zeus555

The OCC have told me that, due to their rule change, they no longer count 'Thriller 25', & 'Back To Black Deluxe' as different Albums to the original versions. They have now added their Sales, so that 'Back To Black' & 'Thriller' will show higher Totals in the future.

I checked this Chart statistic this afternoon. The Beatles never managed to have 3 Albums in the Top 10. They had 2 Albums in the Top 10 many times. This includes being No.1 for a 30th Week with 'Please Please Me', in the Chart of 30th November 1963. 'With The Beatles' Entered at No.2 in the same Chart. In the 7th December Chart 'With The Beatles' rose to No.1, & 'Please Please Me' dropped to No.2. That was the 1st of 18 Weeks where they were at those Positions - mostly consecutive, but sometimes 'Please Me Please Me' dropped, & then rose to No.2 again. JIM REEVES The person who dominated the Top 20 in the Album Chart, the most was Jim Reeves. He was killed in a Plane Crash on July 30th 1964. He was 40. The UK Album Chart was only a Top 20 at the time, but this is how his death caused his Albums to dominate that Top 20:, 12th September 1964 No.3 - 'Gentleman Jim' No.7 - 'Moonlight & Roses' No.10 - 'A Touch Of Velvet' No.11 - 'Good 'N' Country' No.14 - 'God Be With You' No.20 - 'He'll Have To Go' 19th September, he was at 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, & 14 26th September, he was at 2, 7, 11, 12, 15, & 16 3rd October:, (3 in the Top 10 again):, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, & 17 (SEVEN in the Top 20!) 10th October, he was at, 2, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, & 17 (7 again) 17th October, he was at, 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, & 19 24th October (a 3rd time with 3 in the Top 10):, He was at, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12, & 14 He also had 5 in the Top 20, in the Charts of 31st October & 7th November. ELVIS PRESLEY He did it more than once too:, 30th November 1957 No.2 - 'Lovin' You' (Film Soundtrack) No.3 - 'The Best Of Elvis' No.5 - 'Elvis's Christmas Album' 7th December 1957 No.2 - 'Lovin' You' - Film Soundtrack No.3 - 'Elvis's Christmas Album' No.5 - 'The Best Of Elvis' When he died in 1977, the Chart was a Top 60, & he managed ALL this as well as having 3 in the Top 10, in this particular Chart:, 10th September 1977 No.1 - '40 Greatest' No.4 - 'Moody Blue' No.7 - 'Welcome To My World' No.12 - 'Elvis In Demand' No.14 - 'G.I. Blues' No.20 - 'The Elvis Presley Sun Collection' No.21 - 'Elvis Golden Records' No.26 - 'Elvis At Madison Square Garden' No.27 - 'Elvis Golden Records Vol.2' No.30 - 'Hits Of The 70's' No.37 - 'Blue Hawaii' No.38 - 'From, Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis Tennessee' No.49 - 'Elvis Golden Records Vol.3' No.52 - 'Picture Of Elvis' GEORGE MITCHELL MINSTRELS (The Black & White Minstrels) 22nd December 1962 - 5th January 1963 No.3 - 'The Black & White Minstrel Show' (No.1, the next Week, then No.1 again) No.6 - 'On Stage With The George Mitchell Minstrels (No.2, & then No.4) No.9 - 'Another Black & White Minstrel Show' (No.5, & then No.8) BOB DYLAN 22nd May - 5th June 1965 No.1 - 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' (Then No.3, then No.5) No.6 - 'The Times They Are A-Changin' (Then No.9, then No.10) No.10 - 'Bringing It All Back Home' (Then No.1, then No.2) No.13 - 'Bob Dylan' (Then No.16, then No.20) THE BEACH BOYS 30th July to 6th August 1966 No.2 - 'Pet Sounds' (Then No.2) No.4 - 'Summer Days (And Summer Nights)' (Then No.5) No.10 - 'Beach Boys Today' (Then No.7) THE MONKEES 15th July 1967 No.2 - 'Headquarters' No.4 - 'More Of The Monkees' No.6 - 'The Monkees' PRINCE (I accidently left him out!) (His 3 were all released at the same time. These are their ENTRY Positions) 25th September 1993 No.4 - 'The Hits/The B-Sides' No.5 - 'The Hits 1' No.6 - 'The Hits 2' That's it - they are all the ones I can find, anyhow.....

Tom, the 1987 Iggy Pop Single & the 1974 Suzi Quatro Single, are not the same Song. I know both very well, & they are nothing like each other.

The 1976 No.1 was by Slik - not Silk. And the 1998 No.1 was by The Tamperer, not The Tamper. But, it is a very interesting 'Chart Fact', that you've spotted.

In today's 'The Sun', their Showbiz 'expert' Gordon Smart claims that Alexandra Burke looks set to pass Kylie's Million Seller, & have the UK's Best Selling Single by a Solo Female Act, this Decade. Unfortunately, Mr. Smart thinks that Kylie's Million Seller is 'Spinning Around'! He does not mention 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' in the Article. (So Mr. Smart is clearly a misnomer). He, (correctly), points out that Alexandra now has the UK's Best Seller - ever - by a UK Female Solo Act. No UK Solo Female has had a Million Seller here before. Leona Lewis has yet to manage it. (But she came close with 'Bleeding Love'). 'Anyone Who Had A Heart', by Cilla Black, sold 850,000, & 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina', by Julie Covington, almost sold a Million - about 993,000 - but Alexandra is the first to pass the Million mark.

Although there were only 8 'SIANO' Singles in the first (almost) 28 Years of the Singles Chart, there were 4 in 1973 simply because Slade Fans rushed out & bought enough copies in 1.5 Days to enable Slade to do it 3 times, & Gary Glitter Fans did the same for one of his 1973 Singles. There was nothing special about 1973 that allowed that to happen - just fanatical Slade & Glitter Fans buying enough copies in 1.5 Days to achieve it. It does not mean that an Act is selling more Singles, (in its Career), than any previous Act. Westlife have entered at No.1 on 14 occasions, & they are still not one of the Top 20 UK Singles Acts. The Beatles entered at No.1 just once - 'Get Back' - & they are 2nd only to Cliff Richard as the Top Selling Singles Act in the UK. ABBA never once entered the Singles Chart at No.1 - or even in the Top 5 - and they are the 8th Best Selling Singles Act in the UK. Oddly, 'Chiquitita' was the highest entering of their 19 UK Top 10 Hits - No.8 - but, it failed to make No.1. 'The Winner Takes It All', was their highest entering No.1 Hit, & that 'only' went in at No.9.....

People tend to forget, that the reason why there were only 8 'SIANO's in the first (almost) 28 Years of the Singles Chart, was because Singles tended to be released on a Friday in those Days - 1952 to 1980. Before computers, the Chart 'cut off' time was Noon on a Saturday. That gave Friday releases just 1.5 Days to sell, before the next Chart was compiled. (At least for the Record Retailer Charts). In 1980, it was 'Going Undergroud/Dreams Of Children' by The Jam, that started the Monday Release pattern. It gave New Singles from Monday to Noon on Saturday to sell, - and the number of Singles that entered at No.1 shot up - as anyone can see by looking at the List.

I quite liked the Title of an old Wurzels Album - 'Never Mind The Bullocks', And when ABBA Toured the UK in 1977, a lot of Journalists said Agnetha had a 'big bottom'. So, when 'NME' Reviewed 'The Album', in early 1978, they headed the Review, 'Never Mind The Buttocks'......

U2 sell vast numbers of Albums, but they are not a huge Singles Act. None of the 6 UK No.1's they've had on their own, managed more than 1 Week at No.1. A 7th No.1 'Take Me To The Clouds Above', by LMC vs U2, spent 2 Weeks at No.1 in 2004. There is no way that a U2 Single would ever be No.1 for even 3 Weeks in the UK - but a 12 Week U2 No.1 Single will never happen.

'FLEETWOOD MAC took top album of 1977' Dave, 'Rumours' was not the top Album of 1977 - not in the UK, anyhow. It was 'Arrival', by ABBA. 'Rumours' was the 4th Best Seller of 1977, & the 6th of 1978.

Thisispop - shouldn't 'Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da', by Marmalade, be there? It was on The Beatles 'White Album', (1968). They released the Single themselves in some Countries, but in the UK Marmalade had a January 1969 No.1 with it. 1 run of 1 Week, & 1 run of 2 Weeks.

Madonna & ABBA share the fact that whilst both are in the Top 10 Best Selling Singles Acts in the UK, neither has had a Million Selling UK Single. Nor have either Act ever had the No.1 Single of the Year in the UK. Although both have had the No.1 Album of the Year more than once - ABBA in 1976, 1977, & 1980, & Madonna in 1986 & 1990.

Leona Lewis is the first Solo Female to have the same Album in the Top 5 of the Year on more than one occasion. 'Spirit' was 2nd in 2007, & it is 4th in 2008. The only other Females to manage it were the Spice Girls. 'Spice' was 3rd for both 1996 & 1997. Even Madonna has never managed it.

'Angels' Shipped 1.2 Million to UK Stores. About 864,000 of them were sold - but it keeps the 2 x Platinum Disks that it got. Its Sales are now well over 900,000. It will be interesting - at the the end of the 2000 to 2010 period, to see how many Million Selling Singles, & Biggest 1st Week Sales Singles, actually did well because they were simply released, & people loved them - and how many did it, (really), because they were by people who Won TV Talent Shows - and the hysteria that so many people feel about buying the 1st Single - as fast as possible. It's this mentality:, 'I voted for him/her! He/She Won! I simply MUST buy his/her Single now!'. (Irrespective of whether it's any good!).

So, are these the Charts that Radio Luxembourg used to count down each Week? I found them to be rather 'fast'. Many Hits did not stay around for very long. I'm sure that in 1978, they had 'Summer Nights', by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, entering at No.3, & then dropping several places - out of the Top 10 - the next Week. Rather an odd way to treat a Single that was No.1 for 7 Weeks in the BMRB Chart, & No.1 in 'Melody Maker' & 'NME' too. I sent them a letter about that. I said it made the RL Chart look silly. After that it was very hard for me to take the RL Chart seriously. I just saw it as a Chart that was made at the whim of the DJ's - based on guess-work, rather than what was truly No.1 etc.

Many Stores ONLY stocked the Alexandra CD. So, will we now see a situation where many Stores only stock 1 or 2 Singles a Year? The Winner of The X Factor, & - maybe - a Charity Single? Not exactly fair competition is it?

It is not just some ABBA Fans who say that 'One Of Us' was a 'missing No.1'. Benny & Bjorn say the same thing. I'm an ABBA Fan, but I know that 'One Of Us' was not No.1 in the BMRB Chart - 'Official Chart' - in early 1982. People are confusing it with it being No.1 in 'NME' - but so was 'Chiquitita' in 1979, & no one claims that as a 'missing' ABBA No.1. So ABBA had 9 No.1 Singles in the BMRB Charts, & 11 in 'NME'. (To clarify - Benny & Bjorn say that BMRB compiled a Chart in late December 1981, & it had 'One Of Us' at No.1. But, that Chart was not published - due to it being Christmas/New Year. So 'One Of Us' is 'only' shown as a No.3 Hit - having only been No.1 in the 'missing' Week. The story has always been nonsense. Unfortunately, it tends to be repeated as 'Fact' by many ABBA Fans).

'20 Golden Greats' by Diana Ross & The Supremes, was No.1 for 7 Weeks in 1977. It was the 3rd Best Seller of 1977. I bet that sold at least 850,000 to 900,000.

In all their recorded versions, the 2 biggest Selling Christmas Sellers, (Globally), are easily 'White Christmas' & 'Silent Night'. Both Songs have far outsold every version of 'Do They Know It's Christmas' combined.

The last time that there were 3 versions of the same Song in the Top 40 was 13th October 1966:, No.13 - Sunny - Georgie Fame No.15 - Sunny - Bobby Hebb No.37 - Sunny - Cher None of them reached the Top 10. And the last time there were 2 versions in the Top 5/10, with a 3rd elsewhere in the Chart was:, 9th July 1955 No.1 - Unchained Melody - Jimmy Young No.2 - Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler No.16 - Unchained Melody - Les Baxter It was also the last time that the same Song was 1 & 2, with a 3rd version also in the Chart. UNTIL 'Hallelujah' that is.....

It happened like this before:, 1) 8 Weeks - 1953 to 1954 - Answer me, Frankie Laine & David Whitfield. Counting them being No.1= on December 12th 1953. They also had the Christmas 1 & 2 that Year. 'Music Week' now claims that 2008 is the first time this has happened. This is because they have decided to start their Chart period in February 1969 - when the first 'Official' Chart came out! (It means that they've ignored the first 265 UK No.1's!). 2) It next happened in June 1955 (1 Week) No.1 - Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White - Eddie Calvert No.2 - Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado 3) Then in July 1955 - (2 Weeks) Unchained Melody - Jimmy Young Unchained Melody - Al Hibbler 4) Then for 2 Weeks in January 1957:, Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell They swapped places the next Week, & managed 1 & 2 for a 2nd Week. 5) So, 'Hallelujah' is the FOURTEENTH time that the same Song is at 1 & 2. (Counting the joint No.1 of 'Answer Me' in 1953). It is also the 2nd time that it has happened at Christmas.

'The X Factor' is used by Simon Cowell - every Year - as a 'Product Placement' Show, for Acts that he has an interest in. Westlife are either on it every Year, or their Songs are Sung by some of the Contstants. Il Divo were on it this Year. Leona Lewis will get plugged on it every Year from now on. And, Songs that appear on 'American Idol', also end up on 'The X Factor'. It is obviously down to Simon - he's on both Shows. It's like, 'Oh I like this one! I'll get Il Divo or Westlife - or both - to record it. Then I'll get one of the Acts on 'American Idol' to Sing it. Then I'll get an Act on 'The X Factor' to Sing it too'. It's as calculated - and unimaginative - as that..... Sorry - but it is useless to claim that it is the same as 'Top Of The Pops'. That Show was not used as a 'Product Placement' Tool by one Man. 'The X Factor' is. I read the TV Critics Columns, & many of them have noticed what Simon uses the Show for. Thank God the BBC did not let him 'buy' 'TOTP's! It would be endless 'X Factor' Songs, & plugs for Il Divo, Westlife, Leona, & Alexandra - Week in, Week out!

I know the ABBA writer Carl Magnus Palm. I've E-mailed him about the 'Glasgow' matter, & here is his reply:, They are definitely singing Glasgow , whatever Björn and Benny may or may not have told the BBC Radio people at the time. Also, Björn has discussed the choice of “ Glasgow ” for the lyrics in at least one fairly recent interview. And as for them not having been in Glasgow , ABBA had played there twice (in 1977 and 1979) by the time the Super Trouper lyrics were written. CMP Me again - ABBA did 2 Concerts in Glasgow:, 1977 Tour - Apollo Theatre - February 12th 1979 Tour - Apollo Theatre - November 13th

In today's, 'The Sun', their 'Bizarre' Page Journalist - Gordon Smart, is claiming that it is ALL down to him, & his recent 'Campaigns' that:, 1) Jeff Buckley will be No.2 tomorrow. 2) The BBC has decided to bring back 'Top Of The Pops' 3) Sony released 'Run' as a UK Download. A modest little fellow! (And his surname is a contradiction!).

Here's the 10 Albums to be the fastest UK Million Sellers - so far:, 1) 'Be Here Now' - Oasis (1997) - 11 Days 2) 'The Circus' - Take That (2008) - 19 Days @ 3) 'Beautiful World' - Take That (2006) - 27 Days @ 4)='Robson & Jerome' - Robson & Jerome (1995) - 28 Days 4)='1' - The Beatles (2000) - 28 Days 6) 'Spirit' - Leona Lewis (2007) - 29 Days 7) 'But Seriously' - Phil Collins (1989) - 34 Days 8) 'X & Y' - Coldplay (2005) - 36 Days 9) 'The Immaculate Collection' - Madonna (1990) - 48 Days 10) 'Life For Rent' - Dido (2003) - 50 Days *** @ = So 'The Circus' has made Take That the only Act to have 2 such Albums in this List. *** = Some sources say 49 Days. So, Take That have the 2nd & 3rd fastest UK Million Selling Albums.