COOLIO FEATURING L.V. - GANGSTA'S PARADISE - #1

003 - 035 - OASIS - WONDERWALL - #2

004 - 088 - MICHAEL JACKSON - EARTH SONG - #1

005 - 119 - TAKE THAT - BACK FOR GOOD - #1

006 - 122 - ROBSON & JEROME - I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF - #1

007 - 148 - PETER ANDRE FEATURING BUBBLER RANX - MYSTERIOUS GIRL - #1 (2004)

 

1994

001 - 011 - WET WET WET - LOVE IS ALL AROUND - #1

002 - 057 - CELINE DION - THINK TWICE - #1

003 - 082 - MARIAH CAREY - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU - #1 (2020)

004 - 093 - WHIGFIELD - SATURDAY NIGHT - #1

 

1992

001 - 027 - WHITNEY HOUSTON - I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - #1

 

1991

001 - 014 - BRYAN ADAMS - (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - #1

 

1989

001 - 130 - BLACK BOX - RIDE ON TIME - #1

 

1988

001 - 167 - KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN - ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - #1

 

1987

001 - 076 - POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL - FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK - #2

002 - 165 - RICK ASTLEY - NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP - #1

 

1985

001 - 047 - JENNIFER RUSH - THE POWER OF LOVE - #1

 

1984

001 - 002 - BAND AID - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? - #1

002 - 010 - WHAM! - LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS - #1

003 - 013 - STEVIE WONDER - I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - #1

004 - 030 - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - TWO TRIBES - #1

005 - 037 - GEORGE MICHAEL - CARELESS WHISPER - #1

006 - 095 - RAY PARKER JR. - GHOSTBUSTERS - #2

 

1983

001 - 006 - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - RELAX - #1

002 - 039 - CULTURE CLUB - KARMA CHAMELEON - #1

003 - 077 - NEW ORDER - BLUE MONDAY - ORIGINAL 1983 NO 9 / 1988 Remix NO 3

004 - 135 - UB40 - RED RED WINE - #1

005 - 137 - BILLY JOEL - UPTOWN GIRL - #1

 

1982

001 - 021 - SURVIVOR - EYE OF THE TIGER - #1

002 - 048 - DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS - COME ON EILEEN - #1

003 - 115 - JOURNEY - DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' - #6 (2010)

004 - 134 - IRENE CARA - FAME - #1

005 - 146 - TIGHT FIT - THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - #1

 

1981

001 - 028 - HUMAN LEAGUE - DON'T YOU WANT ME? - #1

002 - 059 - SOFT CELL - TAINTED LOVE - #1

003 - 141 - ADAM AND THE ANTS - STAND & DELIVER! - #1

 

1979

001 - 066 - BLONDIE - HEART OF GLASS - #1

002 - 086 - ART GARFUNKEL - BRIGHT EYES - #1

003 - 106 - PINK FLOYD - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) - #1

004 - 132 - GLORIA GAYNOR - I WILL SURVIVE - #1

 

1978

001 - 005 - JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - #1

002 - 007 - BONEY M - RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - #1

003 - 012 - BONEY M - MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - #1

004 - 029 - JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - SUMMER NIGHTS - #1

005 - 041 - VILLAGE PEOPLE - YMCA - #1

006 - 117 - IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS - HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - #1

 

1977

001 - 004 - WINGS - MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - #1

002 - 109 - DONNA SUMMER - I FEEL LOVE - #1

 

1976

001 - 101 - DAVID SOUL - DON'T GIVE UP ON US - #1

002 - 104 - ABBA - DANCING QUEEN - #1

003 - 151 - ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE - DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - #1

004 - 156 - JULIE COVINGTON - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - #1

005 - 162 - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN - SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - #1

006 - 170 - SHOWADDYWADDY - UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - #1

 

1975

001 - 003 - QUEEN - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - #1 (1975 & 1991)

002 - 020 - JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE - #1975 No 6 / 1980 No 1

003 - 138 - ROD STEWART - SAILING - #1

 

1973

001 - 070 - SLADE - MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - #1

002 - 111 - GARY GLITTER - I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - #1

003 - 173 - DAWN FEATURING TONY ORLANDO - TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - #1

 

1972

001 - 176 - THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA - EYE LEVEL - #1

002 - 178 - LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND - LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - #1

 

1971

001 - 168 - THE NEW SEEKERS - I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - #1

 

1969

001 - 149 - THE ARCHIES - SUGAR SUGAR - #1

002 - 171 - FRANK SINATRA - MY WAY - #5

 

1968

001 - 105 - THE BEATLES - HEY JUDE - #1

 

1967

001 - 058 - ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK - RELEASE ME - #1

002 - 098 - ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK - THE LAST WALTZ - #1

 

1966

001 - 081 - TOM JONES - GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME - #1

 

1965

001 - 043 - KEN DODD - TEARS - #1

002 - 052 - THE SEEKERS - THE CARNIVAL IS OVER - #1

003 - 125 - THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - UNCHAINED MELODY - #1

 

1964

001 - 036 - THE BEATLES - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - #1

002 - 053 - THE BEATLES - I FEEL FINE - #1

003 - 056 - THE BEATLES - WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER - #1

 

1963

001 - 009 - THE BEATLES - SHE LOVES YOU - #1

002 - 018 - THE BEATLES - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - #1

003 - 154 - GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS - YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE - #1

 

1962

001 - 129 - FRANK IFIELD - I REMEMBER YOU - #1

002 - 140 - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS - THE YOUNG ONES - #1

 

1961

001 - 096 - MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND - STRANGER ON THE SHORE - #2

 

1960

001 - 078 - ELVIS PRESLEY - IT'S NOW OR NEVER - #1

 

1957

001 - 084 - PAUL ANKA - DIANA - #1

002 - 097 - HARRY BELAFONTE - MARY'S BOY CHILD - #1

 

1955

001 - 050 - BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS - (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - #1

 

1942

001 - 145 - BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA - WHITE CHRISTMAS - #5 (1977) - since 1952

 

 

-----

 

Random notes: OCC say that Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing peaked at #1 even though it actually peaked at #4, so I've corrected that in my post. Their list also implies that Peter Andre's Mysterious Girl reached #1 in 1995 when it actually achieved that in 2004.

Most Purchased Songs from the 2010s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 008 - 2013 - PHARRELL WILLIAMS - HAPPY - #1

002 - 022 - 2014 - MARK RONSON FT BRUNO MARS - UPTOWN FUNK - #1

003 - 024 - 2013 - ROBIN THICKE/TI/PHARRELL - BLURRED LINES - #1

004 - 025 - 2011 - ADELE - SOMEONE LIKE YOU - #1

005 - 034 - 2011 - MAROON 5 FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA - MOVES LIKE JAGGER - #2

006 - 040 - 2011 - GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA - SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW - #1

007 - 042 - 2013 - AVICII - WAKE ME UP - #1

008 - 045 - 2013 - DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS - GET LUCKY - #1

009 - 051 - 2011 - RIHANNA FEATURING CALVIN HARRIS - WE FOUND LOVE - #1

010 - 061 - 2012 - CARLY RAE JEPSEN - CALL ME MAYBE - #1

011 - 063 - 2010 - BRUNO MARS - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) - #1

012 - 065 - 2011 - DAVID GUETTA FT SIA - TITANIUM - #1

013 - 069 - 2012 - JAMES ARTHUR - IMPOSSIBLE - #1

014 - 071 - 2014 - JOHN LEGEND - ALL OF ME - #2

015 - 072 - 2012 - PSY - GANGNAM STYLE - #1

016 - 073 - 2014 - CLEAN BANDIT FT JESS GLYNNE - RATHER BE - #1

017 - 074 - 2011 - LMFAO FEATURING LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK - PARTY ROCK ANTHEM - #1

018 - 075 - 2010 - EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA - LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - #2

019 - 079 - 2012 - PASSENGER - LET HER GO - #2

020 - 080 - 2014 - ED SHEERAN - THINKING OUT LOUD - #1

021 - 085 - 2011 - JESSIE J FEATURING B.O.B - PRICE TAG - #1

022 - 100 - 2010 - RIHANNA - ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) - #1

023 - 107 - 2011 - FUN FT JANELLE MONAE - WE ARE YOUNG - #1

024 - 108 - 2013 - ONEREPUBLIC - COUNTING STARS - #1

025 - 113 - 2013 - KATY PERRY - ROAR - #1

026 - 116 - 2011 - ED SHEERAN - THE A TEAM - #3

027 - 123 - 2010 - KATY PERRY - FIREWORK - #3

028 - 124 - 2012 - RIHANNA - DIAMONDS - #1

029 - 127 - 2011 - ADELE - ROLLING IN THE DEEP - #2

030 - 136 - 2013 - NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH - LA LA LA - #1

031 - 139 - 2012 - SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA/MARTIN - DON'T YOU WORRY CHILD - #1

032 - 143 - 2011 - PITBULL FEATURING NE-YO, AFROJACK AND NAYER - GIVE ME EVERYTHING - #1

033 - 155 - 2011 - CHRISTINA PERRI - JAR OF HEARTS - #4

034 - 163 - 2012 - NICKI MINAJ - STARSHIPS - #2

035 - 164 - 2011 - ONE DIRECTION - WHAT MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL - #1

036 - 166 - 2011 - COLDPLAY - PARADISE - #1

037 - 169 - 2010 - MATT CARDLE - WHEN WE COLLIDE - #1

038 - 174 - 2011 - BRUNO MARS - GRENADE - #1

039 - 175 - 2011 - CEE LO GREEN - FORGET YOU - #1

040 - 177 - 2011 - LMFAO - SEXY AND I KNOW IT - #5

041 - 179 - 2014 - TAYLOR SWIFT - SHAKE IT OFF - #2

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 2000s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 019 - 2002 - WILL YOUNG - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN - #1

002 - 044 - 2009 - BLACK EYED PEAS - I GOTTA FEELING - #1

003 - 049 - 2001 - SHAGGY FEATURING RIKROK - IT WASN'T ME - #1

004 - 054 - 2008 - KINGS OF LEON - SEX ON FIRE - #1

005 - 062 - 2005 - TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY - (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - #1

006 - 064 - 2002 - GARETH GATES - UNCHAINED MELODY - #1

007 - 068 - 2008 - ALEXANDRA BURKE - HALLELUJAH - #1

008 - 091 - 2006 - SNOW PATROL - CHASING CARS - #6

009 - 092 - 2001 - KYLIE MINOGUE - CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - #1

010 - 094 - 2009 - LADY GAGA - POKER FACE - #1

011 - 099 - 2004 - BAND AID 20 - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? - #1

012 - 112 - 2006 - GNARLS BARKLEY - CRAZY - #1

013 - 118 - 2008 - KINGS OF LEON - USE SOMEBODY - #2

014 - 120 - 2002 - EMINEM - LOSE YOURSELF - #1

015 - 121 - 2007 - LEONA LEWIS - BLEEDING LOVE - #1

016 - 126 - 2005 - SHAYNE WARD - THAT'S MY GOAL - #1

017 - 131 - 2001 - HEAR'SAY - PURE AND SIMPLE - #1

018 - 133 - 2007 - TAKE THAT - RULE THE WORLD - #2

019 - 142 - 2009 - LADY GAGA - BAD ROMANCE - #1

020 - 144 - 2004 - KILLERS - MR BRIGHTSIDE - #10

021 - 147 - 2002 - ENRIQUE IGLESIAS - HERO - #1

022 - 150 - 2009 - CHERYL COLE - FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE - #1

023 - 153 - 2003 - BLACK EYED PEAS - WHERE IS THE LOVE - #1

024 - 159 - 2008 - ADELE - MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE - #4

025 - 160 - 2001 - ATOMIC KITTEN - WHOLE AGAIN - #1

026 - 161 - 2000 - BOB THE BUILDER - CAN WE FIX IT? - #1

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 1990s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 001 - 1997 - ELTON JOHN - SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 97 - #1

002 - 011 - 1994 - WET WET WET - LOVE IS ALL AROUND - #1

003 - 014 - 1991 - BRYAN ADAMS - (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - #1

004 - 015 - 1995 - ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN - UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER - #1

005 - 016 - 1997 - AQUA - BARBIE GIRL - #1

006 - 017 - 1998 - CHER - BELIEVE - #1

007 - 023 - 1997 - PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS - I'LL BE MISSING YOU - #1

008 - 026 - 1996 - BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS - THREE LIONS - #1

009 - 027 - 1992 - WHITNEY HOUSTON - I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - #1

010 - 031 - 1995 - COOLIO FEATURING L.V. - GANGSTA'S PARADISE - #1

011 - 032 - 1998 - CELINE DION - MY HEART WILL GO ON - #1

012 - 033 - 1999 - BRITNEY SPEARS - ...BABY ONE MORE TIME - #1

013 - 035 - 1995 - OASIS - WONDERWALL - #2

014 - 038 - 1997 - VARIOUS ARTISTS - PERFECT DAY - #1

015 - 046 - 1996 - FUGEES - KILLING ME SOFTLY - #1

016 - 055 - 1996 - SPICE GIRLS - WANNABE - #1

017 - 057 - 1994 - CELINE DION - THINK TWICE - #1

018 - 060 - 1997 - ALL SAINTS - NEVER EVER - #1

019 - 067 - 1997 - RUN-D.M.C. VS JASON NEVINS - IT'S LIKE THAT - #1

020 - 082 - 1994 - MARIAH CAREY - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU - #1 (2020)

021 - 083 - 1997 - ROBBIE WILLIAMS - ANGELS - #4

022 - 087 - 1998 - STEPS - HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY - #1

023 - 088 - 1995 - MICHAEL JACKSON - EARTH SONG - #1

024 - 089 - 1998 - AEROSMITH - I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING - #4

025 - 090 - 1997 - NATALIE IMBRUGLIA - TORN - #2

026 - 093 - 1994 - WHIGFIELD - SATURDAY NIGHT - #1

027 - 102 - 1998 - BOYZONE - NO MATTER WHAT - #1

028 - 103 - 1996 - BABYLON ZOO - SPACEMAN - #1

029 - 110 - 1996 - SPICE GIRLS - 2 BECOME 1 - #1

030 - 114 - 1999 - EIFFEL 65 - BLUE (DA BA DEE) - #1

031 - 119 - 1995 - TAKE THAT - BACK FOR GOOD - #1

032 - 122 - 1995 - ROBSON & JEROME - I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF - #1

033 - 128 - 1997 - TELETUBBIES - TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" - #1

034 - 148 - 1995 - PETER ANDRE FEATURING BUBBLER RANX - MYSTERIOUS GIRL - #1 (2004)

035 - 152 - 1999 - LOU BEGA - MAMBO NO.5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...) - #1

036 - 157 - 1996 - OASIS - DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER - #1

037 - 158 - 1997 - NO DOUBT - DON'T SPEAK - #1

038 - 172 - 1998 - GOO GOO DOLLS - IRIS - #3

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 1980s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 002 - 1984 - BAND AID - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? - #1

002 - 006 - 1983 - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - RELAX - #1

003 - 010 - 1984 - WHAM! - LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS - #1

004 - 013 - 1984 - STEVIE WONDER - I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - #1

005 - 021 - 1982 - SURVIVOR - EYE OF THE TIGER - #1

006 - 028 - 1981 - HUMAN LEAGUE - DON'T YOU WANT ME? - #1

007 - 030 - 1984 - FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - TWO TRIBES - #1

008 - 037 - 1984 - GEORGE MICHAEL - CARELESS WHISPER - #1

009 - 039 - 1983 - CULTURE CLUB - KARMA CHAMELEON - #1

010 - 047 - 1985 - JENNIFER RUSH - THE POWER OF LOVE - #1

011 - 048 - 1982 - DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS - COME ON EILEEN - #1

012 - 059 - 1981 - SOFT CELL - TAINTED LOVE - #1

013 - 076 - 1987 - POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL - FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK - #2

014 - 077 - 1983 - NEW ORDER - BLUE MONDAY - ORIGINAL 1983 NO 9 / 1988 Remix NO 3

015 - 095 - 1984 - RAY PARKER JR. - GHOSTBUSTERS - #2

016 - 115 - 1982 - JOURNEY - DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' - #6 (2010)

017 - 130 - 1989 - BLACK BOX - RIDE ON TIME - #1

018 - 134 - 1982 - IRENE CARA - FAME - #1

019 - 135 - 1983 - UB40 - RED RED WINE - #1

020 - 137 - 1983 - BILLY JOEL - UPTOWN GIRL - #1

021 - 141 - 1981 - ADAM AND THE ANTS - STAND & DELIVER! - #1

022 - 146 - 1982 - TIGHT FIT - THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - #1

023 - 165 - 1987 - RICK ASTLEY - NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP - #1

024 - 167 - 1988 - KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN - ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - #1

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 1970s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 003 - 1975 - QUEEN - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - #1 (1975 & 1991)

002 - 004 - 1977 - WINGS - MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - #1

003 - 005 - 1978 - JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - #1

004 - 007 - 1978 - BONEY M - RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - #1

005 - 012 - 1978 - BONEY M - MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - #1

006 - 020 - 1975 - JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE - #1975 No 6 / 1980 No 1

007 - 029 - 1978 - JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN - SUMMER NIGHTS - #1

008 - 041 - 1978 - VILLAGE PEOPLE - YMCA - #1

009 - 066 - 1979 - BLONDIE - HEART OF GLASS - #1

010 - 070 - 1973 - SLADE - MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - #1

011 - 086 - 1979 - ART GARFUNKEL - BRIGHT EYES - #1

012 - 101 - 1976 - DAVID SOUL - DON'T GIVE UP ON US - #1

013 - 104 - 1976 - ABBA - DANCING QUEEN - #1

014 - 106 - 1979 - PINK FLOYD - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) - #1

015 - 109 - 1977 - DONNA SUMMER - I FEEL LOVE - #1

016 - 111 - 1973 - GARY GLITTER - I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - #1

017 - 117 - 1978 - IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS - HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - #1

018 - 132 - 1979 - GLORIA GAYNOR - I WILL SURVIVE - #1

019 - 138 - 1975 - ROD STEWART - SAILING - #1

020 - 151 - 1976 - ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE - DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - #1

021 - 156 - 1976 - JULIE COVINGTON - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - #1

022 - 162 - 1976 - BROTHERHOOD OF MAN - SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - #1

023 - 168 - 1971 - THE NEW SEEKERS - I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - #1

024 - 170 - 1976 - SHOWADDYWADDY - UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - #1

025 - 173 - 1973 - DAWN FEATURING TONY ORLANDO - TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - #1

026 - 176 - 1972 - THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA - EYE LEVEL - #1

027 - 178 - 1972 - LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND - LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - #1

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 1960s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

001 - 009 - 1963 - THE BEATLES - SHE LOVES YOU - #1

002 - 018 - 1963 - THE BEATLES - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - #1

003 - 036 - 1964 - THE BEATLES - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - #1

004 - 043 - 1965 - KEN DODD - TEARS - #1

005 - 052 - 1965 - THE SEEKERS - THE CARNIVAL IS OVER - #1

006 - 053 - 1964 - THE BEATLES - I FEEL FINE - #1

007 - 056 - 1964 - THE BEATLES - WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER - #1

008 - 058 - 1967 - ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK - RELEASE ME - #1

009 - 078 - 1960 - ELVIS PRESLEY - IT'S NOW OR NEVER - #1

010 - 081 - 1966 - TOM JONES - GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME - #1

011 - 096 - 1961 - MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND - STRANGER ON THE SHORE - #2

012 - 098 - 1967 - ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK - THE LAST WALTZ - #1

013 - 105 - 1968 - THE BEATLES - HEY JUDE - #1

014 - 125 - 1965 - THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - UNCHAINED MELODY - #1

015 - 129 - 1962 - FRANK IFIELD - I REMEMBER YOU - #1

016 - 140 - 1962 - CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS - THE YOUNG ONES - #1

017 - 149 - 1969 - THE ARCHIES - SUGAR SUGAR - #1

018 - 154 - 1963 - GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS - YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE - #1

019 - 171 - 1969 - FRANK SINATRA - MY WAY - #5

 

 

Most Purchased Songs from the 1940s/1950s

 

Ranked position in this decade / Position in overall list / Artist / Title / UK singles chart peak

 

1950s

001 - 050 - 1955 - BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS - (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - #1

002 - 084 - 1957 - PAUL ANKA - DIANA - #1

003 - 097 - 1957 - HARRY BELAFONTE - MARY'S BOY CHILD - #1

 

1940s

001 - 145 - 1942 - BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA - WHITE CHRISTMAS - #5 (1977) - since 1952

^2011 having a whopping 17 songs on this list supports my theory that it would have been the best time to achieve a 2 million seller. It just makes Happy's sales even more impressive though. I know it's all subjective but Blurred Lines and even Get Lucky seemed bigger to me. I don't really care though, it's just surprising.

I wonder how close Happy is to 2 million. They gave sales of 1.90M for Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord and 2.04M for Rivers Of Babylon, so it must be there or thereabouts. Must be the most downloaded song ever.

The latest issue of Music Week (published today) gives a figure of 1,973,705 pure sales for 'Happy'.

 

Other pure sales figures mentioned:

 

She Loves You: 1.93m

 

Anything Is Possible/Evergreen: 1,793,880

 

Moves Like Jagger: 1,554,613

 

Chasing Cars: 1,213,667

 

The OCC got it wrong.

 

56 WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER THE BEATLES 1964 1

 

It should be 1965.

The latest issue of Music Week (published today) gives a figure of 1,973,705 pure sales for 'Happy'.

 

Anything Is Possible/Evergreen: 1,793,880

 

However on 19/9/2017 they gave a figure of 1,795,213 for Anything Is Possible/Evergreen. How can it loose 1,333 sales in 5 years?

 

However on 19/9/2017 they gave a figure of 1,795,213 for Anything Is Possible/Evergreen. How can it loose 1,333 sales in 5 years?

Did that figure include streaming maybe?

Yes, the difference in sales will most likely be from streams.

Still waiting for Adele's Hello (the first and probably last post 2014 single to be close) and Spice Girls Say You'll be there to make it to a million pure sales.

Did that figure include streaming maybe?

In 2017 the OCC figures were,

 

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN - WILL YOUNG - 1 - 2002 - 1,795,213 pure sales - 1,874 streams - 1,797,087 combined sales.

 

But now pure sales are 1,793,880.

Amazing Grace by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was on 998,509 in Channel 5's programme of the biggest sellers released in the 1970s as broadcast in January, so even 15 sales a week would be enough for it to cross 1 million by the end of 2023.

I’m glad the OCC have done separate lists. I do often think it’s a shame downloads weren’t a big thing for longer, we’d have definitely had a few 2 million sellers if they had, Happy very nearly got there. Happy basically almost is.

 

2011 having 17 million sellers is mad though, that was really the peak of single sales.

Amazing Grace by The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was on 998,509 in Channel 5's programme of the biggest sellers released in the 1970s as broadcast in January, so even 15 sales a week would be enough for it to cross 1 million by the end of 2023.

 

maybe a peak TV showing of Wrath Of Khan would be enough to tip it over the edge. I know I still buy downloads (but I already have Amazing Grace on loads of compilations) :)

It is indeed about time that they updated this list, given the last one issued officially in completeness was February 2020 (albeit without exact sales figures which they'd helpfully provided with the previous September 2017 update - though one could fairly readily make estimates of where each song was to the last 1,000 or maybe 5,000 based on the '17 figures as relatively few true sales had accrued in the intervening streaming-heavy 4.5 years). It is indicative of how minuscule actual paid-for purchases are now that in the best part of three years, only one further catalogue track has been added (we know we'll never see another contemporary release make the million again so it's now just about topping-up with trickle-sales on download of these familiar titles released before 2015).

 

It would've been interesting for them to give a heads-up on tracks their database indicates may soon tip into seven-figure territory, such as possibly 'Amazing Grace' as Jimwatts suggests above. There must be a handful of songs now over 990,000 which wouldn't take too much more time on low weekly sales to reach it. But then there is always so much more the OCC could do with this table and it could provide way more ancillary information and analysis to support just the basic rankings when it deigns to update them. As usual, I expect the lazy yoof who seem to populate its offices nowadays just aren't interested or can't be arsed. I'm guessing many of them probably regard the notion of paying for a single a rather quaint activity indeed!

Edited November 17, 20222 yr by Gambo

I expect very few songs will ever cross the 1 million threshold now unless they are very very close indeed. And Happy won’t reach 2 million for at least the next decade.

 

To put current trickle sales in context, the sales only chart Number 100 currently does about 150-200 per week. So if you were constantly on the edge of the sales Top 100 you’d still do under 10k per year. And most of the songs we’re talking about are nowhere near even that level.