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BBC Singles Chart

 

The UK singles charts compilation began way back in 1952, when a Top 12 was based on sales figures given to music journal NME by a few record stores. It became a top 20 from 1954 and the Top 30 was available from 1956.

 

When BBC Radio 1 started, the chart referred to was the 'BBC Top Thirty', although only the Top 20 chart was run down on Sundays. From 1960 until 1969, the chart  was compiled by combining the charts of  four music magazines of the time, namely 'Record Mirror, Melody Maker, New Musical Express and Disc and Music Echo. This dictated the chart for the popular BBC Light programme 'Pick of the Pops'.

 

Due to concerns over 'fixing' the charts by unscrupulous promoters  buying large quantities of records at key shops in order to increase the chart position, the collating method was changed in February 1969. The British Market Research Bureau, backed by the music industry and the BBC used a method helped by computer. Under this system, every sale at 300 different UK shops was recorded. A random selection device chose a different 150 shops each week , thereby making a dishonest boost extremely expensive!  It was noted that the new method showed a wide discrepancy to the old. For example, the BMRB ranked Amen Corner's hit 'Half as Nice' at no. 1 in February 1969, but using the old method, this disc would have been placed at no.16 that same week!

 

From 1983 the charts were compiled with the aid of GALLUP. Until 1987 Radio1 would announce the chart Tuesdays and play it the following Sunday. Since 1998 the compilation has been managed by The Official UK Charts Company (formerly called CIN). The Official UK charts was 50 years old in November 2002.

 

BBC TOP 30 September 30th 1967 - The First 'Radio 1' Singles Chart.

 

 

Englebert 'Topping & Tailing' the first chart used on Radio 1.

1. LAST WALTZ Englebert Humperdinck

2. EXCERPT FROM A TEENAGE OPERA Keith West

3. FLOWERS IN THE RAIN The Move

4. REFLECTIONS Diana Ross & the Supremes

5. ITCHYCOO PARK Small Faces

6. LETS GO TO SAN FRANCISCO Flowerpot Men

7. HOLE IN MY SHOE Traffic

8. I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones

9. THERE MUST BE A WAY Frankie Vaughan

10. SAN FRANCISCO Scott McKenzie

11. THE DAY I MET MARIE Cliff Richard

12. EVEN THE BAD TIMES ARE GOOD The Tremeloes

13. THE LETTER Box Tops

14. JUST LOVING YOU Anita Harris

15. MASSACHUSSETTS Bee Gees

16. BLACK VELVET BAND Dubliners

17. HEROES AND VILLAINS Beach Boys

18. WE LOVE YOU/DANDELION Rolling Stones

19. I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER Stevie Wonder

20. GOOD TIMES Eric Burdon

21. BURNING OF THE MIDNIGHT LAMP Jimi Hendrix

22. ODE TO BILLIE JOE Bobbie Gentry

23. FIVE LITTLE FINGERS Frankie McBride

24. WHEN WILL THE GOOD APPLES FALL The Seekers

25. FROM THE UNDERWORLD The Herd

26. HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT Alan Price Set

27. YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON Vanilla Fudge

28. PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY The Monkees

29. THE LETTER Mindbenders

30. THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING Englebert Humperdinck

REGULAR PRESENTERS OF BBC SINGLES CHARTS PROGRAMMES

 

YEAR PRESENTING

PHOTO

NAME

BROADCAST ON

PRESENTER DETAILS

SOUND CLIP

1955

 

Franklin

Engelmann

1908-1972

Top 20 Chart

BBC Light Programme, (Saturday Nights 10.35PM) from Oct 1955.

Mono, AM (MW and LW) service only

VHF mono from 1955 (London area)

Frank was 47 when he presented Pick of the Pops. He also fronted Home Service Quiz shows Ask me Another, Down Your Way and The Golden Slipper Club.

NOT AVAILABLE

1956

 

Alan Dell

1924-1995

Top 20 Chart

Alan Dell went on to present the weekly show Sounds Easy for Radio 2. He introduced many Big Band concerts over the years.

NOT AVAILABLE

Sept 1956 1961

and;

late 1962 to 1963

 

David Jacobs

1926-

Top 20 Chart

 

Presented  Top of The Pops in 1964. Also Juke Box Jury and many Light Programme/Radio 2 Shows. Currently presents a Sunday Evening music show on Radio 2.

11pm Saturday 09.05.59 Pick of the Pops show

1961 - 1962,1964

to Sept 1972

 

 

 

Alan Freeman 

1927 - 2006

Top 20 Chart

BBC Light Pick of the Pops from 23rd Sept 1961 - part of Trad Tavern show

Sunday 4PM from  1962.

Radios 1 & 2 from Sept.1967 (MW, LW & VHF mono)

Alan's fast paced presenting style helped make the show a national institution.

Hi There, Pop Pickers! (April 1964)

20.10.63

10.11.63

15.12.63

06.09.64

13.09.64

 

Don Moss

 

BBC Light Programme Pick of the Pops Born 1930, Popular D.J. Don presented many Light Programme and BBC TV shows. He stood in for Alan Freeman during his absence.Chart countdown 6th Sept 1964

Sept 1972

To April 1978

 

 

Tom Browne

 

Top 20 Chart

 

Radio 1 & 2

MW,LW & VHF mono.

VHF Stereo from 1973

Solid Gold 60   4pm 7pm Sundays until spring 1974  then Top 20 6pm 7pm Sundays

His first show was on 1st October 1972; it was called 'Solid Gold Sixty' broadcast from 4pm-7pm. The last hour counted down the BBC Top 20 which was also carried by Radio 2 Long Wave and VHF. His first show found David Cassidy at number 1 with 'how can I be sure'.

NEW Tom chats about Alan Freeman.....

 

and...

 

Bohemiam Rhapsody

 

Marie Osmond at Number 2 1973

April 1978

To August 1979 And January to Sept1984

 

 

Simon Bates 

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 & 2 MW, LW & VHF stereo until January 1979.

Then Radio 1 MW & 88-91 FM Stereo

Sunday 6-7pm until Nov 1978 then 5-7pm

Simon introduced the first BBC Sunday UK Top 40 in 1978 following wavelength changes at the station.

He made the Golden Hour famous on his mid-morning slot.

Simon chats about the charts

 

 

 

 

Introducing the FIRST Sunday top 40  Nov 1978
Aug 1979 to Jan 82

 

 

Tony Blackburn

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 MW & 88-91 FM Stereo

Sunday 5pm - 7pm

Stereo R2 from 6pm

Tony also fronted  Junior Choice during his period presenting the Top 40. 

NEW Tony chats about the time he presented the charts

Introducing the Top in 1979

January 1982 to January 1984

 

Tommy Vance

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 MW & 88-91 FM Stereo

Sunday 5pm - 7pm

Tommy presented rock music shows for Radio 1.

NEW Tommy chats about his time presenting the charts

Chart of 1991

September 1984 to early 1986

 

Richard Skinner

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 MW & 88-91 FM Stereo

Sunday 5pm - 7pm

Richard announced the start of the 1985 Live Aid concert to the world

NEW Richard chats about the charts

Midge Ure at Number 1 (Sept 1985)

1986 to Sept 1990

and

March 1992 to Feb 1995

 

Bruno Brookes

Top 40 Chart

88-91 Stereo FM until March 24th 1990. Radio 1 MW until July 1994.

 

97-99 FM Stereo (dates vary across country) starting Oct 1987 (London) completed August 1991.

4pm to 7pm From March 1992 

Please click the photograph for details.

The Complete UK Top 40 July 1990

Sept 1990 to March 1992

and

March 1995 to Nov 2002

 

Mark Goodier

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 FM Stereo 97-99MHz, DAB & Digital Satellite

Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Please click the photograph for details.

NEW Mark chats about the time he presented the charts

Up to No. 1 with The Timelords -

Feb 2003 to Feb 2005

Wes Butters

Top 40 Chart

 

Radio 1 FM Stereo 97-99MHz, DAB & Digital Satellite

Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Salford born in 1979, Wes worked on various local radio stations, including Galaxy 105/106 from 2000 to 2002. At 24 he was the youngest Sunday BBC Chart presenter. 
March 2005 to Sept 2007

JK and Joel

Top 40 Chart

Radio 1 FM Stereo 97-99MHz, DAB & Digital Satellite

Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Jason King (30) and Joel Ross (27) formerly of  Manchester 's Key 103 breakfast became the first duo to regularly present the Sunday Chart. 
from Oct 2007

Fearne & ReggieRadio 1 FM Stereo 97-99MHz, DAB & Digital Satellite

Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Fearne Cotton (26) & Reginald Yates (24 )both started out on the Disney TV Channel, later  presenting Diggit on ITV.

Fearne left the show in September 2009.

 
From Sept 2009

Reggie YatesRadio 1 FM Stereo 97-99MHz, DAB & Digital Satellite

Sunday 4pm - 7pm

Reggie DJs up and down the country and runs one of the biggest monthly club nights in London. 

Rest in Peace

Steve Wright

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