Top 200 Best Selling Singles Of All Time (UK)

by **Robbie** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:08 am

Top 200 Best Selling Singles Of All Time

Sales to 29/10/11

[1] SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 1997 - Elton John (1997) 4,895,000
[2] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid (1984) 3,670,000
[3] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen (1975/1991) 2,327,000
[4] MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - Wings (1977) 2,061,000
[5] RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - Boney M (1978) 2,020,000
[6] YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978/1998) 2,020,000
[7] RELAX - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1983/1993) 2,005,000
[8] SHE LOVES YOU - Beatles (1963) 1,892,000
[9] UNCHAINED MELODY/WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER - Robson Green & Jerome Flynn (1995) 1,850,000
[10] MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - Boney M (1978) 1,838,000

[11] LOVE IS ALL AROUND - Wet Wet Wet (1994) 1,831,000
[12] I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - Stevie Wonder (1984) 1,821,000
[13] ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN - Will Young (2002) 1,796,000
[14] BARBIE GIRL - Aqua (1997) 1,776,000
[15] I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - Beatles (1963) 1,752,000
[16] BELIEVE - Cher (1998) 1,721,000
[17] (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - Bryan Adams (1991) 1,690,000
[18] LAST CHRISTMAS - Wham! (1984) 1,622,000
[19] SUMMER NIGHTS - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978) 1,580,000
[20] TWO TRIBES - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) 1,573,000

[21] IMAGINE - John Lennon (1975/1980/1999) 1,572,000
[22] PERFECT DAY - Various Artists (1997) 1,555,000
[23] DON'T YOU WANT ME - Human League (1981) 1,530,000
[24] CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - Beatles (1964) 1,523,000
[25] BABY ONE MORE TIME - Britney Spears (1999) 1,523,000
[26] TEARS - Ken Dodd (1965) 1,522,000
[27] I'LL BE MISSING YOU - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (1997) 1,477,000
[28] 3 LIONS - Lightning Seeds ft Baddiel & Skinner (1996) 1,475,000
[29] I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Whitney Houston (1992) 1,474,000
[30] KARMA CHAMELEON - Culture Club (1984) 1,455,000

[31] MY HEART WILL GO ON - Celine Dion (1998) 1,437,000
[32] YMCA - Village People (1979) 1,432,000
[33] CARELESS WHISPER - George Michael (1984) 1,430,000
[34] I FEEL FINE - Beatles (1964) 1,417,000
[35] ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - Bill Haley & His Comets (1955) 1,416,000
[36] THE CARNIVAL IS OVER - Seekers (1965) 1,405,000
[37] GANGSTA'S PARADISE - Coolio ft LV (1995) 1,400,000
[38] DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT - Beatles (1965) 1,389,000
[39] RELEASE ME - Englebert Humperdinck (1967) 1,375,000
[40] THE POWER OF LOVE - Jennifer Rush (1985) 1,373,000

[41] KILLING ME SOFTLY - Fugees (1996) 1,371,000
[42] UNCHAINED MELODY - Gareth Gates (2002) 1,362,000
[43] EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (1982) 1,361,500
[44] WANNABE - Spice Girls (1996) 1,358,000
[45] NEVER EVER - All Saints (1997) 1,300,000
[46] THINK TWICE - Celine Dion (1994) 1,288,000
[47] COME ON EILEEN - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982) 1,288,000
[48] IT'S NOW OR NEVER - Elvis Presley (1960) 1,270,000
[49] HEART OF GLASS - Blondie (1979) 1,257,000
[50] DIANA - Paul Anka (1957) 1,250,000

[51] TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell (1981) 1,249,000
[52] IT WASN'T ME - Shaggy ft RikRok (2001) 1,243,000
[53] I GOTTA FEELING – Black Eyed Peas (2009) 1,238,700
[54] HALLELUJAH – Alexandra Burke (2008) 1,222,000
[55] IT'S LIKE THAT - Run-DMC vs Jason Nevins (1998) 1,220,000
[56] (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - Tony Christie ft Peter Kay (1971) 1,215,000
[57] GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME - Tom Jones (1966) 1,210,000
[58] BRIGHT EYES - Art Garfunkel (1979) 1,185,000
[59] MARY'S BOY CHILD - Harry Belafonte (1957) 1,180,000
[60] SOMEONE LIKE YOU – Adele (2011) 1,174,700

[61] THE LAST WALTZ - Englebert Humperdinck (1967) 1,165,000
[62] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid 20 (2004) 1,156,000
[63] HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY - Steps (1998) 1,155,000
[64] EARTH SONG - Michael Jackson (1995) 1,152,000
[65] MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade (1973) 1,150,000
[66] DON'T GIVE UP ON US - David Soul (1977) 1,150,000
[67] SEX ON FIRE – Kings of Leon (2008) 1,145,000
[68] STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Acker Bilk (1961) 1,145,000
[69] I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter (1973) 1,143,000
[70] BLUE MONDAY - New Order (1983) 1,138,500

[71] SPACEMAN - Babylon Zoo (1996) 1,136,000
[72] CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - Kylie Minogue (2001) 1,136,000
[73] SATURDAY NIGHT - Whigfield (1994) 1,124,000
[74] NO MATTER WHAT - Boyzone (1998) 1,115,000
[75] TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH" - Teletubbies (1997) 1,111,000
[76] I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF - Robson & Jerome (1995) 1,110,000
[77] I REMEMBER YOU - Frank Ifield (1962) 1,110,000
[78] ANGELS - Robbie Williams (1997) 1,109,000
[79] HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - Ian Dury & The Blockheads (1979) 1,108,000
[80] 2 BECOME 1 - Spice Girls (1996) 1,100,000

[81] THAT’S MY GOAL – Shayne Ward (2005) 1,100,000
[82] GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jnr. (1984) 1,098,000
[83] PURE AND SIMPLE - Hear'Say (2001) 1,087,000
[84] TORN - Natalie Imbruglia (1997) 1,087,000
[85] POKER FACE – Lady GaGa (2009) 1,078,000
[86] THE YOUNG ONES - Cliff Richard & The Shadows (1962) 1,060,000
[87] BACK FOR GOOD - Take That (1995) 1,060,000
[88] WONDERWALL - Oasis (1995) 1,058,000
[89] ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL - Pink Floyd (1979) 1,057,000
[90] BLUE (DA BA DEE) - Eiffel 65 (1999) 1,042,000

[91] FAME - Irene Cara (1982) 1,041,000
[92] JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) - Bruno Mars (2010) 1,041,235
[93] RIDE ON TIME - Black Box (1989) 1,032,000
[94] DANCING QUEEN - ABBA (1976/1992) 1,039,000
[95] BLEEDING LOVE – Leona Lewis (2007) 1,021,000
[96] STAND AND DELIVER - Adam & The Ants (1981) 1,015,000
[97] CAN WE FIX IT - Bob The Builder (2000) 1,010,000
[98] SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - Brotherhood Of Man (1976) 1,010,000
[99] CRAZY – Gnarls Barkley (2006) 1,007,000
[100] LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Eminem feat Rihanna (2010) 1,006,750

by **Robbie** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:09 am

[101] UPTOWN GIRL - Billy Joel (1983) 1,006,000
[102] EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra (1972) 1,005,000
[103] SUGAR SUGAR - Archies (1969) 1,005,000
[104] I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - New Seekers (1972) 1,005,000
[105] UNCHAINED MELODY - Righteous Brothers (1965/1990) 1,003,000
[106] DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - Julie Covington (1977) 1,001,000
[107] LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond (1972) 1,000,000
[108] SAILING - Rod Stewart (1975) 1,000,000
[109] TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn (1973) 1,000,000
[110] ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) – Rihanna (2010) 992,300
[111] ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (1988) 993,000
[112] I WILL SURVIVE - Gloria Gaynor (1979) 993,000
[113] UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - Showaddywaddy (1976) 990,000
[114] WHEN WE COLLIDE – Matt Cardle (2010) 988,000
[115] WHITE CHRISTMAS – Bing Crosby (1977) 980,000
[116] TELSTAR - Tornados (1962) 980,000
[117] DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John & Kiki Dee (1976) 980,000
[118] THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - Tight Fit (1982) 980,000
[119] WHOLE AGAIN - Atomic Kitten (2001) 980,000
[120] THE NEXT TIME/BACHELOR BOY - Cliff Richard & The Shadows (1963) 977,000
[121] I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING – Aerosmith (1998) 973,000
[122] AMAZING GRACE - Pipes, Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (1972) 970,000
[123] FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE – Cheryl Cole (2009) 960,000
[124] MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison (1971) 959,000
[125] MISSISSIPPI - Pussycat (1976) 956,000

[126] MYSTERIOUS GIRL - Peter Andre (1996) 951,000
[127] SAY YOU'LL BE THERE - Spice Girls (1996) 950,000
[128] HEY JUDE - Beatles (1968) 948,000
[129] BAD ROMANCE – Lady GaGa (2009) 944,400
[130] PRICE TAG – Jessie J featuring B.o.B (2011) 938,700
[131] STAY ANOTHER DAY - East 17 (1994) 937,000
[132] PARTY ROCK ANTHEM - LMFAO/Lauren Bennett/GoonRock (2011) 936,100
[133] FROM ME TO YOU - Beatles (1963) 917,000
[134] JUST DANCE – Lady GaGa (2009) 916,000
[135] HELP! - Beatles (1965) 916,000
[136] THE MILLENNIUM PRAYER - Cliff Richard (1999) 915,000
[137] DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - Police (1980) 912,000
[138] TWO LITTLE BOYS - Rolf Harris (1969) 911,000
[139] MISSING (TODD TERRY REMIX) - Everything But The Girl (1995) 910,000
[140] GLAD ALL OVER - Dave Clark Five (1963) 906,000
[141] MEN IN BLACK - Will Smith (1997) 903,000
[142] HERO – Enrique Iglesias (2002) 903,000
[143] WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE - Cliff Richard (1979) 900,000
[144] HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE? - Bee Gees (1977)] 900,000
[145] A MOMENT LIKE THIS – Leona Lewis (2006) 882,000
[146] I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS - Boomtown Rats (1979) 882,000
[147] ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - Elvis Presley (1961) 880,000
[148] WHEN A CHILD IS BORN (SOLEADO) - Johnny Mathis (1976) 877,000
[149] MAMBO NO.5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...) - Lou Bega (1999) 875,000
[150] WHISPERING GRASS – Windsor Davies & Don Estelle (1975) 875,000

[151] CHOCOLATE SALTY BALLS (PS: I LOVE YOU) - Chef (1998) 875,000
[152] ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC - Tubeway Army (1979) 871,000
[153] JAILHOUSE ROCK - Elvis Presley (1958) 870,000
[154] USE SOMEBODY – Kings of Leon (2008) 869,000
[155] TOWN CALLED MALICE/PRECIOUS – Jam (1982) 864,000
[156] GOODBYE - Spice Girls (1998) 863,000
[157] INTO THE GROOVE - Madonna (1985) 862,000
[158] BILLIE JEAN – Michael Jackson (1983) 860,000
[159] THE FLORAL DANCE - Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (1977) 860,000
[160] HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band and the Harlem Community Street Choir (1972) 860,000
[161] FORGET YOU – Cee-Lo Green (2010) 856,205
[162] C'EST LA VIE - B*Witched (1998) 856,000
[163] YOU WONT FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - New Seekers (1973) 855,000
[164] NEEDLES AND PINS - Searchers (1964) 855,000
[165] DON'T SPEAK - No Doubt (1997) 855,000
[166] NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW - Starship (1987) 855,000
[167] ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART - Cilla Black (1964) 850,000
[168] FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK – Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl (1987) 846,000
[169] KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU - ABBA (1977) 847,000 (776000)
[170] RETURN OF THE MACK - Mark Morrison (1996) 845,600
[171] THE SMURF SONG - Father Abraham & The Smurfs (1978) 845,000
[172] WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson (1972) 843,000
[173] RULE THE WORLD – Take That (2009) 843,000
[174] LIVING DOLL - Cliff Richard & The Drifters (1959) 840,000
[175] GIVE ME EVERYTHING – Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo & Nayer (2011) 837,800

[176] LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCA - Ricky Martin (1999) 837,000
[177] HELLO - Lionel Richie (1984) 837,000
[178] LOVESICK BLUES - Frank Ifield (1962) 835,000
[179] TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - Berlin (1986) 834,000
[180] STAN – Eminem feat Dido (2000) 832,000
[181] DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ – Journey (1982) 831,200
[182] SPICE UP YOUR LIFE - Spice Girls (1997) 831,000
[183] CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE/ROCK-A-HULA BABY - Elvis Presley (1962) 831,000
[184] WAY DOWN - Elvis Presley (1977) 829,000
[185] GRENADE – Bruno Mars (2011) 825,700
[186] I KNOW HIM SO WELL - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson (1985) 825,000
[187] YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE - Gerry & The Pacemakers (1963) 822,000
[188] HERO - X Factor Finalists (2008) 820,000
[189] FATHER AND SON – Boyzone (1995) 820,000
[190] WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR - Emile Ford & The Checkmates (1959) 820,000
[191] SWING THE MOOD - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (1989) 820,000
[192] DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME - Culture Club (1982) 818,000
[193] SPACE ODDITY - David Bowie (1969) 816,000
[194] WELCOME HOME - Peters and Lee (1973) 815,000
[195] SUPER TROUPER - ABBA (1980) 815,000 (735000)
[196] ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE - Michael Jackson (1981) 815,000
[197] THREE TIMES A LADY - Commodores (1978) 810,000 (925,000?)
[198] WHEN I NEED YOU - Leo Sayer (1977) 810,000
[199] WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - Dr Hook (1979) 806,000
[200] CHILDREN - Robert Miles (1996) 806,000

Compiled by Andy from Haven

by **Robbie** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:09 am

109 million sellers so far and Rihanna is just about to join the list with "Only Girl (In The World)" plus possibly at least another two by the end of this year. By this time next year at least another half a dozen songs will also pass the million mark.

by **Fresh** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:22 pm

2000s

[13] ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN - Will Young (2002) 1,796,000
[42] UNCHAINED MELODY - Gareth Gates (2002) 1,362,000
[52] IT WASN'T ME - Shaggy feat. Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent (2001) 1,243,000
[53] I GOTTA FEELING – The Black Eyed Peas (2009) 1,238,700
[54] HALLELUJAH – Alexandra Burke (2008) 1,222,000
[62] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid 20 (2004) 1,156,000
[67] SEX ON FIRE – Kings Of Leon (2008) 1,145,000
[72] CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - Kylie Minogue (2001) 1,136,000
[81] THAT’S MY GOAL – Shayne Ward (2005) 1,100,000
[83] PURE AND SIMPLE - Hear'Say (2001) 1,087,000
[85] POKER FACE – Lady Gaga (2009) 1,078,000
[95] BLEEDING LOVE – Leona Lewis (2007) 1,021,000
[97] CAN WE FIX IT - Bob The Builder (2000) 1,010,000
[99] CRAZY – Gnarls Barkley (2006) 1,007,000
[119] WHOLE AGAIN - Atomic Kitten (2001) 980,000
[123] FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE – Cheryl Cole (2009) 960,000
[129] BAD ROMANCE – Lady Gaga (2009) 944,400
[134] JUST DANCE – Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis (2009) 916,000
[142] HERO – Enrique Iglesias (2002) 903,000
[145] A MOMENT LIKE THIS – Leona Lewis (2006) 882,000
[154] USE SOMEBODY – Kings Of Leon (2008) 869,000
[173] RULE THE WORLD – Take That (2009) 843,000
[180] STAN – Eminem feat. Dido (2000) 832,000
[188] HERO - X Factor Finalists (2008) 820,000

2010s

[60] SOMEONE LIKE YOU – Adele (2011) 1,174,700
[92] JUST THE WAY YOU ARE - Bruno Mars (2010) 1,041,235
[100] LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Eminem feat. Rihanna (2010) 1,006,750
[110] ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) – Rihanna (2010) 992,300
[114] WHEN WE COLLIDE – Matt Cardle (2010) 988,000
[130] PRICE TAG – Jessie J feat. B.o.B (2011) 938,700
[132] PARTY ROCK ANTHEM - LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock (2011) 936,100
[161] FORGET YOU – Cee Lo Green (2010) 856,205
[175] GIVE ME EVERYTHING – Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer (2011) 837,800
[185] GRENADE – Bruno Mars (2011) 825,700

by **zeus555** » Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:05 pm

The OCC are re-looking at the UK's Million Selling
Singles. Looking at all the Data again. They will
let us know the results of their 'findings' later in 2011.

Zeus555

by **davyboy** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:21 am

Wow what a goldmine, thanks so much for this data.

Can't believe this isn't getting more attnention on here!!!!....

How many copies does the Pogues tend to sell each year on its foray into the Christmas charts? Would be great to see that song pass a million this Christmas or next.

by **irishguy28** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:16 pm

Great list - thanks Robbie.

How "official" is the list/the sales figures? It doesn't come directly from the OCC, does it?

I wasn't aware that Black Box's "Ride On Time" had cleared a million. Perhaps it has been in this ballpark in some earlier lists, but everyhit.com for instance doesn't list it. It had a sales figure of about 600,000 at the end of 1989 so it must have made up a lot of ground in the intervening period...

by **Robbie** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:54 pm

Many of the figures are "guesstimates" but Andy has been keeping the figures for this list for a number of years and updates them regularly. Sometimes the figures come from Music Week, the basis of some figures are older countdowns of this type (eg the 2002 Channel 4 countdown, Tony Blackburn's countdown on Radio 2 in August 2010 of 100 Million Sellers which was compiled by the OCC and which included "Ride On Time").

The 2010 list is here http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.p ... 62#2582362

I think the 2010 list is the last official list though both Music Week and the OCC have both published some additional sales data since then.

by **Robbie** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:06 pm

"Ride On Time" sold 849,000 copies in 1989 according to Gallup figures from the time. By 2002 this figure had increased to 973,850 when the Top 100 Best Selling Singles list was revealed on Channel 4 to celebrate 50 years of the UK Singles charts. Sales of each of the top 100 singles in the chart were listed in the programme. I'm guessing that the latest figure listed in the chart I posted is an estimate.

I'm not sure how Ride On Time increased its sales so much from 1989 to 2002. The single sold a few thousand more copies in 1990 but not such a significant amount to increase sales so much by 2002 in what was pre download days. Alan Jones compiled the 2002 list so one (or more) of four possibilities exists for its increase in sales

1. it sold a large number of copies over the years in trickle sales. Unlikely as the single was deleted in 1990.

2. Alan Jones is using a different multiplier to Gallup for 1989 and therefore has calculated its 1989 sales to be much higher

3. The total includes sales of other singles that featured "Ride On Time" - it was a double A side with "Strike It Up" in 1991 for example

4. The 2002 figure was a shipment not over the counter figure. Unlikely given sales figures are available for singles from this era.

by **alek** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:46 pm

[157] INTO THE GROOVE - Madonna (1985) 862,000

lol

[14] BARBIE GIRL - Aqua (1997) 1,776,000

by **MFR** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:55 pm

Robbie wrote:"Ride On Time" sold 849,000 copies in 1989 according to Gallup figures from the time. By 2002 this figure had increased to 973,850 when the Top 100 Best Selling Singles list was revealed on Channel 4 to celebrate 50 years of the UK Singles charts. Sales of each of the top 100 singles in the chart were listed in the programme. I'm guessing that the latest figure listed in the chart I posted is an estimate.

I'm not sure how Ride On Time increased its sales so much from 1989 to 2002. The single sold a few thousand more copies in 1990 but not such a significant amount to increase sales so much by 2002 in what was pre download days. Alan Jones compiled the 2002 list so one (or more) of four possibilities exists for its increase in sales

1. it sold a large number of copies over the years in trickle sales. Unlikely as the single was deleted in 1990.

2. Alan Jones is using a different multiplier to Gallup for 1989 and therefore has calculated its 1989 sales to be much higher

3. The total includes sales of other singles that featured "Ride On Time" - it was a double A side with "Strike It Up" in 1991 for example

4. The 2002 figure was a shipment not over the counter figure. Unlikely given sales figures are available for singles from this era.

I'd go for option 4 with Ride On Time, Robbie, with option 2 a distant second. I'd rule out option 1 completely and option 3 almost completely.

This is the top 20 singles of the 1980s from Record Mirror compiled by Alan Jones and Bob Macdonald. The figures shown are from the 2002 countdown on Channel 4, plus the Gallup figures for Especially For You, Ride On Time and Swing The Mood, which didn't make the 2002 chart.

1 Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid (3,550,000)
2 Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,910,000)
3 I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (1,775,000)
4 Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,510,000)
5 Don’t You Want Me - The Human League (1,430,000)
6 Last Christmas - Wham! (1,420,000)
7 Karma Chameleon - Culture Club (1,405,000)
8 Careless Whisper - George Michael (1,365,995 - a strangely precise figure)
9 The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush (1,321,530)
10 Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners (1,201,000)
11 Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1,135,000)
12 Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (990,000)
13 Stand And Deliver - Adam & The Ants (985,000)
14 Especially For You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (982,000, 845,000 Gallup data)
15 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit (978,000)
16 Fame - Irene Cara (975,000)
17 Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr (974,001 - also precise)
18 Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (974,000)
19 Ride On Time - Black Box (973,850, 849,000 Record Mirror)
20 Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (820,000 Record Mirror)

Note Especially For and Ride On Time are already in their 2002 positions even in December 1989, confirming 'trickle' sales were not added.

Also New Order's Blue Monday didn't make the top 80 in Record Mirror. Adding sales of the 1988 remix took it to 1 million in the 2002 chart, but even without the remix sales it would have made the 1980s top 80 if it had been compiled from Gallup's data. The reason for exclusion in the 1980s is more likely to be due to Factory Records not providing information.

by **irishguy28** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:57 pm

Obviously my information about "Ride On Time" having sold only 600,000 in 1989 was incorrect, and was probably down to someone seeing it had reached platinum, and then merely giving the required 600k threshold as the actual sales figure. Or else what was given as a lower bound was taken, incorrectly, by me as being an accurate sales figure.

Sorry! But thanks for clearing that up.

by **SholasBoy** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:12 pm

Some surprising omissions for me, the Spice Girls other Christmas #1, Too Much, despite the fact the song it beat to get there from the Telletubbies is quite high up the list.

We're missing Leon Jackson and Joe McElderry from the X Factor winners list (as well as Steve Brookstein!)

And finally, as Frankie managed 2 songs in the top 20, I'm surprised they didn't do the triple somewhere in the top 200 with "Power Of Love", despite the fact that one was the #1 released around Christmas.

by **Robbie** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:40 pm

MFR wrote:I'd go for option 4 with Ride On Time, Robbie, with option 2 a distant second. I'd rule out option 1 completely and option 3 almost completely.

This is the top 20 singles of the 1980s from Record Mirror compiled by Alan Jones and Bob Macdonald. The figures shown are from the 2002 countdown on Channel 4, plus the Gallup figures for Especially For You, Ride On Time and Swing The Mood, which didn't make the 2002 chart.

1 Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid (3,550,000)
2 Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,910,000)
3 I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (1,775,000)
4 Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,510,000)
5 Don’t You Want Me - The Human League (1,430,000)
6 Last Christmas - Wham! (1,420,000)
7 Karma Chameleon - Culture Club (1,405,000)
8 Careless Whisper - George Michael (1,365,995 - a strangely precise figure)
9 The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush (1,321,530)
10 Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners (1,201,000)
11 Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1,135,000)
12 Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (990,000)
13 Stand And Deliver - Adam & The Ants (985,000)
14 Especially For You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (982,000, 845,000 Gallup data)
15 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit (978,000)
16 Fame - Irene Cara (975,000)
17 Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr (974,001 - also precise)
18 Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (974,000)
19 Ride On Time - Black Box (973,850, 849,000 Record Mirror)
20 Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (820,000 Record Mirror)

Note Especially For and Ride On Time are already in their 2002 positions even in December 1989, confirming 'trickle' sales were not added.

Also New Order's Blue Monday didn't make the top 80 in Record Mirror. Adding sales of the 1988 remix took it to 1 million in the 2002 chart, but even without the remix sales it would have made the 1980s top 80 if it had been compiled from Gallup's data. The reason for exclusion in the 1980s is more likely to be due to Factory Records not providing information.

"Blue Monday" did make the top 80 of the 80s but was omitted in error from Record Mirror's end of decade list. In the issue of RM dated 13/01/90 Alan Jones mentioned the omission, stating that "Blue Monday" should have placed at number 13 whilst "Like A Virgin" by Madonna should have been placed at number 53. His explanation for the omissions was that "the error was caused by computer storage problems at Gallup". A bit of a weak explanation!

It's disappointing if sales of "Ride On Time" really are shipments rather than over the counter sales. There really was no need for Alan Jones to have had to use anything other than Gallup sales data. Though I still think possible explanation number 3 - combined sales of all versions featuring "Ride On Time" is a possibility. Though the sales figures may have come from the label rather than from the chart reports of Gallup.

by **TiagoRodrigues** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:47 pm

Madonna deserves to have a million selling single in the UK! It's shocking how not even 1 single managed that feat :lol:

by **Robbie** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:02 pm

SholasBoy wrote:Some surprising omissions for me, the Spice Girls other Christmas #1, Too Much, despite the fact the song it beat to get there from the Telletubbies is quite high up the list.

We're missing Leon Jackson and Joe McElderry from the X Factor winners list (as well as Steve Brookstein!)

And finally, as Frankie managed 2 songs in the top 20, I'm surprised they didn't do the triple somewhere in the top 200 with "Power Of Love", despite the fact that one was the #1 released around Christmas.

"Too Much" had sold around 660k by the end of the 90s, in fact it was outsold (though only just) by "Mama / Who Do You Think You Are" with both records next to each other in the 1990s decade chart at numbers 76 and 77.

Joe McElderry sold 716,358 copies in the chart year 2009 (which actually included sales up to 02/01/10) but fell very quickly down and off the chart in 2010 so would have struggled to sell the 90,000 copies needed to make the top 200 list in my first post - he certainly didn't do so in 2010 as the #200 single of the year sold 88,100 copies and his single wasn't inside the top 200 best sellers for 2010.

Leon Jackson's "When You Believe" has yet to pass 500,000 sales while "Against All Odds" by Steve Brookstein had sold under 200,000 by the end of 2005.

"The Power Of Love" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood didn't make the top 100 best sellers of the 1980s which would place its 80s sales under 600,000. With two remixes / re-releases in 1993 and 2000, both of which reached the top 10 but fell quickly from the charts, I'd imagine this track doesn't make the 800,000 mark.

by **MFR** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:37 pm

Robbie wrote:
MFR wrote:I'd go for option 4 with Ride On Time, Robbie, with option 2 a distant second. I'd rule out option 1 completely and option 3 almost completely.

This is the top 20 singles of the 1980s from Record Mirror compiled by Alan Jones and Bob Macdonald. The figures shown are from the 2002 countdown on Channel 4, plus the Gallup figures for Especially For You, Ride On Time and Swing The Mood, which didn't make the 2002 chart.

1 Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid (3,550,000)
2 Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,910,000)
3 I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (1,775,000)
4 Two Tribes - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1,510,000)
5 Don’t You Want Me - The Human League (1,430,000)
6 Last Christmas - Wham! (1,420,000)
7 Karma Chameleon - Culture Club (1,405,000)
8 Careless Whisper - George Michael (1,365,995 - a strangely precise figure)
9 The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush (1,321,530)
10 Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners (1,201,000)
11 Tainted Love - Soft Cell (1,135,000)
12 Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor (990,000)
13 Stand And Deliver - Adam & The Ants (985,000)
14 Especially For You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (982,000, 845,000 Gallup data)
15 The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit (978,000)
16 Fame - Irene Cara (975,000)
17 Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr (974,001 - also precise)
18 Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (974,000)
19 Ride On Time - Black Box (973,850, 849,000 Record Mirror)
20 Swing The Mood - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (820,000 Record Mirror)

Note Especially For and Ride On Time are already in their 2002 positions even in December 1989, confirming 'trickle' sales were not added.

Also New Order's Blue Monday didn't make the top 80 in Record Mirror. Adding sales of the 1988 remix took it to 1 million in the 2002 chart, but even without the remix sales it would have made the 1980s top 80 if it had been compiled from Gallup's data. The reason for exclusion in the 1980s is more likely to be due to Factory Records not providing information.
"Blue Monday" did make the top 80 of the 80s but was omitted in error from Record Mirror's end of decade list. In the issue of RM dated 13/01/90 Alan Jones mentioned the omission, stating that "Blue Monday" should have placed at number 13 whilst "Like A Virgin" by Madonna should have been placed at number 53. His explanation for the omissions was that "the error was caused by computer storage problems at Gallup". A bit of a weak explanation!

It's disappointing if sales of "Ride On Time" really are shipments rather than over the counter sales. There really was no need for Alan Jones to have had to use anything other than Gallup sales data. Though I still think possible explanation number 3 - combined sales of all versions featuring "Ride On Time" is a possibility. Though the sales figures may have come from the label rather than from the chart reports of Gallup.

It certainly would be a weak explanation about Blue Monday since Alan was the co-compiler of the chart. My guess would be that someone had pointed it out and Alan did a quick calculation as to where he would put it.

I'd be surprised if they added sales of other versions of Ride On Time. Do you think that its reasonable that positions 12 to 18 of the 1980s could be covered by 20,000 or so sales and then a gap over over 100,000 to the number 19?

But then there's Especially For You.

Alan Jones in Record Mirror using Gallup data said 555,000 in 1988 and 289,000 in 1989 = 844,000 (or 845,000). Yet at the end of 1989 it is already between Stand And Deliver and The Lion Sleeps Tonight - in a gap of just 7,000 copies. And in 2002 these three are credited with 985,000, 982,000 and 978,000.

You know where I've been researching. I've checked that the 555,000 figure from 1988 is correct as per Gallup data - I actually know the exact figure. I haven't seen the 1989 figure directly, but I've seen other figures from the chart it comes from so I'm happy that 289,000 is right.

So I'm confident that 844,000 or 845,000 is the correct figure for the 1980s. And nothing is added after that.

by **Gambo** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:22 pm

Thank you Robbie for all your efforts in sharing this intriguing ranking, and to those who have contributed since. It's always such a difficult thing to pin down and I admire those who have the patience, determination and means to have a go.

Regardless of the perceived veracity of the figures cited by Haven, it still amounts to one of the most comprehensive attempts to determine an all-time UK Top 200 singles so far, and uses a fair amount of data regarded as 'official' from a variety of sources. It will, as always, be fascinating to compare this with future OCC-backed charts (although these only seem to be made available as a Top 100). And of course, that isn't to say that the OCC will have always utilised the most efficaceous information - even if their future efforts differ, I'd say Andy's list should still probably retain some credibility.

by **jszmiles** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:41 pm

[200] CHILDREN - Robert Miles (1996) 806,000

<3 still on the list! :oops:

by **johnnyboy** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:43 am

Just noticed this thread. Good one!

by **Vindrag** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:39 am

I'm surprised that Wuthering Heights with Kate Bush isn't on that list!

by **jszmiles** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:54 am

Whitney has probably jumped about 5 spots and now I Will Always Love You probably sits near #23...

by **johnnyboy** » Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:17 pm

Vindrag wrote:I'm surprised that Wuthering Heights with Kate Bush isn't on that list!

Wuthering Heights was only #12 in 1978 Year End Chart. Only Boney M (twice), Olivia Newton John/John Travolta (twice) and the Comodores at #197 made the list from 1978.

This is best-selling, not best.

by **davyboy** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:43 am

zeus555 wrote:The OCC are re-looking at the UK's Million Selling
Singles. Looking at all the Data again. They will
let us know the results of their 'findings' later in 2011.

Zeus555

I wonder if/when we'll hear any more about this....

Probably taking them some time because EMI have discovered some extra sales again :lol:

by **johnnyboy** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:50 am

And the OCC will just believe them, no questions asked! :wink: