The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles.[2][3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1959, as well as singles which peaked in 1958 and 1960 but were in the top 10 in 1959. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
Eighty singles charted in the top 10 in 1959, with seventy-one singles reaching their peak this year. Three songs were recorded by several artists with each version reaching the top 10:
Twenty-six artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1959, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, four went on to record another hit single that year: Anthony Newley, Bobby Darin, Lloyd Price and Neil Sedaka. Russ Conway had five other entries in his breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
Tommy Steele had his first officially credited single in 1959 without his band The Steelmen when "Come On, Let's Go" reached number 10 in January. A second single, "Little White Bull", made number 6 later in the year.
Cliff Richard's backing group previously charted under the name The Drifters, including three entries in 1959, but they changed their name to The Shadows towards the end of this year. "Travellin' Light" was the first song to reach the top 10 under their new identity, topping the chart for five weeks from 5 November.
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1959, including singles that reached their peak in 1958 or 1960. The figures include both main artists and featured artists. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1959 is also shown.
a "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat" reached its peak of number three on 7 January 1960 (week ending).
b "Staccato's Theme" reached its peak of number four on 21 January 1960 (week ending).
c "Tom Dooley" (Lonnie Donegan version) re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 5 February 1959 (week ending).
d "Tom Dooley" (The Kingston Trio version) re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 29 February 1959 (week ending).
e The Drifters changed their name to The Shadows in 1959, to avoid confusion with the American group of the same name, who also threatened legal action over the band's name after "Feelin' Fine" was released in the United States. "Travellin' Light" was the group's first top 10 entry under their new name.
f "Come On, Let's Go" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 22 January 1959 (week ending).
g "(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 19 March 1959 (week ending).
h "It's Late" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 6 August 1959 (week ending) for 2 weeks.
i "Come Softly to Me" (Frankie Vaughan & The Kaye Sisters version) re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 18 June 1959 (week ending).
j "I Go Ape" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 18 June 1959 (week ending).
k "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 25 June 1959 (week ending).
l "Personality" (Lloyd Price version) re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 30 July 1959 (week ending).
m "Mona Lisa" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 29 October 1959 (week ending).
n "The Three Bells" re-entered the top 10 at number 9 on 26 November 1959 (week ending).
o "Broken Hearted Melody" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 3 December 1959 (week ending).
p "Rawhide" re-entered the top 10 at number 6 on 7 January 1960 (week ending) for 3 weeks.
q "Little White Bull" re-entered the top 10 at number 10 on 11 February 1960 (week ending).