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] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1971, as well as singles which peaked in 1970 and 1972 but were in the top 10 in 1971. 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).
One-hundred and six singles were in the top ten in 1971. Ten singles from 1970 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Something Tells Me (Something's Gonna Happen Tonight)" by Cilla Black was released in 1971 but did not reach its peak until 1972. "Grandad" by Clive Dunn, "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 and "Ride a White Swan" by T. Rex were the singles from 1970 to reach their peak in 1971. Sixteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1971. Bay City Rollers, Elton John, The New Seekers, Rod Stewart and Slade were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1971.
The 1970 Christmas number-one, "I Hear You Knocking" by Dave Edmunds, remained at number-one for the first week of 1971. The first new number-one single of the year was "Grandad" by Clive Dunn. Overall, thirteen different singles peaked at number-one in 1971, with T. Rex (2) having the most singles hit that position.
One-hundred and six singles charted in the top 10 in 1971, with one-hundred and two singles reaching their peak this year.
Seventeen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1971. Elvis Presley and T. Rex shared the record for most top 10 hits in 1971 with four hit singles each.
George Harrison was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "My Sweet Lord". Andy Williams, Dave and Ansell Collins, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Mungo Jerry and The Supremes were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1971.
Forty-three artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1971, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, five went on to record another hit single that year: C.C.S., Dave and Ansell Collins, John Kongos, Middle of the Road and Olivia Newton-John. Dawn had two other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
Before finding success as lead singer with Dawn, Tony Orlando had achieved a solo UK top 10 entry in 1961 with "Bless You", which reached number 5.
Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" (from Love Story) and "Theme from "Shaft"" (Shaft).
George Harrison released the single "Bangla Desh" as a follow-up to debut solo single "My Sweet Lord". The single highlighted the plight of refugees in Bangladesh (previously known as East Pakistan) after the country was hit by the 1970 Bhola cyclone. The song was performed by Harrison at The Concert for Bangladesh, a benefit concert to aid victims and survivors. The single charted in the UK at number ten on 28 August 1971.
George Harrison had the best-selling single of the year with "My Sweet Lord". The single spent ten weeks in the top 10 (including five weeks at number one), sold over 890,000 copies and was certified silver by the BPI. "Maggie May"/"Reason to Believe" by Rod Stewart came in second place, selling more than 615,000 copies and losing out by around 275,000 sales. Middle of the Road's "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep", "Knock Three Times" from Tony Orlando and Dawn and "Hot Love" by T. Rex made up the top five. Singles by The Mixtures, The New Seekers, Diana Ross, The Tams and T. Rex ("Get It On") were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
| Symbol | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=lightblue | ‡ | Single peaked in 1970 but still in chart in 1971. |
| ♦ | Single released in 1971 but peaked in 1972. | |
| (#) | Year-end top-ten single position and rank | |
| Entered | The date that the single first appeared in the chart. | |
| Peak | Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart. |
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1971, including singles that reached their peak in 1970. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1971 is also shown.
| Entries | Artist | Weeks | Singles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Elvis Presley | 6 | "Heartbreak Hotel"/"Hound Dog", "Rags to Riches", "There Goes My Everything", "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" |
| 30 | "Get It On", "Hot Love", "Jeepster", "Ride a White Swan" | ||
| 3 | Diana Ross | 13 | "I'm Still Waiting", "Remember Me", "Surrender" |
| 12 | "Cracklin' Rosie", "I Am... I Said", "Sweet Caroline" | ||
| Tony Orlando and Dawn | 18 | "Candida", "Knock Three Times", "What Are You Doing Sunday" | |
| 2 | 9 | "Home Lovin' Man", "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" | |
| C.C.S. | 9 | "Tap Turns on the Water", "Walking" | |
| Dave and Ansell Collins | 11 | "Double Barrel", "Monkey Spanner" | |
| George Harrison | 11 | "Bangla Desh", "My Sweet Lord" | |
| 6 | "No Matter How I Try", "Nothing Rhymed" | ||
| John Kongos | 9 | "He's Gonna Step on You Again", "Tokoloshe Man" | |
| 7 | "Malt and Barley Blues", "When I'm Dead and Gone" | ||
| Middle of the Road | 17 | "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep", "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum" | |
| Mungo Jerry | 12 | "Baby Jump", "Lady Rose" | |
| Olivia Newton-John | 8 | "Banks of the Ohio", "If Not for You" | |
| 10 | "Nathan Jones", "Stoned Love" |
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