TRACING POPULAR MUSIC TASTES (UK PERSPECTIVE). 

Today: 1955-2019. 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 decade neared its end, Take That continued its number one streak, while Eminem, Calvin Harris, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran were new chart champs.

PART SIXTEEN

November 1955-2019

1.    ELVIS PRESLEY                                        18      80

2.    THE BEATLES*                                          17      69

3.    CLIFF RICHARD                                        14      46

4.    MADONNA                                                  13      29

5.    WESTLIFE*                                                13      18

6.    THE SHADOWS*                                       12      44

7.    TAKE THAT*                                             12      29

8.    ABBA                                                            9       31

9.    SPICE GIRLS*                                            9       22

10.CALVIN HARRIS*                                     8       21

11.THE ROLLING STONES*                        8       18

12.OASIS                                                           8       8

13.EMINEM                                                      8       8

14.ED SHEERAN*                                            7       37

15.GEORGE MICHAEL*                                7       17

16.MICHAEL JACKSON*                              7       16

17.KYLIE MINOGUE                                      7       16

18.ROBBIE WILLIAMS*                                7       11

19.U2                                                                   7       8

20.RIHANNA*                                                  6       22

21.QUEEN*                                                      6       21

22.ELTON JOHN*                                           6       20

23.SLADE                                                         6       20

24.ROD STEWART                                         6       18

25.SAM SMITH                                               6       14