Number
Ones |
Note: There were no UK record charts before 14 November 1952.
| Week Ending | ACT + Links | TITLE | Weeks | TALLY | COMMENT |
| 14 Nov 1952 Xmas No 1 |
Al Martino | Here In My Heart | 9 | Only No 1 | First UK No 1 based on record sales. Al was a US crooner, who had a come-back Top 10 entry in 1973 ("Spanish Eyes"). |
| 16 Jan 1953 | Jo Stafford | You Belong To Me | 1 | Only No 1 | Took 10 weeks to climb to No 1. She was a singer with Tommy Dorsey until 1942, when she went on to solo stardom. |
| 23 Jan 1953 | Kay Starr | Comes A-Long A-Love | 1 | 1st No 1 | Born in Oklahoma, her father was an American Indian, her mother Irish. Her well-known song, "Wheel of Fortune", pre-dates the UK chart. |
| 30 Jan 1953 | Eddie Fisher | Outside Of Heaven | 1 | 1st No 1 | US tenor who was married to Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds, and is father of actress Carrie Fisher. |
| 6 Feb 1953 | Perry Como | Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes | 5 | 1st No 1 | Top international tv crooner of the decade, whose shows were watched world-wide. |
| 13 Mar 1953 | Guy Mitchell | She Wears Red Feathers | 4 | 1st No 1 | He was a US rising star, whose early best-sellers pre-dated the charts. First of a series of hits with producer Mitch Miller. |
| 10 Apr 1953 | Stargazers | Broken Wings | 1 | 1st No 1 | First No 1 by a British act. They were radio stars of the 50s who mostly scored with novelty items. |
| 17 Apr 1953 | Lita Roza | (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window | 1 | Only No 1 | UK star and NME readers' Top Female artist of 1953. |
| 24 Apr 1953 | Frankie Laine | I Believe | 18 | 1st No 1 | Major US singing star of the 50s. Holds the record for most (non-consecutive) weeks at No 1, ever. |
| 26 Jun 1953 | Eddie Fisher | I'm Walking Behind You | 1 | 2nd & last No 1 | His fifth million-seller. He remained a star for many years, and continued with cabaret performances until the end of the century. |
| 14 Aug 1953 | Mantovani | Moulin Rouge | 1 | Only No 1 | Highly popular Italian-born orchestra leader. First instrumental No 1, from the film of the same name. |
| 11 Sep 1953 | Guy Mitchell | Look At That Girl | 6 | 2nd No 1 | Most of his early hits were novelty items, but this was a bouncy love song. It failed to chart in US! |
| 23 Oct 1953 | Frankie Laine | Hey Joe | 2 | 2nd No 1 | During the last week of October 1953 he had four singles in the Top 12. |
| 06 Nov 1953 | David Whitfield | Answer Me | 2 | 1st No 1 | Powerful tenor who was the top-selling British artist of the mid-50s. |
| 13 Nov 1953 Xmas No 1 |
Frankie Laine | Answer Me | 8 | 3rd No 1 | Banned by BBC for religious content (use of the phrase "O Lord"), but it outsold Whitfield's version. |
| 8 Jan 1954 | Eddie Calvert | Oh Mein Papa | 9 | 1st No 1 | Popular British solo trumpeter. Was first No 1 recorded at Abbey Road studios. |
| 12 Mar 1954 | Stargazers | I See The Moon | 6 | 2nd & last No 1 | They were still radio stars, but all their releases since "Broken Wings" had failed to chart. |
| 16 Apr 1954 | Doris Day | Secret Love | 9 | 1st No 1 | Major US recording and film star. Oscar-winning song from her film "Calamity Jane". |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Johnnie Ray | Such A Night | 1 | 1st No 1 | US super star and early teenage heart-throb famous for his emotional stage act. |
| 2 Jul 1954 | David Whitfield | Cara Mia | 10 | 2nd & last No 1. | Million-seller backed by Mantovani Orchestra. He remained popular for the rest of the decade. |
| 10 Sep 1954 | Kitty Kallen | Little Things Mean A Lot | 1 | Only No 1 | US band vocalist from the 1940s who became the first One-hit Wonder in the UK. |
| 17 Sep 1954 | Frank Sinatra | Three Coins In The Fountain | 3 | 1st No 1 | First No 1 in UK for the singing legend, who had been a star since the 1930s. |
| 8 Oct 1954 | Don Cornell | Hold My Hand | 4 | Only No 1 | US band vocalist from the 1940s. Never a major star in the UK, but still performing in 1999! |
| 5 Nov 1954 | Vera Lynn | My Son My Son | 2 | Only No 1 | Major British singing star since the 1930s, and known as the "Forces Sweetheart" during World War 2. |
| 26 Nov 1954 | Rosemary Clooney | This Ole House | 1 | 1st No 1 | Popular US music and tv star. The song was No 1 for Shakin' Stevens in 1981. |
| 3 Dec 1954 Xmas No 1 |
Winifred Atwell | Let's Have Another Party | 5 | 1st No 1 | Popular honky-tonk piano-playing star from Trinidad. |
| 7 Jan 1955 | Dickie Valentine | Finger Of Suspicion | 3 | 1st No 1 | Top British crooner, popular throughout the 50s. |
| 14 Jan 1955 | Rosemary Clooney | Mambo Italiano | 3 | 2nd & last No 1 | She remained very popular in the UK and US until the end of the decade. |
| 18 Feb 1955 | Ruby Murray | Softly, Softly | 3 | Only No 1 | Belfast-born recording and tv star of the mid 50s, but this was her only No 1. |
| 11 Mar 1955 | Tennessee Ernie Ford | Give Me Your Word | 7 | 1st No 1 | Former radio DJ from Tennessee who became a country music singer. |
| 29 Apr 1955 | Perez "Prez" Prado & His Orchestra | Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White | 2 | Only No 1 | Cuban band with the theme from the Jane Russell film "Underwater". |
| 13 May 1955 | Tony Bennett | Stranger In Paradise | 2 | Only No 1 | Song from the musical "Kismet". Only UK No 1 for the legendary US crooner, who was still popular at the end of the century. |
| 27 May 1955 | Eddie Calvert | Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White | 4 | 2nd & last No 1 | British cover version of the original Perez Prado hit. His fame continued for the rest of the 50s. |
| 24 Jun 1955 | Jimmy Young | Unchained Melody | 3 | 1st No 1 | British crooner whose early recordings pre-dated the charts. Theme from the film "Unchained", and the first of four No 1 versions of the song by 2002. |
| 15 Jul 1955 | Alma Cogan | Dreamboat | 2 | Only No 1 | Top British radio and tv singing star, famous for her huge ball gowns. She had 21 hits, 1954-1961. |
| 29 Jul 1955 | Slim Whitman | Rose Marie | 11 | Only No 1 | US Country singer and yodeller. Held record for most consecutive weeks at No 1 until 1991 - 36 years! |
| 14 Oct 1955 | Jimmy Young | The Man From Laramie | 4 | 2nd & last No 1 | After the 50s, he moved on to become a star DJ on BBC Radio, still broadcasting at the millennium. |
| 11 Nov 1955 | Johnston Brothers | Hernando's Hideaway | 2 | Only No 1 | British vocal group with a song from the musical "The Pyjama Game". |
| 25 Nov 1955 | Bill Haley & His Comets | Rock Around The Clock | 5 | Only No 1 | First Rock 'n' Roll No 1. They were RnR pioneers, but did not achieve lasting fame. Record entered the charts a further 6 times until 1974. |
| 16 Dec 1955 Xmas No 1 |
Dickie Valentine | Christmas Alphabet | 3 | 2nd & last No 1 | 1st Christmas Song to make No 1. He continued charting until the end of the decade. |
| 20 Jan 1956 | Tennessee Ernie Ford | Sixteen Tons | 4 | 2nd & last No 1 | US coal-mining song written in 1947. |
| 17 Feb 1956 | Dean Martin | Memories Are Made Of This | 4 | Only No 1 | He was a US record, tv and film star for three decades, with 11 Top 10 hits. |
| 16 Mar 1956 | Dream Weavers | It's Almost Tomorrow | 3 | Only No 1 | Studio-only act from Miami. The song was covered by Mark Wynter in 1963 (No 12) |
| 30 Mar 1956 | Kay Starr | Rock And Roll Waltz | 1 | 2nd & last No 1 | Nothing to do with rock 'n' roll - strictly MOR! This was her final hit. |
| 13 Apr 1956 | Winifred Atwell | Poor People Of Paris | 3 | 2nd & last No 1 | Instrumental version of genuine French song. She remained popular, but eventually lost out to Russ Conway. |
| 4 May 1956 | Ronnie Hilton | No Other Love | 6 | Only No 1 | British tenor with a Rodgers & Hammerstein song. |
| 15 Jun 1956 | Pat Boone | I'll Be Home | 5 | Only No 1 | American international heart-throb who had 26 UK hits by 1962. |
| 20 Jul 1956 | Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers | Why Do Fools Fall in Love | 3 | Only No 1 | At 13, Lymon was youngest performer to make No 1 - record held until 23/12/72. Their popularity never developed in the UK. |
| 10 Aug 1956 | Doris Day | Whatever Will Be Will Be | 6 | 2nd & last No1 | Oscar-winning song from the Doris Day film "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Her recording and film career lasted well into the 60s. |
| 21 Sep 1956 | Anne Shelton | Lay Down Your Arms | 4 | Only No 1 | British vocal star of the 40s & 50s. The song was based on a traditional Swedish melody. |
| 19 Oct 1956 | Frankie Laine | A Woman In Love | 4 | 4th & last No 1 | His success continued, through the 50s, with a total of 19 Top 10 hits. |
| 16 Nov 1956 Xmas No 1 |
Johnny Ray | Just Walking In The Rain | 7 | 2nd No 1 | Another tear-jerker from the "Prince of Wails". |
| 4 Jan 1957 | Guy Mitchell | Singing The Blues | 3 | 3rd No 1 | Third No 1 in a row from producer Mitch Miller, and 5th in a row on Philips label. |
| 11 Jan 1957 | Tommy Steele | Singing The Blues | 1 | Only No 1 | He is regarded as Britain's first Rock 'n' Roll performer. He moved into film and stage musicals for the rest of his career. |
| 25 Jan 1957 | Frankie Vaughan | The Garden Of Eden | 4 | 1st No 1 | British singing entertainer, popular for several decades. |
| 22 Feb 1957 | Tab Hunter | Young Love | 7 | Only No 1 | US movie idol who was asked to record the song. It had no connection with any film. |
| 12 Apr 1957 | Lonnie Donegan | Cumberland Gap | 5 | 1st No 1 | The "King of Skiffle" was a former member of Chris Barber's Jazz Band. 1st Skiffle no 1. |
| 17 May 1957 | Guy Mitchell | Rock-A-Billy | 1 | 4th & last No 1 | Song gave its name to a music style - a mix of rock and country. |
| 24 May 1957 | Andy Williams | Butterfly | 2 | Only No 1 | Early hit for the international tv crooner of the 60s and 70s. He accrued 21 hits by 1976, and toured the UK in 2001. |
| 7 Jun 1957 | Johnnie Ray | Yes Tonight Josephine | 3 | 3rd & last No 1 | Another Mitch Miller production. Ray remained popular until the end of the decade. |
| 28 Jun 1957 | Lonnie Donegan | Puttin' On The Style / Gamblin' Man | 2 | 2nd No 1 | 1st double-sided No 1 and first live recording to reach the top. |
| 12 Jul 1957 | Elvis Presley | All Shook Up | 7 | 1st No 1 of record 18 by 2002. | The King of Rock 'n' Roll had 9 previous UK hits before finally making No 1. |
| 30 Aug 1957 | Paul Anka | Diana | 9 | Only No 1 | Canadian who wrote the song himself about his kid brother's baby-sitter. His success continued into the 70s. |
| 1 Nov 1957 | The Crickets | That'll Be The Day | 3 | 1st No 1 | First No 1 for the band's lead singer, Buddy Holly. |
| 22 Nov 1957 Xmas No 1 |
Harry Belafonte | Mary's Boy Child | 7 | Only No 1 | Famous for his West Indian calypso music, but he was an American, born in New York. |
| 10 Jan 1958 | Jerry Lee Lewis | Great Balls Of Fire | 2 | Only No 1 | Only major white rock 'n' roll star to play piano rather than guitar. Controversial private life restricted his popularity. |
| 24 Jan 1958 | Elvis Presley | Jailhouse Rock | 3 | 2nd No 1 | 1st record to enter charts at No 1. From the Presley film of the same name. |
| 14 Feb 1958 | Michael Holliday | The Story Of My Life | 2 | 1st No 1 | UK laid-back, deep-voiced crooner with a Burt Bacharach and Hal David song. |
| 28 Feb 1958 | Perry Como | Magic Moments | 8 | 2nd & last No 1 | 2nd No 1 in a row for writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Como's hits continued into the early 60s, with a sepatate chart career in the early 70s. |
| 25 Apr 1958 | Marvin Rainwater | Whole Lotta Woman | 3 | Only No 1 | US Country Music and Rockabilly singer who was 25% Cherokee Indian. |
| 16 May 1958 | Connie Francis | Who's Sorry Now | 6 | 1st No 1 | First female rock 'n' roll star to make No 1, but this song was a 1920s ballad. |
| 27 Jun 1958 | Vic Damone | On The Street Where You Live | 2 | Only No 1 | US balladeer with a song from the hit musical "My Fair Lady". Producer Mitch Miller's last No 1. |
| 4 Jul 1958 | Everly Brothers | All I Have To Do Is Dream | 7 | 1st No 1 | First of 4 chart toppers for famous brothers Don & Phil. |
| 22 Aug 1958 | Kalin Twins | When | 5 | Only No 1 | They had several hits in US, but this rock 'n' roll classic was their only hit in the UK. |
| 26 Sep 1958 | Connie Francis | Stupid Cupid | 6 | 2nd & last No 1 | Written by Neil Sedaka. Connie had hits into the 60s, with a final tally of 24. |
| 7 Nov 1958 | Tommy Edwards | All In The Game | 3 | Only No 1 | A re-recording of his own 1951 hit. Sold 3m copies. |
| 28 Nov 1958 | Lord Rockingham's XI | Hoots Mon | 3 | Only No 1 | House band from tv's "Oh Boy!" Based on traditional Scottish folk song. |
| 19 Dec 1958 Xmas No 1 |
Conway Twitty | It's Only Make Believe | 5 | Only No 1 | US Country singer who had amassed over 30 No 1s in the US Country Chart by the 1980s. |
| 23 Jan 1959 | Jane Morgan | The Days The Rains Came | 1 | Only No 1 | American who sang in Paris for some time. The B-side was the same song in French! |
| 30 Jan 1959 | Elvis Presley | I Got Stung / One Night | 3 | 3rd No 1 | Presley was in the army by the time this was a hit. |
| 20 Feb 1959 | Shirley Bassey | As I Love You | 4 | 1st No 1 | First chart topper for the legendary Welsh diva, who was in the charts in 1999 - 40 years later! |
| 20 Mar 1959 | The Platters | Smoke Gets In Your Eyes | 1 | Only No 1 | Established doo-wop group with a Jerome Kern classic from 1933. |
| 27 Mar 1959 | Russ Conway | Side Saddle | 4 | 1st No 1 | Popular pianist who found fame on tv's "Billy Cotton Band Show". |
| 24 Apr 1959 | Buddy Holly | It Doesn't Matter Anymore | 3 | 2nd & last (1st with Crickets) | Reached No 1 six weeks after Holly's death. Written by Paul Anka. |
| 15 May 1959 | Elvis Presley | A Fool Such As I | 5 | 4th No 1 | This was his first ballad to make it to the top. |
| 19 Jun 1959 | Russ Conway | Roulette | 2 | 2nd & last No 1 | He wrote both his No 1s. He remained popular and performed into the 90s. |
| 3 Jul 1959 | Bobby Darin | Dream Lover | 4 | 1st No 1 | Classic Rock 'n' Roll love song written by Darin. He started with RnR, but soon moved into MOR. |
| 31 Jul 1959 | Cliff Richard | Living Doll | 6 | 1st No 1 of 14 by the end of 1999. |
Written by Lionel Bart ("Oliver!"), it was Cliff's first of 14 No 1s spanning 40 years. |
| 11 Sep 1959 | Craig Douglas | Only Sixteen | 4 | Only No 1 | Written by Sam Cooke and covered by this milkman from the Isle of Wight. |
| 9 Oct 1959 | Jerry Keller | Here Comes Summer | 1 | Only No 1 | Despite taking care over follow-up, he became a One-hit Wonder in UK and US. |
| 16 Oct 1959 | Bobby Darin | Mack The Knife | 2 | 2nd & last No 1 | Darin moved into big-band MOR with this, but his hoped-for Sinatra-style career failed. Returned to pop for the mid 60s. |
| 30 Oct 1959 | Cliff Richard | Travellin' Light | 5 | 2nd No 1 | Living Doll sound-alike repeated the trick. |
| 4 Dec 1959 | Adam Faith | What Do You Want | 3 | 1st No 1 | After several failed singles, he finally shot to the top. The backing featured John Barry's pizzicato strings. |
| 18 Dec 1959 Xmas No 1 |
Emile Ford & The Checkmates | What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For | 6 | Only No 1 | From the Bahamas, he was "discovered" at the Pye Records-sponsored Soho music contest. |
NOTES: