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List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1990s

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Bryan Adams set a record in 1991 for the longest run at the top of the UK charts.

The UK Singles Chart is a record chart compiled on behalf of the British record industry. Until 1 February 1994, the chart was compiled each week by Gallup – after this date, it was managed by Millward Brown, who expanded the number of sales figures sampled, and extended the use of electronic point of sale machines.[1] From July 1998 onwards, compilation of the chart was overseen by The Chart Information Network (CIN) and it was based entirely on sales of physical singles from retail outlets – airplay statistics are not used in compiling the official UK Singles Chart.[2][3] The chart week ran from Sunday to Saturday, and the Top 40 was first revealed on BBC Radio 1 on a Sunday.[4] Record companies began making singles available to radio stations much further in advance of their release dates and making greater use of direct marketing techniques in the 1990s. As a result, the number of singles that entered the charts at number one increased dramatically, and it became commonplace for singles to enter the charts at the top and then plummet down the listing soon after.[5][6]

During the decade, 206 singles reached the number-one position on the chart. "Hangin' Tough" by New Kids on the Block reached number one on the first new chart of the decade, replacing "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II which had been number one on the last chart issued in 1989.[7] The longest spell at the top was achieved by Bryan Adams's song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", which spent 16 weeks at number one in 1991, beating the record for the longest unbroken run at the top of the charts which had been held by Slim Whitman's "Rose Marie" since 1955.[8] Wet Wet Wet and Whitney Houston also had runs of 10 or more weeks at number one during the 1990s.[8] Although it only spent five weeks at number one, Elton John's 1997 single "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" sold almost 5 million copies, becoming the biggest-selling single in UK history.[9] Cher's song "Believe" spent 7 weeks at number-one at the end of 1998 and became the biggest-selling single by a female artist in UK history.[10] Also, Cher is the female solo artist with the most number-one singles in the 1990s (a total of three) and the female solo artist with most weeks at number one (13). The final number one of the decade was the double A-side "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" by Westlife.[11] Take That and the Spice Girls share the distinction of having achieved the most number-one hits in the 1990s, with eight each.[12]

Number-one singles

[edit]
Key
Best-selling single of the year[13]
Best-selling single of the decade[13]
Elton John scored his first solo number one in 1990.
After more than a decade without a hit, Meat Loaf topped the charts for the first time in 1993.
Danish pop band Aqua scored three consecutive number ones with one of the UK's biggest selling singles "Barbie Girl" in 1997, and the follow up's "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time" in 1998 making them one of the most successful bands this decade.
Spice Girls became the biggest act of the decade after they dominated the charts with eight out of their nine number one singles achieved in the '90s; "Wannabe", "Say You'll Be There", "2 Become 1", "Mama", "Spice Up Your Life", "Too Much", "Viva Forever" and "Goodbye".
In 1999 Australian film director Baz Luhrmann scored a number one hit with "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" after a radio campaign by Chris Moyles.
Mariah Carey scored her first solo UK number one single in 1994.
In 1999 an advert for Levi jeans featuring the puppet Flat Eric helped take Mr. Oizo's track "Flat Beat" to number one
Fatboy Slim achieved commercial success in the 1990s, but Norman Cook had had several hits with other groups (including number-ones with the Housemartins and Beats International) prior to his only solo number-one single, "Praise You" in 1999.
German Eurodance group Snap! gained two massive number ones, first in 1990 with "The Power" and then in 1992 with their biggest hit to date "Rhythm Is a Dancer".
Cher managed to spend a total of thirteen weeks at number one this decade; The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", the Comic Relief charity single "Love Can Build a Bridge" with Neneh Cherry, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton, and one of the world's biggest selling singles "Believe".
Contents
No. Artist[nb 1] Single[nb 1] Record label[nb 2] Week ending date[nb 1] Weeks at
number one[nb 1]
1990
638 Band Aid II "Do They Know It's Christmas?" PWL 23 December 1989 3
639 New Kids on the Block "Hangin' Tough" CBS 13 January 1990 2
640 Kylie Minogue "Tears on My Pillow" PWL 27 January 1990 1
641 Sinéad O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" Ensign 3 February 1990 4
642 Beats International "Dub Be Good to Me" Go! Beat 3 March 1990 4
643 Snap! "The Power" Arista 31 March 1990 2
644 Madonna "Vogue" Sire 14 April 1990 4
645 Adamski "Killer" MCA 12 May 1990 4
646 Englandneworder "World in Motion" Factory 9 June 1990 2
647 Elton John "Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands" Rocket 23 June 1990 5
648 Partners in Kryme "Turtle Power" SBK 28 July 1990 4
649 Bombalurina "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" Carpet 25 August 1990 3
650 Steve Miller Band "The Joker" [nb 3] Capitol 15 September 1990 2
651 Maria McKee "Show Me Heaven" Epic 29 September 1990 4
652 The Beautiful South "A Little Time" Go! Discs 27 October 1990 1
653 The Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" † Verve/Polydor 3 November 1990 4
654 Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby" SBK 1 December 1990 4
655 Cliff Richard "Saviour's Day" EMI 29 December 1990 1
1991
656 Iron Maiden "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" EMI 5 January 1991 2
657 Enigma "Sadness (Part I)" Virgin International 19 January 1991 1
658 Queen "Innuendo" Parlophone 26 January 1991 1
659 The KLF "3 a.m. Eternal" KLF Communications 2 February 1991 2
660 The Simpsons "Do the Bartman" Geffen 16 February 1991 3
661 The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go" Columbia 9 March 1991 2
662 Hale and Pace and the Stonkers "The Stonk" London 23 March 1991 1
663 Chesney Hawkes "The One and Only" Chrysalis 30 March 1991 5
664 Cher "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" Epic 4 May 1991 5
665 Color Me Badd "I Wanna Sex You Up" Giant 8 June 1991 3
666 Jason Donovan "Any Dream Will Do" Really Useful 29 June 1991 2
667 Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" † A&M 13 July 1991 16
668 U2 "The Fly" Island 2 November 1991 1
669 Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff "Dizzy" Sense 9 November 1991 2
670 Michael Jackson "Black or White" Epic 23 November 1991 2
671 George Michael and Elton John "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Epic 7 December 1991 2
672 Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" Parlophone 21 December 1991 5
1992
673 Wet Wet Wet "Goodnight Girl" The Precious Organisation 25 January 1992 4
674 Shakespears Sister "Stay" London 22 February 1992 8
675 Right Said Fred "Deeply Dippy" Tug 18 April 1992 3
676 KWS "Please Don't Go" Network 9 May 1992 5
677 Erasure Abba-esque (EP) Mute 13 June 1992 5
678 Jimmy Nail "Ain't No Doubt" East West 18 July 1992 3
679 Snap! "Rhythm Is a Dancer" Arista 8 August 1992 6
680 The Shamen "Ebeneezer Goode" One Little Indian 19 September 1992 4
681 Tasmin Archer "Sleeping Satellite" EMI 17 October 1992 2
682 Boyz II Men "End of the Road" Motown 31 October 1992 3
683 Charles & Eddie "Would I Lie to You?" Capitol 21 November 1992 2
684 Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" † Arista 5 December 1992 10
1993
685 2 Unlimited "No Limit" PWL Continental 13 February 1993 5
686 Shaggy "Oh Carolina" Greensleeves 20 March 1993 2
687 The Bluebells "Young at Heart" London 3 April 1993 4
688 George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield Five Live (EP) Parlophone 1 May 1993 3
689 Ace of Base "All That She Wants" London 22 May 1993 3
690 UB40 "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" DEP International 12 June 1993 2
691 Gabrielle "Dreams" Go! Beat 26 June 1993 3
692 Take That "Pray" RCA 17 July 1993 4
693 Freddie Mercury "Living on My Own" Parlophone 14 August 1993 2
694 Culture Beat "Mr. Vain" Epic 28 August 1993 4
695 DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince "Boom! Shake the Room" Jive 25 September 1993 2
696 Take That featuring Lulu "Relight My Fire" RCA 9 October 1993 2
697 Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" † Virgin 23 October 1993 7
698 Mr Blobby "Mr Blobby" Destiny Music 11 December 1993 1
699 Take That "Babe" RCA 18 December 1993 1
re Mr Blobby "Mr Blobby" Destiny Music 25 December 1993 2
1994
700 Chaka Demus & Pliers featuring Jack Radics and Taxi Gang "Twist and Shout" Mango 8 January 1994 2
701 D:Ream "Things Can Only Get Better" Magnet 22 January 1994 4
702 Mariah Carey "Without You" Columbia 19 February 1994 4
703 Doop "Doop" Citybeat 19 March 1994 3
704 Take That "Everything Changes" RCA 9 April 1994 2
705 Prince "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" NPG 23 April 1994 2
706 Tony Di Bart "The Real Thing" Cleveland City Blues 7 May 1994 1
707 Stiltskin "Inside" White Water 14 May 1994 1
708 Manchester United F.C. "Come On You Reds" Polydor 21 May 1994 2
709 Wet Wet Wet "Love Is All Around" † The Precious Organisation 4 June 1994 15
710 Whigfield "Saturday Night" Systematic 17 September 1994 4
711 Take That "Sure" RCA 15 October 1994 2
712 Pato Banton featuring Ali and Robin Campbell "Baby Come Back" Virgin 29 October 1994 4
713 Baby D "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" Systematic 26 November 1994 2
714 East 17 "Stay Another Day" London 10 December 1994 5
1995
715 Rednex "Cotton Eye Joe" Internal Affairs 14 January 1995 3
716 Celine Dion "Think Twice" Epic 4 February 1995 7
717 Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton "Love Can Build a Bridge" London 25 March 1995 1
718 The Outhere Brothers "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" Eternal 1 April 1995 1
719 Take That "Back for Good" RCA 8 April 1995 4
720 Oasis "Some Might Say" Creation 6 May 1995 1
721 Livin' Joy "Dreamer" Undiscovered 13 May 1995 1
722 Robson & Jerome "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" † RCA 20 May 1995 7
723 The Outhere Brothers "Boom Boom Boom" Eternal 8 July 1995 4
724 Take That "Never Forget" RCA 5 August 1995 3
725 Blur "Country House" Food 26 August 1995 2
726 Michael Jackson "You Are Not Alone" Epic 9 September 1995 2
727 Shaggy "Boombastic" Virgin 23 September 1995 1
728 Simply Red "Fairground" East West 30 September 1995 4
729 Coolio featuring L.V. "Gangsta's Paradise" Tommy Boy 28 October 1995 2
730 Robson & Jerome "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" RCA 11 November 1995 4
731 Michael Jackson "Earth Song" Epic 9 December 1995 6
1996
732 George Michael "Jesus to a Child" Virgin 20 January 1996 1
733 Babylon Zoo "Spaceman" EMI 27 January 1996 5
734 Oasis "Don't Look Back in Anger" Creation 2 March 1996 1
735 Take That "How Deep Is Your Love" RCA 9 March 1996 3
736 The Prodigy "Firestarter" XL 30 March 1996 3
737 Mark Morrison "Return of the Mack" WEA 20 April 1996 2
738 George Michael "Fastlove" Virgin 4 May 1996 3
739 Gina G "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" Eternal 25 May 1996 1
740 Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds "Three Lions" Epic 1 June 1996 1
741 Fugees "Killing Me Softly" † Columbia 8 June 1996 4
re Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds "Three Lions" Epic 6 July 1996 1
re Fugees "Killing Me Softly" † Columbia 13 July 1996 1
742 Gary Barlow "Forever Love" RCA 20 July 1996 1
743 Spice Girls "Wannabe" Virgin 27 July 1996 7
744 Peter Andre "Flava" Mushroom 14 September 1996 1
745 Fugees "Ready or Not" Columbia 21 September 1996 2
746 Deep Blue Something "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Interscope 5 October 1996 1
747 The Chemical Brothers "Setting Sun" Virgin 12 October 1996 1
748 Boyzone "Words" Polydor 19 October 1996 1
749 Spice Girls "Say You'll Be There" Virgin 26 October 1996 2
750 Robson & Jerome "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" / "Saturday Night at the Movies" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" RCA 9 November 1996 2
751 The Prodigy "Breathe" XL 23 November 1996 2
752 Peter Andre "I Feel You" Mushroom 7 December 1996 1
753 Boyzone "A Different Beat" Polydor 14 December 1996 1
754 Dunblane "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" RCA 21 December 1996 1
755 Spice Girls "2 Become 1" Virgin 28 December 1996 3
1997
756 Tori Amos "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" East West 18 January 1997 1
757 White Town "Your Woman" Chrysalis 25 January 1997 1
758 Blur "Beetlebum" Food 1 February 1997 1
759 LL Cool J "Ain't Nobody" Geffen 8 February 1997 1
760 U2 "Discotheque" Island 15 February 1997 1
761 No Doubt "Don't Speak" Interscope 22 February 1997 3
762 Spice Girls "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" Virgin 15 March 1997 3
763 The Chemical Brothers "Block Rockin' Beats" Virgin 5 April 1997 1
764 R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" Jive 12 April 1997 3
765 Michael Jackson "Blood on the Dance Floor" Epic 3 May 1997 1
766 Gary Barlow "Love Won't Wait" RCA 10 May 1997 1
767 Olive "You're Not Alone" RCA 17 May 1997 2
768 Eternal featuring BeBe Winans "I Wanna Be the Only One" EMI 31 May 1997 1
769 Hanson "MMMBop" Mercury 7 June 1997 3
770 Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 "I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy 28 June 1997 3
771 Oasis "D'You Know What I Mean?" Creation 19 July 1997 1
re Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 "I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy 26 July 1997 3
772 Will Smith "Men in Black" Columbia 16 August 1997 4
773 The Verve "The Drugs Don't Work" Hut 13 September 1997 1
774 Elton John "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" ‡ Rocket 20 September 1997 5
775 Spice Girls "Spice Up Your Life" Virgin 25 October 1997 1
776 Aqua "Barbie Girl" Universal 1 November 1997 4
777 Various artists "Perfect Day" Chrysalis 29 November 1997 2
778 Teletubbies "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!"" BBC Worldwide 13 December 1997 2
779 Spice Girls "Too Much" Virgin 27 December 1997 2
1998
re Various artists "Perfect Day" Chrysalis 10 January 1998 1
780 All Saints "Never Ever" London 17 January 1998 1
781 Oasis "All Around the World" Creation 24 January 1998 1
782 Usher "You Make Me Wanna..." LaFace 31 January 1998 1
783 Aqua "Doctor Jones" Universal 7 February 1998 2
784 Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" Epic 21 February 1998 1
785 Cornershop "Brimful of Asha" Wiiija 28 February 1998 1
786 Madonna "Frozen" Maverick 7 March 1998 1
re Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" Epic 14 March 1998 1
787 Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins "It's Like That" Profile 21 March 1998 6
788 Boyzone "All That I Need" Polydor 2 May 1998 1
789 All Saints "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" London 9 May 1998 1
790 Aqua "Turn Back Time" Universal 16 May 1998 1
re All Saints "Under the Bridge" / "Lady Marmalade" London 23 May 1998 1
791 The Tamperer featuring Maya "Feel It" Pepper 30 May 1998 1
792 B*Witched "C'est la Vie" Epic 6 June 1998 2
793 Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds "3 Lions '98" Epic 20 June 1998 3
794 Billie "Because We Want To" Innocent 11 July 1998 1
795 Another Level "Freak Me" Northwestside 18 July 1998 1
796 Jamiroquai "Deeper Underground" Sony S2 25 July 1998 1
797 Spice Girls "Viva Forever" Virgin 1 August 1998 2
798 Boyzone "No Matter What" Polydor 15 August 1998 3
799 Manic Street Preachers "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" Epic 5 September 1998 1
800 All Saints "Bootie Call" London 12 September 1998 1
801 Robbie Williams "Millennium" Chrysalis 19 September 1998 1
802 Melanie B featuring Missy Elliott "I Want You Back" Virgin 26 September 1998 1
803 B*Witched "Rollercoaster" Epic 3 October 1998 2
804 Billie "Girlfriend" Innocent 17 October 1998 1
805 Spacedust "Gym and Tonic" East West 24 October 1998 1
806 Cher "Believe" † WEA 31 October 1998 7
807 B*Witched "To You I Belong" Epic 19 December 1998 1
808 Spice Girls "Goodbye" Virgin 26 December 1998 1
1999
809 Chef "Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)" Columbia 2 January 1999 1
810 Steps "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" Jive 9 January 1999 1
811 Fatboy Slim "Praise You" Skint 16 January 1999 1
812 911 "A Little Bit More" Virgin 23 January 1999 1
813 The Offspring "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" Columbia 30 January 1999 1
814 Armand van Helden featuring Duane Harden "You Don't Know Me" ffrr 6 February 1999 1
815 Blondie "Maria" Beyond Music 13 February 1999 1
816 Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away" Virgin 20 February 1999 1
817 Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" † Jive 27 February 1999 2
818 Boyzone "When the Going Gets Tough" Polydor 13 March 1999 2
819 B*Witched "Blame It on the Weatherman" Epic 27 March 1999 1
820 Mr. Oizo "Flat Beat" F Communications 3 April 1999 2
821 Martine McCutcheon "Perfect Moment" Innocent 17 April 1999 2
822 Westlife "Swear It Again" RCA 1 May 1999 2
823 Backstreet Boys "I Want It That Way" Jive 15 May 1999 1
824 Boyzone "You Needed Me" Polydor 22 May 1999 1
825 Shanks & Bigfoot "Sweet Like Chocolate" Pepper 29 May 1999 2
826 Baz Luhrmann "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" EMI 12 June 1999 1
827 S Club 7 "Bring It All Back" Polydor 19 June 1999 1
828 Vengaboys "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" Positiva 26 June 1999 1
829 ATB "9 PM (Till I Come)" Ministry of Sound 3 July 1999 2
830 Ricky Martin "Livin' la Vida Loca" Columbia 17 July 1999 3
831 Ronan Keating "When You Say Nothing at All" Polydor 7 August 1999 2
832 Westlife "If I Let You Go" RCA 21 August 1999 1
833 Geri Halliwell "Mi Chico Latino" EMI 28 August 1999 1
834 Lou Bega "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)" RCA 4 September 1999 2
835 Vengaboys "We're Going to Ibiza!" Positiva 18 September 1999 1
836 Eiffel 65 "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" Eternal 25 September 1999 3
837 Christina Aguilera "Genie in a Bottle" RCA 16 October 1999 2
838 Westlife "Flying Without Wings" RCA 30 October 1999 1
839 Five "Keep on Movin'" RCA 6 November 1999 1
840 Geri Halliwell "Lift Me Up" EMI 13 November 1999 1
841 Robbie Williams "She's the One" / "It's Only Us" Chrysalis 20 November 1999 1
842 Wamdue Project "King of My Castle" AM:PM 27 November 1999 1
843 Cliff Richard "The Millennium Prayer" EMI 4 December 1999 3
844 Westlife "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" RCA 25 December 1999 4
Contents

Artists by total number of weeks at number-one

[edit]
Artist Weeks at number-one
Spice Girls 22
Take That 21
Wet Wet Wet 19
Bryan Adams 16
Cher 13
Robson & Jerome 13
Elton John 12
Michael Jackson 11
Whitney Houston 10
Queen 9
Celine Dion 9
George Michael 9
Boyzone 9
Snap! 8
Shakespears Sister 8
Westlife 8
Aqua 7
Meat Loaf 7
B*Witched 6
Run–D.M.C. 6
Jason Nevins 6

Songs by total number weeks at number one

[edit]

The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 1990s.

Artist Song Weeks at
number one
Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 16
Wet Wet Wet "Love Is All Around" 15
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 10
Shakespears Sister "Stay" 8
Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) 7
Celine Dion "Think Twice"
Robson & Jerome "Unchained Melody" / "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover"
Spice Girls "Wannabe"
Cher "Believe"
Snap! "Rhythm Is a Dancer" 6
Michael Jackson "Earth Song"
Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 "I'll Be Missing You"
Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins "It's Like That"

By artist

[edit]

The following artists achieved three or more number one hits during the 1990s. George Michael's collaborations with Elton John and Queen, in which both acts received billing on the single's cover, are counted for both acts. Appearances on the "Perfect Day" single are not included, as the individuals did not receive individual credit on the cover.

Artist Number ones
Spice Girls 8
Take That 8
Boyzone 6[A]
B*Witched 4
Michael Jackson 4
George Michael 4
Oasis 4
Westlife 4
All Saints 3
Aqua 3
Cher 3
Elton John 3[A]
Queen 3
Robson & Jerome 3
  • A. ^ Total does not include an appearance on the "Perfect Day" single.

By record label

[edit]

The following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1990s.

Record label Number ones
RCA 22
Virgin/Virgin International 19
Epic 17
Polydor 10
Columbia/CBS 9
EMI 9
London 9
Chrysalis 5
Jive 5

Million-selling and platinum records

[edit]

In April 1973, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) began classifying singles and albums by the number of units sold. In the 1990s the highest threshold was "platinum record" and was awarded to singles that sold over 600,000 units.[27][28][nb 4] In February 1987, the BPI introduced multi-platinum awards so if a single sold 1,200,000 units it was classified as 2×platinum, 1,800,000 units as 3×platinum, and so on.[27]

Sixty-six records, including forty-seven number ones, were classified platinum in the 1990s and three other songs released in the 1990s were classified as platinum in the subsequent decade.[30] Thirty records from the decade sold over one million units.[31][32][33][34][35] Fourteen of these also went multi-platinum and "Candle in the Wind 1997" went nine times platinum and became the best-selling single of all time.[36] "Angels" by Robbie Williams, "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, and "Wonderwall" by Oasis all sold over one million copies but failed to get to number one.

Artist Song Date released Date certified
platinum
Year of millionth sale
(Multi-platinum)
Sinéad O'Connor "Nothing Compares 2 U" 8 January 1990 1 March 1990
Band Aid II "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 11 December 1989 1 April 1990
Elton John "Sacrifice" 1 May 1990 1 September 1990
The Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" 15 October 1990 1 November 1990 2004–10
Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby" 29 October 1990 1 January 1991
Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 17 June 1991 1 August 1991 1991, (2×: 1 September 1991)
Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" 9 December 1991 1 December 1991
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 31 October 1992 1 December 1992 1993, (2×: 1 January 1993)
Charles & Eddie "Would I Lie to You?" 12 October 1992 1 January 1993
Ace of Base "All That She Wants" 1 May 1993 1 June 1993
UB40 "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" 10 May 1993 1 July 1993
Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" 27 September 1993 1 November 1993
Mr Blobby "Mr Blobby" 22 November 1993 1 December 1993
Take That "Babe" 6 December 1993 1 January 1994
Wet Wet Wet "Love Is All Around" 4 May 1994 1 June 1994 1994, (2×: 1 August 1994)
Whigfield "Saturday Night" 12 September 1994 1 September 1994 1994
All-4-One "I Swear"[No 2] 6 June 1994 1 September 1994
Pato Banton "Baby Come Back" 19 September 1994 1 November 1994
East 17 "Stay Another Day" 21 November 1994 1 December 1994
Céline Dion "Think Twice" 10 October 1994 1 January 1995 1994
Rednex "Cotton Eye Joe" 12 December 1994 1 February 1995
Take That "Back for Good" 27 March 1995 1 April 1995 2007–2010
Robson Green & Jerome Flynn "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" 21 November 1994 8 May 1995 1995, (2×: 1 May 1995)
Robson & Jerome "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" 30 October 1995 1 November 1995 1995
Coolio ft. L.V. "Gangsta's Paradise" 16 October 1995 1 November 1995 1995
Simply Red "Fairground" 18 September 1995 1 November 1995
Michael Jackson "Earth Song" 27 November 1995 1 December 1995 1996
Babylon Zoo "Spaceman" 15 January 1996 1 January 1996 1996
Oasis "Wonderwall"[No 2] 30 October 1995 1 January 1996 2007
Everything but the Girl "Missing"[No 3] 6 October 1995 1 January 1996
Boyzone "Father and Son"[No 2] 13 November 1995 1 January 1996
Take That "How Deep Is Your Love" 26 February 1996 1 March 1996
Oasis "Don't Look Back in Anger" 19 February 1996 1 April 1996
Robert Miles "Children"[No 2] 12 February 1996 1 April 1996
Mark Morrison "Return of the Mack" 4 March 1996 1 May 1996
Gina G "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" 25 March 1996 1 May 1996
Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds "Three Lions" 1 June 1996 1 July 1996
Fugees "Killing Me Softly 3 June 1996 1 June 1996 1996, (2×: 1 August 1996)
Spice Girls "Wannabe" 15 July 1996 1 August 1996 1996
Spice Girls "Say You'll Be There" 14 October 1996 1 October 1996
Various Artists "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" 9 December 1996 1 December 1996
Spice Girls "2 Become 1" 16 December 1996 1 December 1996 1997
Robson & Jerome "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" 28 October 1996 1 January 1997
Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart"[No 2] 21 October 1996 1 January 1997
The Prodigy "Breathe" 11 November 1996 1 December 1996
Spice Girls "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" 3 March 1997 1 March 1997
Hanson "MMMBop" 26 May 1997 1 June 1997
R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly" 17 March 1997 1 June 1997
Oasis "D'You Know What I Mean?" 7 July 1997 1 July 1997
The Rembrandts "I'll Be There for You"[No 3] 21 August 1995 1 July 1997
Will Smith "Men in Black" 4 August 1997 1 August 1997
Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans "I'll Be Missing You" 16 June 1997 1 July 1997 1997, (2×: 1 August 1997)
Elton John "Candle in the Wind 1997" /
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"
13 September 1997 1 September 1997 1997, (2–6×: 1 September 1997)
(7–9×: 1 October 1997)
Chumbawamba "Tubthumping"[No 2] 11 August 1997 1 October 1997
Spice Girls "Spice Up Your Life" 13 October 1997 17 October 1997
Various Artists "Perfect Day" 17 November 1997 21 November 1997 1997, (2×: 9 January 1998)
Aqua "Barbie Girl" 1 October 1997 7 November 1997 1997, (2×: 5 December 1997)
All Saints "Never Ever" 10 November 1997 5 December 1997 1998, (2×: 30 January 1998)
Natalie Imbruglia "Torn"[No 2] 27 October 1997 12 December 1997 2007
Teletubbies "Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'" 1 December 1997 12 December 1997 1997, (2×: 19 December 1997)
Spice Girls "Too Much" 12 December 1997 9 January 1998
Janet Jackson "Together Again"[No 4] 1 December 1997 23 January 1998
Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins "It's Like That" 9 March 1998 27 March 1998 1998
Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" 9 February 1998 27 February 1998 1998, (2×: 24 April 1998)
Savage Garden "Truly Madly Deeply"[No 4] 16 February 1998 29 May 1998
Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds "3 Lions '98" 1 June 1998 3 July 1998
B*Witched "C'est la Vie" 1 June 1998 3 July 1998
LeAnn Rimes "How Do I Live"[No 7] 2 March 1998 17 July 1998
Boyzone "No Matter What" 3 August 1998 7 August 1998 1998
Spice Girls "Viva Forever" 20 July 1998 13 August 1998
Pras Michel ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mýa "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"[No 2] 6 June 1998 21 August 1998
Cher "Believe" 19 October 1998 30 October 1998 1998, (2×: 8 January 1999) (3×: 1 August 2014)
Stardust "Music Sounds Better with You"[No 2] 10 August 1998 6 November 1998
Robbie Williams "Angels"[No 4] 1 December 1997 6 February 1998 1998, (2×: 4 December 1998)
Spice Girls "Goodbye" 14 December 1998 18 December 1998
Steps "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" 9 November 1998 8 January 1999 1999
Bryan Adams ft. Melanie C "When You're Gone"[No 3] 30 November 1998 12 February 1999
Chef "Chocolate Salty Balls" 14 December 1998 26 February 1999
Boyzone "When the Going Gets Tough" 1 March 1999 19 March 1999
Britney Spears "Baby One More Time" 15 February 1999 19 February 1999 1999, (2×: 26 March 1999)
Mr. Oizo "Flat Beat" 22 March 1999 1 April 1999
Martine McCutcheon "Perfect Moment" 5 April 1999 14 May 1999
Shanks & Bigfoot "Sweet Like Chocolate" 17 May 1999 4 June 1999
Shania Twain "That Don't Impress Me Much"[No 3] 10 May 1999 16 July 1999
TLC "No Scrubs"[No 3] 14 December 1998 18 December 1998
ATB "9pm (Till I Come)" 21 June 1999 23 July 1999
S Club 7 "Bring It All Back" 7 June 1999 30 July 1999
Ricky Martin "Livin' la Vida Loca" 1 July 1999 13 August 1999
Lou Bega "Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of...)" 1 August 1999 17 September 1999
Eiffel 65 "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" 13 September 1999 8 October 1999 1999
Cliff Richard "The Millennium Prayer" 15 November 1999 3 December 1999
Westlife "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" 13 December 1999 23 December 1999
R. Kelly "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time"[No 2] 18 October 1999 14 January 2000
Artful Dodger "Re-Rewind"[No 2] 29 November 1999 3 March 2000
Alice DeeJay "Better off Alone"[No 2] 19 July 1999 19 May 2000

Additional information

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  • [No 2]: The singles "I Swear",[37] "Wonderwall",[38] "Father and Son",[39] "Children",[40] "Un-Break My Heart",[41] "Tubthumping",[42] "Torn",[43] "Ghetto Superstar",[44] "Music Sounds Better with You",[45] "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time",[46] and "Better Off Alone"[47] peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart.
  • [No 3]: The singles "I'll Be There for You",[48] "Missing",[49] "When You're Gone",[50] "That Don't Impress Me Much",[51] and "No Scrubs"[52] peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart.
  • [No 4]: The singles "Together Again",[53] "Truly Madly Deeply",[54] and "Angels"[55] peaked at number four in the UK Singles Chart.
  • [No 7]: The single "How Do I Live" peaked at number seven in the UK Singles Chart.[56]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d The artist, song name, date of number-one and duration are those given by The Official Charts Company. The dates are those for the Saturday after publication. The actual sales week represented is that up to and including the previous Saturday (i.e. from 13 to 7 days prior to the chart date).[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]
  2. ^ The record labels are those given by the OCC.[24]
  3. ^ For the week ending 15 September 1990, "The Joker" was tied with Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart" for the number of copies sold. Due to a rule introduced in the 1980s, the song that had climbed the most in the charts from the previous weeks was classified as number-one – "The Joker" climbed five places and "Groove Is in the Heart" had climbed three places. As a result of this controversial technicality, the rule was later scrapped and it was announced that "The Joker" had sold eight more copies after sales figures had been reviewed.[25][26]
  4. ^ The number of sales required to qualify for Platinum, Gold and Silver discs was dropped in 1989 from the former thresholds of Silver (250,000 units), Gold (500,000 units), and Platinum (1,000,000 units) to the current thresholds of Silver (200,000 units), Gold (400,000 units), and Platinum (600,000 units)[27][29]

References

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General
  • Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 689–704. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
Specific
  1. ^ "Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts". London: The Official UK Charts Company. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN 1-904994-00-8.
  3. ^ "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News. 16 October 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  4. ^ "Corporate FAQs". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 March 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Charting a rocky course". BBC News. 14 April 2000. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  6. ^ Dennis, Jon (5 August 2003). "Chart attack". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  7. ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). p. 689.
  8. ^ a b "Celebrating 1,000 Number Ones" (PDF). Music Week. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  9. ^ "Elton's candle burns in Canada". BBC News. 11 October 1999. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  10. ^ "Cher's treble success". BBC News. 27 May 1999. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  11. ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). p. 704.
  12. ^ Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th ed.). pp. 475, 500.
  13. ^ a b "Chart Archive – 2000s Singles". everyHit.com. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  14. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1990". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  15. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1991". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  16. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1992". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  17. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1993". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  18. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1994". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 22 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  19. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1995". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  20. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1996". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  21. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1997". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  22. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1998". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  23. ^ "All the Number One Singles: 1999". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Artist Chart History". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  25. ^ Cousins, Andrew (November 2007). "The Music Scene in 1990". Inside Time. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  26. ^ "Record-Breakers and Trivia: Quirks of the Number One Position". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  27. ^ a b c "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  28. ^ "International Certification Award levels" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. March 2010. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  29. ^ Gallup (4 February 1989). "The Top of the Pops Chart" (PDF). Record Mirror: 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  30. ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
    Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year.
  31. ^ "Stats and Facts: Million Sellers". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  32. ^ "Million-Selling Singles". everyHit. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  33. ^ Jones, Alan (1 June 2010). "Pendulum and Black Eyed Peas make historic week for sales charts". Music Week. 19 singles released in the last century have also crossed the million sales mark, including such veteran campaigners as ... Take That's Back For Good (959,000 to 1,042,000).
  34. ^ "The Biggest-Selling Love Songs of All Time". everyHit.com. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
  35. ^ Ken Bruce (presenter) (30 August 2010). "UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce". BBC. BBC Radio 2. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  36. ^ Espiner, Mark (30 June 2001). "Sounds and vision – The Guardian Profile: George Martin". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  37. ^ "Artist Chart History: All-4-One". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  38. ^ "Featured Artists: Oasis". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  39. ^ "Artist Chart History: Boyzone". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  40. ^ "Artist Chart History: Robert Miles". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  41. ^ "Artist Chart History: Toni Braxton". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  42. ^ "Artist Chart History: Chumbawamba". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  43. ^ "Artist Chart History: Natalie Imbruglia". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  44. ^ "Artist Chart History: Mya". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  45. ^ "Artist Chart History: Stardust". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  46. ^ "Artist Chart History: R. Kelly". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  47. ^ "Artist Chart History: Alice DeeJay". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  48. ^ "Artist Chart History: Rembrandts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  49. ^ "Artist Chart History: Everything but the Girl". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  50. ^ "Artist Chart History: Melanie C". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  51. ^ "Artist Chart History: Shania Twain". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  52. ^ "Artist Chart History: TLC". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  53. ^ "Artist Chart History: Janet Jackson". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  54. ^ "Artist Chart History: Savage Garden". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  55. ^ "Featured Artists: Robbie Williams". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  56. ^ "Artist Chart History: LeAnn Rimes". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
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