Radio 1 & Radio 2 celebrate 70 years of UK Official Singles Chart

BBC Radio’s 1 and 2 are to celebrate the 70th birthday of the UK’s Official Singles Chart, with special programmes.

The chart, featuring the most streamed songs released in each year since the inception of the chart back in 1952, has been exclusively created for both stations by the Official Charts Company.

Radio 2 will be marking the anniversary by playing the most streamed songs from 1960-1999 during Sounds Of The 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s shows on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November.

There’s also a one-off programme Most Streamed Chart: 1952-1959 hosted by Ricky Wilson playing songs from those years on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

The full chart will be on BBC Sounds as a Back to Back Sounds collection.

Robert Gallacher, Commissioning Editor, BBC Radio Pop Networks, says: “We’re delighted to mark the 70th anniversary of the Official Singles Chart – a record not just of our favourite tunes, but also our shared cultural history.

“With the release of this new chart it’s particularly fascinating to see which classic songs from the past are rated by today’s music consumers, and how that appeal can be driven by exposure on TV, adverts and social media. This chart is a true testament to the timelessness of brilliant pop music.”

Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, says: “Official Charts are proud to team up with our long-standing partners at the BBC to compile this unique playlist of 70 incredible songs marking 70 years of the beloved institution that is the UK’s Official Singles Chart.

“As ever, the data doesn’t lie; this is a collection of indisputable classics spanning over seven decades of Official Chart history, as affirmed by the British public and their playlist selections.”

If you’d like to see which songs feature in each of the special shows…… read on:

 

Most Streamed Chart: 1952-1959 – presented by Ricky Wilson

1952     Singin’ In The Rain by Gene Kelly

1953     That’s Amore by Dean Martin

1954     I’ve Got A Woman by Ray Charles

1955     Tutti Frutti by Little Richard

1956     I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash

1957     Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

1958     Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry

1959     Put Your Head On My Shoulder by Paul Anka

 

Most Streamed Chart: 1960-1969 – presented by Tony Blackburn

1960     At Last by Etta James

1961     Stand By Me by Ben E King

1962     Cry To Me by Solomon Burke

1963     Be My Baby by Ronettes

1964     My Girl by Temptations

1965     I Can’t Help Myself by Four Tops

1966     Paint It Black by Rolling Stones

1967     Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

1968     (Sittin’ On The) Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding

1969     Here Comes The Sun by Beatles

 

Most Streamed Chart: 1970-1979 – presented by Johnnie Walker

1970     Your Song by Elton John

1971     Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver

1972     Tiny Dancer by Elton John

1973     Jolene by Dolly Parton

1974     Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd

1975     Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

1976     Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

1977     Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

1978     September by Earth Wind & Fire

1979     Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

 

Most Streamed Chart: 1980-1989 – presented by Gary Davies

1980     Another One Bites The Dust by Queen

1981     Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

1982     Africa by Toto

1983     Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Eurythmics

1984     Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham

1985     Summer Of ’69 by Bryan Adams

1986     Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi

1987     I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston

1988     Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac

1989     We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel

 

Most Streamed Chart: 1990-1999 – presented by Fearne Cotton

1990     Thunderstruck by AC/DC

1991     Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

1992     Creep by Radiohead

1993     What Is Love by Haddaway

1994     Juicy by The Notorious B.I.G

1995     Wonderwall by Oasis

1996     No Diggity by Blackstreet Ft. Dr Dre

1997     Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve

1998     Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

1999     No Scrubs by TLC

 

Most Streamed Chart: 2000-2010 – presented by Vick Hope & Katie Thistleton

2000     Dancing In The Moonlight by Toploader

2001     How You Remind Me by Nickelback

2002     Lose Yourself by Eminem

2003     Mr Brightside by The Killers

2004     Let Me Love You by Mario

2005     I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys

2006     Naïve by The Kooks

2007     Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys

2008     I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

2009     Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus

2010     Love The Way You Lie by Eminem Ft. Rihanna

 

Most Streamed Chart: 2011-2022 – presented by Jack Saunders

2011     Someone Like You by Adele

2012     Let Her Go by Passenger

2013     Riptide by Vance Joy

2014     Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

2015     Cheap Thrills by Sia

2016     Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur

2017     Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran

2018     Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi

2019     Dance Monkey by Tones & I

2020     Head & Heart by Joel Corry Ft. MNEK

2021     Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran

2022     As It Was by Harry Styles

The chart doesn’t include the hit Christmas singles from each of the decades, but a show – The Most Streamed Christmas No.1s – will be broadcast on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds over the festive season.