(thing) by admiralh Sun Nov 10 2002 at 2:47:19

On November 9, 2002, The Official UK Charts Company, celebrating its 50th anniversary, compiled and released a list of the top 100 UK number one singles in the 50-year history of the charts.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen claimed the top spot, with longtime favorites John Lennon's "Imagine" and The Beatles' "Hey Jude" listed second and third, respectively. The Beatles led all artists by claiming 14 spots in the list. Only three of their 17 number ones did not make the list.

The current generation of artists was hardly recognized (probably due to the age of the voters), with only four songs from the past 10 years being included. And one of those was the remix of Elvis's "A Little Less Conversation" that was used in the Nike "Secret Tournament" commercials that were played constantly during the 2002 World Cup.

Personally, I think the people who voted for Bryan Adams over The Pretenders' "Brass In Pocket" (another UK number one and highly rated on other lists) should be severly beaten.

  1. Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody" - November 29, 1975 (9 weeks)
  2. John Lennon - "Imagine" - January 10, 1980 (4 weeks)
  3. Beatles - "Hey Jude" - September 11, 1968 (2 weeks)
  4. Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - March 28, 1970 (3 weeks)
  5. George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord" - January 30, 1971 (5 weeks) and January 26, 2002 (1 week)
  6. Procol Harum - "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" - June 8, 1967 (5 weeks)
  7. Animals - "The House Of The Rising Sun" - July 9, 1964 (1 week)
  8. Abba - "Dancing Queen" - September 4, 1976 (6 weeks)
  9. Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations" - November 17, 1966 (2 weeks)
  10. Queen & David Bowie - "Under Pressure" - November 11, 1981 (2 weeks)
  11. Kate Bush - "Wuthering Heights" - March 3, 1978 (4 weeks)
  12. Pink Floyd - "Another Brick In The Wall" - December 15, 1979 (5 weeks)
  13. Police - "Every Breath You Take" - June 4, 1983 (4 weeks)
  14. Righteous Brothers - "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" - February 4, 1965 (2 weeks)
  15. Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas" - December 15, 1984 (5 weeks)
  16. Rolling Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - September 9, 1965 (2 weeks)
  17. Beatles - "She Loves You" - September 12, 1963 (4 weeks)
  18. Soft Cell - "Tainted Love" - September 5, 1981 (2 weeks)
  19. Beatles - "All You Need Is Love" - July 19, 1967 (3 weeks)
  20. Elvis Presley - "Jailhouse Rock" - January 24, 1958 (3 weeks)
  21. 10 CC - "I'm Not In Love" - June 28, 1975 (2 weeks)
  22. Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - February 22, 1975 (2 weeks)
  23. Rod Stewart - "Maggie May" - October 9, 1971 (5 weeks)
  24. Roy Orbison - "Oh Pretty Woman" - October 8, 1964 (2 weeks)
  25. David Bowie - "Space Oddity" - November 8, 1975 (2 weeks)
  26. Sinead O'Connor - "Nothing Compares 2 U" - February 3, 1990 (4 weeks)
  27. Beatles - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - December 12, 1963 (5 weeks)
  28. Dexy's Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen" - August 7, 1982 (4 weeks)
  29. Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" - March 26, 1969 (3 weeks)
  30. Monkees - "I'm A Believer" - January 19, 1967 (4 weeks)
  31. Boomtown Rats - "I Don't Like Mondays" - July 28, 1979 (4 weeks)
  32. Beatles - "A Hard Day's Night" - July 23, 1964 (3 weeks)
  33. Beatles - "Help!" - August 5, 1965 (3 weeks)
  34. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax" - January 28, 1984 (5 weeks)
  35. Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" - September 29, 2001 (4 weeks)
  36. Queen - "Innuendo" - January 26, 1991 (1 week)
  37. Byrds - "Mr Tambourine Man" - July 22, 1965 (2 weeks)
  38. Abba - "Waterloo" - May 4, 1974 (2 weeks)
  39. Elvis vs JXL - "A Little Less Conversation" - June 6, 2002 (3 weeks)
  40. Kinks - "You Really Got Me" - September 10, 1964 (2 weeks)
  41. Oasis - "Don't Look Back In Anger" - March 2, 1996 (1 week)
  42. Elvis Presley - "All Shook Up" - July 12, 1957 (7 weeks)
  43. Fleetwood Mac - "Albatross" - January 29, 1969 (1 week)
  44. Elvis Presley - "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - January 26, 1961 (4 weeks)
  45. Bryan Adams - "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" - July 13, 1991 (16(!) weeks)
  46. Rolling Stones - "Paint It Black" - May 26, 1966 (1 week)
  47. Nilsson - "Without You" - March 11, 1972 (5 weeks)
  48. Elvis Presley - "The Wonder Of You" - August 1, 1970 (6 weeks)
  49. Louis Armstrong - "What A Wonderful World/Cabaret" - April 4, 1968 (4 weeks)
  50. Ian Dury & The Blockheads - "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" - January 27, 1979 (1 week)
  51. Abba - "The Winner Takes It All" - August 9, 1980 (2 weeks)
  52. Blondie - "Heart Of Glass" - March 2, 1979 (4 weeks)
  53. Beatles - "Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out" - December 16, 1965 (5 weeks)
  54. Elvis Presley - "Can't Help Falling In Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby" - February 22, 1962 (4 weeks)
  55. George Michael - "Careless Whisper" - August 18, 1984 (3 weeks)
  56. Beatles - "Ticket To Ride" - April 22, 1965 (3 weeks)
  57. John Lennon - "Woman" - February 7, 1980 (1 week)
  58. Beatles - "Can't Buy Me Love" - April 4, 1964 (3 weeks)
  59. Elvis Presley - "It's Now Or Never" - November 3, 1960 (8 weeks)
  60. Jimi Hendrix - "Voodoo Chile" - November 11, 1970 (1 week)
  61. Dusty Springfield - "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" - April 28, 1966 (1 week)
  62. Beatles - "Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby" - August 18, 1966 (4 weeks)
  63. Human League - "Don't You Want Me" - December 12, 1981 (5 weeks)
  64. Roy Orbison - "Only The Lonely" - October 20, 1960 (2 weeks)
  65. Bill Haley & His Comets - "Rock Around The Clock" - November 25, 1955 (3 weeks)
  66. Beatles - "Paperback Writer" - June 23, 1966 (2 weeks)
  67. Jam - "Going Underground" - March 22, 1980 (3 weeks)
  68. T Rex - "Get It On" - July 24, 1971 (4 weeks)
  69. Slade - "Merry Xmas Everybody" - December 15, 1975 (5 weeks)
  70. Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe" - August 26, 1965 (2 weeks)
  71. Kinks - "Sunny Afternoon" - July 7, 1966 (2 weeks)
  72. Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" - March 12, 1983 (2 weeks)
  73. Joe Cocker - "With A Little Help From My Friends" - November 6, 1968 (1 week)
  74. Abba - "Mamma Mia" - January 31, 1976 (2 weeks)
  75. Gerry & The Pacemakers - "You'll Never Walk Alone" - October 31, 1963 (6 weeks)
  76. David Bowie - "Ashes To Ashes" - August 23, 1980 (2 weeks)
  77. Righteous Brothers - "Unchained Melody" - November 3, 1990 (4 weeks)
  78. Beatles - "Get Back" - April 23, 1969 (6 weeks)
  79. Abba - "Knowing Me Knowing You" - April 2, 1977 (5 weeks)
  80. Madonna - "Like A Prayer" - March 25, 1989 (3 weeks)
  81. Elvis Presley - "Return To Sender" - December 13, 1962 (3 weeks)
  82. Bangles - "Eternal Flame" - April 15, 1989 (4 weeks)
  83. Freddie Mercury - "Living On My Own" - August 14, 1993 (2 weeks)
  84. U2 - "Beautiful Day" - October 21, 2000 (1 week)
  85. Buggles - "Video Killed The Radio Star" - October 20, 1979 (1 week)
  86. Rolling Stones - "Jumping Jack Flash" - June 19, 1968 (2 weeks)
  87. Meat Loaf - "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" - October 23, 1993 (7 weeks)
  88. Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean" - March 5, 1983 (1 week)
  89. Scott McKenzie - "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)" - August 9, 1967 (4 weeks)
  90. Beatles - "From Me To You" - May 2, 1963 (7 weeks)
  91. Alice Cooper - "School's Out" - August 12, 1972 (3 weeks)
  92. A-ha - "The Sun Always Shines On TV" - January 25, 1986 (2 weeks)
  93. Bee Gees - "Night Fever" - April 29, 1978 (2 weeks)
  94. Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive" - March 17, 1979 (4 weeks)
  95. Rolling Stones - "Honky Tonk Women" - July 23, 1969 (5 weeks)
  96. Hollies - "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" - September 24, 1988 (2 weeks)
  97. Beatles - "Hello Goodbye" - December 6, 1967] (7 weeks)
  98. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "Tears Of A Clown" - September 12, 1970 (1 week)
  99. Police - "Message In A Bottle" - December 8,1979 (1 week)
  100. Billy Joel - "Uptown Girl" - November 5, 1983 (5 weeks)

Source:
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2426865.stm

I like it!