List of UK top-ten singles in 1952 explained

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]

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 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.[15] It was the only single to top the chart that year.[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. "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] and Nat King Cole[22] were the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1952.

Chart debuts

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

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
Al Martino2"Here in My Heart"1"Take My Heart" (9)
Jo Stafford1"You Belong to Me" 1
Nat King Cole2"Somewhere Along the Way"3"Because You're Mine" (6)
Bing Crosby3"Isle of Innisfree"3"Zing a Little Zong" (10), "Silent Night, Holy Night" (8)
Guy Mitchell1"Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)"2
Rosemary Clooney1"Half as Much"3
Vera Lynn3"Forget Me Not"5"The Homing Waltz" (9), "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (10)
Frankie Laine2"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)"7"Sugar Bush" (8)
Doris Day2"Sugar Bush"8"My Love and Devotion" (10)
Ray Martin and His Concert Orchestra1"Blue Tango"8
Mario Lanza1"Because You're Mine"3
Johnnie Ray1"Faith Can Move Mountains"7
Kay Starr1"Comes A-Long A-Love" 1
Jane Wyman1"Zing a Little Zong"10
Mantovani1"White Christmas"6
1"Faith Can Move Mountains"7
Louis Armstrong1"Takes Two to Tango" 6
Tony Brent1"Walkin' to Missouri" 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),[23] "Isle of Innisfree" (The Quiet Man)[24] and "Zing a Little Zong" (Just for You).[25]

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.

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.[26]

Top-ten singles

Key
SymbolMeaning
Single released in 1952 but peaked in 1953.
(#)Year-end best-selling single.
EnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
Weeks
in
top
10
SingleArtistPeakPeak reached
(week ending)
Weeks
at
peak
16"Here in My Heart" Al Martino19
16"You Belong to Me" ♦ Jo Stafford11
6"Somewhere Along the Way" Nat King Cole31
11"Isle of Innisfree"Bing Crosby33
10"Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)"Guy Mitchell21
9"Half as Much"Rosemary Clooney33
6 "Forget Me Not" Vera Lynn51
3"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" Frankie Laine72
7"Sugar Bush" Doris Day & Frankie Laine83
2"Blue Tango" Ray Martin81
2"The Homing Waltz" Vera Lynn92
1"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (#1)101
22"Because You're Mine" Mario Lanza33
1"Take My Heart"Al Martino91
2"My Love and Devotion"Doris Day102
14"Comes A-Long A-Love" ♦ Kay Starr11
1"Zing a Little Zong"Bing Crosby & Jane Wyman101
3"White Christmas"Mantovani62
3"Because You're Mine" Nat King Cole62
3"Faith Can Move Mountains" Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads72
2"Silent Night, Holy Night"Bing Crosby82
10"Takes Two to Tango" ♦Louis Armstrong61
7 "Walkin' to Missouri" ♦ Tony Brent71

Entries by artist

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.

EntriesArtistWeeksSingles
3Vera Lynn8"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Forget Me Not", "The Homing Waltz"
Bing Crosby8"Isle of Innisfree", "Silent Night, Holy Night", "Zing a Little Zong"
2Al Martino7"Here in My Heart", "Take My Heart"
Doris Day6"My Love and Devotion", "Sugar Bush"
Frankie Laine7"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)", "Sugar Bush"
Nat King Cole6"Because You're Mine", "Somewhere Along the Way"

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official UK Charts Company . . 1 January 2012.
  2. Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. Guinness World Records Limited.
  3. Web site: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 21 February 2010.
  4. Web site: The Story of the Single . . 23 March 2001 . 19 May 2010.
  5. Web site: 'The Godfather' singer Al Martino dies . . 14 October 2009 . 22 May 2010.
  6. Web site: Key dates in the history of the Official UK Charts (archived) . Official Charts Company. 22 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php . 10 January 2008.
  7. Web site: Top 10 chart starts to sound a little off-key . . 17 January 2005 . 19 May 2010.
  8. Web site: First ever top 12: 14 November 1952. Official Charts Company. 22 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080110144452/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-chart.php . 10 January 2008.
  9. Web site: First ever top 20: 01 October 1954 . Official Charts Company. 22 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080110144457/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-top20.php . 10 January 2008.
  10. Web site: The first ever Official Singles Chart – revisited!. 14 November 2012. Official Chart. Official Charts Company1. 8 August 2018.
  11. Web site: Takes Two to Tango – full Official Chart History. Official Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 August 2018.
  12. Web site: Kay Starr obituary. Vacher. Peter. 6 November 2016. The Guardian. London. 8 August 2018.
  13. Web site: Walkin' to Missouri – full Official Chart history. Official Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 August 2018.
  14. Web site: The ten chart battles that changed music. Hall. James. 5 July 2015. The Telegraph. 8 August 2018.
  15. Web site: The songs that spent the longest at Number 1. Myers. Justin. 23 March 2018. Official Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 August 2018.
  16. Web site: Announcing the first record Hit Parade . . 14 November 1952 . 8 . 22 May 2010.
  17. Web site: Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn 'oldest living artist to make it into the top 20'. 30 August 2009. The Telegraph. 8 August 2018.
  18. Web site: 66 SharesFacebook66TwitterEmailReddit 02 December 2017 Festive songs that never made Christmas Number 1. Myers. Justin. 2 December 2017. Official Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 August 2018.
  19. Web site: Al Martino: Obituary. 14 October 2009. The Telegraph. 8 August 2018.
  20. Web site: Doris Day: A Hollywood Legend Reflects on Life. 2 April 2012. NPR. 8 August 2018.
  21. Web site: Frankie Laine, 93, the Hit-Making Crooner Who Used His Voice 'Like a Horn,’ Is Dead. Severo. Richard. 7 February 2007. The New York Times. 8 August 2018.
  22. Web site: Crooner, inspiration, father I never had: Gregory Porter on his hero Nat King Cole. Porter. Gregory. 22 November 2017. The Guardian. London. 8 August 2018.
  23. Web site: On This Day: Watch All of Mario Lanza’s Vocal Performances From His 8 Films. Salazar. David. OperaWire. 8 August 2018.
  24. Web site: Songs in The Quiet Man: The amazing soundtrack to Irish America’s favorite movie. Mulraney. Frances. 7 February 2018. IrishCentral. 8 August 2018.
  25. Web site: Macfarlane. Malcolm. Bing Crosby – By By Day. BING magazine. International Club Crosby. 9 August 2018.
  26. Web site: The biggest song of every year revealed. Myers. Justin. 9 January 2016. Official Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 August 2018.