This 2011 photograph shows the original plaque erected at the birthplace in Newent, Gloucestershire of legendary songwriter and producer Joe Meek, best known for writing and producing The Tornados' chart-topping hit "Telstar". The instrumental piece entered the UK top 10 in September 1962 and spent five straight weeks at number-one. It would later become the first song by a British group to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US.Cliff Richard had four top 10 singles this year, including "The Young Ones", the theme song from his film of the same name, which entered the chart at number-one in January and spent six weeks at the top spot. It remains Richard's biggest-selling single in the UK, with over 1.6 million copies sold there.
The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2][3] This list shows singles that peaked in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1962, as well as singles which peaked in 1961 and 1963 but were in the top 10 in 1962. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
Ninety-two singles charted in the top 10 in 1962, with eighty-six singles reaching their peak this year. "When My Little Girl is Smiling" was recorded by Craig Douglas and Jimmy Justice and both versions reached the top 10.
Twenty-three artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1962. The Shadows secured the record for most top 10 hits in 1962 with six hit singles, four of which were with Cliff Richard.
Twenty-five artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1962, either as a lead or featured artist. Bernard Cribbins, Frank Ifield and Jimmy Justice all had one other entry in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
British vocal group The Tornados were Billy Fury's backing group from the start of this year until August 1963 but they did not receive specific credit for these recordings. Their first official chart credit was "Telstar" under their own name.
Until 1970 there was no universally recognised year-end best-sellers list. However, in 2011 the Official Charts Company released a list of the best-selling single of each year in chart history from 1952 to date. According to the list, "I Remember You" by Frank Ifield is officially recorded as the biggest-selling single of 1962.
Top-ten singles
Key
Symbol
Meaning
‡
Single peaked in 1961 but still in chart in 1962.
♦
Single released in 1962 but peaked in 1963.
(#)
Year-end best-selling single.
Entered
The date that the single first appeared in the chart.
Peak
Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1962, including singles that reached their peak in 1961 or 1963. The figures include both main artists and featured artists. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1962 is also shown.
a "Stranger on the Shore" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 21 March 1962 (week ending) for 5 weeks, at number 10 on 9 May 1962 (week ending) and at number 9 on 4 July 1962 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
b "Run to Him" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 21 February 1962 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
c The Shadows are only featured (along with Cliff Richard) on "Do You Want to Dance". The song was released as a double-A side single in the United Kingdom with "I'm Looking out the Window".
d "Green Leaves of Summer" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 11 July 1962 (week ending).
e "English Country Garden" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 18 July (week ending) for 4 weeks.
f "Telstar" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 23 January 1963 (week ending).
g "Let's Dance" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 2 January 1963 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
h "Sherry" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 12 December 1962 (week ending).
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