Best selling music of the 1950s in the UK
The top ten best selling singles of the 1950s
1: “Rock Around the Clock”
Bill Haley and His Comets
Released by Brunswick in 1955, selling 1,390,000
2: “Diana”
Paul Anka
Released by Columbia in 1957, selling 1,240,000
3: “Mary’s Boy Child”
Harry Belafonte
Released by RCA in 1957, selling 1,170,000
4: “What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?”
Emile Ford & The Checkmates
Released by Pye in 1959, selling 920,000
5: “Jailhouse Rock”
Elvis Presley
Released by RCA in 1958, selling 880,000
6: “What Do You Want?”
Adam Faith
Released by Parlophone in 1959, selling 820,000
7: “Living Doll”
Cliff Richard & The Drifters
Released by Columbia in 1959, selling 770,000
8: “All Shook Up”
Elvis Presley
Released by HMV in 1957, selling 740,000
9: “Love Letters in the Sand”
Pat Boone
Released by London in 1957, selling 710,000
10: “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”
Buddy Holly
Released by Coral in 1959, selling 680,000
About the author
Dr Russ J Graham is Transdiffusion's curator