List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1980s explained

The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. Until 1983, it was compiled weekly by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) on behalf of the British record industry with a two-week break each Christmas. The BMRB used motorcycle couriers to collect the sales figures taken up to the close of trade on Saturday. This data was compiled on Monday and given to the BBC on Tuesday to be announced on BBC Radio 1 at lunchtime and later published in Music Week.^[1] On 4 January 1983, the chart was taken over by Gallup who expanded the chart from the Top 75 to the Top 100 and began the introduction of computerised tills which automated the data collection process.^{[1] [2]} The chart was based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets and announced on Tuesday until October 1987, when the Top 40 was revealed each Sunday, due to the new automated process.^[3]

During the 1980s there were a total of 191 singles which took the UK chart number 1 spot.^[4] In terms of number-one singles, Madonna was the most successful single act of the decade, as six of her singles reached the top spot. George Michael had significant involvement with eight number-one singles; with two number-one singles as a solo artist, four as a member of pop duo Wham!, one as a duet with Aretha Franklin and one as a member of charity supergroup Band Aid. The longest duration of a single at number one was nine weeks, achieved by Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Two Tribes" in 1984.^[5]

The best-selling single of the decade was "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid, selling over 3.5 million copies, and passing "Mull of Kintyre" by Wings to become the best-selling single ever.^[6] "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is currently the second best-selling song after "Candle in the Wind 1997" by Elton John.^[7]

The 1980s saw the introduction of the cassette single (or "cassingle") alongside the 7-inch and 12-inch record formats and in 1987 major record labels developed a common format for the CD single.^[8] For the chart week ending 3 May 1989, chart regulations confined Kylie Minogue's song "Hand on Your Heart" to number two. Minogue would have reached number one if sales from cassette singles were included but they were sold for £1.99 – cheaper than was allowed at the time. Following the debacle the British Phonographic Industry reduced the minimum price for cassette singles to become eligible towards sales figures.^[9]

Number-one singles

Key

scope=row style="background-color:#FFFF99"	†	Best-selling single of the year^[10]
scope=row style="background-color:lightblue"	‡	Best-selling single of the decade

scope=col		scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Single	scope=col	Record label	scope=col	Week ending date	scope=col	Weeks at number one
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	448	Pink Floyd	"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)"	Harvest		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	449	Pretenders	"Brass in Pocket"	Real		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	450	The Special A.K.A.		2 Tone		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	451		"Coward of the County"	United Artists		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	452	Blondie	"Atomic"	Chrysalis		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	453		"Together We Are Beautiful"	WEA		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	454		"Going Underground" / "Dreams of Children"	Polydor		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	455	The Detroit Spinners	"Working My Way Back to You – Forgive Me Girl"	Atlantic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	456	Blondie	"Call Me"	Chrysalis		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	457	Dexys Midnight Runners	"Geno"	Late Night Feelings		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	458		"What's Another Year"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	459		"Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide is Painless)"	CBS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	460		"Crying"	EMI		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	461	and Electric Light Orchestra	"Xanadu"	Jet		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	462	Odyssey	"Use It Up and Wear It Out"	RCA		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	463	ABBA	""	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	464		"Ashes to Ashes"	RCA		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	465		"Start!"	Polydor		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	466		"Feels Like I'm in Love"	Calibre Plus		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	467		"Don't Stand So Close to Me" †	A&M		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	468		"Woman in Love"	CBS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	469	Blondie	""	Chrysalis		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	470	ABBA	"Super Trouper"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	471		""	Geffen		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	472	St Winifred's School Choir	"There's No One Quite Like Grandma"	MFP		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	473		"Imagine"	Apple		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	474		"Woman"	Geffen		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	475		"Shaddap You Face"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	476	Roxy Music	"Jealous Guy"	E.G.		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	477		"This Ole House"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	478	Bucks Fizz	"Making Your Mind Up"	RCA		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	479		"Stand and Deliver"	CBS		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	480		"Being with You"	Motown		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	481		"One Day In Your Life"	Motown		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	482		"Ghost Town"	2 Tone		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	483	Shakin' Stevens	"Green Door"	Epic		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	484	Aneka	"Japanese Boy"	Hansa		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	485	Soft Cell	"Tainted Love"	Some Bizzare		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	486		"Prince Charming"	CBS		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	487	with Barbara Gaskin	"It's My Party"	Stiff		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	488		"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"	A&M		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	489	Queen and David Bowie	"Under Pressure"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	490		"Begin the Beguine (Volver a Empezar)"	CBS		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	491		"Don't You Want Me" †	Virgin		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	492	Bucks Fizz	""	RCA		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	493	Shakin' Stevens	"Oh Julie"	Epic		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	494	Kraftwerk	"The Model""Computer Love"	EMI		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	495		"Town Called Malice""Precious"	Polydor		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	496	Tight Fit	""	Jive		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	497	Goombay Dance Band	"Seven Tears"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	498	Bucks Fizz	"My Camera Never Lies"	RCA		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	499		"Ebony and Ivory"	Parlophone		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	500	Nicole	""	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	501	Madness	"House of Fun"	Stiff		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	502		"Goody Two Shoes"	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	503	Charlene	"I've Never Been to Me"	Motown		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	504	Captain Sensible	"Happy Talk"	A&M		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	505		"Fame"	RSO		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	506		"Come On Eileen" †	Mercury		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	507	Survivor	"Eye of the Tiger"	Scotti Bros.		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	508	Musical Youth	"Pass the Dutchie"	MCA		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	509	Culture Club	"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"	Virgin		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	510		"I Don't Wanna Dance"	Ice		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	511		"Beat Surrender"	Polydor		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	512	Renée and Renato	"Save Your Love"	Hollywood		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	513		"You Can't Hurry Love"	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	514	Men at Work	"Down Under"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	515	Kajagoogoo	"Too Shy"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	516		"Billie Jean"	Epic		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	517		"Total Eclipse of the Heart"	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	518	Duran Duran	"Is There Something I Should Know?"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	519		"Let's Dance"	EMI America		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	520	Spandau Ballet	"True"	Chrysalis		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	521	New Edition	"Candy Girl"	London		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	522		"Every Breath You Take"	A&M		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	523		"Baby Jane"	Warner Bros.		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	524		"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)"	CBS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	525	KC and the Sunshine Band	"Give It Up"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	526	UB40	"Red Red Wine"	DEP International		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	527	Culture Club	"Karma Chameleon" †	Virgin		6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	528		"Uptown Girl"	CBS		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	529		"Only You"	10		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	530		"Pipes of Peace"	Parlophone		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	531	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Relax"	ZTT		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	532	Nena	"99 Red Balloons"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	533		"Hello"	Motown		6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	534	Duran Duran	""	EMI		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	535	Wham!	"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	536	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Two Tribes"	ZTT		9
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	537		"Careless Whisper"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	538		"I Just Called to Say I Love You"	Motown		6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	539	Wham!	"Freedom"	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	540		"I Feel for You"	Warner Bros.		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	541		"I Should Have Known Better"	A&M		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	542	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	""	ZTT		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	543	Band Aid	"Do They Know It's Christmas?" ‡	Mercury		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	544	Foreigner	"I Want to Know What Love Is"	Atlantic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	545	and Barbara Dickson	"I Know Him So Well"	RCA		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	546	Dead or Alive	"You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	547	and Phil Collins	"Easy Lover"	CBS		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	548	USA for Africa	"We Are the World"	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	549		"Move Closer"	Carrere		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	550		"19"	Chrysalis		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	551		"You'll Never Walk Alone"	Spartan		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	552	Sister Sledge	"Frankie"	Atlantic		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	553	Eurythmics	"There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"	RCA		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	554	Madonna	"Into the Groove"	Sire		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	555	UB40 and Chrissie Hynde	"I Got You Babe"	DEP International		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	556	and Mick Jagger	"Dancing in the Street"	EMI America		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	557		"If I Was"	Chrysalis		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	558		"" †	CBS		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	559		""	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	560	Wham!	"I'm Your Man"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	561		"Saving All My Love for You"	Arista		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	562	Shakin' Stevens	"Merry Christmas Everyone"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	563	Pet Shop Boys	"West End Girls"	Parlophone		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	564		""	Warner Bros.		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	565		"When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going"	Jive		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	566		"Chain Reaction"	Capitol		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	567	and the Young Ones featuring Hank Marvin	"Living Doll"	WEA		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	568		""	Epic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	569	Falco	"Rock Me Amadeus"	A&M		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	570	Spitting Image	""	Virgin		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	571	Doctor and the Medics	"Spirit in the Sky"	IRS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	572	Wham!	""	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	573	Madonna	"Papa Don't Preach"	Sire		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	574		""	A&M		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	575		"I Want to Wake Up with You"	Revue		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	576	with Sarah Jane Morris	"Don't Leave Me This Way" †	London		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	577	Madonna	"True Blue"	Sire		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	578		"Every Loser Wins"	BBC		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	579	Berlin	"Take My Breath Away"	CBS		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	580	Europe	""	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	581		"Caravan of Love"	Go! Discs		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	582		"Reet Petite"	SMP		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	583		"Jack Your Body"	DJ International		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	584	and George Michael	"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	585		"Stand by Me"	Atlantic		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	586		"Everything I Own"	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	587	Mel and Kim	"Respectable"	Supreme		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	588	Ferry Aid	"Let It Be"	CBS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	589	Madonna	"La Isla Bonita"	Sire		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	590	Starship	"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"	Arista		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	591		"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"	Arista		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	592		"Star Trekkin'"	Bark		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	593	Pet Shop Boys	"It's a Sin"	Parlophone		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	594	Madonna	"Who's That Girl"	Sire		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	595	Los Lobos	"La Bamba"	Slash		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	596	and Siedah Garrett	"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"	Epic		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	597		"Never Gonna Give You Up" †	RCA		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	598	MARRS	"Pump Up the Volume"	4AD		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	599	Bee Gees	"You Win Again"	Warner Bros.		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	600	T'Pau	"China in Your Hand"	Siren		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	601	Pet Shop Boys	"Always on My Mind"	Parlophone		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	602		"Heaven Is a Place on Earth"	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	603	Tiffany	"I Think We're Alone Now"	MCA		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	604		"I Should Be So Lucky"	PWL		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	605	Aswad	"Don't Turn Around"	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	606	Pet Shop Boys	"Heart"	Parlophone		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	607	S'Express	"Theme from S'Express"	Rhythm King		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	608	Fairground Attraction	"Perfect"	RCA		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	609		"With a Little Help from My Friends" / "She's Leaving Home"	Childline		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	610		"Doctorin' the Tardis"	KLF Communications		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	611	Bros	"I Owe You Nothing"	CBS		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	612		"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"	London		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	613	Yazz and the Plastic Population	"The Only Way Is Up"	Big Life		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	614		"A Groovy Kind of Love"	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	615		"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"	EMI		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	616	U2	"Desire"	Island		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	617		"One Moment in Time"	Arista		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	618	Enya	"Orinoco Flow"	WEA		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	619		"First Time"	Mercury		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	620		"Mistletoe and Wine" †	EMI		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	621	Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan	"Especially for You"	PWL		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	622	featuring Gene Pitney	"Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart"	EMI		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	623	Simple Minds	"Belfast Child"	Virgin		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	624		"Too Many Broken Hearts"	PWL		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	625	Madonna	"Like a Prayer"	Sire		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	626		"Eternal Flame"	CBS		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	627		"Hand on Your Heart"	PWL		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	628	, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman	"Ferry 'Cross the Mersey"	PWL		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	629		"Sealed with a Kiss"	PWL		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	630	Soul II Soul	"Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"	Virgin		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	631	Sonia	"You'll Never Stop Me Loving You"	Chrysalis		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	632	Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"Swing the Mood"	Music Factory Dance		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	633	Black Box	"Ride on Time" †	Deconstruction		6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	634	Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"That's What I Like"	Music Factory Dance		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	635		"All Around the World"	Arista		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	636	New Kids on the Block	"You Got It (The Right Stuff)"	CBS		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	637	Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"Let's Party"	Music Factory Dance		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	638	Band Aid II	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"	PWL		3

By artist

American entertainer Madonna was the most successful act of the decade in terms of number-one singles. She had six number ones: "Into the Groove" (1985); "Papa Don't Preach", "True Blue" (both 1986); "La Isla Bonita", "Who's That Girl" (both 1987); and "Like a Prayer" (1989). George Michael had significant involvement with seven number-one singles; he was also involved with Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" but his contribution was less significant. He had two number-one singles as a solo artist, four as a member of pop duo Wham!, and one as a duet with Aretha Franklin. The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1980s.

scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Number ones	scope=col	Weeks at number one
scope=row	Madonna	6	14
scope=row	Pet Shop Boys	4	12
scope=row		4	11
scope=row	Shakin' Stevens	4	10
scope=row		4	9
scope=row	Wham!	4	9
scope=row	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	3	15
scope=row	Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	3	9
scope=row		3	9
scope=row		3	9
scope=row		3	8
scope=row		3	8
scope=row		3	8
scope=row		3	7
scope=row		3	7
scope=row	Bucks Fizz	3	6
scope=row		3	6
scope=row	Blondie	3	5
scope=row		3	5

Additionally, Adam Ant and Boy George each had one solo number one hit and two number one hits as lead singers of bands (Adam and the Ants and Culture Club respectively) totalling three number one hits each.

By record label

The following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1980s.

scope=col	Record label	scope=col	Number ones
Epic	23
CBS	19
Virgin	11
EMI	9
RCA	9
A&M	7
Chrysalis	7
PWL	7
Parlophone	6
Sire	6
Arista	5
Motown	5

Songs with the most weeks at number one

The following songs spent at least five weeks at number one during the 1980s.

scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Song	scope=col	Weeks at number one
Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Two Tribes"	9
Culture Club	"Karma Chameleon"	6
Lionel Richie	"Hello"
Stevie Wonder	"I Just Called to Say I Love You"
Black Box	"Ride on Time"
Adam and the Ants	"Stand and Deliver"	5
The Human League	"Don't You Want Me"
Billy Joel	"Uptown Girl"
The Flying Pickets	"Only You"
Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Relax"
Band Aid	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Paul Hardcastle	"19"
Jennifer Rush	"The Power of Love"
Rick Astley	"Never Gonna Give You Up"
T'Pau	"China in Your Hand"
Kylie Minogue	"I Should Be So Lucky"
	"The Only Way Is Up"
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"Swing the Mood"

Million-selling and platinum records

The British Phonographic Industry classified singles and albums since 1973 by the number of units sold, with the highest threshold being a "platinum record". Before 1989, a platinum record was given to singles that sold over 1,000,000 units, a gold record for 500,000 unit sales and a silver record for 250,000.^[11] For singles released after 1 January 1989, the number of sales required to qualify for platinum, gold and silver records was dropped to 600,000 units (platinum), 400,000 units (gold) and 200,000 units (silver).^{[11] [12] [13]} Fifteen records were classified platinum in the 1980s.^[14] These include two songs from the 1970s that were classified platinum in the 1980s: Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody", released in 1973, re-entered the charts and was classified platinum in 1980 and sold over one million copies by 1985. Pink Floyd's 1979 release "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" was classified platinum at the beginning of 1980 and, although certified as selling 0.995 million units, is believed to have surpassed a million copies in the 1980s when sales not "over-the-counter" are included.^{[15] [16]}

In the 1980s, twelve songs were released that were classified platinum in the decade; eleven of these also sold one million units in that time.^[15] The double A-side, "Last Christmas""Everything She Wants" by Wham!, is notable for being the only million-selling single of the decade not to reach number one due to Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" being released at the same time.^[17] In addition, a new version of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II was released in December 1989 and was classified platinum in 1990 and John Lennon's "Imagine" (originally released in 1975), reached number one in 1981 following his death and sold over a million copies.^[15]

Twelve other songs originally released in the 1980s have since sold one million units, eleven of them following the introduction of music downloads in 2004.^{[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]} The other song released in the 1980s to sell a million copies is "Blue Monday" by New Order which charted in several years during the 80s, but was not listed as a million seller until later.

Artist	Song	Date released	Date certified platinum	Year of millionth sale
	"Imagine"			1981
	"Don't You Want Me"			1981
	"Come On Eileen"			1982
New Order	"Blue Monday" ^[No. 3]		—	1983
Culture Club	"Karma Chameleon"			1983
Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Relax"			1984
Frankie Goes to Hollywood	"Two Tribes"			1984
	"Careless Whisper"			1984
	"I Just Called to Say I Love You"			1984
Band Aid	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"			1984
Wham!	"Last Christmas""Everything She Wants"^[No. 2]			1984
Jennifer Rush	""			1985
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers	"Swing the Mood"			—
Black Box	"Ride On Time"			2004–10
Band Aid II	"Do They Know It's Christmas?"			—
	"Stand and Deliver"		—	2004–10
Tight Fit	""		—	2010–12
	"Fame"		—	2004–10
	"Eye of the Tiger"		—	2004–10
	"Uptown Girl"		—	2004–12
	"Ghostbusters"^[No. 2]		—	2004–10
	"Fairytale of New York"^[No. 2]		—	2011
UB40	"Red Red Wine"		—	2014
Journey	"Don't Stop Believin'"^[No. 62]		—	2014
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan	"Especially for You"		—	2014

Additional information

^{[No. 2]}

The singles "Ghostbusters" and "Fairytale of New York" peaked at number two in the UK singles chart. "Last Christmas" peaked at number two upon its original release, but eventually reached number one in 2021.

^{[No. 3]}

"Blue Monday" was originally released as a 12" single in 1983, where it peaked at number 9 in the UK Singles Chart. It was re-released in 7" format in 1988 as "Blue Monday 1988" where it reached a higher peak of number 3. It has also been re-released on other occasions, most notably 1995. New Order's label, Factory Records, were not a member of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) so they never received any sales certifications. However, "Blue Monday" sold more than one million units through combined sales total.

^{[No. 62]}

"Don't Stop Believin'" originally peaked in the UK at number 62 in 1982, but reached number 6 in 2010 following performances on The X Factor.

Further reading

• Davis, Sharon. 80s Chart Toppers: Every Chart-Topper Tells a Story. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing, 1999, 462p.

External links

• Archive of all UK Number One Singles of the 1980s with images of original packaging

Notes and References

1. Web site: Smith . Alan . 50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth! . Dave McAleer's website . 4 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903033717/http://www.davemcaleer.com/page21.htm . 3 September 2011 .
2. Web site: Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts. The Official Charts Company. 16 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php. 10 January 2008.
3. Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. Guinness World Records Limited. Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums. 18th.
4. Web site: Project Retro: Every music track which featured in the UK Top 40 singles chart during the 1980s. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084419/http://gazstone.com/projectretro/list/no1s.html. dead. 4 March 2016. 4 January 2015.
5. Web site: Project Retro: Every music track which featured in the UK Top 40 singles chart during the 1980s. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100944/http://gazstone.com/projectretro/list/info.php?id=1146&type=no1s. dead. 4 March 2016. 10 January 2015.
6. Web site: Leadbetter. Russell. Macca proves he's no sellout. The Herald. 31 May 2010. 17 May 2010.
7. Web site: Lakhani. Nina. Charity & the charts: The hits and the misses. The Independent. 2 July 2010. 7 February 2010.
8. Web site: Cassette Singles: New 45's. Pareles. Jon. 2 September 1987. The New York Times. 21. 22 July 2010.
9. Jones. Alan. 6 May 1989. This Week's Charts Analysed. Record Mirror. 48. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026052638/http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1989/UK%20Charts%201989.05.06.pdf. dead. October 26, 2010.
10. Web site: Chart Archive - 1980s Singles. everyHit.com. 22 July 2010.
11. Gallup. 4 February 1989. The Top of the Pops Chart. Record Mirror. 4. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026052529/http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1989/UK%20Charts%201989.02.04.pdf. dead. October 26, 2010. 16 July 2010. The Gallup Organization.
12. Web site: Certified Awards. British Phonographic Industry. 7 June 2010. 1 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120501114320/http://bpi.co.uk/members-area/article/bpi-certified-awards.aspx. dead.
13. Web site: International Certification Award levels . . 7 June 2010 . 7 . March 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726171640/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/international-award-levels.pdf . 26 July 2011 .
14. Web site: Certified Awards Search . . 7 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805005459/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx . 5 August 2011 .
    Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year.
15. Web site: Stats and Facts: Million Sellers . . 19 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416145908/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/stats-million_sellers.php . 16 April 2008 . dead .
16. Web site: Million-Selling Singles. everyHit. 12 June 2010.
17. Web site: Sold on Song: Last Christmas. BBC Radio 2. 1 July 2010. April 2005.
18. 25 December 2011. Alan. Jones. Christmas Singles Chart analysis: Military Wives run away with it. Music Week.
19. 1 June 2010. Alan. Jones. Pendulum and Black Eyed Peas make historic week for sales charts. Music Week.
20. 6 September 2010. Digital generation pushes the oldies into the million-sellers club. Music Week.
21. Web site: Billy Joel. 8 March 2004. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20040330201353/http://chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/acts/ACT00224.htm. 30 March 2004.
22. Web site: Black Box. 8 March 2004. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20040324114452/http://chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/acts/ACT00236.htm. 24 March 2004.
23. UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce. Ken Bruce (presenter). BBC. BBC Radio Two. 30 August 2010.