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Number One Hits Of The 1950s


Almost every UK chart site has a list of number one hits, but there are some differences in this list due to the different sources used. Instead of switching from the NME charts to Record Retailer in March 1960 as most lists do, this list continues to use the NME chart until February 1969. Neither chart can really be considered definitive, but NME is certainly no less trustworthy, and was considerably more visible and respected during the period in question. This of course does not affect the 1950s lists on this page. The other difference is that this list takes into account the charts compiled over Christmas but not published, which results in one extra number one hit in 1981 and one week awarded to a different single in 1977. If you're looking for the "official" listing as used by Guinness, then I recommend a look at www.everyhit.com.

1952
1 14 Nov Here In My Heart Al Martino 9
1953
2 16 Jan You Belong To Me Jo Stafford 1
3 23 Jan Comes A-Long A-Love Kay Starr 1
4 30 Jan Outside Of Heaven Eddie Fisher 1
5 6 Feb Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes Perry Como with The Ramblers 5
6 13 Mar She Wears Red Feathers Guy Mitchell 4
7 10 Apr Broken Wings The Stargazers 1
8 17 Apr (How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window Lita Roza 1
9 24 Apr I Believe Frankie Laine 9
10 26 Jun I'm Walking Behind You Eddie Fisher ft. Sally Sweetland 1
  3 Jul I Believe Frankie Laine 6
11 14 Aug The Song From Moulin Rouge Mantovani & His Orchestra 1
  21 Aug I Believe Frankie Laine 3
12 11 Sep Look At That Girl Guy Mitchell 6
13 23 Oct Hey Joe Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir 2
14 6 Nov Answer Me David Whitfield 1
15 13 Nov Answer Me Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir 8
  11 Dec Answer Me David Whitfield 1
    The above two records tied at number one for the week of 11 Dec.  
1954
16 8 Jan O Mein Papa Eddie Calvert - The Man With The Golden Trumpet 9
17 12 Mar I See The Moon The Stargazers with Syd Dean & his Orchestra 5
18 16 Apr Secret Love Doris Day 1
  23 Apr I See The Moon The Stargazers with Syd Dean & his Orchestra 1
19 30 Apr Such A Night Johnnie Ray 1
  7 May Secret Love Doris Day 1
20 2 Jul Cara Mia David Whitfield with Mantovani and his Orchestra and Chorus 10
21 10 Sep Little Things Mean A Lot Kitty Kallen 1
22 17 Sep Three Coins In The Fountain Frank Sinatra 3
23 8 Oct Hold My Hand Don Cornell 4
24 5 Nov My Son, My Son Vera Lynn with Frank Weir, his Saxophone, Orchestra & Chorus 2
  19 Nov Hold My Hand Don Cornell 1
25 26 Nov This Ole House Rosemary Clooney 1
26 3 Dec Let's Have Another Party Winifred Atwell and her Other Piano 5
1955
27 7 Jan The Finger Of Suspicion Dickie Valentine with The Stargazers 1
28 14 Jan Mambo Italiano Rosemary Clooney 1
  21 Jan The Finger Of Suspicion Dickie Valentine with The Stargazers 2
  4 Feb Mambo Italiano Rosemary Clooney 2
29 18 Feb Softly Softly Ruby Murray 3
30 11 Mar Give Me Your Word Tennessee Ernie Ford 7
31 29 Apr Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White Perez Prado and his Orchestra 2
32 13 May Stranger In Paradise Tony Bennett 2
33 27 May Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White Eddie Calvert - The Man With The Golden Trumpet 4
34 24 Jun Unchained Melody Jimmy Young 3
35 15 Jul Dreamboat Alma Cogan 2
36 29 Jul Rose Marie Slim Whitman 11
37 14 Oct The Man From Laramie Jimmy Young 4
38 11 Nov Hernando's Hideaway Johnston Brothers 2
39 25 Nov Rock Around The Clock Bill Haley and his Comets 3
40 16 Dec Christmas Alphabet Dickie Valentine 3
1956
  6 Jan Rock Around The Clock Bill Haley & His Comets 2
41 20 Jan Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford 4
42 17 Feb Memories Are Made Of This Dean Martin 4
43 16 Mar It's Almost Tomorrow Dreamweavers 2
44 30 Mar Rock And Roll Waltz Kay Starr 1
  6 Apr It's Almost Tomorrow Dreamweavers 1
45 13 Apr Poor People Of Paris Winifred Atwell 3
46 4 May No Other Love Ronnie Hilton 6
47 15 Jun I'll Be Home Pat Boone 5
48 20 Jul Why Do Fools Fall In Love Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers 3
49 10 Aug Whatever Will Be Will Be Doris Day 6
50 21 Sep Lay Down Your Arms Anne Shelton 4
51 19 Oct A Woman In Love Frankie Laine 4
52 16 Nov Just Walkin' In The Rain Johnnie Ray 7
1957
53 4 Jan Singing The Blues Guy Mitchell 1
54 11 Jan Singing The Blues Tommy Steele 1
  18 Jan Singing The Blues Guy Mitchell 1
55 25 Jan The Garden Of Eden Frankie Vaughan 4
  1 Feb Singing The Blues (tie) Guy Mitchell 1
    The above two records tied at number one for the week of 1 Feb.  
56 22 Feb Young Love Tab Hunter 7
57 12 Apr Cumberland Gap Lonnie Donegan 5
58 17 May Rock-A-Billy Guy Mitchell 1
59 24 May Butterfly Andy Williams 2
60 7 Jun Yes Tonight Josephine Johnnie Ray 3
61 28 Jun Gamblin' Man / Putting On The Style Lonnie Donegan 2
62 12 Jul All Shook Up Elvis Presley 7
63 30 Aug Diana Paul Anka 9
64 1 Nov That'll Be The Day The Crickets 3
65 22 Nov Mary's Boy Child Harry Belafonte 7
1958
66 10 Jan Great Balls Of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis 2
67 24 Jan Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley 3
68 14 Feb The Story Of My Life Michael Holliday 2
69 28 Feb Magic Moments Perry Como 8
70 25 Apr Whole Lotta Woman Marvin Rainwater 3
71 16 May Who's Sorry Now Connie Francis 6
72 27 Jun On The Street Where You Live Vic Damone 2
73 4 Jul All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette Everly Brothers 7
    The above two records tied at number one for week of 4 July.  
74 22 Aug When Kalin Twins 5
75 26 Sep Carolina Moon / Stupid Cupid Connie Francis 6
76 7 Nov It's All In The Game Tommy Edwards 3
77 28 Nov Hoots Mon! Lord Rockingham's XI 3
78 19 Dec It's Only Make Believe Conway Twitty 5
1959
79 23 Jan The Day The Rains Came Jane Morgan 1
80 30 Jan One Night / I Got Stung Elvis Presley 3
81 20 Feb As I Love You Shirley Bassey 4
82 20 Mar Smoke Gets In Your Eyes The Platters 1
83 27 Mar Side Saddle Russ Conway 4
84 24 Apr It Doesn't Matter Anymore Buddy Holly 3
85 15 May A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight Elvis Presley 5
86 19 Jun Roulette Russ Conway 2
87 3 Jul Dream Lover Bobby Darin 4
88 31 Jul Living Doll Cliff Richard & The Drifters 6
89 11 Sep Only Sixteen Craig Douglas 4
90 9 Oct Here Comes Summer Jerry Keller 1
91 16 Oct Mack The Knife Bobby Darin 2
92 30 Oct Travellin' Light Cliff Richard & The Shadows 5
93 4 Dec What Do You Want Adam Faith 3
94 18 Dec What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For Emile Ford & The Checkmates 6
    The above two records tied at number one for the week of 18 Dec.  


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