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Every number one Beatles single – and what kept the others off the top
27 March 2025, 09:48
The Beatles scored 18 UK number ones (back when that really meant something).
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John Lennon: Where we going, fellas?
The Beatles: To the top, Johnny!
John Lennon: Where's that, fellas?!
The Beatles: The toppermost of the poppermost, Johnny!
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With the greatest of respect to today's artists, the music charts are quite literally not what they once were.
In the streaming era, the singles rankings are decided by a careful formula that tots up streams, downloads, and the few physical sales that are still made in shops or online and spits out the modern Top 40.
Back in the day (in the UK at least), the theory was that the charts were as accurate a representation as possible of singles sold to fans.
Yesterday (With Spoken Word Intro / Live From Studio 50, New York City / 1965)
Not only did you have to part company with your pocket money to listen to the music that you loved, with limited funds fans necessarily had to forgo other acts to pledge allegiance to their favourite artist.
Being number one really, truly meant something. What John Lennon called "the toppermost of the poppermost" was the apex.
Ignoring their long players and their 13 EPs (extended plays), The Beatles released 25 "proper" singles in the UK.
That doesn't include after-the-fact releases like the 1976 UK single version of 'Yesterday' or the string of re-releases that continued through the '80s, '90s and beyond.
Baby It's You (Live At The BBC For "Pop Go The Beatles" / 11th June, 1963)
We've also skipped curios like 1982's 'The Beatles' Movie Medley' and 'Baby It's You' from the Live at the BBC compilation. You've got to draw the line somewhere.
But we have added on the three "new tracks" they pieced together after the breakup because it felt a little silly not to.
Below we round up all of them, revealing which singles reached number one on the UK singles charts and what songs kept the others off the top when they were at their peak.
The Beatles' 18 number one UK singles
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From Me to You (b/w) Thank You Girl
From Me To You (Remastered 2009)
Released: April 11, 1963
Weeks at number one: 7
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She Loves You b/w I'll Get You
She Loves You (Remastered 2009)
Released: August 23, 1963
Weeks at number one: 6
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I Want To Hold Your Hand b/w This Boy
The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show 2/9/64
Released: November 29, 1963
Weeks at number one: 5
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Can't Buy Me Love b/w You Can't Do That
The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love
Released: November 29, 1963
Weeks at number one: 5
-
A Hard Day's Night b/w Things We Said Today
The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night
Released: July 10, 1964
Weeks at number one: 3
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I Feel Fine b/w She's a Woman
The Beatles - I Feel Fine
Released: November 23, 1964
Weeks at number one: 5
-
Ticket to Ride b/w Yes It Is
The Beatles - Ticket To Ride
Released: April 9, 1965
Weeks at number one: 3
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Help! b/w I'm Down
The Beatles - Help!
Released: July 23, 1965
Weeks at number one: 3
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We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper (Double A-side)
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
Day Tripper (Remastered 2009)
Released: December 3, 1965
Weeks at number one: 5
-
Paperback Writer b/w Rain
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
Released: May 30, 1966
Weeks at number one: 2
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Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (Double A-side)
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby (From "Yellow Submarine")
Released: August 5, 1966
Weeks at number one: 4
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All You Need Is Love b/w Baby, You're a Rich Man
All You Need Is Love (Remastered 2009)
Released: July 7, 1967
Weeks at number one: 3
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Hello, Goodbye b/w I Am the Walrus
The Beatles - Hello, Goodbye
Released: November 24, 1967
Weeks at number one: 7
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Lady Madonna b/w The Inner Light
The Beatles - Lady Madonna
Released: March 15, 1968
Weeks at number one: 2
-
Hey Jude b/w Revolution
The Beatles - Hey Jude
Released: August 26, 1968
Weeks at number one: 2
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Get Back b/w Don't Let Me Down (with Billy Preston)
Get Back (Remastered 2009)
Released: April 11, 1969
Weeks at number one: 6
-
The Ballad of John and Yoko b/w Old Brown Shoe
The Beatles - The Ballad Of John And Yoko
Released: May 30, 1969
Weeks at number one: 3
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Now and Then b/w Love Me Do
The Beatles - Now And Then (Official Music Video)
Released: November 2, 2023
Weeks at number one: 1
The Beatles' 7 singles that failed to reach number one – and what kept them off the chart
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Love Me Do b/w P.S. I Love You
Love Me Do (Remastered 2009)
Released: October 5, 1962
Peak Chart Position: 17
The 19 songs that kept 'Love Me Do' off the top of the chart for its two non-consecutive weeks at number 17: Elvis Presley - Return to Sender, Cliff Richard - The Next Time/Bachelor Boy, The Shadows - Dance On!, Duane Eddy - Dance With The Guitar Man, Frank Ifield - Lovesick Blues, Brenda Lee - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Rolf Harris - Sun Arise, The Tornadoes - Telstar, Susan Maughan - Bobby’s Girl, Chris Montez - Let’s Dance, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Desafinado, Del Shannon - Swiss Maid, Ray Charles - Your Cheating Heart, Marty Robbins - Devil Woman, Joe Brown - It Only Took A Minute, Pat Boone - The Main Attraction, Kenny Lynch - Up On The Roof, Maureen Evans - Like I Do, Mark Wynter - Go Away Little Girl
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Please Please Me b/w Ask Me Why
Please Please Me (Remastered 2009)
Released: January 11, 1963
Peak Chart Position: 2
"Gentlemen, you have just made your first number one record," said Fifth Beatle George Martin when the group recorded 'Please Please Me'. And the song did top a number of the fledgling charts, including both the Melody Maker and NME rankings.
But at some point it was decided that the "official" predecessor of modern chart is the Record Retailer chart. On those listings, 'Please Please Me' stalled at number two. It stayed there for two weeks, dipped to number three, and then rose to two again for one final week.
The song that kept 'Please Please Me' off the top of the chart: Frank Ifield - Wayward Wind
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Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever (Double A-side)
The Beatles - Penny Lane
The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
Released: February 13, 1967
Peak Chart Position: 2
The song that kept 'Penny Lane'/'Strawberry Fields Forever' off the top of the chart: Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me
-
Something / Come Together (Double A-side)
The Beatles - Something
The Beatles - Come Together
Released: October 6, 1969
Peak Chart Position: 4
The 3 songs that kept 'Something'/'Come Together' off the top of the chart: The Archies - Sugar, Sugar, The Tremeloes - (Call Me) Number One, Fleetwood Mac - Oh Well
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Let It Be b/w You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)
The Beatles - Let It Be
Released: March 6, 1970
Peak Chart Position: 2
The song that kept 'Let It Be' off the top of the chart: Lee Marvin - Wand'rin' Star
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Free as a Bird b/w Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
The Beatles - Free As A Bird
Released: December 4, 1995
Peak Chart Position: 2
The song that kept 'Free As A Bird' off the top of the chart: Michael Jackson - Earth Song
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Real Love b/w Baby's in Black
The Beatles - Real Love
Released: March 4, 1996
Peak Chart Position: 4
The songs that kept 'Real Love' off the top of the chart: Take That - How Deep Is Your Love?, Robert Miles - Children, Oasis - Don't Look Back iI Anger
