Mixtape: Best of UK #1s 1952 - 1981

Last month was the sixty year anniversary of the first #1 hit single in this country. Our first ever #1 in this country went to Al Martino with "Here in My Heart". Since then we've had over 1000 songs get to the #1 spot, the spot all music artists aspire to get to in this country. It means that for at least one week, their song is the most popular and most requested. It's like being king for a week I suppose.

Now the problem with #1 hits for me is that it usually goes to pop stars. The word pop comes from popular obviously, so if, like me, you like your rock and metal, chances are it makes it THAT much harder for your favourite tracks to actually perform well in the charts, nevermind get the #1 spot. Over time for me, less of my favourite tracks are getting to the top, which is a damn shame. But that's life!

Either way, I want to celebrate the last sixty years in music, with my favourite #1 hits through the years. Because sixty years is such a long time, and there were so many great songs through the years (especially over the course of the sixties) I've divided the Mixtapes into two, meaning today you'll get the first 30 years of #1s, and tomorrow you'll get the last 30 years of #1s. Remember this is a biased list.

Don't know much about Mixtapes? Here are the rules. 

A Mixtape is a playlist of a certain genre, band or era. The list is generally 80 minutes long, the same length of a blank CD, with further recommendations if some of the songs aren't to your taste. Remember kids, downloading is wrong! 

So here we go! Here's a list of my favourite #1 hits from 1952 to 1981, with the date it got to the #1 spot! Enjoy!

This Mixtape is now available to listen to fully on YouTube so subscribe to me if you want to listen to it properly. Enjoy!

1. Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and His Comets (25/11/1955)
2. Three Steps to Heaven - Eddie Cochran (23/06/1960)
3. Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis (10/01/1958)
4. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley (24/01/1958)
5. Shakin' All Over - Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (04/08/1960)
6. House of the Rising Sun - The Animals (09/07/1964)
7. You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry and the Pacemakers (31/10/1963)
8. You Really Got Me - The Kinks (10/09/1964)
9. With a Girl Like You - The Troggs (04/08/1966)
10. Fire - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (14/08/1968)
11. Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones (26/05/1966)
12. Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix (21/11/1970)
13. (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (20/12/1980)
14. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) - Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel (22/02/1975)
15. Get it On - T-Rex (24/07/1971)
16. Blockbuster - The Sweet (27/01/1973)
17. Tiger Feet - Mud (26/01/1974)
18. I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!) - Gary Glitter (28/07/1973)
19. You're My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White (07/12/1974)
20. Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie (21/11/1981)
21. Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants (19/09/1981)
22. Hey Jude - The Beatles (14/09/1968)

Don't like some of these? Give these five a try...

1. It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones (11/03/1965)
2. Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison (08/10/1964)
3. I Don't Like Mondays - The Boomtown Rats (28/07/1979)
4. Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders (19/01/1980)
5. My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry (25/11/1972)

So those are my favourite #1 hits from 1952 to 1981. It was an amazing time to be listening to music, as at the time truly great songs were getting to #1 on a regular basis. I can't say the same for today unfortunately. Anyway I'll bring you 1982 - 2012 tomorrow. Join me then!

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