Top 200 Best Selling Singles Of All Time (UK)

by **zeus555** » Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:19 pm

I will find out what happened, ragarding The OCC
're-looking' at the UK's Million Selling Singles.

The OCC is not an 'Entity'. It consists of people,
who are just like us. They have different personalities
- just like us. They have feelings - just like us.
From a personal viewpoint, when I refer to The OCC,
I mean the 3 'Contacts' that I have there. All 3 of
them are perfectly decent fellows. The OCC is not
an 'Entity' that does not care what we think, or
that will not listen to us.

I will try my best to get them to add as much Data
to their Site as possible. We will have to rely on
that more & more, as there may not now be any more
UK Chart Books. There was going to be a 'Hit Singles'
Book this Year. I am no longer sure if that is going
to happen.

I've explained to The OCC, that if there are no more
UK Chart Books, 'Chart Fans' will rely on The OCC
Site to keep us up-dated with Sales Lists etc. They
know that we find such Lists of great interest.

However, we are all different people, & I can only
suggest things to The OCC. I cannot make them do
things unless they want to. I have 3 'Contacts' there
& they have totally different personalities. They
also have a Boss. It is hard to know what will &
will not go on The OCC Site. But, I am trying my
best to get them to let us know, & see, as many
things as possible.....

Zeus555

by **brian05** » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:40 pm

From OCC website,

2012 is shaping up to be a real celebration of the hit single – later this year the Official Singles Chart is set to celebrate its 60th anniversary."

Wonder what the OCC is planning for November? Top 200 best selling singles of all-time?
Or Top 100 best selling singles Artists?

Last FM · by **arab** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:08 pm

Thanks to Andy at Haven

01 April 2012

Top 200 Biggest Selling Songs
[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) 3,706,000
[3] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen (1975/1991) 2,332,500
[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 (1,395,000)
[10] MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - Boney M (1978) 1,847,000

[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) 1,727,000
[17] (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - Bryan Adams (1991) 1,697,000
[18] LAST CHRISTMAS - Wham! (1984) 1,664,000
[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] BABY ONE MORE TIME - Britney Spears (1999) 1,527,000
[25] I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Whitney Houston (1992) 1,525,000
[26] CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - Beatles (1964) 1,523,000
[27] TEARS - Ken Dodd (1965) 1,522,000
[28] I'LL BE MISSING YOU - Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (1997) 1,482,000
[29] 3 LIONS - Lightning Seeds ft Baddiel & Skinner (1996) 1,475,000
[30] KARMA CHAMELEON - Culture Club (1984) 1,455,000

[31] MY HEART WILL GO ON - Celine Dion (1998) 1,439,000
[32] YMCA - Village People (1979) 1,435,000
[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) 1,401,000
[38] EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (1982) 1,399,000
[39] DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT - Beatles (1965) 1,389,000
[40] RELEASE ME - Englebert Humperdinck (1967) 1,375,000

[41] THE POWER OF LOVE - Jennifer Rush (1985) 1,373,000
[42] KILLING ME SOFTLY - Fugees (1996) 1,372,000
[43] UNCHAINED MELODY - Gareth Gates (2002) 1,362,000
[44] WANNABE - Spice Girls (1996) 1,360,000
[45] SOMEONE LIKE YOU – Adele (2011) 1,329,000
[46] NEVER EVER - All Saints (1997) 1,300,000
[47] COME ON EILEEN - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982) 1,292,000
[48] THINK TWICE - Celine Dion (1994) 1,291,000
[49] I GOTTA FEELING – Black Eyed Peas (2009) 1,276,800
[50] IT'S NOW OR NEVER - Elvis Presley (1960) 1,270,000

[51] HEART OF GLASS - Blondie (1979) 1,257,000
[52] TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell (1981) 1,255,000
[53] DIANA - Paul Anka (1957) 1,250,000
[54] IT WASN'T ME - Shaggy ft RikRok (2001) 1,247,000
[55] HALLELUJAH – Alexandra Burke (2008) 1,227,000
[56] IT'S LIKE THAT - Run-DMC vs Jason Nevins (1998) 1,226,000
[57] (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - Tony Christie ft Peter Kay (1971) 1,215,000
[58] MOVES LIKE JAGGER – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera (2011) 1,211,000
[59] GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME - Tom Jones (1966) 1,210,000
[60] MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade (1973) 1,187,000

[61] BRIGHT EYES - Art Garfunkel (1979) 1,185,000
[62] MARY'S BOY CHILD - Harry Belafonte (1957) 1,183,000
[63] SEX ON FIRE – Kings of Leon (2008) 1,175,500
[64] THE LAST WALTZ - Englebert Humperdinck (1967) 1,165,000
[65] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid 20 (2004) 1,161,000
[66] HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY - Steps (1998) 1,155,000
[67] EARTH SONG - Michael Jackson (1995) 1,152,000
[68] DON'T GIVE UP ON US - David Soul (1977) 1,150,000
[69] STRANGER ON THE SHORE - Acker Bilk (1961) 1,145,000
[70] WONDERWALL - Oasis (1995) 1,145,000

[71] I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter (1973) 1,143,000
[72] BLUE MONDAY - New Order (1983) 1,141,000
[73] CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD - Kylie Minogue (2001) 1,140,000
[74] SPACEMAN - Babylon Zoo (1996) 1,136,000
[75] SATURDAY NIGHT - Whigfield (1994) 1,124,000
[76] NO MATTER WHAT - Boyzone (1998) 1,115,000
[77] ANGELS - Robbie Williams (1997) 1,115,000
[78] TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH" - Teletubbies (1997) 1,111,000
[79] I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF - Robson & Jerome (1995) 1,110,000
[80] I REMEMBER YOU - Frank Ifield (1962) 1,110,000

[81] HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - Ian Dury & The Blockheads (1979) 1,108,000
[82] JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) - Bruno Mars (2010) 1,104,400
[83] GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jnr. (1984) 1,101,000
[84] 2 BECOME 1 - Spice Girls (1996) 1,100,000
[85] THAT’S MY GOAL – Shayne Ward (2005) 1,100,000
[86] POKER FACE – Lady GaGa (2009) 1,094,000
[87] PURE AND SIMPLE - Hear'Say (2001) 1,087,000
[88] TORN - Natalie Imbruglia (1997) 1,087,000
[89] WE FOUND LOVE – Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris (2011) 1,085,000
[90] PARTY ROCK ANTHEM - LMFAO/Lauren Bennett/GoonRock (2011) 1,077,000

[91] BACK FOR GOOD - Take That (1995) 1,065,000
[92] THE YOUNG ONES - Cliff Richard & The Shadows (1962) 1,065,000
[93] ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL - Pink Floyd (1979) 1,057,000
[94] FAME - Irene Cara (1982) 1,055,000
[95] BLUE (DA BA DEE) - Eiffel 65 (1999) 1,042,000
[96] DANCING QUEEN - ABBA (1976/1992) 1,039,000
[97] PRICE TAG – Jessie J featuring B.o.B (2011) 1,035,800
[98] LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Eminem feat Rihanna (2010) 1,034,000
[99] RIDE ON TIME - Black Box (1989) 1,032,000
[100] ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) – Rihanna (2010) 1,030,000

[101] BLEEDING LOVE – Leona Lewis (2007) 1,027,000
[102] STAND AND DELIVER - Adam & The Ants (1981) 1,015,000
[103] CAN WE FIX IT - Bob The Builder (2000) 1,010,000
[104] SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - Brotherhood Of Man (1976) 1,010,000
[105] CRAZY – Gnarls Barkley (2006) 1,009,000
[106] UPTOWN GIRL - Billy Joel (1983) 1,006,000
[107] EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra (1972) 1,005,000
[108] SUGAR SUGAR - Archies (1969) 1,005,000
[109] I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - New Seekers (1972) 1,005,000
[110] UNCHAINED MELODY - Righteous Brothers (1965/1990) 1,005,000

[111] DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - Julie Covington (1977) 1,002,000
[112] LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy Osmond (1972) 1,000,000
[113] SAILING - Rod Stewart (1975) 1,000,000
[114] TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn (1973) 1,000,000
[115] WHEN WE COLLIDE – Matt Cardle (2010) 998,925
[116] ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (1988) 998,000
[117] I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING – Aerosmith (1998) 998,000
[118] I WILL SURVIVE - Gloria Gaynor (1979) 993,000 (812,000)
[119] UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE - Showaddywaddy (1976) 990,000
[120] FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE – Cheryl Cole (2009) 981,000

[121] TELSTAR - Tornados (1962) 980,000
[122] DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John & Kiki Dee (1976) 980,000
[123] THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - Tight Fit (1982) 980,000
[124] WHOLE AGAIN - Atomic Kitten (2001) 980,000
[125] THE NEXT TIME/BACHELOR BOY - Cliff Richard & The Shadows (1963) 980,000
[126] HEY JUDE - Beatles (1968) 977,000
[127] AMAZING GRACE - Pipes, Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (1972) 970,000
[128] BAD ROMANCE – Lady GaGa (2009) 965,000
[129] MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison (1971) 963,500
[130] MISSISSIPPI - Pussycat (1976) 956,000

[131] MYSTERIOUS GIRL - Peter Andre (1996) 951,000
[132] FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK – Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl (1987) 950,000
[133] SAY YOU'LL BE THERE - Spice Girls (1996) 950,000
[134] STAY ANOTHER DAY - East 17 (1994) 950,000
[135] JUST DANCE – Lady GaGa (2009) 932,000
[136] HERO – Enrique Iglesias (2002) 921,000
[137] FROM ME TO YOU - Beatles (1963) 917,000
[138] HELP! - Beatles (1965) 916,000
[139] THE MILLENNIUM PRAYER - Cliff Richard (1999) 913,000
[140] DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME - Police (1980) 912,000

[141] GIVE ME EVERYTHING – Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo & Nayer (2011) 911,450
[142] TWO LITTLE BOYS - Rolf Harris (1969) 911,000
[143] MISSING (TODD TERRY REMIX) - Everything But The Girl (1995) 910,000
[144] GLAD ALL OVER - Dave Clark Five (1963) 906,000
[145] MEN IN BLACK - Will Smith (1997) 903,000
[146] BILLIE JEAN – Michael Jackson (1983) 901,000
[147] WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE - Cliff Richard (1979) 900,000
[148] HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE? - Bee Gees (1977)] 900,000
[149] THREE TIMES A LADY - Commodores (1978) 900,000
[150] USE SOMEBODY – Kings of Leon (2008) 899,000

[151] FORGET YOU – Cee-Lo Green (2010) 891,400
[152] A MOMENT LIKE THIS – Leona Lewis (2006) 882,000
[153] I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS - Boomtown Rats (1979) 882,000
[154] WHITE CHRISTMAS – Bing Crosby (1977) 880,000
[155] ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - Elvis Presley (1961) 880,000
[156] THE A TEAM – Ed Sheeran (2011) 878,910
[157] WHEN A CHILD IS BORN (SOLEADO) - Johnny Mathis (1976) 877,000
[158] MAMBO NO.5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...) - Lou Bega (1999) 875,000
[159] WHISPERING GRASS – Windsor Davies & Don Estelle (1975) 875,000
[160] CHOCOLATE SALTY BALLS (PS: I LOVE YOU) - Chef (1998) 875,000

[161] CHASING CARS – Snow Patrol (2006) 873,800
[162] HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) – John Lennon & Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band and the Harlem Community Street Choir (1972) 873,000
[163] GRENADE – Bruno Mars (2011) 872,100
[164] ROLLING IN THE DEEP – Adele (2011) 871,275
[165] ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC - Tubeway Army (1979) 871,000
[166] MISTLETOE AND WINE - Cliff Richard (1988) 871,000
[167] INTO THE GROOVE - Madonna (1985) 870,000
[168] JAILHOUSE ROCK - Elvis Presley (1958) 870,000
[169] DON'T SPEAK - No Doubt (1997) 867,000
[170] TOWN CALLED MALICE/PRECIOUS – Jam (1982) 864,000

[171] GOODBYE - Spice Girls (1998) 863,000
[172] RULE THE WORLD – Take That (2009) 861,000
[173] THE FLORAL DANCE - Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (1977) 860,000
[174] DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ – Journey (1982) 859,000
[175] C'EST LA VIE - B*Witched (1998) 856,000
[176] YOU WONT FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME - New Seekers (1973) 855,000
[177] NEEDLES AND PINS - Searchers (1964) 855,000
[178] NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW - Starship (1987) 855,000
[179] ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART - Cilla Black (1964) 850,000
[180] KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU - ABBA (1977) 847,000

[181] RETURN OF THE MACK - Mark Morrison (1996) 847,000
[182] THE SMURF SONG - Father Abraham & The Smurfs (1978) 845,000
[183] STAN – Eminem feat Dido (2000) 845,500
[184] WITHOUT YOU - Nilsson (1972) 843,000
[185] ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU – Mariah Carey (1994) 841,000
[186] LIVIN' LA VIDA LOCA - Ricky Martin (1999) 837,000
[187] HELLO - Lionel Richie (1984) 837,000
[188] FIREWORK – Katy Perry (2011) 836,525
[189] LIVING DOLL - Cliff Richard & The Drifters (1959) 835,000
[190] LOVESICK BLUES - Frank Ifield (1962) 835,000

[191] TAKE MY BREATH AWAY - Berlin (1986) 834,000
[192] SPICE UP YOUR LIFE - Spice Girls (1997) 831,000
[193] CANT HELP FALLING IN LOVE/ROCK-A-HULA BABY - Elvis Presley (1962) 831,000
[194] WAY DOWN - Elvis Presley (1977) 829,000
[195] I KNOW HIM SO WELL - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson (1985) 825,000
[196] WHERE IS THE LOVE? – Black Eyed Peas (2003) 824,800
[197] YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE - Gerry & The Pacemakers (1963) 822,000
[198] HERO - X Factor Finalists (2008) 820,000
[199] FATHER AND SON – Boyzone (1995) 820,000
[200] WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR - Emile Ford & The Checkmates (1959) 820,000

by **brian05** » Fri Apr 06, 2012 2:57 pm

[115] WHITE CHRISTMAS – Bing Crosby (1977) 980,000
[154] WHITE CHRISTMAS – Bing Crosby (1977) 880,000

Why the large downgrade between 29/10/11 and 1/4/2012?

These two should be swapped round,
[25] CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - Beatles (1964) 1,523,000
[26] I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU - Whitney Houston (1992) 1,525,000

by **oasisbobo** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 4:12 pm

Great to see Oasis climbing

by **Topicel** » Mon May 21, 2012 3:39 pm

brian05 wrote:From Disc and Music Echo July 19th 1969,

With re-releases and downloads UK sales of Hey Jude are now close to 1 million.

Brought this over from the Beatles thread as it largely supports the 'Hey Jude' entry in the listing above from Andy (Haven).

Topicel

by **zeus555** » Sat May 26, 2012 10:41 pm

THE UK's TOP 60 SINGLES ACTS - OCC UP-DATE ON RADIO 2

Monday, 4th June 2012, 14:00 on BBC Radio 2

Synopsis

Radio 2's very own diamond, Tony Blackburn, presents a specially commissioned chart from The Official Charts Company of the 60 best-selling singles artists of the past 60 years. As he counts down the chart to find who has sold the highest total number of records Tony will be playing each artist's own top-selling release. Expect the Beatles, maybe Elvis, possibly Madonna but will there be room for Rod, Stevie, Freddie, Tom, George, David, Frank or even Adele?

The final countdown will not be compiled until just a few days before the programme. Join Tony on this special day of celebration for a right royal party and sixty of the best.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I expect that Rihanna will be in 7th place.

Zeus555

by **Star** » Sat May 26, 2012 10:45 pm

Rihanna 7th highest selling singles act of all-time in the UK - if that happens, it would be amazing!

by **Edu** » Sat May 26, 2012 10:53 pm

From the Record Mirror, January 19, 1985, page 35:

Frankie Goes to Hollywood:

"Relax" = 1,828,000
[1,081,000 7-inch-singles
706,000 12-inch-singles
40,000 cassettes]

"Two Tribes" = 1,589,000
[918,000 12-inch-singles]

"The Power of Love" = 620,000

"Welcome to the Pleasuredome" [album] = 1,250,000

***

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" (Band Aid) = 3,120,000
[with 2.5-million in USA and 7-million worldwide]

***

George Michael/Wham!

"Last Christmas" = 1,250,000
"Careless Whisper" = 1,100,000
"FReedom" = 850,000
"Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" = 700,000

by **davetaylor** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:46 pm

I don't see "My Way" on these lists. Yet it sold 450,000 in 1969 alone, plus nearly 500,000 more in the 70s, during it's 1970 - 72 re-entries. So, where is it?

by **Topicel** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:32 am

davetaylor wrote:I don't see "My Way" on these lists. Yet it sold 450,000 in 1969 alone, plus nearly 500,000 more in the 70s, during it's 1970 - 72 re-entries. So, where is it?

Hi Dave, hope you're well?

The sales claims of many old 'standards' seem to have been a 'tad' exaggerated over the years and, for me, 'My Way' is one such.

Firstly, 1969 was a weak year for single sales and, if the charts (which by then were starting to be collated using professional statistical methods) are to be believed then quite clearly 'My Way' was only able to ascend to a peak of No. 5. So, despite a fairly lengthy Top 10 stay of 7 weeks there is little evidence to support anywhere near 450k that year.

Secondly, although it holds the UK longevity record for weeks in the Top 50 (122, wasn't it?), this in itself surely doesn't translate to "plus nearly 500,000 more in the 70s", or anything like it. I mean, we have already subtracted some 40 weeks from its chart run for 1969!

I am the first to point out 'ongoing' sales in certain 'standard' cases - they were undoubted in a record such as this and if a Top 100 had existed I'm sure quite a few other examples of seemingly never-ending chart careers would have surfaced. But in all honesty it is well under half of what you're suggesting for the entire decade, despite bouncing back into the Top 20 again in 1970 and Top 30 in 1971.

Although it is far from absolute and conclusive evidence, I would suggest the fact that it failed to win a Disc silver award for in excess of 250,000 during its intitial run is one give away, while the million 'sale' symbol that appeared at times in Record Retailer alongside its chart entries in 1970 should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

The only other option is to accept the comments from the doyen of chart and sales historians, Joseph Murrells. In his 'Book of Golden Discs' he made the claim that "the million sale in Britain was reported in early 1970"....but I think we should all have come to realise by now that for all his pioneering efforts he was at the mercy of the record label's publicity departments.

Topicel

by **davetaylor** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:38 pm

Saying that though. It must've sold 400,000 plus in 69, because it's #9 for the year. I've the Best Selling singles list for 69 & it's based on Sales, rather than Record Mirror's silly points system. #15 is The Ballad Of John & Yoko (on 330,000). So, 6 places above has to be over the 400,000 mark.

Going on an average sale for 1970/71 sales it still gives over 400,000 again.
I use a scale of 3000 for a 41-50, 6000 for a 31-40, 12,000 for a 21-30, 17,000 for a 11-20 & 20,000 for a 9-10, 25,000 for a 7-8 & 30,000 for a 5-6 for 1969/70/71 & it usually comes pretty close. For the other years I spent many days going through BMRB returns figures & ended up with every record that sold over 270,000 for the rest of the 70s. I never got round to 70 & 71 & regret it. Shame on me! I did get to find that the Sex Pistols sold just 290,000 copies of God Save The Queen the run of 1977, as well as getting 660,000 for Rod Stewart's BMRB chart of the year mistake. They claim Rod only sold 450,000! 4 weeks & #1 & 14 weeks in the chart? Never!

by **davetaylor** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:46 pm

I've also notice, Robbie suggests 875,000 for Whispering Grass. Where does that come from? It only 530,000 in 1975.

by **Robbie** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:29 pm

davetaylor wrote:I've also notice, Robbie suggests 875,000 for Whispering Grass. Where does that come from? It only 530,000 in 1975.

The figures were collated by Andy over at Haven but all have been pulled from sources such as the OCC all time best sellers lists and Music Week reports (usually where Alan Jones mentions the sale of an old track). There has been a degree of estimation used too, usually to fill gaps around records for which sales are known.

From positions below 140 there is a degree of estimation for older tracks, I don't know from where the figure for 'Whispering Grass' has been obtained. It's possible it is an estimate. I have an older version of the above list, dated back to December 2009 and 'Whispering Grass' isn't on that list and that list contains 308 titles with sales down to 700,000. I can only assume that a reference has been made to 'Whispering Grass' somewhere inbetween December 2009 and May 2011 when the track first appears on one of these lists (with the same sales of 875,000 but it is placed at #148).

by **davetaylor** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:01 pm

Estimation is the word!

Blockbuster & the Sweet knocked up nearly 790,000 in 1973. Does that appear on any of these lists? People seem to knock lots off that one & Don't Go Breaking My Heart seems to get sales knock off it, too. 890,000 for Elton & Kiki in 76, alone. Dancing Queen was just a tad past 800,000 in 76, without the 92 re-issue, or any later downloads.

by **Robbie** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:15 pm

davetaylor wrote:Estimation is the word!

Blockbuster & the Sweet knocked up nearly 790,000 in 1973. Does that appear on any of these lists? People seem to knock lots off that one & Don't Go Breaking My Heart seems to get sales knock off it, too. 890,000 for Elton & Kiki in 76, alone. Dancing Queen was just a tad past 800,000 in 76, without the 92 re-issue, or any later downloads.

On both the 2009 and 2011 lists 'Blockbuster' is down as having sold 735,000. 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' is on the current list on page 1 of this thread as having sales of 980,000 while Alan Jones of Music Week recently commented that 'Dancing Queen' was now a million seller when 1976 and 1992 physical sales as well as downloads are added together. Alan Jones gave the breakdown of sales of 'Dancing Queen' as follows:

Madonna, incidentally, is the UK's fourth biggest singles act, with sales of 17,582,206. Queen are the number two group, with sales of 12,556,708, with Abba third on 11,189,520. The Abba total in 2003 included estimated sales of 920,000 for Dancing Queen - but it has since sold a further 132,777 copies (all but six of them digitally) which, if the original estimate is correct,, would elevate it to a million seller, with a to date tally of 1,052,777.

(musicweek.com Chart Analysis, 16/04/12)

by **davetaylor** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:04 am

I think these people need to re-do some maths, because they do not compute.

When I added up the Chart Panel sales & x by 17, Blockbuster smashes way on 790 & it must be right, because in the 1973 best selling singles of the year, it's 3 postions ahead of "Leader Of The Gang". Gazza sold 745 of it, more or less not much away from See My Baby Jive & Cum On Feel The Noise. So, Blockbuster has to be ahead of the 3 of them.

I also notice some silly bugger, saying that Love Me For A Reason sold 700,000+. Well that's gotta be nonsense, as it only clocks in at #12 for 1974. I make it 450,000. It looks like most of these over estimates, are based on Shipments, that did not all sell. Basically it looks like, they're saying Whispering Grass, Love Me For A Reason et al, have sold more than My Way, with much less time in the charts. Considering Love Me For A Reason, only spent 9 weeks in the top 50, it's impossible that it sold 700,000. You can't possible go on the Disc acclaimation of Gold Discs, because that's daft. How in the name of God, did Disc know what had sold 250,000, when their chart was just based on points & was owned by Melody Maker (& also used the same chart from 1967)? The Official BPI recognised Platinum/Gold/Silver discs award did not begin, until 1st April 1973. So, anything before that is ignored by them.

In all honesty most records that made the top 5 (after the mid 60s) sold 250,000 or over. Probably 90% infact. One that didn't was Dana's 1975 Christmas offering, but as it was only around for 6 weeks, you wouldn't expect it too & even that came pretty close to it.

by **CZB** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:13 pm

This afternoon, Radio 2's "Pick Of The Pops" with Tony Blackburn - who seems to be finding it increasingly difficult to convincingly read the scripts provided to him - presented what purported to be the top twenty biggest sellers of the 1970s and of the 1980s.

As I suspected, I was over-optimistic in expecting these lists to bear a strong resemblance to elements of the opening post of this thread, which I have annotated below:

08 - [3] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen (1975/1991) 2,327,000
01 - [4] MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - Wings (1977) 2,061,000
02 - [5] RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - Boney M (1978) 2,020,000
03 - [6] YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - Travolta & Newton-John (1978/1998) 2,020,000
04 - [10] MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - Boney M (1978) 1,838,000
05 - [19] SUMMER NIGHTS - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978) 1,580,000
06 - [21] IMAGINE - John Lennon (1975/1980/1999) 1,572,000
07 - [32] YMCA - Village People (1979) 1,432,000
09 - [49] HEART OF GLASS - Blondie (1979) 1,257,000
MISSING - [56] (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - Tony Christie (1971) 1,215,000
10 - [58] BRIGHT EYES - Art Garfunkel (1979) 1,185,000
11 - [65] MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade (1973) 1,150,000
12 - [66] DON'T GIVE UP ON US - David Soul (1977) 1,150,000
13 - [69] I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter (1973) 1,143,000
MISSING - [79] HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - Ian Dury (1979) 1,108,000
17 - [89] ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL - Pink Floyd (1979) 1,057,000
14 - [98] SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - Brotherhood Of Man (1976) 1,010,000
15 - [102] EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra (1972) 1,005,000
19 - [104] I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - New Seekers (1972) 1,005,000
18 - [106] DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - Julie Covington (1977) 1,001,000
16 - [107] LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy (1972) 1,000,000
MISSING - [108] SAILING - Rod Stewart (1975) 1,000,000
20 - [109] TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn (1973) 1,000,000

01 - [2] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid (1984) 3,670,000
02 - [7] RELAX - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1983/1993) 2,005,000
03 - [12] I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - Stevie Wonder (1984) 1,821,000
06 - [18] LAST CHRISTMAS - Wham! (1984) 1,622,000
04 - [20] TWO TRIBES - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) 1,573,000
MISSING - [21] IMAGINE - John Lennon (1975/1980/1999) 1,572,000
05 - [23] DON'T YOU WANT ME - Human League (1981) 1,530,000
07 - [30] KARMA CHAMELEON - Culture Club (1984) 1,455,000
08 - [33] CARELESS WHISPER - George Michael (1984) 1,430,000
09 - [40] THE POWER OF LOVE - Jennifer Rush (1985) 1,373,000
14 - [43] EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (1982) 1,361,500
10 - [47] COME ON EILEEN - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982) 1,288,000
11 - [51] TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell (1981) 1,249,000
13 - [70] BLUE MONDAY - New Order (1983) 1,138,500
18 - [82] GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jnr. (1984) 1,098,000
12 - [91] FAME - Irene Cara (1982) 1,041,000
20 - [93] RIDE ON TIME - Black Box (1989) 1,032,000
15 - [96] STAND AND DELIVER - Adam & The Ants (1981) 1,015,000
19 - [101] UPTOWN GIRL - Billy Joel (1983) 1,006,000
16 - [111] ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (1988) 993,000
17 - [118] THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - Tight Fit (1982) 980,000

Or, rearranging them into the new order:

01 - [4] MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL - Wings (1977) 2,061,000
02 - [5] RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING - Boney M (1978) 2,020,000
03 - [6] YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT - Travolta & Newton-John (1978/1998) 2,020,000
04 - [10] MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD - Boney M (1978) 1,838,000
05 - [19] SUMMER NIGHTS - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978) 1,580,000
06 - [21] IMAGINE - John Lennon (1975/1980/1999)
07 - [32] YMCA - Village People (1979) 1,432,000
08 - [3] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen (1975/1991) 2,327,000
09 - [49] HEART OF GLASS - Blondie (1979) 1,257,000
10 - [58] BRIGHT EYES - Art Garfunkel (1979) 1,185,000
11 - [65] MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY - Slade (1973) 1,150,000
12 - [66] DON'T GIVE UP ON US - David Soul (1977) 1,150,000
13 - [69] I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE - Gary Glitter (1973) 1,143,000
14 - [98] SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME - Brotherhood Of Man (1976) 1,010,000
15 - [102] EYE LEVEL - Simon Park Orchestra (1972) 1,005,000
16 - [107] LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL - Little Jimmy (1972) 1,000,000
17 - [89] ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL - Pink Floyd (1979) 1,057,000
18 - [106] DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA - Julie Covington (1977) 1,001,000
19 - [104] I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - New Seekers (1972) 1,005,000
20 - [109] TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE - Dawn (1973) 1,000,000
MISSING - [56] (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO - Tony Christie (1971) 1,215,000
MISSING - [79] HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK - Ian Dury (1979) 1,108,000
MISSING - [108] SAILING - Rod Stewart (1975) 1,000,000

01 - [2] DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS - Band Aid (1984) 3,670,000
02 - [7] RELAX - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1983/1993) 2,005,000
03 - [12] I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU - Stevie Wonder (1984) 1,821,000
04 - [20] TWO TRIBES - Frankie Goes To Hollywood (1984) 1,573,000
05 - [23] DON'T YOU WANT ME - Human League (1981) 1,530,000
06 - [18] LAST CHRISTMAS - Wham! (1984) 1,622,000
07 - [30] KARMA CHAMELEON - Culture Club (1984) 1,455,000
08 - [33] CARELESS WHISPER - George Michael (1984) 1,430,000
09 - [40] THE POWER OF LOVE - Jennifer Rush (1985) 1,373,000
10 - [47] COME ON EILEEN - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1982) 1,288,000
11 - [51] TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell (1981) 1,249,000
12 - [91] FAME - Irene Cara (1982) 1,041,000
13 - [70] BLUE MONDAY - New Order (1983) 1,138,500
14 - [43] EYE OF THE TIGER - Survivor (1982) 1,361,500
15 - [96] STAND AND DELIVER - Adam & The Ants (1981) 1,015,000
16 - [111] ESPECIALLY FOR YOU - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (1988) 993,000
17 - [118] THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT - Tight Fit (1982) 980,000
18 - [82] GHOSTBUSTERS - Ray Parker Jnr. (1984) 1,098,000
19 - [101] UPTOWN GIRL - Billy Joel (1983) 1,006,000
20 - [93] RIDE ON TIME - Black Box (1989) 1,032,000
MISSING - [21] IMAGINE - John Lennon (1975/1980/1999) 1,572,000

The compilers don't seem to have been able to decide whether the charts should have represented total sales to date of records originally released in the decade, or sales in that decade only.

If it's meant to be the former, then "Bohemian Rhapsody" should surely have topped the 1970s list, and ".....Amarillo" definitely ought to have been included, maybe along with "Sailing" and/or "Hit Me...." instead of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" and others from the bottom end.

Whereas if it is the latter, there is no way that "Imagine" should be in the 1970s list at all!!!
It should probably have been in the 1980s list instead of....well, goodness knows which one of the somewhere-just-below-or-just-above-a-million-sellers that are there!

by **davetaylor** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:30 pm

Well that programme was an old one, anyway. Coz, Blackburn's got pneumonia or summat. But it was total nonsense anyway. Didn't seem to know, where they were coming from did they?

Rod Stewart wouldn't of been in, as apparently he sold 955,000. That doesn't really compute the best sellers of 1975 & 1976. He sold 400,000 in 76, but surely more than 555,000 in 75...Then (hang on) there was a 1987 re-issue. So, something's vastily wrong!

by **zeus555** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:29 pm

CZB - Regarding the Tony Christie Single. The reason
why they did not include it in the 1970's List, is
probably because they do not see its 2005 Re-issue
as the 1970's Record.

(I don't agree with that - I'm just explaining).

1) The 1971 Hit, ('Is This The Way To) Amarillo',
reached No.18, in early 1972.

2) The 2005 Hit was No.1 for 7 Weeks, & sold over
a Million. But, it was credited as Tony Christie
featuring Peter Kay.

3) The 1971 Hit & 2005 Hit, are exactly the same
recording, but the Peter Kay credit, has caused
some people to decide that they should be treated
as 2 entirely separate Hits.

4) I've noticed that Hanboo does that, when
he works out his 'All Time' UK Chart Lists,
based on his Points System. He does not combine
the Points of the 1971 Hit & the 2005 Hit.

In July 2011 Hanboo had the 2005 Hit as the
113th All Time UK Single - based on its Weeks
in the UK Top 200. There were no Points/Positions
for the 1971/1972 Hit added in - 13 Top 50 Weeks.

5) I disagree with that, as the 2005 No.1 was
the same Single that reached No.18 in early 1972.

6) Peter Kay had no vocals on the 2005 Hit, &
he only gets a credit due to him being in the
Video for it - miming! Therefore, I think it is a
farce for the 2005 Hit to be treated as if it is
not the 1970's Hit. Their Data should be combined.

7) Anyhow, as Peter Kay was not credited on the
much smaller 1971 Hit, but was credited on the 2005
No.1, the 2005 Hit is not regarded to be a 1970's
Hit, by some people - and it would not be included
in a Chart of 1970's Hits, that have Sales from
later Decades added in.....

As I said - I see that to be a totally wrong decision.

Zeus555

by **felonius** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:50 pm

Since Donna Summer's I Feel Love has been recognised as a million seller in UK where does it figure in the all time chart now..?

by **Robbie** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:46 pm

felonius wrote:Since Donna Summer's I Feel Love has been recognised as a million seller in UK where does it figure in the all time chart now..?

On quoted sales of 1,050,920, which were given in Music Week on May 21 this year this would place the track at around number 96 on the best selling singles of all time list up to mid May but as the list, especially the bottom part of the top 100, is so fluid these days (due to tracks continuing to sell on downloads) and Alan Jones this very week seemingly adding another 8 million sellers with only 'When We Collide' by Matt Cardle being the only one anyone seems aware of it is difficult to pin down where exactly 'I Feel Love' would be placed this week. It is likely to be somewhere between numbers 85 and 105 and even that is just educated guesswork on my part...

by **zeus555** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:12 pm

I asked my OCC Contacts about the 'missing'
7 UK Million Sellers. They have told me that:,

1) Alan Jones has been working with The OCC,
regarding the UK's Million Sellers.

2) Several 'New' Million Sellers have been found
to have been created by Downloads.

3) That is why Alan mentioned that there are 123
of them - he's added 7(?), new ones.

4) The OCC will be publishing the full List, later
in 2012.

5) They also said that they do not want to reveal
the added Million Sellers until then. But, of course
we can work them out - 'Sailing', 'Tie A Yellow
Ribbon', 'Mysterious Girl', (perhaps), & some say
'Fight For This Love', by Cheryl Cole, & so on.

Zeus555