Number Ones

[c00ky83]

Anyone noticed that almost all number one singles this year stay there for weeks? Christie, Blunt, Frog...etc. Could this year have the fewest different number ones?

[littleoldme]

No. Apart from the ones you've mentioned, there have been several "one week wonders" this year, so we've already gone way over the record for fewest different number ones in a year.

Not counting 1952, when the singles chart first started (there was just one number one because the chart didn't start until mid-November), the record is jointly held by two years, with the tiny total of just 12 number ones each - 1962 (longest stay at number one: Wonderful Land by The Shadows - 8 weeks, shortest stay: Nut Rocker by B.Bumble & The Stingers - 1 week) and 1992 (longest stay: appropriately enough Stay by Shakespear's (sic) Sister - 8 weeks, shortest stay - Sleeping Satellite by Tasmin Archer and Would I lie To You? by Charles & Eddie - 2 weeks each).

Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You was number one at the end of the year for a mammoth 10 weeks, but 6 of them were in 1993.

[delboy3]

mostly agree with littleoldme but I have 1954 down with only 11 no 1s and also 12 for 1956 - have I counted right? At least there's no prospect for the ridiculous count of 42 in 2000!

[littleoldme]

You are quite right for 1954, delboy3 - there were only 11. I think I must have counted a couple of those that went back to the top twice - d'oh! I'm still counting 13 for 1956 though. (I'm assuming we're using the same chart!)

[c00ky83]

Great knowledge...thanks.

[wideboy]

Just to be a little different, on the ALBUMS front in 1959 there was only ONE number 1 album. It was South Pacific which remained at #1 all year (having gone to number 1 the previous year and went over into 1960 (I think). Good Pub Quiz question?