UK # 1 songs (Imaginary version) [July - 1955]

[Good Old Days]

Nov 9, 2022 13:04:42 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

Patti Page reached #2 in my chart 3 times in the second half of the 1950s and I noticed those were also her (only) 3 top 10 Billboard hits in that time: Allegheny Moon (US #2), Old Cape Cod (US #3) and Left Right Out Of My Heart (US #9).

"Allegheny Moon" and "Left Right Out Of Your Heart" were released on single in UK. "Old Cape Cod" was B-side of "Wondering".

Sadly UK chart was too short in that time period.

[Good Old Days]

11th July 1953 : Eddie Fisher - Downhearted (3 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : 9-7-4-3-4-3-8-6-9-8-9-7-9-9-12

Second # 1 hit for Eddie Fisher. It was "dead" month for UK Top 10 again, especially if you (like me) don't like the instrumental compositions.

[Good Old Days]

1st August 1953 : Doris Day and Johnnie Ray - Let's Walk That-A-Way (3 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 4 stars

UK chartrun : 11-8-9-10-9-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-8-9

Second number one single for both acts. I think it's a weakest of the three their joint singles, but the most successful in UK chart with seven consecutive weeks at # 4 (possibly it's all-time record).

Special mentions :
Guy Mitchell - Look At That Girl - 3 stars

[Good Old Days]

22nd August 1953 : Jimmy Young - Eternally (1 week at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : 8-12-8-11-10-11-11-12-11

British singer Jimmy Young got the first number one single, it happened two years earlier his success with "Unchained Melody" in UK chart.

[Good Old Days]

29th August 1953 : Guy Mitchell - Look At That Girl (3 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : 8-5-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-4-3-10-10

First number one for Guy Mitchell. In UK chart this single was his second chart-topper after "She Wears Red Feathers" (# 1 for two consecutive weeks in March-April).

[Good Old Days]

19th September 1953 : Dean Martin - Kiss (1 week at # 1)



Rate : 4 stars

UK chartrun : [9] [7-8-10-5-7-10-12]

First number one single for Dean Martin and he did it before # 1 in the official chart.

[Good Old Days]

26th September : 4th week on the top for Doris and Johnnie duet.

3rd October : Dean Martin climbed up on the top of chart.

10th October : Third week at # 1 for "Kiss".

[Good Old Days]

17th October 1953 : Frankie Laine - Where The Winds Blow (2 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : 12-10-7-7-2-3-4-3-5-7-9-12

Frankie Laine became the first act with three number one hits. On this week his songs were on second, third and fourth places in UK chart.

Special mentions :
David Whitfield - The Bridge Of Sighs - 3 stars
Frankie Laine - Hey Joe - 3 stars

[Good Old Days]

31st October 1953 : Frankie Laine - Answer Me (3 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 4 stars

UK chartrun : 3-2-1-1-1-1-1-1-4-6-5-6-8-8-10

Frankie Laine had replaced himself on the top and became the first act with four number one singles. 

How long he will the most successful singer in this imaginary version of UK chart ? In the real history Frankie became the best in 1953 year after third number one and hold the crown until 1960, when Elvis Presley got his fifth # 1 single with "It's Now Or Never".

[Good Old Days]

21st November 1953 : Eddie Fisher - Wish You Where Here (1 week at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : 11-11-8-12-11-9-12

"Wish You Where Here" became 3rd number one single for American singer and actor Eddie Fisher, it's already more than he had in UK chart.

[Good Old Days]

28th November : Frankie Laine is # 1 again with "Answer Me"

5th December : Due to low competition in UK top 10 "Answer Me" caught up with the most successful song on this moment of time (Jo Stafford - You Belong To Me). Both singles spent five weeks at # 1.

[Good Old Days]

12th December 1953 : Joan Regan - Ricochet (1 week at # 1)



Rate : 5 stars

UK chartrun : [8] [12-10-12-9]

"Ricochet" is my favourite single from UK chart in this year and the first song with the highest score (5 stars). After it English traditional pop singer Joan Regan had some other top 10 hits. Maybe she will repeat # 1 result in near future.

[Good Old Days]

19th December 1953 : Beverley Sisters - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (3 weeks at # 1)



Rate : 3 stars

UK chartrun : [11] [6-7]*

Christmas has come with the festive song on the top of chart. Beverley Sisters is the first girl group with # 1 hit, this happened eleven years before the official UK chart.

Special mentions :
Guy Mitchell - Cloud Lucky Seven - 3 stars

* - I don't count the frozen weeks for UK chartruns.

[Good Old Days]

New # 1 singles (1953) :
1. Bing Crosby - Isle Of Innisfree (2 weeks)
2. Kay Starr - Comes A-Long A-Love (1 week)
3. Perry Como and Ramblers - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (3 weeks)
4. Danny Kaye - Wonderful Copenhagen (3 weeks)
5. Stargazers - Broken Wings (2 weeks)
6. Patti Page - (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window (2 weeks)
7. Johnnie Ray - Somebody Stole My Gal (3 weeks)
8. Doreen Stephens and Billy Cotton's Band - In A Golden Coach (There's A Heart Of Gold) (3 weeks)
9. Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You (3 weeks)
10. Frankie Laine - I Believe (3 weeks)
11. Eddie Fisher - Downhearted (3 weeks)
12. Doris Day and Johnnie Ray - Let's Walk That-A-Way (4 weeks)
13. Jimmy Young - Eternally (1 week)
14. Guy Mitchell - Look At That Girl (3 weeks)
15. Dean Martin - Kiss (3 weeks)
16. Frankie Laine - Where The Winds Blow (2 weeks)
17. Frankie Laine - Answer Me (5 weeks)
18. Eddie Fisher - Wish You Where Here (1 week)
19. Joan Regan - Ricochet (1 week)
20. Beverley Sisters - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (2 weeks)

Best UK top 10 singles :
Joan Regan - Ricochet - 5 stars
Patti Page - (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window - 4 stars
Doris Day and Johnnie Ray - Let's Walk That-A-Way - 4 stars
Frankie Laine - Answer Me - 4 stars
Danny Kaye - Wonderful Copenhagen - 4 stars
Perry Como and Ramblers - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes - 4 stars
Johnnie Ray - Somebody Stole My Gal - 4 stars
Dean Martin - Kiss - 4 stars
Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You - 4 stars

Most # 1 singles (1952-1953) :
Frankie Laine - 4
Eddie Fisher - 3
Doris Day - 2
Johnnie Ray - 2

# 1 singles (countries) :
United States - 17
United Kingdom - 5

[Good Old Days]

9th January 1954 : David Whitfield - Rags To Riches (1 week at # 1)



Rate : 4 stars

UK chartrun : [12] [3-7-6-4-5-3-3-8-11-10]

First number one single for British male tenor David Whitfield. It's the third consecutive winner from United Kingdom.

[Earl Purple]

I haven't listened to that song but in the area my chart covered David Whitfield was possibly the singer I couldn't stand the most. I declared his song "My Son John" as the worst song I came across during the entirety of my coverage of the last 4 years of the 1950s. Obviously the public at the time agreed with me to some extent as it broken a run of top 10 hits (plus one #12) to peak at #22.

Guy Mitchell managed 2 number ones in my chart, and I did wonder how many more he would have had if I'd started it earlier. And in the 1940-52 book he has even more of them.

[Good Old Days]

Dec 2, 2022 10:44:42 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

I haven't listened to that song but in the area my chart covered David Whitfield was possibly the singer I couldn't stand the most. I declared his song "My Son John" as the worst song I came across during the entirety of my coverage of the last 4 years of the 1950s. 

I just listened it and don't understand why you dislike this song so much. It's typical vintage "3 stars" pop. I don't remember if they had any releases in 1950s or only in 1960s, but Motown girl groups were awful. 

Need to refresh in memory UK # 1 singles from 50s, but possibly I dislike only "Mambo Italiano".  Such a shameful single choice for Rosemary Clooney, who recorded my favourite song from all decade (This Ole House). 

In early days of UK chart Frankie Laine was unstoppable and recorded "hit after hit". I think that he will hold the leading in "# 1 singles" category before the time, when Elvis' star will rise. 

[Earl Purple]

If you're only covering the UK chart then "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" is the only Patti Page song you will encounter. Rather a shame. "Allegheny Moon" was her biggest US hit reaching #2 and reached #2 in my chart too along with a couple of others. Probably best known though for "Old Cape Cod" because Groove Armada sampled it.

[Good Old Days]

Dec 2, 2022 11:43:32 GMT 1 Earl Purple said:

If you're only covering the UK chart then "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window" is the only Patti Page song you will encounter. Rather a shame. 

This topic is not equal to "Gražios Dainos". The main targets of this thread : refreshing vintage UK top 10 hits in my memory and choose the best and the worst popular songs.  

Many years ago I compiled thirty three weekly charts for 1960 year. Patti had two successful singles in them :
- One Of Us (Will Weep Tonight)  
- Two Thousand, Two Hundred Twenty-Three Miles

[Good Old Days]

16th January : Joan Regan enjoys the leadership in this chart with my SOTY "Ricochet".

23rd January : 2nd week at # 1 for David Whitfield and "Rags To Riches".

30th January : Joan Regan became the first act, who did two comebacks on top due to her UK "up and down" chartrun.

6th February : David Whitfield repeated Joan's achievement.