2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the first ever UK singles chart. To celebrate this milestone, ITV over the last two weekends 
broadcast “The Nation’s Favourite Number One Single”. During the three primetime shows on ITV1, the channel chronicled the back stories of 60 memorable Number One singles. There were also interviews with chart-topping artists to discuss their favourite Number Ones and ascertain the ingredients that make a great single.
The poll of viewers wasn’t completely organic or spontaneous as the viewer was invited to vote from a pre-selected a shortlist of 60, picked by a panel of a dozen pop experts. Nevertheless the Top 60 seemed to be very representative and reflected a cross section of genres and decades. Perhaps not unsurprisingly Queen’s 
“Bohemian Rhapsody” took the top spot.
The most significant thing is that ITV1’s Top 60 gave us a host of No1 songs that have defined our lives since the early 1960s and formed the soundtrack to our lives over the decades. However it occurred to me as I was watching the programmes, that because the poll was confined to No1 singles, it overlooked some classic songs that were pipped to the No1 spot. And believe me, there have been some fantastic songs that were cheated of a rightful No1 status. And to prove it, here is MyFirstRecord.co.uk ‘s Top 20 Best No2 Singles ( Songs that should have been No1 )
Top 20 Best No2 Singles ( Songs that should have been No1 )
1) Kinks – Waterloo Sunset ( 1967 )
2) Beach Boys – God Only Knows ( 1966 )
3) Greg Lake – I Believe in Father Xmas ( 1975 )
4) Queen – Killer Queen ( 1974 )
5) Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane ( 1967 )
6) Oasis – Wonderwall ( 1995 )
7) Hollies – Air That I Breathe ( 1974 )
8 ) Sparks – This Town Aint Big Enough ( 1974 )
9) Ultravox – Vienna ( 1981 )
10) Sweet – Ballroom Blitz ( 1973 )
11) Slade – Far Far Away ( 1974 )
12) Queen – We Are The Champions ( 1977 )
13) Pulp – Common People ( 1995 )
14) Casuals – Jesamine ( 1968 )
15 ) Kinks – Lola ( 1970 )
16) Tom Jones – Delilah ( 1968 )
17) Carpenters – Yesterday Once More ( 1973 )
18) Simply Red – Holding Back The Years ( 1986 )
19) Jay Z/Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind (2009)
20) Pogues/K.Macoll – Fairytale Of New York (1987)
Which are your favourite No1 & No2 Singles from the last 60 years? Let us know in the Reply Box below.
Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Singles Chart in your own home or office, by ordering your favourite vinyl single or CD single; framed and mounted as a picture disc souvenir. You can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque…… ORDER NOW…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/
Framed vinyl records with a personalised plaque, make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a Wedding ( Wedding First Dance Song ), an Engagement Party ( Our Song ), a House Warming Party ( New Home ), a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!
For full details of ITV1’s Top 60 from The Nation’s Favourite Number One Single…… www.itv.com/nationsfavouritenumberone/
Here’s a fully comprehensive list of every UK No1 since 1960……. www.numberonesingles.co.uk/
For the current Top 100 Singles Chart……. www.officialcharts.com/singles-chart/
1st choice Vienna Ultravox
2nd choice The Air That I Breathe Hollies
Good choices Julia!! Tragically they were both kept off the No1 spot by novelty records – Joe Dolce’s “Shaddap ya face” and Paper Lace’s “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” respectively. An outrage!! :-)
Simon and Garfunkle
Bridge over Troubled Waters
The Best Song ever written by far
David, that’s a big call. I would certainly have it in my Top 20. Best song S&G ever recorded, that’s for sure!!
My top 3 nations favourite number 1 single is as follows: Michael Jackson – Billy Jean, John Lennon – Imagine and Adele – Someone Like You.
Mark, can’t fault your choices. I certainly concur with Lennon & Adele.
Regards,
Simon