1. RACE FOR CHRISTMAS NO.1 SINGLE / MATT CARDLE, X-FACTOR
“Matt got off to a storming start the moment fans were able to download When We Collide, and his prospects were given another huge boost when his CD single came out in midweek at HMV and other stores.
“People of all ages have been buying the song in their tens of thousands around the country, and he would probably have sold a lot more if it hadn’t been for snowy conditions at the weekend, which prevented a lot of families getting out with their kids to their Christmas shopping.
“With the possible exception of the Trashmen’s Surfin’ Bird and a bid to get the original Biffy Clyro track to top the charts, the much-talked about facebook campaigns to stop Matt from getting to number one failed to materialise – partly because the novelty may have worn off after last year’s coup by Rage Against The Machine, but also because the combination of Matt’s contemporary song choice, great voice and ‘guy-next-door’ appeal may have prompted less of a backlash this year.
“With the right guidance and material, Matt has every chance of establishing himself as big-name pop star, especially as, outside of the likes of Robbie, Will Young and now Olly Murs, there aren’t that many successful male solo artists about – so there’s definitely a gap in the market that he can successfully fill.”
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo
2. CHRISTMAS NO.1 ALBUM / TAKE THAT (Rihanna, Michael Bublé, Michael Jackson and Olly Murs)
“Alongside Matt Cardle and the X-Factor, the real winners this Christmas are Take That, who, in just a few weeks, have racked up the best part of two million sales of their Progress CD, which is a truly amazing achievement, and testament to the band’s universal appeal and their growing status as national treasures.
“Other artists who have made the most of appearing on the X-Factor to enjoy fantastic festive sales are Rihanna – who bagged the no.2 album spot not to mention two tracks in the top ten singles chart, Michael Bublé, who has now become a bit of a top ten Christmas fixture, and Olly Murs – who will be delighted to have successfully established himself as a mainstream solo star.
“The posthumous album of new material from Michael Jackson Michael also did really well in charting in the top-five-selling to many younger shoppers as his music is passed on to a new generation of fans.”
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo
List of Official UK Christmas No.1’s: 1952 – 2010
1952 Al Martino Here in My Heart
1953 Frankie Laine Answer Me
1954 Winifred Atwell Let’s Have Another Party
1955 Dickie Valentine The Christmas Alphabet
1956 Johnnie Ray Just Walking In the Rain
1957 Harry Belafonte Mary’s Boy Child
1958 Conway Twitty It’s Only Make Believe
1959 Emile Ford & The Checkmates What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes at Me For
1960 Cliff Richard I Love You
1961 Danny Williams Moon River
1962 Elvis Presley Return To Sender
1963 Beatles> I Want To Hold Your Hand
1964 Beatles I Feel Fine
1965 Beatles Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out
1966 Tom Jones Green Green Grass Of Home
1967 Beatles Hello Goodbye
1968 The Scaffold Lily The Pink
1969 Rolf Harris Two Little Boys
1970 Dave Edmunds I Hear You Knocking
1971 Benny Hill Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
1972 Little Jimmy Osmond Long Haired Lover from Liverpool
1973 Slade Merry Christmas Everybody
1974 Mud Lonely This Christmas
1975 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody
1976 Johnny Mathis When A Child Is Born
1977 Wings Mull of Kintyre/Girl’s School
1978 Boney M Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord
1979 Pink Floyd Another Brick In The Wall
1980 St Winifred’s School Choir There’s No-One Quite like Grandma
1981 Human League Don’t You Want Me
1982 Renee And Renato Save Your Love
1983 Flying Pickets Only You
1984 Band Aid Do They Know its Christmas
1985 Shakin’ Stevens Merry Christmas Everyone
1986 Jackie Wilson Reet Petite
1987 Pet Shop Boys Always On My Mind
1988 Cliff Richard Mistletoe and Wine
1989 Band Aid II Do They Know It’s Christmas
1990 Cliff Richard Saviour’s Day
1991 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody / Days of Our Lives
1992 Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You
1993 Mr. Blobby Mr. Blobby
1994 East 17 Stay Another Day
1995 Michael Jackson Earth Song
1996 Spice Girls 2 Become 1
1997 Spice Girls Too Much
1998 Spice Girls Goodbye
1999 Westlife I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun
2000 Bob the Builder Can We Fix It
2001 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman Somethin’ Stupid
2002 Girls Aloud Sound of the Underground
2003 Gary Jules Mad World
2004 Band Aid 20 Do They Know it’s Christmas?
2005 Shayne Ward That’s My Goal
2006 Leona Lewis A Moment Like This
2007 Leon Jackson When You Believe
2008 Alexandra Burke Hallelujah
2009 Rage Against The Machine Killing in the Name
© CIN 2010 / The UK Official Charts Co.
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
Gennaro Castaldo
HMV Press & PR
+44 (0)20 7432 2033 / +44 (0)7900657946
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Contact: Gennaro Castaldo
Phone: +44 (0)20 7432 2033 / +44 (0)7900657946
Website: http://www.hmv.co.uk
