List of instrumental number ones on the UK singles chart

Last updated

The UK Singles Chart is a record chart compiled on behalf of the British record industry. Since 1997, the chart has been compiled by the Official Charts Company (formerly The Official UK Charts Company and the Chart Information Network) and until 2005 (when digital downloads were included in the chart compilation), the chart was based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets. [1] [2] The UK Singles Chart originated in 1952, when New Musical Express (NME) published the first chart of singles sales. [3] The positions of all songs are based on week-end sale totals, from Sunday to Saturday, [4] but pre-1987 the charts were released on a Tuesday because of the need for manual calculation. [5]

Contents

Since inception there have been more than 1,400 number ones; of these, instrumental tracks have topped the chart on 30 occasions for a total of 96 weeks. [lower-alpha 1] The Shadows have had the most instrumental number ones, with five between 1960 and 1963. Three other artists have had more than one instrumental number one: Eddie Calvert (in 1954 and 1955), Winifred Atwell (in 1954 and 1956) and Russ Conway (both in 1959). Calvert's track "O Mein Papa" stayed at the top of the charts for nine weeks, longer than any other instrumental single. The single "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" has been an instrumental number one for two different artists (Calvert and Perez Prado) in 1955. To date, Martin Garrix is the most recent artist to have an instrumental number one, with "Animals" in November 2013.

Number ones

ArtistSingleRecord label [lower-alpha 2] Week ending date [lower-alpha 3] Weeks at
number one [lower-alpha 3] 		Reference
Mantovani "The Song from Moulin Rouge" Decca 14 August 19531 [7]
Eddie Calvert "O Mein Papa" Columbia 8 January 19549 [8]
Winifred Atwell "Let's Have Another Party" Philips 3 December 19545 [9]
Perez Prado "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" HMV 29 April 19552 [10]
Eddie Calvert "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" Columbia 27 May 19554 [8]
Winifred Atwell "Poor People of Paris" Philips 13 April 19563 [9]
Lord Rockingham's XI "Hoots Mon" [lower-alpha 1] Decca 28 November 19583 [11]
Russ Conway "Side Saddle" Columbia 27 March 19594 [12]
Russ Conway "Roulette" Columbia 19 June 19592 [12]
The Shadows "Apache" Columbia 25 August 19605 [13] [14]
Floyd Cramer "On the Rebound" RCA 18 May 19611 [15]
The Shadows "Kon-Tiki" Columbia 5 October 19611 [16]
The Shadows "Wonderful Land" Columbia 22 March 19628 [14]
B. Bumble and the Stingers "Nut Rocker" Top Rank 17 May 19622 [17]
The Tornados "Telstar" Decca 4 October 19625 [14]
The Shadows "Dance On!" Columbia 24 January 19631 [18]
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan "Diamonds" Decca 31 January 19633 [13] [19]
The Shadows "Foot Tapper" Columbia 29 March 19631 [18]
Hugo Montenegro "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" RCA 13 November 19684 [20]
Fleetwood Mac "Albatross" Blue Horizon 29 January 19691 [14]
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards "Amazing Grace" RCA 15 April 19725 [14]
Lieutenant Pigeon "Mouldy Old Dough" Decca 14 October 19724 [21]
Simon Park Orchestra "Eye Level" Columbia 29 September 19734 [14]
Doop "Doop"Clubstitute19 March 19943 [22]
The Chemical Brothers "Block Rockin' Beats" [lower-alpha 4] Virgin 5 April 19971 [23]
Mr. Oizo "Flat Beat" F Communications 3 April 19992 [24]
ATB "9 PM (Till I Come)" Ministry of Sound 3 July 19992 [25]
Crazy Frog "Axel F" Ministry of Sound 3 June 20054 [26]
Mint Royale "Singin' in the Rain"Faith & Hope14 June 20082 [27]
Martin Garrix "Animals" Spinnin' 23 November 20131 [28]
  1. 1 2 The track "Hoots Mon" is not fully instrumental but is classified nominally as an instrumental track and described as being accompanied by "some Scottish-sounding grunts and interjections at the end of each chorus". [11]
  2. ↑ The record labels are those given by the OCC. [6]
  3. 1 2 The date and duration at number-one are referenced by the following:
    • 1950s: "Number 1 Singles – 1950s". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
    • 1960s: "All the Number One Singles – 1960s". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
    • 1970s: "All the Number One Singles – 1970s". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
    • 1990s: "All the Number One Singles – 1990s". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  4. ↑ The track "Block Rockin' Beats" is not fully instrumental but is classified nominally as an instrumental track, it features a sampled spoken line ("back with another one of those block-rocking beats"), however the rest of the track is entirely instrumental. [11]

Related Research Articles

An instrumental or instrumental song is music normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instrumentals. The music is primarily or exclusively produced using musical instruments. An instrumental can exist in music notation, after it is written by a composer; in the mind of the composer ; as a piece that is performed live by a single instrumentalist or a musical ensemble, which could range in components from a duo or trio to a large big band, concert band or orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stranger on the Shore</span> 1961 single by Mr. Acker Bilk and the Leon Young String Chorale

"Stranger on the Shore" is a piece for clarinet written by Acker Bilk for his young daughter and originally named "Jenny" after her. The tune was written on a single scrap of paper by Bilk and handed over to arranger Leon Young who crafted the string arrangement, including the characteristic harmonic shifts at the very end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In da Club</span> 2003 single by 50 Cent

"In da Club" is a song by American rapper 50 Cent from his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Written by 50 Cent alongside producers Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, the song, which uses an unconventional off-beat rhythm, was released on January 7, 2003, as the album's lead single and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent's first number-one single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axel F</span> 1984 single by Harold Faltermeyer

"Axel F" is an electronic instrumental track by German musician Harold Faltermeyer. It served as the theme song for the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop, its eponymous character and the film franchise it is based from, which became an international number-one hit in 1985. The track reached number one in Ireland as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Additionally, it was a number two hit in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and West Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK Singles Downloads Chart</span> British music chart

The UK Singles Downloads Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the music industry. Since July 2015, the chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, with the chart date given as the following Thursday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Calvert</span> English trumpeter

Albert Edward Calvert was an English trumpeter successful in the 1950s. Between 1953 and 1958 he achieved seven instrumental hits on the UK Singles Chart, including the two chart-toppers "Oh, Mein Papa" in 1954 and "Cherry Pink " in 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spice Girls discography</span>

The Spice Girls, an English girl group, have released three studio albums, one compilation album, 11 singles and 18 music videos. Formed in 1994, the group was made up of singers Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm and Victoria Beckham.

Cristiano Spiller is an Italian electronic music DJ and record producer. He is best known for his 2000 single "Groovejet ", featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The song reached number-one in the UK, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. It sold over two million copies and was rumoured to be the first song to be played on an iPod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sound of the Underground (song)</span> 2002 single by Girls Aloud

"Sound of the Underground" is a song that was the debut single of British-Irish pop group Girls Aloud, and later featured on their debut album of the same title. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and Niara Scarlett, and produced by Higgins and his production team Xenomania. Following Girls Aloud's formation on the ITV1 reality television show Popstars: The Rivals, "Sound of the Underground" was released 16 days later, on 16 December 2002. Commercially, it was an immediate success; it became the year's Christmas number one in the UK, spending four consecutive weeks atop the chart. It also reached number one in Ireland and peaked within the top forty in Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metallica discography</span> Musical artists discography

The discography of American heavy metal band Metallica includes 11 studio albums, eight live albums, three extended plays, 49 singles, 10 video albums, 43 music videos, one soundtrack album, one collaboration album and three box sets. They are a San Francisco-based metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich (drums). After several bassist and lead guitarist changes, the band settled on Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett, respectively. Metallica started playing locally, releasing their first widely circulated demo, No Life 'til Leather, in 1982. The demo caught the attention of Johny Zazula, who signed Metallica to Megaforce Records. The band released Kill 'Em All in 1983, and the following year they released Ride the Lightning. After Ride the Lightning was released, Metallica left Megaforce and signed to Elektra Records. In March 1986, the band released its third studio album, Master of Puppets, which was Metallica's first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While promoting the album, Burton was killed in a bus accident. Jason Newsted was hired as a replacement. The band's first release to feature Newsted was The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited, and then followed by ...And Justice for All in August 1988, which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shine (Take That song)</span> 2007 single by Take That

"Shine" is the second single taken from English pop group Take That's comeback album, Beautiful World (2006). It became Take That's sixth consecutive number one single and their tenth number-one overall, making them one of only seven acts in the history of the UK charts to have more than nine number one hits. The song is about former Take That member Robbie Williams' battle with depression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have I Told You Lately</span> 1989 single by Van Morrison

"Have I Told You Lately" is a song written and recorded by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison for his nineteenth studio album, Avalon Sunset (1989). It is a romantic ballad that is often played at weddings, although it was originally written as a prayer. The opening line is from the song "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" by William Bell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, Come Back (The Equals song)</span> 1966 single by the Equals

"Baby, Come Back" is a song by English band the Equals from their 1967 album Unequalled Equals. Written by Eddy Grant, the song was originally released as a B-side in 1966 and was later released as a single in continental Europe before being released as a single in the UK in 1968. "Baby, Come Back" charted in multiple countries, including number one on the Belgian, Rhodesian and UK charts in 1967 and 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher singles discography</span>

American entertainer Cher has released 80 official singles, 28 promotional singles and appeared in 36 other songs. On the Billboard Hot 100, she has achieved: 4 number 1 singles, 12 Top 10 singles, 22 Top 40 singles and a total of 34 charted singles as a solo artist. Combined with the entries she had as part of Sonny & Cher: 5 number 1 singles, 17 Top 10 singles, 32 Top 40 hits and a total of 52 singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doop (song)</span> 1994 single by Doop

"Doop" is a song by Dutch Eurodance group Doop. It was released on 28 February 1994 by Clubstitute as the first single from their debut album, Circus Doop (1994). The song consists of a Charleston-based big band number set against a house backing track. "Doop" achieved success in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where it spent three weeks atop the UK Singles Chart. Two main versions were issued under the names of two different big bands, with the "Urge 2 Merge radio mix" combining sections of both. In 2005, the song was covered by Looney Tunez vs. Doop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Think About the Way</span> 1994 single by Ice MC

"Think About the Way" is a song by British, Italian-based rapper Ice MC, released in March 1994 as the second single from his third album, Ice'n'Green (1994), on which it appears in four versions, and his tenth single overall. It was produced by Roberto Zanetti, also known as Robyx, and was written by Zanetti and Ice MC, though many releases credit Zanetti as the sole writer. The female vocals were performed by Italian singer Alexia, though she was also uncredited and doesn't appear in the music video for the song, directed by Giacomo de Simone. The song was very successful in Europe, reaching the top 5 in Belgium and Italy, and the top 15 in Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands. In the UK and Ireland, it was released under the title "Think About the Way ", which it refers to the first words of the first verse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interpol discography</span>

The discography of American rock band Interpol consists of seven studio albums, nine extended plays (EPs), and fifteen singles. Interpol was formed in 1997 by New York University students Daniel Kessler and Greg Drudy, with Carlos Dengler and Paul Banks joining later. Drudy left the band in 2000, and was replaced with Sam Fogarino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invincible (Tinie Tempah song)</span> 2010 single by Tinie Tempah

"Invincible" is a song by English rapper Tinie Tempah. Written by Tempah, co-written and produced by iSHi, the song features guest vocals from American recording artist, Kelly Rowland. It was released on 26 December 2010, serving as the fourth official single from Tempah's debut album, Disc-Overy. The song was conceived by Tempah as a tribute to the music which Rowland used to release when she was part of Destiny's Child. Critics noted the song's production, which consists of brassy horns and a piano riff similar to David Guetta and Rowland's hit single "When Love Takes Over" (2009). An accompanying music video sees Tempah travelling through London reminiscing about his humble beginnings. Rowland appears as a projected image on the buildings.

<i>Solitaire</i> (Andy Williams album) 1973 studio album by Andy Williams

Solitaire is the thirty-first studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the fall of 1973 by Columbia Records and was an attempt to move away from his formulaic series of recent releases that relied heavily on songs that other artists had made popular.

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, David (2005). Roberts, David (ed.). British Hit Singles & Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records. p. 14. ISBN   978-1-904994-00-8. OCLC   58454449.
  2. ↑ "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News . 16 October 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "The story of the single". BBC. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "FAQ". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  5. ↑ "UK Singles Charts: History of the Charts". When We Were Kids. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ "Artist Chart History". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  7. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Mantovani: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  8. 1 2 Mawer, Sharon. "Eddie Calvert: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  9. 1 2 Mawer, Sharon. "Winifred Atwell: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  10. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Pérez Prado: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Mawer, Sharon. "Lord Rockingham's XI: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Pianist Russ Conway dies". BBC News . 16 November 2000. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  13. 1 2 "The Shadows founder member dies". BBC News . 29 November 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McNair, James (10 December 2009). "Whatever Happened to the Hit Instrumental?". Mojo . Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  15. ↑ "Country Music Hall of Fame To Welcome Floyd Cramer and Carl Smith". Broadcast Music Incorporated. 13 August 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  16. ↑ Boynton, Graham (25 September 2009). "Hank Marvin: 'We should have taken Harrison's advice and sung'". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  17. ↑ Perrone, Pierre (23 September 2008). "Obituarty: Earl Palmer". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Rhythm magazine". Rhythm . March 2001. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012.
  19. ↑ Unterberger, Richie. "Jet Harris – Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  20. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hugo Montenegro: Biography". Allmusic . Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  21. ↑ "1972-10-14 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "All the No.1s: Doop – Doop". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  23. ↑ "1997-05-04 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  24. ↑ Siegler, Dylan (April 2000). "Mr. Oizo". CMJ New Music (80). College Music Journal: 39. ISSN   1074-6978.
  25. ↑ "1999-07-03 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  26. ↑ "2005-06-03 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "2008-06-14 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "2013-11-23 Top 40 Official Singles". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 7 January 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.