As the pop charts celebrate 60 years we ask: what is your number one number one?
Voting is open NOW for the nation’s favourite No.1 since the charts began in 1952
It has been the most coveted position in music since November 14, 1952.
That was the date Al Martino scored Britain’s first ever No.1 with Here In My Heart.
Since then, 1,192 artists have topped the charts including huge names like Abba, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Spice Girls and Lady Gaga.
Now the search is on to pick the best-loved of them all.
When the charts were launched, Here In My Heart captivated a country that had just seen a young Princess Elizabeth ascend to the throne a few months before.
In the 60 years since, the charts have been ruled by artists from The Beach Boys and TheRolling Stones to Mr Blobby and Timmy Mallett.
Now, to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, the hunt is underway for the nation’s favourite No.1 ever.
A panel of experts sifted through six decades of hits to whittle them down to the final 60.
Now Mirror readers are being asked to cast their votes for their favourite hit of the past six decades.
Judge DJ Paul Gambaccini, who is nicknamed The Professor of Pop, said it has been a tough job whittling No.1s down to a shortlist.
“In the past six decades a host of songs – some good, some okay, some terrible – have held the coveted No.1 spot,” he said.
“But this isn’t a list where there is just one No.1 for every year. Some years have been more outstanding than others.
“Inevitably some of the earliest years are under-represented as some songs have not stayed the course and history hasn’t been kind to them.
"Not all No.1s are created equally. There is a slight bias to recent years as the flames of recent memory tend to burn higher in the minds of the young. But it is a good list.”
There are some surprise omissions because many enduring classics failed to make No.1 when released.
Mr Gambaccini said: “The Beatles’ Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever double A-side was kept off the top by Englebert Humperdinck and Ultravox’s Vienna was kept out by Joe Dolce’s Shaddap You Face.
“I bet many people will be surprised that Angels by Robbie Williams was not a No.1.
"His first single to reach the top spot was Millennium and almost everybody would say Angels has lived on better than Millennium. But it wasn’t No.1 so it’s not on the list.”
The earliest song on the shortlist, Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock, will take on the most recent, Adele’s haunting Someone Like You in the race for the title.
The Beatles feature twice on the list with Hey Jude and I Wanna Hold Your Hand but the Rolling Stones feature only once with (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.
Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall didn’t make the cut – but I Believe I Can Fly by R Kelly did.
Mr Gambaccini added: “We have whittled 60 years of No.1s down to 60. Now it’s up to you to decide on the nation’s favourite.”
View the shortlist
1950s
Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley, 1958
1960s
Rex Features
I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles, 1963
The House Of The Rising Sun, The Animals, 1964
You Really Got Me, The Kinks, 1964
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, The Righteous Brothers, 1965
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones, 1965
Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys, 1966
A Whiter Shade Of Pale, Procol Harum, 1967
Hey Jude, The Beatles, 1968
What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong, 1968
I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Marvin Gaye, 1969
1970s
Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon And Garfunkel, 1970
Maggie May, Rod Stewart, 1971
Merry Xmas Everybody, Slade, 1973
I’m Not In Love, 10cc, 1975
Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, 1975 and 1991
Dancing Queen, Abba, 1976
Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush, 1978
Heart Of Glass, Blondie, 1979
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Ian Dury And The Blockheads, 1979
I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor, 1979
1980s
Going Underground, The Jam, 1980
Ashes To Ashes, David Bowie, 1980
The Winner Takes It All, Abba, 1980
Imagine, John Lennon, 1981
Stand And Deliver, Adam And The Ants, 1981
Don’t You Want Me, The Human League, 1981
Tainted Love, Soft Cell, 1981
Every Breath You Take, The Police, 1983
Billie Jean, Michael Jackson, 1983
Careless Whisper, George Michael, 1984
Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Band Aid, 1984
Relax, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984
West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys, 1986
Stand By Me, Ben E King, 1987
Like A Prayer, Madonna, 1989
1990s
Nothing Compares 2U, Sinead O’Connor, 1990
Vogue, Madonna, 1990
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You, Bryan Adams, 1991
Should I Stay Or Should I Go, The Clash, 1991
I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston, 1992
Back For Good, Take That, 1995
Gangsta’s Paradise, Coolio Featuring L.V., 1995
Don’t Look Back In Anger, Oasis, 1996
Firestarter, The Prodigy, 1996
Killing Me Softly, Fugees, 1996
Wannabe, Spice Girls, 1996
Candle In The Wind, Elton John, 1997
The Drugs Don’t Work, The Verve, 1997
I Believe I Can Fly, R Kelly, 1997
…Baby One More Time, Britney Spears, 1999
2000s
Stan, Eminem, 2000
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Kylie Minogue, 2001
Crazy In Love, Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z, 2003
Dry Your Eyes, The Streets, 2004
Crazy, Gnarls Barkley, 2006
Umbrella, Rihanna, 2007
Bonkers, Dizzee Rascal, 2009
Poker Face, Lady Gaga, 2009
2010 -
Someone Like You, Adele, 2011
How to vote
The winner will be revealed in July on ITV1 three-part series The Nation’s Favourite Number 1 Single. Each episode will take a look at the stories behind the entries on the shortlist.
Voting starts today and the initial voting period will run until May 14. There will be a further opportunity to cast your vote in the week leading up to the show being aired.
To vote for your favourite, go to itv.com/nationsfavouritenumberone
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