Long Live The Hit Parade

 Douglas McPherson celebrates 70 years of Britain's music charts.

-  Douglas McPherson

FILM buffs will recall Al Martino playing the wedding singer in "The Godfather". For trivia quiz contestants, however, he'll always be remembered for having the first Number One in the newly published British Singles Chart.

"Here In My Heart" snatched the coveted top spot when the chart was published for the first time, on November 14, 1952.

For 70 years, the weekly hit parade has fascinated generations of record lovers.

Growing up, we all wanted to know who was at Number One, what new tunes had made their way into the Top 20, and if our favourite group had gone up the chart or down.

The weekly drama of the chart provided the format for the TV music show "Top Of The Pops".

Every Thursday, generations of teens tuned in for the countdown to that week's chart-topper, whether it was "Waterloo" by ABBA or "Save Your Love" by Renée and Renato.

The wonderful thing about the singles chart is that it knows no snobbery.

It has always reflected what the nation is buying, as opposed to the records that the critics deem cool.