First Ever UK Singles Chart
- Grant Gutterigde
- Nov 14
- 2 min read
On This Day – 14th November 1952
On this day in 1952, British music history quietly changed forever. The New Musical Express (NME) published its first ever record chart the first official singles chart to appear in the UK. For the first time, British record buyers could see which songs were truly capturing the nation’s imagination. And sitting proudly at No.1 was Al Martino’s heartfelt ballad “Here in My Heart”, a song so popular it held the top spot for an astonishing nine consecutive weeks.
This simple list of twelve singles marked the beginning of a new era: the rise of chart culture, fan rivalry, and the weekly drama of who would climb, fall, or steal the crown. It laid the groundwork for the explosive decades of rock ’n’ roll, pop, and punk that would follow much of it emerging from the beating heart of London’s Soho.
Join me on my Rock & Roll Tour of Soho as we walk past the former NME offices on Carnaby Street once the nerve centre of British music journalism. We’ll also wander down Berwick Street, affectionately nicknamed “the vinyl mile” thanks to its long-standing treasure trove of record shops, imports, rarities, and cult classics. It’s a street where generations of music lovers have hunted for that perfect 7-inch, 12-inch, or long-lost album.
Step into the soundtrack of history right where so much of it was written.
Please click on the the calendar tab in the meny to see tour dates and availability. All tour booking sare fully 100% refundable if cancelled 24hrs before the tour date and tiem.
If you want to enquire about a private group tour please contact me by email.
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