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The Uk Charts

dansette circa 1965 The UK charts have a rich history dating back to November 14, 1952, when the first official singles chart was published in the New Musical Express (NME). Percy Dickins, one of NME's founders, compiled this chart by calling 20 record shops across the country to tally their best-selling singles. The first number one on this chart was "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino.

Throughout the decades, the UK charts evolved to reflect changes in the music industry:

1950s: The chart began as a top 12, gradually expanding to a top 20 by 1954.
1960s: The Beatles dominated, and the charts became "official" for the first time.
1970s: Punk and disco emerged, alongside new formats like 8-tracks and cassettes.
1980s: Compact discs were introduced, and Gallup took over chart compilation.
1990s: Marathon number ones became common, and Millward Brown (now Kantar) began compiling the charts.
2000s: Digital downloads transformed the music industry, and reality TV shows like Pop Idol and X-Factor influenced chart success.
2010s: Streaming was incorporated into the charts, with artists like Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Rihanna dominating.
2020s: Streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption, and the Official Singles Chart celebrated its 70th anniversary.

As of February 2025, the UK singles chart has seen 1,435 different number one hits, with Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" currently topping the chart. The Official Charts Company continues to compile and publish the charts, adapting to new technologies and consumption patterns in the ever-evolving music landscape.

UK Top 12: 17 January 1953

Date	Pos	Prev	Artist	Song	Ent	Peak	Wks	1st
17/01/1953	1	2	Jo Stafford	You Belong To Me	2	1	10	15/11/1952
17/01/1953	2	3	Kay Starr	Comes A-Long A-Love	6	2	7	06/12/1952
17/01/1953	3	8	Mario Lanza	Because You're Mine	11	3	6	15/11/1952
17/01/1953	4	6	Eddie Fisher	Outside of Heaven	6	4	2	10/01/1953
17/01/1953	5	4	Bing Crosby	Isle of Innisfere	4	4	6	15/11/1952
17/01/1953	6	1	Al Martino	Here In My Heart	1	1	10	15/11/1952
17/01/1953	7	9	Louis Armstrong	Takes Two To Tango	8	7	5	20/12/1952
17/01/1953	8	12	Winifred Atwell	Britannia Rag	11	8	4	06/12/1952
17/01/1953	9	11	Tony Brent	Make It Soon	12	9	3	03/01/1953
17/01/1953	10	New	Perry Como with the Ramblers	Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes	10	10	1	17/01/1953
17/01/1953	11	New	Ted Heath and his Music	Vanessa	11	11	1	17/01/1953
17/01/1953	12	Re Entry	Nat King Cole	Faith Can Move Mountains	11	11	2	03/01/1953

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UK Top 12: 17 January 1953

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