In association with MusicWeek
The not quite chart-toppers
Not every classic song can hit the top spot: shockingly, these revered tracks only ever reached No.2 Ultravox, Vienna, 1981
Dean Martin, That’s Amore, 1954 Capitol
One of the first ever high-profile songs not to hit the No.1 spot - two years after Percy Dickins’ NME singles chart began in 1952 - Dean Martin’s romantic classic couldn’t shift Eddie Calvert’s Oh Mein Papa from the No.1 position.
Elvis Presley, Hound Dog, 1956 HMV Pop
It was the song that earned the King the nickname ‘Elvis the Pelvis’ in his homeland, but Hound Dog never hit No.1 in the UK. Released in September, 1956, it climbed to No.2 in October and November, behind Frankie Laine’s A Woman In Love.
The Who, My Generation, 1965 Brunswick
Who needs The Beatles versus The Rolling Stones? The Who lost out to softer rock’n’roll stars The Seekers in November 1965, whose The Carnival Is Over prevented the fiery My Generation from reaching the apex of the Official British chart.
The Beach Boys, God Only Knows, 1966 Capitol
One of the sweetest songs ever written by Brian Wilson, but God Only Knows couldn’t charm the British public enough to push it to No.1 after being released in July 1966. When it hit No.2 in August, The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby was at the summit.
The Beatles, Penny Lane/ Strawberry Fields Forever, 1967
Parlophone
One of the most famous singles to fail to hit the top spot, Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane stalled behind Engelbert Humperdinck’s Release Me in March 1967, having been released the month before.
Elvis Presley, Suspicious Minds, 1970 RCA
A solid gold Elvis classic and a karaoke favourite in pubs across the country. But what did the UK buy more of in January 1970 after Suspicious Minds had climbed the chart following its November 1969 release? That’s right. Rolf Harris’ Two Little Boys. Each to their own.
The Beatles, Let It Be, 1970 Apple
One of The Beatles’ most recognisable songs across the world to this day, Paul McCartney’s epic lullaby had No.1 written all over it. Sadly for the Fab Four, so did Lee Marvin’s Wand’rin Star, which scuppered the ascent of Let It Be in March 1970.
Sex Pistols, God Save The Queen, 1977 Virgin
Did it or didn’t it? Conspiracy theorists maintain that The Sex Pistols song was robbed of its rightful No.1 status as to not embarrass Her Majesty. History disagrees – showing Rod Stewart’s I Don’t Want To Talk About It / The First Cut Is The Deepest at No.1 in June 1977.
Queen, We Are The Champions, 1977 EMI
The song that’s soundtracked most major football victories in recent history was never a No.1. After being released in October 1977, it began a steady climb up to the No.2 spot a month later – behind ABBA’s The Name Of The Game.
Chrysalis
After being released in January 1981, Midge Ure’s defining record began a slow climb up the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at No.2 in February and March, behind John Lennon’s heartfelt Woman and Joe Dolce’s not-so- heartfelt Shaddap You Face respectively.
George Michael, Faith, 1987 Epic
So catchy, so cool; but late October 1987 provided competition which was just too strong for gorgeous George’s timeless upbeat track Faith: the Bee Gees’ You Win Again triumphed at No.1. Faith was the top-selling single in the US in 1988.
The Pogues Feat. Kirsty MacColl, Fairytale Of New York, 1987
Pogue Mahone
This festive song would, of course, have been an exceptional No.1 on Boxing Day, 1987. But alas: Shane MacGowan and co just couldn’t budge Cliff Richard’s cosy Mistletoe and Wine.
Pulp, Common People, 1995 Island
One of Britpop’s defining songs and as catchy as influenza, Pulp’s Common People couldn’t topple The Fugees’ Killing Me Softly in June 1995. Jarvis Cocker’s band have never hit No.1 in the singles chart. Sorted For E’s & Wizz/Mis-Shapes also reached No.2 in 1995.
Oasis, Wonderwall, 1995 Creation
Alongside Don’t Look Back In Anger – which did hit the top spot in March 1996 – Wonderwall is probably Oasis’ best known song. But it was a loser in the chart race of November, 1995: Robson & Jerome’s What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted won out.
The Verve, Bitter Sweet Symphony, 1997 Hut
The violins, the swagger and that arrogant walk in the video; they all add up to make Bittersweet Symphony a classic Britpop cut. But it couldn’t dislodge Faith Evans and Puff Daddy’s tribute to Notorious B.I.G, I’ll Be Missing You, in June 1997.
Blink 182, All The Small Things, 2000 Columbia
An instantly recognisable song of the early Noughties’ US punk revival, Blink 182’s up-tempo track - complete with its irreverant boy band-style video - was beaten to No.1 by Never Be The Same Again from ex-Spice Girl Mel C feat Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes in March 2000.
Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, Gold Digger, 2005
Roc-A-Fella
This Ray Charles-sampling slice of hip-hop remains a pop-rap banger on nightclub dancefloors to this day, but it wasn’t as popular as The Sugababes’ Push The Button in October 2005.
Adele, Rolling In The Deep, 2011 XL Recordings
If you thought everything Adele touches turns to guaranteed No.1 gold, think again. The big single from her first album, Chasing Pavements, reached No.2 in 2008 – the same position achieved by Rolling In The Deep in January 2011.
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