Just now, Popchartfreak said:

I think I can spoil the spoiler - Sylvia's Mother likely didn't out-sell A Little Bit More, just the one week at 2 behind an Osmond which may or may not appear yet 😄

Aww it seems to have gone ok to be the more iconic track over time then 😢

I'm not apologising for the next two, my brother bought Ernie, and it's a beautifully-produced novelty comedy song with a great video. Benny was good at word-play, and it charted again in the 90's due to nostalgia from kids of the time (like me, I bought it then). I bought Chirpy Cheep Cheep in Singapore (so these sales would be one higher otherwise) just before we left for the UK - I carried it on the plane with us, along with some DC comics - and I bought it based on hearing in the school changing rooms on a kid's new-fangled gadget called a Cassette. It blew my mind, sounded unearthly. In a chipmunks good way, so many hooks! I had to own it! My affection lasted until the 80's at least, before ebbing somewhat since, but I'm still fond of it. Middle Of The Road had better records though. It hung around the charts into 1972, so it was quite a long run, unusual for those days.

It goes without saying that I Feel Love and Wuthering Heights are two of western music's greatest achievements.

Edited September 2Sep 2 by Colm

50. DANCING QUEEN- Abba (650,500)

 

1976

15 Weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

Inspired apparently by US disco (and George McCrae in particular) this of course became pretty much Abba’s signature tune, it was originally pencilled in as a follow up to “Mama MIa” but was pushed back in favour of “Fernando” which was felt to have a wider appeal given its folkier feel- just shows how wrong labels can be on occasion.  It was also their only US chart topper.

49. THE WONDER OF YOU- Elvis Presley (656,100)

 

1970

21 weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

Released first as a single by Ray Peterson in 1959 (#23), “The Wonder Of You” was written originally as a gospel song but of course found greater fame when recorded by a newly resurgent Elvis in 1970.  Elvis’ version was a live recording from his Vegas residency which Presley asked permission for personally "He [Elvis] asked me if I would mind if he recorded 'The Wonder of You.' I said, 'You don't have to ask permission; you're Elvis Presley.' He said, 'Yes, I do. You're Ray Peterson.'  It was Evis’ final No 1 in his lifetime and a 16^th overall.

48. MATCHSTALK MEN & MATCHSTALK CATS AND DOGS- Brian & Michael (656,700)

 

1978

19 Weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

Written by the duo in response to painter W.S Lowry’s death in 1976, the record was actually produced by Kevin Parrott who had to step in during live performances as “Brian” after the real life Brian left the duo shortly after the song was released in late 1977.  The cover is naturally a Lowry print and the backing vocals are courtesy of St Winifred’s Choir two years before they claimed their own No 1!  It was also the second longest chart topper by letters (to this point) beaten only by Scott McKenzie.

Never liked Dancing Queen. It's too slow to dance to. Most of their other singles are better.

5 hours ago, Gezza said:

50. DANCING QUEEN- Abba (650,500)

 

1976

15 Weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

Inspired apparently by US disco (and George McCrae in particular) this of course became pretty much Abba’s signature tune, it was originally pencilled in as a follow up to “Mama MIa” but was pushed back in favour of “Fernando” which was felt to have a wider appeal given its folkier feel- just shows how wrong labels can be on occasion.  It was also their only US chart topper.

On a worldwide scale Fernando was their biggest overall seller though, so perhaps not so wrong.

Dancing Queen though, what an iconic song!

what’s the longest chart topper by number of letters? Neyo’s Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)?

8 minutes ago, chartjack2 said:

what’s the longest chart topper by number of letters? Neyo’s Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)?

All depends on how you view parenthesis I suppose. Without it it's Manic St Preachers "If You Tolerate This...." and Bombalurina's "Itsy Bitsy..."- both have 39 letters. With it then I think it is still Scott Mackenzie with 41 letters. Then of course you could consider double a-sides.....

7 hours ago, Colm said:

Never liked Dancing Queen. It's too slow to dance to. Most of their other singles are better.

Overplayed too but is certainly their best known song and a Top 20 hit again in 1992, released to promote Gold.

Edited September 2Sep 2 by CRAZY CHRIS

Status Quo had the better matchstick men themed song back in the 60s.

The Brian and Michael track sounds very much influenced by Don McLean 'Vincent' in its artist dedication theme.

'Dancing Queen' is overplayed but funny if you change it to 'only seventy'.

Edited September 2Sep 2 by TheSnake

Dancing Queen is one of the rare occasions where an artist’s most famous/played/successful song is also their best!

1 hour ago, TheSnake said:

'Dancing Queen' is overplayed but funny if you change it to 'only seventy'.

I prefer Peter Kays interpretation only 7 teeth 🤣

That saying Dancing Queen is definitely their most overrated and on the lower end of the scale for me

Elvis the wonder of you i enjoy it u less people are butchering it on karaoke

Dancing Queen was an instant number one on first hearing for me, 50 years ago and a bit ago. 10 weeks topping my chart and a real inspirational-sounding obsession till the next 10-week obsession (Knowing Me Knowing You). Bit of a fan, me!

The Wonder Of You having Elvis back big, was also a fave at the time, though not anywhere near as big on it these days, but still a good singalong and the final notes are great, there's not enough singers working up to a vocal climax ending these days! The ones capable of carrying it off at any rate 😇

Matchstalk Men had its charm to start with, before it started to grate after a few weeks, but was never a fave. Plus it blocked Blondie's Denis from getting a number one, still peeved. I bought that one 🙂

'Ernie' and 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheap Cheap' not exactly a vintage double act although neat that Middle Of The Road fell at the midway point!

'Dancing Queen' has been overplayed to death but easily the best of yesterday's trio, a classic for a reason. My favourite ABBA single didn't arrive until the '80s though, 'Lay All Your Love On Me'. ❤️

I didn't know 'Dancing Queen' was originally pencilled in as the follow-up to 'Mamma Mia' so that was interesting to learn.

47. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME- Abba (658,000)

 

1978

10 weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

The song that gave a group a 7^th chart topper and enabled them to be the most successful act of the decade by that metric.  Dreamt up by Ulvaeus as a rhythm is his head to keep pace as he was running it eventually got developed into a full track, it saw No 1 again in 1992 as part of Erasure’s “Abba-esque EP” but was their final No 1 of the 70s. This is their 4th and highest placed track on the top 100.

46. TIGER FEET- Mud (664,300)

 

1974

11 weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

Taking advantage of the traditional quiet post Christmas lull in the record industry, this shot to the top to become the first of three No 1’s for the group.  It was a Chinn/ Chapman penned track which ended up the best selling single of 1974 and was one of 14 top 20 hits for the glam rock group between 73 and 76.

45. IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW- Chicago (670,300)

 

1976

16 weeks on the chart

Peak position: 1

 

Undoubtedly the biggest hit of Chicago’s career, sung and composed by Peter Cetera this was a transatlantic chart topper.  It was something of a comeback in the UK at least being their first hit in over 6 years.

Joining in the Dancing Queen debate - not a fan !!