Books by Michael Churchill

On 14 November 1952, the New Musical Express published the first British singles chart. In the 65 years since, 21922 records have entered the top 40. This book lists the 1000 biggest of those hits. The list is calculated solely from chart positions, not sales figures. These are the biggest chart performers, not the biggest sellers. Indeed, "Candle In The Wind 1997" by Elton John, the biggest selling single ever in the UK, is only at no. 182 in this list. The ranking is compiled from the weekly charts starting with that first chart in November 1952 up to the last chart published before the 65th anniversary, the one dated 16 November 2017 and first revealed on 10 November.

This book lists every record that reached the top 100 of the singles chart and the top 100 of the albums chart of the United Kingdom between 4 January 2014 and 27 December 2014. The charts are © The Official UK Charts Company Limited and taken from http://www.officialcharts.com. The chart dates are the Saturday of each week and the charts are published on Sunday, 6 days before.

It is natural to concentrate on the singles which have reached number one. Many great singles and artists have reached the very top of the chart, but their ranks also include artists such as Bob The Builder, Mr. Blobby and the Teletubbies. What about classic singles such as "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley, "Let It Be" by the Beatles and "Wonderwall" by Oasis? And artists like Pulp, the Drifters and the Who? They don't appear on the list of number ones - the highest position they reached was number two. I felt that it was about time that these hits got their due recognition and the result is this book. The main part of the book is the master list of all the singles which peaked at number two in the British singles chart, in chronological order, from the very first chart in November 1952 until the end of October 2014. It also lists the weeks in which the record at number two was on its way up to or down from number one.

This book lists every record that reached the top 100 of the singles chart and the top 100 of the albums chart of the United Kingdom between 5 January 2013 and 28 December 2013. The charts are © The Official UK Charts Company Limited and taken from http://www.officialcharts.com. The chart dates are the Saturday of each week and the charts are published on Sunday, 6 days before.

This book lists every record that reached the top 100 of the singles chart and the top 100 of the albums chart of the United Kingdom between 7 January 2012 and 29 December 2012. The charts are © The Official UK Charts Company Limited and taken from http://www.officialcharts.com. The chart dates are the Saturday of each week and the charts are published on Sunday, 6 days before.