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List of UK top-ten singles in 1952

{{short description|None}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}

{{1950s in music (UK)}}

File:Vera Lynn (1962).jpg achieved the best-selling single of 1952, "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", although it only peaked at number ten. She had a further two top 10 singles this year: "The Homing Waltz", which reached number nine, and "Forget Me Not", which peaked at number five.]]

File:Al Martino 1952.JPG secured the first ever number-one record in the UK Singles Chart with "Here in My Heart", which spent nine consecutive weeks at the top of the chart.]]

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/ |title=The Official UK Charts Company |publisher=Official Charts Company |accessdate=1 January 2012}} Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.{{cite book|title=Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition)|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2005|isbn=1-904994-00-8|pages=14|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3196892.stm |title=New singles formats to save the charts|publisher=BBC News|date=16 October 2003 |accessdate=21 February 2010}} New Musical Express (NME) magazine published the United Kingdom record charts for the first time in 1952.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1234212.stm |title=The Story of the Single |publisher=BBC News |date=23 March 2001 |accessdate=19 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/47828 |title='The Godfather' singer Al Martino dies |work=NME |date=14 October 2009 |accessdate=22 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php |title=Key dates in the history of the Official UK Charts (archived) |publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=22 May 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php |archivedate = 10 January 2008}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/features/Top-10-chart-starts-to.921080.jp |title=Top 10 chart starts to sound a little off-key |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=17 January 2005 |accessdate=19 May 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-chart.php |title=First ever top 12: 14 November 1952|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=22 May 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110144452/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-chart.php |archivedate=10 January 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-top20.php |title=First ever top 20: 01 October 1954 |publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=22 May 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110144457/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/history_first-top20.php |archivedate=10 January 2008}} 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).{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/takes-two-to-tango/|title=The first ever Official Singles Chart – revisited!|date=14 November 2012|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company1|accessdate=8 August 2018}}

Twenty-three singles were in the top ten in 1952. "Takes Two to Tango" by Louis Armstrong,{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/takes-two-to-tango/|title=Takes Two to Tango – full Official Chart History|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=8 August 2018}} "Comes A-Long A-Love" by Kay Starr,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/nov/06/kay-starr-obituary|title=Kay Starr obituary|last=Vacher|first=Peter|date=6 November 2016|work=The Guardian|location=London|accessdate=8 August 2018}} "Walkin' to Missouri" by Tony Brent{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/takes-two-to-tango/|title=Walkin' to Missouri – full Official Chart history|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=8 August 2018}} and "You Belong to Me" by Jo Stafford were all released in 1952 but did not reach their peak until 1953.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/11711994/The-ten-chart-battles-that-changed-music.html|title=The ten chart battles that changed music|last=Hall|first=James|date=5 July 2015|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=8 August 2018}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-songs-that-spent-the-longest-at-number-1__14522/|title=The songs that spent the longest at Number 1|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=23 March 2018|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=8 August 2018}} It was the only single to top the chart that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/New-Musical-Express/1952/NME-1952-11-14-S-OCR.pdf |title=Announcing the first record Hit Parade |work=NME |date=14 November 1952 |page=8 |accessdate=22 May 2010}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/6114772/Forces-sweetheart-Dame-Vera-Lynn-oldest-living-artist-to-make-it-into-the-top-20.html|title=Forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn 'oldest living artist to make it into the top 20'|date=30 August 2009|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=8 August 2018}}

Bing Crosby's three entries included a version of the Christmas classic "Silent Night", released as "Silent Night, Holy Night".{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/festive-songs-that-never-made-christmas-number-1__17143/|title=66 SharesFacebook66TwitterEmailReddit 02 December 2017 Festive songs that never made Christmas Number 1|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=2 December 2017|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=8 August 2018}}

Al Martino was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Here in My Heart".{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/6326236/Al-Martino.html|title=Al Martino: Obituary|date=14 October 2009|work=The Telegraph|accessdate=8 August 2018}} Doris Day,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/04/02/149392321/doris-day-a-hollywood-legend-reflects-on-life|title=Doris Day: A Hollywood Legend Reflects on Life|date=2 April 2012|publisher=NPR|accessdate=8 August 2018}} Frankie Laine{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/arts/music/07laine.html|title=Frankie Laine, 93, the Hit-Making Crooner Who Used His Voice 'Like a Horn,’ Is Dead|last=Severo|first=Richard|date=7 February 2007|work=The New York Times|accessdate=8 August 2018}} and Nat King Cole{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/22/crooner-inspiration-father-i-never-had-gregory-porter-on-his-hero-nat-king-cole|title=Crooner, inspiration, father I never had: Gregory Porter on his hero Nat King Cole|last=Porter|first=Gregory|date=22 November 2017|work=The Guardian|location=London|accessdate=8 August 2018}} 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.

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:55px;"| Artist

! scope="col" style="width:55px;" data-sort-type="number"| Number of top 10s

! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"| First entry

! scope="col" style="width:55px;" data-sort-type="number"| Chart position

! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"| Other entries

Al Martino

|2

|"Here in My Heart"

|1

|"Take My Heart" (9)

Jo Stafford

|1

|"You Belong to Me" {{ref label|You Belong to Me|A|a}}

|1

|—

Nat King Cole

|2

|"Somewhere Along the Way"

|3

|"Because You're Mine" (6)

Bing Crosby

|3

|"Isle of Innisfree"

|3

|"Zing a Little Zong" (10), "Silent Night, Holy Night" (8)

Guy Mitchell

|1

|"Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)"

|2

|—

Rosemary Clooney

|1

|"Half as Much"

|3

|—

Vera Lynn

|3

|"Forget Me Not"

|5

|"The Homing Waltz" (9), "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (10)

Frankie Laine

|2

|"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)"

|7

|"Sugar Bush" (8)

Doris Day

|2

|"Sugar Bush"

|8

|"My Love and Devotion" (10)

Ray Martin and His Concert Orchestra

|1

|"Blue Tango"

|8

|—

Mario Lanza

|1

|"Because You're Mine"

|3

|—

Johnnie Ray

|1

|"Faith Can Move Mountains"

|7

|—

Kay Starr

|1

|"Comes A-Long A-Love" {{ref label|Comes A-Long A-Love|B|b}}

|1

|—

Jane Wyman

|1

|"Zing a Little Zong"

|10

|—

Mantovani

|1

|"White Christmas"

|6

|—

{{sortname|The|Four Lads}}

|1

|"Faith Can Move Mountains"

|7

|—

Louis Armstrong

|1

|"Takes Two to Tango" {{ref label|Takes Two|C|c}}

|6

|—

Tony Brent

|1

|"Walkin' to Missouri" {{ref label|Missouri|D|d}}

|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),{{cite web|url=http://operawire.com/on-this-day-watch-all-of-mario-lanzas-vocal-performances-from-his-8-films/|title=On This Day: Watch All of Mario Lanza’s Vocal Performances From His 8 Films|last=Salazar|first=David|work=OperaWire|accessdate=8 August 2018}} "Isle of Innisfree" (The Quiet Man){{cite web|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/the-quiet-man-soundtrack-songs|title=Songs in The Quiet Man: The amazing soundtrack to Irish America’s favorite movie|last=Mulraney|first=Frances|date=7 February 2018|work=IrishCentral|accessdate=8 August 2018}} and "Zing a Little Zong" (Just for You).{{cite web|last1=Macfarlane|first1=Malcolm|title=Bing Crosby – By By Day|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/Chapter_8.htm|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|accessdate=9 August 2018}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-biggest-song-of-every-year-revealed__13409/|title=The biggest song of every year revealed|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=9 January 2016|work=Official Chart|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=8 August 2018}}

Top-ten singles

;Key

Class="wikitable"

!Symbol

!Meaning

bgcolor=#DDFFDD|♦

|Single released in 1952 but peaked in 1953.

(#)

|Year-end best-selling single.

Entered

|The date that the single first appeared in the chart.

Peak

|Highest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! Entered
(week ending)

! Weeks
in
top
10

! Single

! Artist

! Peak

! Peak reached
(week ending)

! Weeks
at
peak

rowspan="12"|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|16

|style="text-align:left;"|"Here in My Heart" {{ref label|Number one|E|e}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Al Martino

|1

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|9

16

|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=#DDFFDD|"You Belong to Me" ♦ {{ref label|Jo Stafford|F|f}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Jo Stafford

|1

|{{dts|format=dmy|1953|1|22}}

|1

6

|style="text-align:left;"|"Somewhere Along the Way" {{ref label|Somewhere Along the Way|G|g}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Nat King Cole

|3

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|1

11

|style="text-align:left;"|"Isle of Innisfree"

|style="text-align:left;"|Bing Crosby

|3

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|18}}

|3

10

|style="text-align:left;"|"Feet Up (Pat Him on the Po-Po)"

|style="text-align:left;"|Guy Mitchell

|2

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|27}}

|1

9

|style="text-align:left;"|"Half as Much"

|style="text-align:left;"|Rosemary Clooney

|3

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|27}}

|3

6

|align="left"|"Forget Me Not" {{ref label|Forget Me Not|H|h}}

|align="left"|Vera Lynn

|5

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|18}}

|1

3

|align="left"|"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" {{ref label|High Noon|I|i}}

|align="left"|Frankie Laine

|7

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|2

7

|style="text-align:left;"|"Sugar Bush" {{ref label|Sugarbush|J|j}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Doris Day & Frankie Laine

|8

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|3

2

|style="text-align:left;"|"Blue Tango" {{ref label|Blue Tango|K|k}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Ray Martin

|8

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|1

2

|style="text-align:left;"|"The Homing Waltz" {{ref label|The Homing Waltz|L|l}}

|style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|Vera Lynn

|9

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|2

1

|style="text-align:left;"|"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" (#1)

|10

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|20}}

|1

rowspan="3"|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|27}}

|22

|style="text-align:left;"|"Because You're Mine"

|style="text-align:left;"|Mario Lanza

|3

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|11}}

|3

1

|style="text-align:left;"|"Take My Heart"

|style="text-align:left;"|Al Martino

|9

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|27}}

|1

2

|style="text-align:left;"|"My Love and Devotion"

|style="text-align:left;"|Doris Day

|10

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|11|27}}

|2

rowspan="2"|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|11}}

|14

|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=#DDFFDD|"Comes A-Long A-Love" ♦ {{ref label|Kay Starr|M|m}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Kay Starr

|1

|{{dts|format=dmy|1953|1|29}}

|1

1

|style="text-align:left;"|"Zing a Little Zong"

|style="text-align:left;"|Bing Crosby & Jane Wyman

|10

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|11}}

|1

rowspan="6"|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|25}}

|3

|style="text-align:left;"|"White Christmas"

|style="text-align:left;"|Mantovani

|6

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|25}}

|2

3

|style="text-align:left;"|"Because You're Mine" {{ref label|Because|N|n}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Nat King Cole

|6

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|25}}

|2

3

|style="text-align:left;"|"Faith Can Move Mountains" {{ref label|Faith|O|o}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads

|7

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|25}}

|2

2

|style="text-align:left;"|"Silent Night, Holy Night"

|style="text-align:left;"|Bing Crosby

|8

|{{dts|format=dmy|1952|12|25}}

|2

10

|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=#DDFFDD|"Takes Two to Tango" ♦

|style="text-align:left;"|Louis Armstrong

|6

|{{dts|format=dmy|1953|1|29}}

|1

7

|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=#DDFFDD|"Walkin' to Missouri" ♦ {{ref label|Missouri|P|p}}

|style="text-align:left;"|Tony Brent

|7

|{{dts|format=dmy|1953|1|15}}

|1

Entries by artist

{{see also|List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1950s#1952}}

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.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
scope="col" style="width:55px;" data-sort-type="number"| Entries

! scope="col" style="text-align:center;"| Artist

! scope="col" style="width:55px;" data-sort-type="number"| Weeks

! scope="col" style="width:300px;"| Singles

rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | 3

|Vera Lynn

|8

|"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "Forget Me Not", "The Homing Waltz"

Bing Crosby

|8

|"Isle of Innisfree", "Silent Night, Holy Night", "Zing a Little Zong"

rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | 2

|Al Martino

|7

|"Here in My Heart", "Take My Heart"

Doris Day

|6

|"My Love and Devotion", "Sugar Bush"

Frankie Laine

|7

|"High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)", "Sugar Bush"

Nat King Cole

|6

|"Because You're Mine", "Somewhere Along the Way"

Notes

{{refbegin|2}}

  • {{note label|You Belong to Me|A|a}} "You Belong to Me" reached its peak of number one on 22 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Comes A-Long A-Love|B|b}} "Comes A-Long A-Love" reached its peak of number one on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Takes Two|C|c}} "Takes Two to Tango" reached its peak of number six on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Missouri|D|d}} "Walkin' to Missouri" reached its peak of number seven on 15 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Number one|E|e}} "Here in My Heart" was the first ever number-one single in the UK Singles Chart.
  • {{note label|Jo Stafford|F|f}} "You Belong to Me" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 12 March 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Somewhere Along the Way|G|g}} "Somewhere Along the Way" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 18 December 1952 (week ending) for 3 weeks.
  • {{note label|Forget Me Not|H|h}} "Forget Me Not" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 4 December 1952 (week ending) for 5 weeks.
  • {{note label|High Noon|I|i}} "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 18 December 1952 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Sugarbush|J|j}} "Sugarbush" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 11 December 1952 (week ending) for 6 weeks.
  • {{note label|Blue Tango|K|k}} "Blue Tango" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 18 December 1952 (week ending).
  • {{note label|The Homing Waltz|L|l}} "The Homing Waltz" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 4 December 1952 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Kay Starr|M|m}} "Comes A-Long A-Love" re-entered the top 10 at number 8 on 26 March 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Because|N|n}} "Because You're Mine" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 29 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Faith|O|o}} "Faith Can Move Mountains" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 15 January 1953 (week ending).
  • {{note label|Missouri|P|p}} "Walkin' to Missouri" re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 15 January 1953 (week ending) for 2 weeks.

{{refend}}

See also

References

General

  • {{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart-singles/ |title=Six decades of singles charts |publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=18 January 2018 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303221018/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart-singles/ |archivedate=3 March 2011 }}
  • {{cite book |title=The Complete NME Singles Charts (2nd edition) |last=Osborne |first=Roger |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Singles-Charts-Roger-Osborne/dp/0752208292/ref=tmm_pap_title_1 |publisher=Boxtree Limited |year=1995}}
  • {{cite book |title=40 Years of NME Charts |last1=Osborne |first1=Roger |last2=Rees |first2=Daffyd |last3=Lazell |first3=Barry |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Years-NME-Charts-Roger-Osborne/dp/1852837462 |publisher=Boxtree Limited |year=1992}}

Specific

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/1952/ 1952 singles chart archive] at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)

{{UKTop10s}}

{{UK Music Charts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:UK top 10 singles in 1952}}

Category:1952 record charts

1952

Category:1952 in British music