TRACING POPULAR MUSIC TASTES (UK PERSPECTIVE). 

Today: 1955-91. More: tomorrow.

Caffè Lattè traces the shifts in popular music through the decades…

-THE LEADERBOARD-

The Rock Era is said to have begun in 1955 when “Rock Around The Clock” became the first rock ‘n’ roll disc to reach #1 on Billboard’s Singles Chart. Later that year, the song climbed to the top in the UK. Rock ‘n’ roll was making its mark on both sides of the Atlantic. We’ve already traced the shifts in musical trends from the US perspective, now our focus is on the British Top 40 Chart.

British acts would soon thrive as rock music evolved, helping to elevate trends such as Merseybeat, Britpop, skiffle, punk, house, disco and many other sub-genres.

In the early 1990s, Madonna, George Michael , Jason Donovanand Kylie Minogue were established among the chart champs, joined by acts such as Elton John, Queen, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney.

 

PART TWELVE

November 1955-1991

 

1.    ELVIS PRESLEY                                        17      73

2.    THE BEATLES*                                         17      69

3.    CLIFF RICHARD                                       13      43

4.    THE SHADOWS*                                       12      44

5.    ABBA                                                              9       31

6.    THE ROLLING STONES*                          8       18

7.    MADONNA                                                    7       18

8.    SLADE                                                            6       20

9.    ROD STEWART                                            6       18

10.THE POLICE                                                5       13

     DAVID BOWIE                                             5       13

     BEE GEES                                                     5       13

11.BLONDIE                                                      5       12

12.THE EVERLY BROTHERS                       4       19

13.PAUL McCARTNEY/ WINGS*                 4       17

14.FRANK IFIELD                                           4       17

15.QUEEN                                                         4       17

16.T. REX                                                          4       16

17.GEORGE MICHAEL*                               4       10

18.SHAKIN’ STEVENS                                   4       10

     KYLIE MINOGUE                                     4       10

19.WHAM!*                                                      4       9

20.THE JAM                                                     4       9

     JASON DONOVAN                                     4       9

21.MICHAEL JACKSON*                             4       7

22.OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN                         3       18

23.FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD*    3       15

24. ELTON JOHN                                             3       13

25. GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS*            3       11