SimonW

The OCC article has been updated. If I Were A Boy stated as having sold 735,000 to date.

Thanks for that.

In relation to No. 69 Reason To Believe / Maggie May by Rod Stewart, is the 1976/7 reissue included in your calculations of 653,000? You don't mention the latter dates in the post.

Dave, thanks for posting this list. As ever, your research is very interesting and you have a great eye for detail. Looking forward to positions 1-33 and subsequent posts on new topics.

See post 42: At the time, using sales from Music Week [MW] of current 2008 hits, I calculated that this list represented sales from 1st January 2000 to 31st May 2008 (MW chart week ending 7th June 2008).

In relation to post 42 above, I copied out the sales in 2008. The sales for nos. 100 and 6 were 130,000 and 476,000, respectively.

I think that the Billy Elliott film is responsible for quite a few T Rex downloads. Its soundtrack and related album includes: Cosmic Dancer, Get It On, I Love To Boogie, Children Of The Revolution and Ride A White Swan.

In various all-time charts since 1972, the position of Gerry and the Pacemakers' You'll Never Walk Alone relative to other songs has consistently suggested sales of between 750,000 and 800,000. A very long time ago (before I noted sources) I read that it had shipped 775,000 copies. By comparing various positions in The Top 60 of the Sixties broadcast on Radio 2 on 31st May 2010, I would estimate 785,000 copies during the 1960s (roughly 720,000 during 1963 and about 65,000 in 1964). The original track was released on the Columbia label. There was a reissue on EMI in Nov 1973 and Pentagon in May 1977, and Old Gold in both Oct 1983 and 1991, none of which charted. A conservative estimate of catalogue physical sales would be 20,000 to 30,000. On 15th June 2009, Music Week reported sales of downloads and this track had sold around 65,000 in five years. This is just over 10,000 each year during the download era, which would be 100,000 to date. And OCC reported today (16th Sep) that it had sold 28,000 from Friday to Saturday this week. My estimate is between 900,000 and 920,000 plus this week's chart sales.

Here are some estimates for the Top 40, using Record Mirror and Music Week published sales that I have collected. Postions 20 to 40 should be accurate to 5,000 copies as there is not such a disparity in sales between the titles. 2 to 19 are more difficult to estimate and there are downloads to consider. Most should be correct within 20,000. The Official Hit Factory Top 40 1 Heartbeat/Tragedy – Steps 1998 (1.18 million) 2 Especially For You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan 1988 (1 million) 3 Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley 1987 (800,000) 4 You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive 1984 (700,000) 5 I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue 1988 (700,000) 6 I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun – Westlife 1999 (640,000) 7 Respectable - Mel & Kim 1987 (580,000) 8 No Limit - 2 Unlimited 1993 (540,000) 9 Hand On Your Heart - Kylie Minogue 1989 (500,000) 10 Too Many Broken Hearts - Jason Donovan 1989 (480,000) 11 Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II 1989 (470,000) 12 Ferry Across The Mersey - Various Artists 1989 (450,000) 13 The Loco-Motion - Kylie Minogue 1988 (450,000) 14 One For Sorrow – Steps 1998 (425,000) 15 Let It Be - Ferry Aid 1987 (425,000) 16 Suddenly - Angry Anderson 1988 (370,000) 17 Wouldn't Change A Thing - Kylie Minogue 1989 (370,000) 18 You'll Never Stop Me Loving You – Sonia 1989 (365,000) 19 When You Come Back To Me - Jason Donovan 1989 (360,000) 20 Better Best Forgotten – Steps 1999 (355,000) 21 Get Ready For This - 2 Unlimited 1991 (355,000) 22 5,6,7,8 – Steps 1997 (340,000) 23 Thank ABBA For The Music - The ABBA Allstars 1999 (335,000) 24 Last Thing On My Mind – Steps 1998 (335,000) 25 Give Me Just A Little More Time - Kylie Minogue 1992 (335,000) 26 Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi - Kylie Minogue 1988 (330,000) 27 Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) - Mel & Kim 1986 (330,000) 28 Better The Devil You Know - Kylie Minogue 1990 (330,000) 29 Whenever You Need Somebody - Rick Astley 1987 (330,000) 30 Love In The First Degree – Bananarama 1987 (330,000) 31 Heartache - Pepsi & Shirlie 1987 (330,000) 32 Got To Be Certain - Kylie Minogue 1988 (325,000) 33 This Time I Know It's For Real - Donna Summer 1989 (325,000) 34 Especially For You - Denise & Johnny 1998 (325,000) 35 Toy Boy – Sinitta 1987 (325,000) 36 Help! - Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo 1989 (320,000) 37 Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) - Hazell Dean 1984 (310,000) 38 Sealed With A Kiss - Jason Donovan 1989 (300,000) 39 Baker Street – Undercover 1992 (295,000) 40 Love's Got A Hold On My Heart – Steps 1999 (295,000)

This appears to be the same as the rock chart broadcast in June of this year; I recorded the top twenty from 4Music. Sales are to 7th May 2011 (chart week ending 14th May 2011).

Motown: 30 at 50 1959 to 2008 OCC Top 30 BBC Radio 2: 1st January 2009 This was broadcast a couple of years ago but I couldn't find it mentioned in any post. Here is my attempt at estimated sales with comments below: Position / Title / Artist / Year First Charted / My Estimated Sales 1. I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (1984) 1,800,000 2. Hello - Lionel Richie (1984) 840,000 3. One Day In Your Life - Michael Jackson (1981) 800,000 4. Three Times A Lady - The Commodores (1978) 750,000? 5. Being With You - Smokey Robinson (1981) 640,000 6. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie (1983) 620,000 7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (1969) 500,000+ 8. Baby Love - The Supremes (1964) 500,000 9. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5 (1970) 490,000 10. Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder (1981) 485,000 11. Upside Down - Diana Ross (1980) 480,000 12. End Of The Road - Boyz II Men (1992) 480,000 13. Master Blaster (Jammin’) - Stevie Wonder (1980) 465,000 14. The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1970) 460,000 15. Reach Out I’ll Be There - Four Tops (1966) 460,000 16. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - Jimmy Ruffin (1966) 440,000 17. Under The Boardwalk - Bruce Willis (1987) 430,000 18. I’m Still Waiting - Diana Ross (1971) 420,000 19. Lately - Stevie Wonder (1981) 380,000 20. Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder (1977) 375,000 21. Part-Time Lover - Stevie Wonder (1985) 370,000 22. Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes (1964) 370,000 23. I’ll Be There - The Jackson 5 (1970) 365,000 24. I’ve Never Been To Me – Charlene (1982) 360,000 25. Nightshift - The Commodores (1985) 360,000 26. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday - Stevie Wonder (1969) 355,000 27. Stoned Love - The Supremes (1971) 355,000 28. With You I’m Born Again - Billy Preston and Syreeta (1979) 350,000 29. Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor (1971) 345,000 30. Easy - The Commodores (1977) 340,000 “The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles Volume 2” has sales to w/e 10th April 2010 and includes 1. I Just Called To Say I Love You at 1,815,000 and 15. Reach Out I’ll Be There at 470,000. 28. With You I’m Born Again featured in Radio 2’s “The UK’s 50 Bestselling Duets of All Time” broadcast on 3rd January 2011 and I estimate sales were 355,000. (By its position of 20. in the Duet Chart, Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (1981) sold about 435,000 but is not included by the compilers of the Motown Chart). Music Week gave sales for 3. One Day In Your Life of 797,107 by w/e 6th September 2008 and 801,823 by w/e 4th July 2009. I calculate about 735,000 were in the 1980s. The 1980s and 1992 figures are quoted or estimated from year-end charts, Record Mirror (1983 to 1991) and Music Week (1991 onwards), with reckoning for some download sales. I think that I am not so far out with most of the titles (probably within about 20,000 sales) apart from 4. and 7., which are difficult to determine.

Thanks, Number 20 added! I agree that it is a very loose definition but that's true of so many of these lists. At least we have some sales information.

Biggest Selling Rock Hits of the 21st Century: Top 20 This was broadcast on 4Music TV on 14th June and is compiled by the OCC. It included sales information. I think that sales are to chart date week ending 14th May 2011. Title / Artist / Year / Sales 1 Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon (2008) 1,100,000 2 Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon (2008) 825,000 3 Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine (2009) 705,000 4 Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus (2001) 695,000 5 Rockstar - Nickelback (2005) 635,000 6 How You Remind Me - Nickelback (2002) 560,000 7 Changes - Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne (2003) 490,000 8 Bad Touch - Bloodhouse Gang (2000) 460,000 9 Bring Me To Life - Evanescence (2003) 455,000 10 All Summer Long - Kid Rock (2008) 415,000 11 Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) - The Darkness (2003) 405,000 12 It’s My Life - Bon Jovi (2000) 365,000 13 Rollin’ - Limp Bizkit (2001) 355,000 14 Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm (2001) 345,000 15 Follow Me - Uncle Kracker (2001) 335,000 16 All The Small Things - Blink 182 (2000) 330,000 17 Welcome To The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance (2006) 325,000 18 Fire - Kasabian (2009) 320,000 19 Dakota - Stereophonics (2005) 315,000 20 Butterfly - Crazytown (2001) 310,000

Nor did I! But the latest OCC figures to September 2010 are 978,000 - http://fatherandy2.proboards.com/index.cgi...2719&page=9

You've picked on the early 1980s, one of the most difficult periods to estimate! The top 100 published in Guinness Hits of the 80s gave no sales information, so we can only surmise total sales to 1989 using data from sources like Record Mirror ["RM"], which provided some BMRB and Gallup figures. Ebony And Ivory was the 67th seller of the 80s. The 66th was Living Doll by Cliff Richard and the Young Ones feat. Hank B Marvin. RM in its year-end list for 1986 gave the song 671,398 sales. Music Week reported on 19-11-08 that sales were now 746,183. RM's sales for The Only Way Is Up by Yazz and the Plastic Population, the 65th seller of the 80s was 671,500 in 1988. Assuming that the RM figures are relatively accurate then Ebony And Ivory sold about 670,000 in the 1980s. It does not figure on any best-selling catalogue download list, nor has it charted in the top 200. I have given it a miserly 10,000 download as I prefer to underestimate unless proven otherwise, but it could very well have sold slightly more in the range 670,000 to 740,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x311j On 3rd January of this year, Tony Blackburn returned "...with another bank holiday chart rundown specially compiled by The Official Chart Company for BBC Radio 2, and this time it's The UK's 50 Bestselling Duets of All Time. To be eligible for the chart, a duet has to be a collaboration between two singers, who are equally billed, and don't normally record as a duo." No sales were given in the rundown but I have tried to estimate them. There are certain "markers" (bold numbers), that is, songs which have sales confirmed in the music press or official chart rundowns. Then I estimate the songs between using year-end lists and add an average amount for downloads. From experience, sales should be correct within 20-30,000 if not better. I would be interested if anyone has any sales suggestions: Title / Artist / Year / Est. Sales 1 You’re The One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978 2,015,000 2 Summer Nights - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978 1,570,000 3 I’ll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy, Faith Evans feat. 112 1997 1,470,000 4 Especially For You - Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan 1988 990,000 5 Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee 1976 980,000 6 Whispering Grass - Windsor Davies and Don Estelle 1975 875,000 7 I Know Him So Well - Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson 1985 820,000 8 Ebony And Ivory - Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder 1982 680,000 9 Dancing In The Street - David Bowie and Mick Jagger 1985 665,000 10 Easy Lover - Philip Bailey (duet with Phil Collins) 1985 565,000 11 The Boy Is Mine - Brandy and Monica 1998 555,000 12 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) - Aretha Franklin and George Michael 1987 515,000 13 Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) - Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli 1997 485,000 14 Changes - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne 2003 480,000 15 Je T'aime … Moi Non Plus - Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg 1969 470,000 16 Say Say Say - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson 1983 465,000 17 No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand 1979 455,000 18 The Best Things In Life Are Free - Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson with Special Guests BBD and Ralph Tresvant 1992 450,000 19 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - George Michael and Elton John 1991 440,000 20 Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie 1981 435,000 21 Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack 1983 425,000 22 Tell Him - Barbra Streisand and Céline Dion 1997 420,000 23 Never Be The Same Again - Melanie C and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes 2000 415,000 24 Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie and Bing Crosby 1982 405,000 25 On My Own - Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald 1986 395,000 26 Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Remix) - Beyoncé and Shakira 2007 385,000 27 All I Ask Of You - Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman 1986 380,000 28 Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton 1983 370,000 29 Somethin' Stupid - Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman 2001 365,000 30 Barcelona - Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé 1987 360,000 31 With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston and Syreeta 1979 355,000 32 Somethin' Stupid - Frank and Nancy Sinatra 1967 350,000 33 True Love - Elton John and Kiki Dee 1993 345,000 34 Don't Know Much - Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville 1989 340,000 35 You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra and Neil 1978 340,000 36 Too Much Too Little Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams 1978 335,000 37 Back Together Again - Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway 1980 330,000 38 You Got The Dirtee Love - Florence + The Machine and Dizzee Rascal 2010 325,000 39 Especially For You - Denise and Johnny 1998 320,000 40 Did You Ever - Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood 1971 315,000 41 I'm Your Angel - Céline Dion and R. Kelly 1998 315,000 42 The Long And Winding Road - Will Young and Gareth Gates 2002 310,000 43 Me Julie - Ali G and Shaggy 2002 300,000 44 Separate Lives - Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin 1985 290,000 45 I've Had The Time Of My Life - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes 1987 285,000 46 Grease Megamix - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1990 280,000 47 Pie Jesu - Sarah Brightman and Paul Miles-Kingston 1985 275,000 48 Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes 1983 270,000 49 All I Have To Do Is Dream - Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell 1969 265,000 50 When You Believe - Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston 1998 260,000

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I think that I've overestimated a bit for sales to w/e 5th March, so have taken off 5,000.

I have changed some of the figures in my post on pages 1 and 3 based on research by Andy: * Do They Know It's Christmas - has been scaled down to 3,670,000. * When We Collide - adding its likely 2011 sales up to w/e 5th March, I come to just over 950,000 * Chocolate Salty Balls (PS I Love You) - I forgot to look at a 4Music chart from 2008 50 Biggest Selling Singles 98-08, which indicated sales of 870,000. Consequently, Whispering Grass and Mambo No. 5 have increased sales. * Hero - sales corrected to 815,000 * Fireflies - its 2011 sales to w/e 5th March are about 15,000 and added to 2009/10 givie a total of 680,000. So I am keeping the same figures for those around it. * Music Sounds Better With You - the total is variously reported as 670,000 and 680,000, I am keeping the lower estimate for the present. * We Speak No Americano - 20,000 sales in 2011 added. * I’ll Be There For You - scaled up to 640,000. (Its 1990s sales have been reported as up to 700,000). If I've made any obvious errors let me know.

Yes, in a Radio Times article about the charts in 1987 it was said to have sold 750,000 copies. This fitted with the position that it was given in the Top 100 of the 80s prepared by Gallup of No. 32 (Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band was at No. 44). The Ketchup Song (Asereje) - Las Ketchup has featured recently in a number of charts on TV with 600,000 sales, so unless OCC have made a mistake, it appears that Save Your Love is credited with less than 600,000 (my estimate being 585,000).

The only explanation is that some sales were heavily underestimated or overestimated by Gallup, the chart compilers of the time. Historical record company shipments less returns must have shown the actual sales.

I have added estimated sales, using published figures as 'markers' and filling in the rest from the position of records in old charts and guestimates. If anyone has any suggestions these are gratefully received. Title / Artist / Year / Est. Sales 1. Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid 1984 3,670,000 2. Perfect Day - Various 1997 1,550,000 3. Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid 20 2004 1,150,000 4. Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh! - Teletubbies 1997 1,110,000 5. Eye Level - Simon Park Orchestra 1972 1,005,000 6. Sugar Sugar - Archies 1969 1,000,000 7. When We Collide - Matt Cardle 2010 950,000 8. Mambo No. 5 (A little bit of...) - Lou Bega 1999 880,000 9. Whispering Grass - Windsor Davies and Don Estelle 1975 875,000 10. Chocolate Salty Balls (PS I Love You) - Chef 1998 870,000 11. Hero - The X Factor Finalists 2008 815,000 12. Seven Tears - Goombay Dance Band 1982 740,000 13. One Day At A Time - Lena Martell 1979 730,000 14. Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre 1981 730,000 15. Flat Beat - Mr. Oizo 1999 685,000 16. Birdie Song - The Tweets 1981 680,000 17. Fireflies - Owl City 2009 680,000 18. Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney 1980 675,000 19. Music Sounds Better With You - Stardust 1998 670,000 20. We Speak No Americano - Yolanda BE Cool vs D Cup 2010 655,000 21. I’ll Be There For You - The Rembrandts 1995 640,000 22. Mad World - Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules 2003 630,000 23. Mickey - Toni Basil 1982 625,000 24. 99 Red Balloons - Nena 1984 625,000 25. Break My Stride - Matthew Wilder 1984 620,000 26. Everybody Hurts - Helping Haiti 2010 620,000 27. Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs - Brian and Michael 1978 615,000 28. Grandad - Clive Dunn 1970 605,000 29. The Ketchup Song (Asereje) - Las Ketchup 2002 600,000 30. Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless) - MASH 1980 590,000 31. Save Your Love - Renée & Renato 1982 585,000 32. I Won’t Let You Down - Ph.D. 1982 575,000 33. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum 1970 565,000 34. There’s No-One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred’s School Choir 1980 560,000 35. The Floral Dance - Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band 1977 550,000 36. Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer 1985 545,000 37. Black And Gold - Sam Sparro 2008 540,000 38. Solid - Ashford and Simpson 1984 530,000 39. A Little Peace - Nicole 1982 520,000 40. I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts 1982 510,000 Thanks to Andy (at Haven and Buzzjack) for his input.

Thanks for your thoughts. The 30 Biggest Selling Songs From The Movies was broadcast without sales on 25th April. And no figures were released for the UK's Million Sellers chart broadcast on Radio 2 on 30th August last year; estimates were added on Haven and Buzzjack music forums by the respective posters. I have used Virgin Hit Singles Vol 2 Top 100 Singles Of All Time (based on UK Sales) p.248 as a basis for the million sellers, which uses OCC data to week ending 10th April 2010. I could easily be out by 10 to 20,000 in downloads for the three you mention above but I haven't added anything extra as I would rather underestimate. If you find any new official figures, it would be great if you could post them.

A song does not have to be written exclusively for a film. I understand the rules for inclusion to be that the actual song (lyrics / tune) can exist before the film was released, but the artists' particular interpretation / version must be original. So for instance the Troggs' version of Love Is All Around could not be included but Wet Wet Wet's version was specifically recorded for the film. This is true of Summer Nights, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's version was recorded for the film Grease. Whitney used Dolly Parton's existing song for The Bodyguard and Coolio sampled the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder. The dubious inclusions are Frank Sinatra's interpretation of Strangers In The Night and Rock Around the Clock as noted above.

If we follow strictly the criteria to make the Biggest Selling Songs From The Movies chart, I believe that the following would be the next ten. Any comments gratefully received: 31. Magical Mystery Tour Double EP - The Beatles [Magical Mystery Tour (1967)] 1967 740,000 32. A Hard Day’s Night - The Beatles [A Hard Day’s Night (1964)] 1964 740,000 33. Pure Shores - All Saints [The Beach (2000)] 2000 730,000 34. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and The Shadows [summer Holiday (1963)] 1963 705,000 35. Rock-A-Hula Baby / Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley [blue Hawaii (1961)] 1962 700,000 36. Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus [Loser (2000)] 2001 690,000 37. I Believe I Can Fly - R Kelly [space Jam (1996)] 1997 680,000 38. We All Stand Together - Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus [Rupert and the Frog Song (1984)] 1984 675,000 39. Crazy For You - Madonna [Vision Quest (1985)] 1985 670,000 40. Lose Yourself - Eminem [8 Mile (2002)] 2002 645,000 (Music Week reported 642,062 sales to 24-08-2010) In the book 'The Top 10 of Music' by Ash, Crampton and Lazell (1993), Harry Lime (“Third Man”) Theme by Anton Karas (1949) was estimated as having sold 900,000 copies from 1949 to 1959. Karas wrote the instrumental for The Third Man (1949). I have not seen the sales verified by any official chart. White Christmas has been reported as being a million seller but the sales data from the 1940s and 50s was not kept by the record company. It is interesting to see that the OCC have estimated a figure of around 850,000. A silver disc was awarded for shipments of 250,000 from 1974 to 1978; using a total of 850,000, I estimate sales of 550,000 to 1969 and 300,000 since then.