1 March 1963 As with Frank Ifield in 1962, our new-fangled official Irish singles chart comes a bit too late for Del Shannon's signature track, his wonderful 1961 hit 'Runaway'. I presume 'Runaway' sold plenty in Ireland anyway, but so far as Irish chart history is concerned it wasted its sweetness on the desert air. … Continue reading Del Shannon – ‘Little Town Flirt’
Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – ‘Diamonds’
22 February 1963 Pop pickers of 1963 surely knew Jet Harris and Tony Meehan as previously the bass player and drummer with The Shadows. Pop pickers of more recent origin won't recognise those names but instead will no doubt remark on how the acoustic guitar and bass on their hit single 'Diamonds' were played respectively … Continue reading Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – ‘Diamonds’
Flo Rida ft. T-Pain – ‘Low’
27 March 2008 Our first Irish number one from a San Marino Eurovision entrant, 'Low' is also the first of Flo Rida's six chart-toppers here. Given his chart dominance in the late '00s and early '10s, his unlikely Sammarinese repping in 2021 felt like a punchline to the gag of how far Flo Rida's star … Continue reading Flo Rida ft. T-Pain – ‘Low’
U2, The Dubliners, Kíla and A Band of Bowsies – ‘The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew’
6 March 2008 Christy Dignam, who has died just a few days before I write this, didn't have an Irish number one single with his band Aslan. However, as a credited member of A Band of Bowsies, the collective noun for the plethora of Irish singers appearing here, this is the third time we've seen … Continue reading U2, The Dubliners, Kíla and A Band of Bowsies – ‘The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew’
The Shadows – ‘Dance On!’
8 February 1963 Elaine Murtagh from Cork, a singer with English-based vocal group The Avons, co-wrote 'Dance On!' with her English sister-in-law (and fellow Avon) Valerie Murtagh. This gives Elaine Murtagh and Cork the distinction of the first Irish person to write an Irish number one single - in fact, the first Irish person to … Continue reading The Shadows – ‘Dance On!’
Cliff Richard – ‘The Next Time’ / ‘Bachelor Boy’
11 January 1963 The first full year of the official Irish singles chart brings us three number ones from Cliff Richard. What's more, one of those three will be Cliff's first Christmas Irish number one. I'm amazed they didn't give up on the new charts after that, just re-think the clearly ill-starred enterprise. For those … Continue reading Cliff Richard – ‘The Next Time’ / ‘Bachelor Boy’
Duffy – ‘Mercy’
28 February 2008 The title and chorus lyric of 'Mercy' feel unfortunate since Duffy revealed the appalling ordeal she subsequently endured. (Content warning for that link: genuinely traumatic events.) Anyway, despite only topping the Irish charts for two non-consecutive weeks this was one of the biggest songs of 2008. A work client of mine even … Continue reading Duffy – ‘Mercy’
Elvis Presley – ‘Return To Sender’
14 December 1962 Elvis again, with a landmark Irish chart-topper again: 'Return To Sender' is Ireland's first official Christmas number one. And if you think that doesn't sound too festive, return to sender is what I do with your Christmas cards. (Also, there's an Elves Presley joke in there somewhere.) Anyway, as with 'She's Not … Continue reading Elvis Presley – ‘Return To Sender’
Frank Ifield – ‘Lovesick Blues’
16 November 1962 Knowing that the Beatles asteroid was hurtling through deep space already at this point, the impulse here is to fear for the future of a variety singer whose trademark was yodelling. However, plenty of easy listening cabaret crooners saw out that putative extinction event; one of them even pips the best Beatles … Continue reading Frank Ifield – ‘Lovesick Blues’
Basshunter – ‘Now You’re Gone’
24 January 2008 Was the nation of 'Maniac 2000' finally losing its taste for Euro-dance anthems? Certainly there used to be more of these records at number one in Ireland. And since in my 'Maniac 2000' treatise I linked the prevalence of Euro-house-trance bangers at number one to a feel-good factor of Irish society, their … Continue reading Basshunter – ‘Now You’re Gone’
