Always a useful piece of quizzing info to have in the arsenal, as first hits are generally the best known songs by an act after their #1 or #2 singles. Below is a list of artists by their first single to reach the Top 40 on the UK singles chart and the position it reached. This list only goes up to 1975, so it's full of oldies, but of course they're usually the best. I've tried to include as many genres as possible, but that does mean that it is very long...
Songs and artists in bold are my personal tips to remember, based on past experience.
1950s
1952
Vera Lynn: Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart #12*
Louis Armstrong: Takes Two To Tango #6
1953
Perry Como: Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes #1
Dean Martin: Kiss #5
1954
Frank Sinatra: Young At Heart #12
Petula Clark: The Little Shoemaker #7
Bill Haley and his Comets: Shake, Rattle and Roll #4
1955
Slim Whitman: Rose Marie #1
1956
Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel #2
1957
Shirley Bassey: The Banana Boat Song #8
Everly Brothers: Bye Bye Love #6
The Crickets: That'll Be the Day #1
Chuck Berry: School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell) #24
Jackie Wilson: Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town) #6
Andy Williams: Butterfly #1
Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue #6
1958
Cliff Richard: Move It #2
Johnny Mathis: Teacher Teacher #27
Duane Eddy (and the Rebels): Rebel Rouser #19
1959
Neil Sedaka: I Go Ape #9
Billy Fury: Maybe Tomorrow #18
The Drifters: Dance With Me #17
Adam Faith: What Do You Want? #1
1960s
1960
The Shadows (without Cliff): Apache #1
Roy Orbison: Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel) #1
Frank Ifield: Lucky Devil #22
Jim Reeves: He'll Have To Go #12
Ray Charles: Georgia On My Mind #24
Bobby Vee: Rubber Ball #4
Matt Monro: Portrait Of My Love #3
1961
Chubby Checker: Pony Time #27
Gene Pitney: (I Wanna) Love My Life Away #26
1962
Carole King: It Might As Well Rain Until September #3
The Four Seasons: Sherry #8
The Beatles: Love Me Do #17
1963
The Bachelors: Charmaine #6
Gerry and the Pacemakers: How Do You Do It? #1
The Hollies: (Ain't That) Just Like Me? #25
The Searchers: Sweets For My Sweet #1
Brian Poole and the Tremeloes: Twist and Shout #4
The Rolling Stones: Come On #21
The Tymes: So Much In Love #21
The Beach Boys: Surfin' U.S.A. #34
Dave Clark Five: Do You Love Me? #30
Cilla Black: Love Of the Loved #35
Dusty Springfield (solo): I Only Wanna Be With You #4
1964
Manfred Mann: 5-4-3-2-1 #5
Dionne Warwick: Walk On By #9
Lulu (and the Luvvers) Shout #7
The Animals: House Of the Rising Sun #1
The Kinks: You Really Got Me #1
Herman's Hermits: I'm Into Something Good #1
The Supremes: Where Did Our Love Go? #3
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas: Dancing In the Street #28
Sandie Shaw: (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me #1
Val Doonican: Walk Tall #3
Georgie Fame (and the Blue Flames) Yeh Yeh #1
The Moody Blues: Go Now! #1
1965
The Seekers: I'll Never Find Another You #1
Righteous Brothers: You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling #1
Tom Jones: It's Not Unusual #1
The Who: I Can't Explain #8
The Yardbirds: For Your Love #3
Bob Dylan: The Times They Are a-Changin': #9
Donovan: Catch the Wind: #4
Marianne Faithful: This Little Bird #6
Johnny Cash: It Ain't Me Babe #28
The Four Tops: I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) #23
The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man #1
The Walker Brothers: Love Her #20
Sonny and Cher: I Got You Babe #1
Small Faces: Watcha Gonna Do About It? #14
James Brown: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag #25
Wilson Pickett: In the Midnight Hour #12
Spencer Davis Group: Keep On Running #1
Otis Redding: My Girl #11
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass: Spanish Flea #3
1966
Barbra Streisand: Second Hand Rose #14
Stevie Wonder: Uptight (Everything's Alright) #14
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich: Hold Tight #4
Simon and Garfunkel: Homeward Bound #9
Lovin' Spoonful: Daydream #2
The Mamas and the Papas: California Dreamin' #23
The Troggs: Wild Thing #2
Ike and Tina Turner: River Deep - Mountain High #3
Temptations: Ain't Too Proud To Beg #21
Cat Stevens: I Love My Dog #28
Junior Walker and the All-Stars: How Sweet It Is #22
Cream: Wrapping Paper #34
Jimmy Ruffin: What Becomes Of the Brokenhearted? #10
Miracles: Come Round Here (You're the One I Need) #37
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hey Joe #6
1967
The Move: Night Of Fear #2
The Monkees: I'm a Believer #1
Engelbert Humperdinck: Release Me: #1
Marvin Gaye (with Kim Weston): It Takes Two #16
Pink Floyd: Arnold Layne #20
Sam and Dave: Soothe Me #35
Bee Gees: New York Mining Disaster 1941 #12
Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade Of Pale #1
Aretha Franklin: Respect #10
Gladys Knight and the Pips: Take Me In Your Arms and Love Me #13
Desmond Dekker (and the Aces): 007 (Shanty Town) #14
Amen Corner: Gin House #12
Jeff Beck: Tallyman #30
The Foundations: Baby, Now That I've Found You #1
1968
Status Quo: Pictures Of Matchstick Men #7
Fleetwood Mac: Black Magic Woman #37
T. Rex (as Tyrannosaurus Rex): Debora #34
Marmalade: Lovin' Things #6
Sly and the Family Stone: Dance To the Music #7
Johnny Nash: Hold Me Tight #5
Mary Hopkin: Those Were the Days #1
The Doors: Hello, I Love You #15
Joe Cocker: With a Little Help From My Friends #1
Isley Brothers: This Old Heart Of Mine #3
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band: I'm the Urban Spaceman #5
1969
Booker T and the MGs: Soul Limbo #30
Jethro Tull: Love Story #29
Glen Campbell: Wichita Lineman #7
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Proud Mary #8
The Plastic Ono Band: Give Peace a Chance #2
Fairport Convention: Si Tu Dois Partir #21
Crosby, Stills and Nash: Marrakesh Express #17
David Bowie: Space Oddity #5
Nilsson: Everybody's Talkin' #23
Kenny Rogers (and the First Edition): Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town #2
Roger Whittaker: Durham Town (The Leavin') #12
Blue Mink: Melting Pot #3
1970s
1970
Chicago: I'm a Man #8
Badfinger: Come and Get It #4
Jackson 5: I Want You Back #2
Brotherhood Of Man: United We Stand #10
Dana: All Kinds Of Everything #1
Ray Stevens: Everything Is Beautiful #6
Mungo Jerry: In the Summertime #1
Free: Alright Now #2
Joni Mitchell: Big Yellow Taxi #11
10cc (as Hotlegs): Neanderthal Man #2
Diana Ross (solo): Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) #33
Bread: Make It With You #5
Three Dog Night: Mama Told Me Not To Come #3
Hot Chocolate: Love Is Life #6
Chairmen Of the Board: Give Me Just a Little More Time #3
Deep Purple: Black Night #2
Black Sabbath: Paranoid #4
Carpenters: (They Long To Be) Close To You #6
Melanie: Ruby Tuesday #9
T. Rex (as T. Rex) Ride a White Swan #2
Neil Diamond: Cracklin' Rosie #3
Gilbert O'Sullivan: Nothing Rhymed #8
The Spinners (as the Motown Spinners): It's a Shame #20
Dave Edmunds (Rockpile): I Hear You Knocking #1
1971
Tony Christie: Las Vegas #23
Dawn (with Tony Orlando): Candida #3
George Harrison (solo): My Sweet Lord #1
Elton John: Your Song #7
Atomic Rooster: Tomorrow Night #11
The Partridge Family: I Think I Love You #17
The Sweet: Funny Funny #13
Olivia Newton-John: If Not For You #7
Ringo Starr (solo): It Don't Come Easy #4
Slade: Get Down and Get With It #16
The New Seekers: Never Ending Song Of Love #2
Curtis Mayfield: Move On Up #12
James Taylor: You've Got a Friend #8
Rod Stewart: Maggie May/Reason To Believe: #1
The Chi-Lites: (For God's Sake) Give More Power To the People #32
Bay City Rollers: Keep On Dancing #9
Al Green: Tired Of Being Alone #4
1972
America: A Horse With No Name #3
The Faces: Stay With Me #6
Don McLean: American Pie #2
Michael Jackson (solo): Got To Be There #5
Paul Simon (solo): Mother and Child Reunion #5
Lindisfarne: Meet Me On the Corner #5
Wings: Give Ireland Back To the Irish #16
Neil Young: Heart Of Gold #10
David Cassidy (solo): Could It Be Forever/Cherish #2
The Osmonds: Down By the Lazy River #40
Roberta Flack: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face #14
Donny Osmond: Puppy Love #1
The Stylistics: Betcha By Golly Wow #13
Dr Hook (and the Medicine Show): Sylvia's Mother #2
Alice Cooper: School's Out #1
Electric Light Orchestra: 10538 Overture #9
Mott the Hoople: All the Young Dudes #3
Derek and the Dominoes: Layla #7
Roxy Music: Virginia Plain #4
Bill Withers: Lean On Me #18
Judge Dread: Big Six #11
10cc (as 10cc): Donna #2
The Strawbs: Lay Down #12
Wizzard: Ball Park Incident #6
Carly Simon: You're So Vain #3
Little Jimmy Osmond: Long Haired Lover From Liverpool #1
1973
Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: If You Don't Know Me By Now #9
Thin Lizzy: Whiskey In the Jar #6
Billy Paul: Me and Mrs Jones #12
Mud: Crazy #12
Nazareth: Broken Down Angel #9
Lou Reed: Walk On the Wild Side #10
Suzi Quatro: Can the Can #1
Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the Middle With You #8
Barry White (solo): I'm Gonna Love You Just a Bit More Baby #23
Roy Wood (solo): Dear Elaine #18
David Essex: Rock On #3
Manfred Mann's Earth Band: Joybringer #9
Bryan Ferry (solo): A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall #10
Charles Aznavour: The Old Fashioned Way #38
Alvin Stardust: My Coo Ca Choo #2
Marie Osmond: Paper Roses #2
Kiki Dee: Amoureuse #13
Leo Sayer: The Show Must Go On #2
Steeleye Span: Gaudete #14
1974
The Wombles: Wombling Song #4
Lena Zavaroni: Ma! (He's Making Eyes At Me) #10
Paper Lace: Billy Don't Be a Hero #1
Smokey Robinson (solo) #35
Queen: Seven Seas Of Rhye #10
Doobie Brothers: Listen To the Music #29
Glitter Band: Angel Face #4
Genesis: I Know What I Like (In My Wardrobe) #21
The Three Degrees: Year Of Decision #13
ABBA: Waterloo #1
The Rubettes: Sugar Baby Love #1
Sparks: This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both Of Us #2
Cockney Rebel: Judy Teen #5
Showaddywaddy: Hey Rock and Roll #3
Bad Company: Can't Get Enough #15
George McCrae: Rock Your Baby #1
Mike Oldfield: Mike Oldfield's Single (Theme From Tubular Bells) #31
Eric Clapton (solo): I Shot the Sheriff #9
KC and the Sunshine Band: Queen Of Clubs #7
The Commodores: Machine Gun #20
Andy Fairweather Low (solo) Reggae Tune #10
Santana: Samba Pa Ti #27
Pilot: Magic #11
The Trammps: Zing Went the Strings Of My Heart #30
Ralph McTell: Streets Of London #2
Gloria Gaynor: Never Can Say Goodbye #2
1975
Frankie Valli (solo): My Eyes Adored You #5
Supertramp: Dreamer #13
Average White Band: Pick Up the Pieces #6
Barry Manilow: Mandy #11
Tammy Wynette: Stand By Your Man #1
Kraftwerk: Autobahn #11
Van McCoy: The Hustle #3
Sister Sledge: Mama Never Told Me #20
Smokie: If You Think You Know How To Love Me #3
Captain and Tennille: Love Will Keep Us Together #32
The Eagles: One Of These Nights #23
5000 Volts: I'm On Fire #4
Steely Dan: Do It Again #39
Art Garfunkel (solo) I Only Have Eyes For You #1
Bob Marley (and the Wailers): No Woman, No Cry #22
Demis Roussos: Happy To Be On An Island In the Sun #5
*Vera Lynn had already had a number of big hits to her name by this point, probably being the most bought artist in the country on several occasions. However, the UK official chart records only go back as far as 1952, so this is her first chart hit.
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