The Ultimate Averaged Chart - The BBC Chart Re-Imagined

[MrTibbs]

Tab Hunter quickly leaves Sonny James in the shadows as he soars from #11 to #2.
The Vipers surrender to Lonnie as they dip back out of the Top 10 whilst he climbs further.
Little Richard's Long Tall Sally finally takes off. It graced the chart for one week back in 1956 but this time it means business.
Guy Mitchell's obsession with the 'blues' continues, last time he was singing them and this time he is knee deep in them.
Tommy Steele not content with trying to upstage Guy last time tries again with his cover of Guy's cover of Marty Robbins' originals.

[Splodj]

First appearance of Shirley Bassey.

[MrTibbs]

Yeah and arguably the UK's best ever female vocalist of all time.

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending February 23rd 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending February 23rd 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total	NME
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points	Inverse
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored	Points
2	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500	30
1	2	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					2	2	2	4350	29
3	3	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					3	3	3	4200	28
7	4	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					4	5	4	4025	27
4	5	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan					5	4	5	3925	26
6	6	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					6	8	7	3640	25
24	7	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					10	6	6	3490	21
5	8	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					7	10	8	3465	24
9	9	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					8	15	10	3155	23
15	10	Young Love - Sonny James					12	7	9	3155	19
8	11	Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino					9	11	11	3130	22
10	12	St. Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan					11	13	12	2890	20
11	13	Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele					13	8	13	2825	18
12	14	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis					16	13	16	2325	15
NEW	15	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					19	12	14	2275	12
20	16	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield					14	18	17	2270	17
13	17	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - The Vipers Skiffle Group					18	15	15	2205	13
26	18	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					15	17	18	2170	16
17	19	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard (B)					17		19	1630	14
19	20	Rock The Joint - Bill Haley and His Comets					25	19	20	1350	6
30	21	You Me And Us - Alma Cogan					23		20	1180	8
28	22	Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine					20			715	11
14	23	Cindy Oh Cindy - Eddie Fisher					21			650	10
18	24	Hound Dog - Elvis Presley					22			585	9
27	25	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					24			455	7
NEW	26	Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (A)					29	19		430	2
29	27	Mystery Train - Elvis Presley					26			325	5
NEW	28	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A) *					27			260	4
NEW	29	Let's Rock'n'Roll - Winifred Atwell					28			195	3
22	30	Rip It Up - Bill Haley and His Comets					30			65	1
21		The Garden Of Eden - Gary Miller
23		Green Door - Frankie Vaughan
25		Just Walking In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
		* NME this week splits the sides on the Johnnie Ray single in line with MM and RM so both sides now chart as new entries in their own right.

[MrTibbs]

Please note that up until now Johnnie Ray had been listed as a double side single but NME this week splits the sides in line with MM and RM so both sides now chart as new entries in their own right.

Winifred Atwell getting into rock'n'roll, em, not really and totally not credible.

Both versions of Young Love now in the top ten but Tab grabs the top spot this week.

[Graham76man]

Just put up the video of Donny Osmond's version of Young Love from 1973 on my blog site number ones. So far I have only done the video for Cliff Richard - Livin' Doll from the 1950's number ones. There's far less film footage where the act sings the same thing as the record for the 50's.

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending March 2nd 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending March 2nd 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored
1	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500
4	2	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					3	3	2	4260
2	3	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					2	2	4	4230
7	4	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					5	6	3	3995
3	5	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					4	4	5	3990
5	6	Don't You Rock Me Daddy -O - Lonnie Donegan					6	5	6	3775
6	7	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					7	7	7	3600
8	8	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					8	11	9	3315
10	9	Young Love - Sonny James					11	8	10	3135
19	10	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard (B)					13	10	8	3075
16	11	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield (B)					9	15	11	3030
11	12	Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino					10	15	12	2905
9	13	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					12	18	15	2520
NEW	14	The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte					16	19	13	2355
12	15	St. Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan					15	14	18	2245
14	16	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis					14	12	20	2240
15	17	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					22	8	14	2180
18	18	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					18	20	16	2020
NEW	19	The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers					20		16	1615
22	20	Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine					17	17		1260
30	21	Rip It Up - Bill Haley and His Comets					24		18	1235
13	22	Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele					21	13		1100
25	23	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					23	20		795
17	24	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - The Vipers Skiffle Group					19			780
28	25	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A)					25			390
23	26	Cindy Oh Cindy - Eddie Fisher					26			325
NEW	27	If I Lost You - David Whitfield (A)						20		275
RE	28	The Garden Of Eden - Gary Miller					27			260
29	29	Let's Rock'n'Roll - Winifred Atwell					28			195
27	30	Mystery Train - Elvis Presley					29			130
		Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Patience and Prudence					30			65
20		Rock The Joint - Bill Haley and His Comets
21		You Me And Us - Alma Cogan
24		Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
26		Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (A)

[MrTibbs]

Guys !

I've just noticed that views to this thread have just gone over 100,000.

I can't believe that posting old charts and an updated 'averaged chart' based on these would attract such interest.

I don't quite know what the attraction is but something must be present to warrant such interest.

A huge thanks to all of you who have 'liked' the thread (22 to date please feel free to 'like' if you haven't already done so) and faithfully followed it

Brian

[brian05]

14 The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte
19 The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers
23 The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey

So 3 bananas so far, will there be anymore?

[Graham76man]

It's too loud man!

[MrTibbs]

14 The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte
19 The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers
23 The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey

So 3 bananas so far, will there be anymore?

No that was all they had in store Brian

[kjell]

You’re covering every chart 54 thru’ 71 that lasted more than a few years Brian. Whichever chart folks used to follow you’ve got it in addition to making the most reliable chart of charts. No reason to be surprised, think of all those that don’t even know of uk.mix, and how many followers you would have if all chart fans were aware of your work. Merry Xmas.

[MrTibbs]

You’re covering every chart 54 thru’ 71 that lasted more than a few years Brian. Whichever chart folks used to follow you’ve got it in addition to making the most reliable chart of charts. No reason to be surprised, think of all those that don’t even know of uk.mix, and how many followers you would have if all chart fans were aware of your work. Merry Xmas.

Thanks kjell, I too would like to think the UAC forms a bridge that links all important charts together to offer a more balanced averaged chart that supersedes any individual chart.

If the likes are anything to go by there are at least 22 guys who regularly follow the charts that are being posted here and probably lots more who share a casual interest. That motivates me to ensure the UAC is accurately compiled, transparent, and regularly posted to satisfy that hunger that you and the other chart enthusiasts share with myself.

There are so many, many, more younger chart enthusiasts on UK Mix who prefer to post and debate the charts and artists of today with the same interest, fascination, and enthusiasm as we do with the charts and artists of yesteryear. This diversity of musical interest and hunger for facts and statistics is what makes the UK Mix site special. It embraces the broad appreciation of the chart spectrum over the years offering a plethora of knowledge, opinion, and facts.

Contributing to this 'college of musical knowledge' is a privilege I enjoy and although I give, I also take ,by gaining every day new facts and insights from the wealth of knowledge, experience, and facts offered by you regularly my collective UK Mix family.

Keep reading, Keep commenting, Keep posting, but above all Keep Safe in these difficult times.

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending March 9th 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending March 9th 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored
1	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500
2	2	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					2	2	2	4350
4	3	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					3	3	3	4200
3	4	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					5	5	5	3900
5	5	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					4	6	6	3880
6	6	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan					7	4	4	3855
7	7	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					6	9	8	3555
10	8	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard					9	7	7	3470
8	9	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					8	8	10	3330
14	10	The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte					10	11	9	3185
9	11	Young Love - Sonny James					11	10	11	3025
11	12	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield (B)					13	16	12	2685
23	13	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					12	15	15	2595
12	14	Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino					14	13	16	2455
13	15	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					15	20	13	2395
18	16	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					18	14	17	2110
19	17	The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers					19		14	1800
16	18	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis					22	12	19	1780
17	19	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					20	19	19	1735
15	20	St. Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan					17	16		1285
24	21	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - The Vipers Skiffle Group					16			975
22	22	Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele					21	18		975
21	23	Rip It Up - Bill Haley and His Comets					30		18	845
26	24	Cindy Oh Cindy - Eddie Fisher					23			520
25	25	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A)					24			455
30	26	Mystery Train - Elvis Presley					25			390
NEW	27	She's Got It - Little Richard					26			325
NEW	28	I Dreamed - Jill Day						20		275
NEW	29	Rip It Up - Elvis Presley					27			260
20	30	Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine					28			195
		Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Patience and Prudence					29			130
27		If I Lost You - David Whitfield (A)
28		The Garden Of Eden - Gary Miller
29		Let's Rock'n'Roll - Winifred Atwell

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending March 16th 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending March 16th 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored
1	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500
2	2	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					2	2	2	4350
3	3	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					3	3	3	4200
6	4	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan					5	4	4	3985
8	5	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard (B)					4	7	5	3915
5	6	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					6	5	7	3715
10	7	The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte					7	8	6	3635
4	8	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					8	6	9	3440
7	9	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					10	10	8	3270
9	10	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					11	8	10	3135
13	11	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					9	12	11	3105
11	12	Young Love - Sonny James					14	11	13	2685
12	13	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield					13	15	14	2590
17	14	The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers					15	17	12	2530
15	15	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					12	18	16	2460
18	16	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis					16	14	18	2180
19	17	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					21	13	15	2060
25	18	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A)					27	19	17	1400
NEW	19	The Wisdom Of A Fool - Norman Wisdom					20		20	1375
20	20	St.Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan					18	20		1120
14	21	Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino					17			910
NEW	22	The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard (A)					19			780
23	23	Rip It Up - Bill Haley and His Comets							19	720
NEW	24	Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Patience and Prudence					22			585
16	25	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					23			520
RE	26	Let's Rock'n'Roll - Winifred Atwell					24			455
26	27	Mystery Train - Elvis Presley					25			390
22	28	Singing The Blues - Tommy Steele						16		375
21	29	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - The Vipers Skiffle Group					26			325
RE	30	Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (A)						20		275
30		Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine					28			195
		The Faithful Hussar (Don't Cry My Love) - Vera Lynn					29			130
27		She's Got It - Little Richard (B)					30			65
24		Cindy Oh Cindy - Eddie Fisher
28		I Dreamed - Jill Day
29		Rip It Up - Elvis Presley

[Robbie]

A very static top 3 as once again Tab Hunter, Pat Boone and Guy Mitchell block out everyone. Guy's 'Singing The Blues' is continuing to perform very well and had certainly been the more successful in his battle with Tommy Steele's version. Steele's version didn't top the UAC and very quickly fell down this chart. Guy's is certainly the better version.

The excellent 'The Girl Can't Help It' by Little Richard is in at number 22. The song will make the UK charts again in 1977 in a cover by Darts as part of a medly along with 'Daddy Cool'. Another song that would return in the late 1970s is 'Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now'. I never cared much for Viola Wills' version but its far better than this by Patience and Prudence. 'Singing the Blues' makes a reappearance in 1980, in a version by Dave Edmunds.

[MrTibbs]

This is very much going to be Little Richard's year as his hits just keep coming and coming. His 'Long Tall Sally' at least being recognised at last and being a massive hit for him thankfully eclipsing Pat Boone's absolutely awful cover a bit earlier.
On the topic of Pat Boone for me personally he sang dreadful monotonous sugary sweet songs all in the same vein although he did redeem himself in my eyes with 1962's excellent Speedy Gonzales which I loved.
Guy Mitchell along with a few of his Columbia record stable mates surprisingly managed to have some hits into the 'rock'n'roll era, Johnny Ray will also do well this year, Frankie Laine will return to the top10 in 1959 and Doris Day in 1964. Tony Bennett will become a legend for decades to come.
As for Patience and Prudence, the least said the better, you know my thoughts on their previous chart outing and this was no better. If you want to hear how it should be done listen To Trini Lopez's version. Perfection Personified.

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending March 23rd 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending March 23rd 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored
1	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500
2	2	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					2	2	2	4350
3	3	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					3	3	3	4200
5	4	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard (B)					4	4	4	4050
4	5	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan					5	5	5	3900
7	6	The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte					6	7	6	3725
11	7	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					9	6	7	3495
6	8	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					8	8	8	3450
9	9	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					7	9	9	3430
8	10	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					11	13	10	3010
10	11	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					10	11	12	3005
17	12	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					15	10	13	2645
14	13	The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers					18	15	11	2445
13	14	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield					14	19	16	2305
12	15	Young Love - Sonny James					17	14	17	2175
22	16	The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard (A)					12		18	2015
NEW	17	She's Got It - Little Richard (B)					20	20	14	2010
18	18	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A)					18	16	18	2000
19	19	The Wisdom Of A Fool - Norman Wisdom					13		20	1830
RE	20	Only You - The Platters						17	14	1370
16	21	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis					22	11		1085
RE	22	The Great Pretender - The Platters						17	20	1010
15	23	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					16			975
NEW	24	The Man Who Plays The Mandolino - Dean Martin					21			650
21	25	Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino					23			520
24	26	Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Patience and Prudence					24			455
NEW	27	Cumberland Gap - The Vipers Skiffle Group					25			390
20	28	St. Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan					26			325
RE	29	My Prayer - The Platters						20		275
25	30	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					27			260
26		Let's Rock'n'Roll - Winifred Atwell					28			195
29		Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - The Vipers Skiffle Group					29			130
		The Faithful Hussar (Don't Cry Me Love) - Vera Lynn					30			65
23		Rip It Up - Bill Haley and His Comets
27		Mystery Train - Elvis Presley
28		Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell
30		Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (A)

[brian05]

'Singing the Blues' makes a reappearance in 1980, in a version by Dave Edmunds.

And also in 2009 by Cliff Richard - his last ever Top 40 hit.

[MrTibbs]

There is a great deal of consistency again at the top end of the chart between the three charts this week. All agree on the top 5, and broadly agree with positions 6 to 9.
As The Vipers leave the chart with 'Don't You Rock...' they are first out of the box to chart immediately with 'Cumberland Gap'. Again, a certain someone (I wonder who) will steal their thunder once again.
My problem with Tommy Steele's blatant copy of 'Singing The Blues' was that, note for note, beat for beat, whistle for whistle it was just a weaker direct copy of the Guy Mitchell version. He didn't do anything to make it his own individual interpretation.

[MrTibbs]

Greetings Pop Pickers !

Here is the next Ultimate Averaged Chart for Week Ending March 30th 1957

Here are all '' the uppers, the downers, the just hanging 'arounders '

The Ultimate Averaged Chart - Week Ending March 30th 1957							NME	MM	RM	Total
Last	This		The Sound Survey			Stores	65	25	60	Points
Week	Week		The Top 30 Singles Chart					TOP	30	Scored
1	1	Young Love - Tab Hunter					1	1	1	4500
2	2	Don't Forbid Me - Pat Boone					2	2	2	4350
4	3	Long Tall Sally - Little Richard (B)					3	4	3	4175
3	4	Knee Deep In The Blues - Guy Mitchell					3	3	4	4140
6	5	The Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte					5	6	5	3875
5	6	Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O - Lonnie Donegan					6	5	6	3775
9	7	True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly					7	8	7	3575
7	8	The Banana Boat Song - Shirley Bassey					8	7	8	3475
8	9	Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell					9	11	11	3130
27	10	Cumberland Gap - The Vipers Skiffle Group					13	12	9	2965
16	11	The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard (A)					11	15	14	2720
20	12	Only You - The Platters (B)					18	10	10	2630
12	13	You Don't Owe Me A Thing - Johnnie Ray (B)					15	8	16	2515
18	14	Look Homeward Angel - Johnnie Ray (A)					17	14	12	2475
17	15	She's Got It - Little Richard (B)					19	13	13	2310
11	16	Friendly Persuasion - Pat Boone					12	15	20	2295
10	17	The Garden Of Eden - Frankie Vaughan					10	17		1715
13	18	The Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers					30	18	15	1350
19	19	The Wisdom Of A Fool - Norman Wisdom					13			1170
14	20	The Adoration Waltz - David Whitfield					16			975
29	21	My Prayer - The Platters					22	20		860
22	22	The Great Pretender - The Platters (A)							17	840
30	23	Knee Deep In The Blues - Tommy Steele					23	20		795
NEW	24	Freight Train - The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group and Nancy Whiskey							18	780
21	25	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody - Jerry Lewis							19	720
NEW	26	The Wisdom Of A Fool - Ronnie Carroll					20			715
23	27	Don't Knock The Rock - Bill Haley and His Comets					21			650
NEW	28	Blue Monday - Fats Domino					23			520
NEW	29	Mangos - Rosemary Clooney					25			390
NEW	30	Whatever Lola Wants - Alma Cogan					26			325
		Tutti Frutti - Little Richard (A)						18		325
		I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent - Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers					27			260
		Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine					28			195
24		The Man Who Plays The Mandolino - Dean Martin					29			130
15		Young Love - Sonny James
25		Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
26		Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Patience and Prudence
28		St. Therese Of The Roses - Malcolm Vaughan

[MrTibbs]

I believe this chart is a perfect example of where the UAC averaging system is better than the straight points system used by the BBC.

Take Little Richard and Guy Mitchell at #3 and #4. Both equal #3 on NME, and #4 and #3, and #3 and #4 on the other two charts.
On the BBC they would have been placed at joint #3 as both equal 10 points, but because of the store factoring in and adding further weighting, both are now split, Richard at #3 and Guy at #4 due to NME and RM having the higher store count. Much fairer I think.

[Splodj]

Yes it is.

But to me the main difficulty here is understanding why NME has so many ties in its upper echelons. It seems to me that either their sample is lower than supposed, or they are positively discriminating in favour of ties.

[ChartAfondicio]

Yes it is.

But to me the main difficulty here is understanding why NME has so many ties in its upper echelons. It seems to me that either their sample is lower than supposed, or they are positively discriminating in favour of ties.

It has occurred to me looking at these "averaged" charts, what such charts on the U.S. side would have looked like as drawn from Billboard, Cash Box, and Music Vendor / Record World - especially in the pre-1969 period. How would a "U.S. Averaged Chart, Imagined" thread come across?

[kjell]

There were strange happenings in the US charts over the years and all three main charts were affected. That went so far that even which chart was the most reliable seemed to change several times. Both CB and RW were especially strange when nearing their ends. BB had a period the unlikely ocurrence that the number one changed weekly and reputedly fell by the same number of positions the week after. I really miss a serious evaluation of the US charts. Making an average US chart would show that the number of weekly hits would be far above the hundred for long periods prior to the demise of CB and RW. There was a book some decades ago that listed US number ones of the 60ies that disclosed the differences at that position.