TRACING POPULAR MUSIC TASTES (UK PERSPECTIVE). 

Today: 1955-94. 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.

As the 1990s continued, Madonna, Whitney Houston, George Michael , Queen, Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue were established among the chart champs, joined by new acts such as Take That.

 

PART TWELVE

November 1955-1994

 

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.QUEEN*                                                        5       20

11.THE POLICE                                               5       13

     DAVID BOWIE                                            5       13

     BEE GEES                                                    5       13

12.GEORGE MICHAEL*                               5       13

13.BLONDIE                                                    5       12

14.TAKE THAT                                                5       11

15.THE EVERLY BROTHERS                      4       19

16.PAUL McCARTNEY/ WINGS*                 4       17

17.FRANK IFIELD                                          4       17

18.T. REX                                                           4       16

19.WHITNEY HOUSTON                                4       16

20.SHAKIN’ STEVENS                                    4       10

     KYLIE MINOGUE                                      4       10