List of UK top-ten singles in 1952

The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2][3] New Musical Express (NME) magazine published the United Kingdom record charts for the first time in 1952.[4][5][6] NME originally published only a top 12 (although the first chart had a couple of singles that were tied so a top 15 was announced) but this was gradually extended to encompass a top 20 by October 1954.[7][8][9] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1952, as well as singles which peaked in 1953 but were in the top 10 in 1952. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).[10]

1950s in music in the UK
Events
Vera Lynn (pictured in 1973) had the best-selling single of the year, "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", despite only peaking at number ten. She had a further two top 10 singles in 1952: "The Homing Waltz", which reached number nine, and "Forget Me Not, which peaked at number five.
American singer and actor Al Martino made music history in November when his hit single "Here in My Heart" became the first ever number-one record in the UK Singles Chart. The song spent nine consecutive weeks at the top spot and lasted 16 weeks in the top 10 altogether.
Guy Mitchell's debut entry from November 1952, "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)" was also the first single to peak at number two in the UK. It spent a total of 10 weeks inside the top ten.

Twenty-three singles were in the top ten in 1952. "Takes Two to Tango" by Louis Armstrong,[11] "Comes A-Long A-Love" by Kay Starr,[12] "Walkin' to Missouri" by Tony Brent[13] and "You Belong to Me" by Jo Stafford were all released in 1952 but did not reach their peak until 1953.[14] Eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1952. Al Martino, Nat King Cole, Guy Mitchell[10] and Frankie Laine were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1952.

The first single to reach number-one in the United Kingdom was "Here in My Heart" by Al Martino; the song debuted at the top of the charts on 20 November 1952 and spent nine consecutive weeks in that position.[14][15] It was the only single to top the chart that year.[7][16]

Background

Multiple entries

Twenty-three singles charted in the top 10 in 1952, with nineteen singles reaching their peak this year. "Because You're Mine" was recorded by Nat King Cole and Mario Lanza and both versions reached the top 10.

Eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1952. American singer Bing Crosby and Britain's Vera Lynn shared the record for most top 10 hits in 1952 with three hit singles each, the first artists to ever do so. In addition, all of these entries were in the chart at the same time.[10] "Forget Me Not" was the highest ranking that week at number 7 (it would eventually peak at number 5 the week prior to Christmas). "The Homing Waltz" reached number 9, one place higher than "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" at number 10.[17]

Bing Crosby's three entries included a version of the Christmas classic "Silent Night", released as "Silent Night, Holy Night".[18]

Al Martino was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Here in My Heart".[19] Doris Day,[20] Frankie Laine,[21] Her Majesty's Forces,[22] Nat King Cole[23] and Percy Faith & His Orchestra were the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1952.

Chart debuts

Twenty artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1952, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, six went on to record another hit single that year: Al Martino, Doris Day, Frankie Laine, Her Majesty’s Forces, Nat King Cole and Percy Faith. Bing Crosby and Vera Lynn both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.

Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entries
Al Martino 2 "Here in My Heart" 1 "Take My Heart" (9)
Jo Stafford 1 "You Belong to Me" [A] 1 —
Nat King Cole 2 "Somewhere Along the Way" 3 "Because You're Mine" (6)
Bing Crosby 3 "Isle of Innisfree" 3 "Zing a Little Zong" (10), "Silent Night, Holy Night" (8)
Guy Mitchell 1 "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)" 2 —
Rosemary Clooney 1 "Half as Much" 3 —
Percy Faith 2 "My Love and Devotion" (10)
Vera Lynn 3 "Forget Me Not" 5 "The Homing Waltz" (9), "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (10)
Frankie Laine 2 "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" 7 "Sugar Bush" (8)
Doris Day 2 "Sugar Bush" 8 "My Love and Devotion" (10)
Ray Martin and His Concert Orchestra 1 "Blue Tango" 8 —
Her Majesty's Forces 2 "The Homing Waltz" 9 "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (10)
Mario Lanza 1 "Because You're Mine" 3 —
Johnnie Ray 1 "Faith Can Move Mountains" 7 —
Kay Starr 1 "Comes A-Long A-Love" [B] 1 —
Jane Wyman 1 "Zing a Little Zong" 10 —
Mantovani 1 "White Christmas" 6 —
The Four Lads 1 "Faith Can Move Mountains" 7 —
Louis Armstrong 1 "Takes Two to Tango" [C] 6 —
Tony Brent 1 "Walkin' to Missouri" [D] 7 —

Songs from films

Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Because You're Mine" (from Because You're Mine),[24] "Isle of Innisfree" (The Quiet Man)[25] and "Zing a Little Zong" (Just for You).[26]

Additionally, "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" was a version of the song from the film High Noon, originally recorded over the opening credits by Tex Ritter.[21]

Best-selling singles

Until 1970 there was no universally recognised year-end best-sellers list. However, in 2011 the Official Charts Company released a list of the best-selling single of each year in chart history from 1952 to date. According to the list, "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" by Vera Lynn is officially recorded as the biggest-selling single of 1952.[27]

Top-ten singles
Key
Symbol Meaning
♦ Single released in 1952 but peaked in 1953.
(#) Year-end best-selling single.
Entered The date that the single first appeared in the chart.
Peak Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered
(week ending)		 Weeks
in
top
10		 Single Artist Peak Peak reached
(week ending)		 Weeks
at
peak
20 November 1952 16 "Here in My Heart" [E] Al Martino 1 20 November 1952 9
16 "You Belong to Me" ♦ [F] Jo Stafford 1 22 January 1953 1
6 "Somewhere Along the Way" [G] Nat King Cole 3 20 November 1952 1
11 "Isle of Innisfree" Bing Crosby 3 18 December 1952 3
10 "Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)" Guy Mitchell 2 27 November 1952 1
9 "Half as Much" Rosemary Clooney with Percy Faith & His Orchestra 3 27 November 1952 3
6 "Forget Me Not" [H] Vera Lynn 5 18 December 1952 1
3 "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" [I] Frankie Laine 7 20 November 1952 2
7 "Sugar Bush" [J] Doris Day & Frankie Laine 8 20 November 1952 3
2 "Blue Tango" [K] Ray Martin and His Concert Orchestra 8 20 November 1952 1
2 "The Homing Waltz" [L] Vera Lynn with Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces 9 20 November 1952 2
1 "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (#1) Vera Lynn with Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces 10 20 November 1952 1
27 November 1952 22 "Because You're Mine" Mario Lanza 3 11 December 1952 3
1 "Take My Heart" Al Martino 9 27 November 1952 1
2 "My Love and Devotion" Doris Day with Percy Faith & His Orchestra 10 27 November 1952 2
11 December 1952 14 "Comes A-Long A-Love" ♦ [M] Kay Starr 1 29 January 1953 1
1 "Zing a Little Zong" Bing Crosby & Jane Wyman 10 11 December 1952 1
25 December 1952 3 "White Christmas" Mantovani and His Orchestra 6 25 December 1952 2
3 "Because You're Mine" [N] Nat King Cole 6 25 December 1952 2
3 "Faith Can Move Mountains" [O] Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads 7 25 December 1952 2
2 "Silent Night, Holy Night" Bing Crosby 8 25 December 1952 2
10 "Takes Two to Tango" ♦ Louis Armstrong 6 29 January 1953 1
7 "Walkin' to Missouri" ♦ [P] Tony Brent 7 15 January 1953 1

Entries by artist
Bing Crosby achieved three UK top 10 entries this year, the most successful of which was "Isle of Innisfree", which reached number three in December.
Nat King Cole had two UK top 10 entries in 1952. His debut hit, "Somewhere Along the Way", was at its peak position of number three in the very first edition of the UK Singles Chart.
See also: List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1950s § 1952

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1952, including singles that reached their peak in 1953. The figures include both main artists and featured artists. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1952 is also shown.

Entries Artist Country of origin Weeks Singles
3 Vera Lynn  United Kingdom 8 "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Forget Me Not", "The Homing Waltz"
Bing Crosby  United States 8 "Isle of Innisfree", "Silent Night, Holy Night", "Zing a Little Zong"
2 Al Martino 7 "Here in My Heart", "Take My Heart"
Doris Day 6 "My Love and Devotion", "Sugar Bush"
Frankie Laine 7 "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)", "Sugar Bush"
Her Majesty's Forces  United Kingdom 3 "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "The Homing Waltz"
Nat King Cole  United States 6 "Because You're Mine", "Somewhere Along the Way"
Percy Faith  Canada 8 "Half as Much", "My Love and Devotion"

Notes
  • a "You Belong to Me" reached its peak of number one on 22 January 1953 (week ending).
  • b "Comes A-Long A-Love" reached its peak of number one on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • c "Takes Two to Tango" reached its peak of number six on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • d "Walkin' to Missouri" reached its peak of number seven on 15 January 1953 (week ending).
  • e "Here in My Heart" was the first ever number-one single in the UK Singles Chart.
  • f "You Belong to Me" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 12 March 1953 (week ending).
  • g "Somewhere Along the Way" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 18 December 1952 (week ending) for 3 weeks.
  • h "Forget Me Not" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 4 December 1952 (week ending) for 5 weeks.
  • i "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 18 December 1952 (week ending).
  • j "Sugarbush" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 11 December 1952 (week ending) for 6 weeks.
  • k "Blue Tango" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 18 December 1952 (week ending).
  • l "The Homing Waltz" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 4 December 1952 (week ending).
  • m "Comes A-Long A-Love" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 26 March 1953 (week ending).
  • n "Because You're Mine" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • o "Faith Can Move Mountains" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 15 January 1953 (week ending).
  • p "Walkin' to Missouri" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 15 January 1953 (week ending) for 2 weeks.

See also

References

General

  • "Six decades of singles charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  • Osborne, Roger (1995). The Complete NME Singles Charts (2nd edition). Boxtree Limited.
  • Osborne, Roger; Rees, Daffyd; Lazell, Barry (1992). 40 Years of NME Charts. Boxtree Limited.

Specific

  1. "The Official UK Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  3. "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News. 16 October 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  4. "The Story of the Single". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  5. "'The Godfather' singer Al Martino dies". New Musical Express. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. "Key dates in the history of the Official UK Charts (archived)". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  7. "Top 10 chart starts to sound a little off-key". Yorkshire Post. 17 January 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  8. "First ever top 12: 14 November 1952". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  9. "First ever top 20: 01 October 1954". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  10. "The first ever Official Singles Chart - revisited!". Official Chart. Official Charts Company1. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. "Takes Two to Tango - full Official Chart History". Official Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  12. Vacher, Peter (6 November 2016). "Kay Starr obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  13. "Walkin' to Missouri - full Official Chart history". Official Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  14. Hall, James (5 July 2015). "The ten chart battles that changed music". Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  15. Myers, Justin (23 March 2018). "The songs that spent the longest at Number 1". Official Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  16. "Announcing the first record Hit Parade" (PDF). New Musical Express. 14 November 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  17. "Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn 'oldest living artist to make it into the top 20'". Telegraph. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  18. Myers, Justin (2 December 2017). "66 SharesFacebook66TwitterEmailReddit 02 December 2017 Festive songs that never made Christmas Number 1". Official Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  19. "Al Martino: Obituary". Telegraph. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  20. "Doris Day: A Hollywood Legend Reflects On Life". NPR. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  21. Severo, Richard (7 February 2007). "Frankie Laine, 93, the Hit-Making Crooner Who Used His Voice 'Like a Horn,' Is Dead". New York Times. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  22. "One's favourite songs: the Queen reveals her pop picks". Guardian. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  23. Porter, Gregory (22 November 2017). "Crooner, inspiration, father I never had: Gregory Porter on his hero Nat King Cole". Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  24. Salazar, David. "On This Day: Watch All of Mario Lanza's Vocal Performances From His 8 Films". OperaWire. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  25. Mulraney, Frances (7 February 2018). "Songs in The Quiet Man: The amazing soundtrack to Irish America's favorite movie". IrishCentral. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  26. Macfarlane, Malcolm. "Bing Crosby - By By Day". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  27. Myers, Justin (9 January 2016). "The biggest song of every year revealed". Official Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
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