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In September 1968, the Beatles achieved their fifteenth no. 1 single, equalling the record held by Elvis since 1965.
In April 1969 The Fab 4 went one better, clocking up an amazing sixteenth no. 1. And in June of the same year 'The Ballad Of John And Yoko' gave them a staggering seventeenth no. 1. And there they stalled.
In August 1970 Elvis fought back, getting his sixteenth no. 1 with "Wonder Of You". Following his death in 1977 "Way Down" shot to the top.
Thus, the greatest of acts were neck and neck again, The Beatles and Elvis sharing joint honours for most No. 1 Singles. And it remained that way for 25 years.
In June 2002, Elvis topped the chart again. Dutch DJ, JXL remixed Elvis' 1968 B-Side "A Little Less Conversation" and, after being used in a Nike World Cup-based ad campaign, it flew out in record stores, selling close to a quarter of a millon in its first week alone.
Elvis had regained the lead.
But should it to count? The precise credit is "Elvis vs JXL". Well the answer would appear to be "yes". If it's disqualified from counting towards the King's overall tally The Beatles' chart-topper "Get Back" would also have to be over-ruled as it was a shared credit with Billy Preston.
So, in short, Elvis does hold the record.
Here's how records for most Number 1s have been made and broken over the past fifty years:
Nov 1952
First number 1: Al Martino:
Here In My Heart (Nov 1952)
June 1953
First artist to have two number 1s - Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra & Chorus
Outside Of Heaven (Jan 1953)
I'm Walking Behind You (Jun 1953)
[record equalled by Guy Mitchell in Sept 1953 / Frankie Laine in Oct 1953]
Nov 1953
First artist to have three number 1s - Frankie Laine
I Believe (Apr 1953)
Hey Joe (Oct 1953)
Answer Me (Nov 1953)
Oct 1956
First artist to have four number 1s - Frankie Laine
See above plus...
A Woman In Love
[record equalled by Guy Mitchell in May 1957 / Elvis Presley in May 1959]
Nov 1960
First act to have five number ones - Elvis Presley
All Shook Up (July 1957)
Jailhouse Rock (Jan 1958)
I Got Stung / One Night (Jan 1959)
A Fool Such As I (May 1959)
It's Now Or Never (Nov 1960)
Jan 1961
First act to have six number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Are You Lonesome Tonight
Mar 1961
First act to have seven number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Wooden Heart
Jun 1961
First act to have eight number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Surrender
Nov 1961
First act to have nine number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
His Latest Flame
Feb 1962
First act to have ten number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Can't Help Falling In Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby
May 1962
First act to have eleven number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Good Luck Charm
Sep 1962
First act to have twelve number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
She's Not You
Dec 1962
First act to have thirteen number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Return To Sender
Aug 1963
First act to have fourteen number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Devil In Disguise
Jun 1965
First act to have fifteen number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Crying In The Chapel
[equalled by The Beatles in Sep 1968]
Apr 1969
First act to have sixteen number ones - The Beatles
From Me To You (May 1963)
She Loves You (Sep 1963)
I Want To Hold Your Hand (Dec 1963)
Can't Buy Me Love (Apr 1964)
A Hard Day's Night (Jul 1964)
I Feel Fine (Dec 1964)
Ticket To Ride (Apr 1965)
Help! (Aug 1965)
Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out (Dec 1965)
Paperback Writer (Jun 1966)
Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (Aug 1966)
All You Need Is Love (Jul 1967)
Hello Goodbye (Dec 1967)
Lady Madonna (Mar 1968)
Hey Jude (Sep 1968)
Get Back (Apr 1969) with Billy Preston
Jun 1969
First act to have seventeen number ones - The Beatles
The above plus...
The Ballad Of John & Yoko
[equalled by Elvis Presley in Sep 1977; The Wonder Of You (Aug 1970) / Way Down (Sep 1977)]
Jun 2002
First act to have eighteen number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
A Little Less Conversation [as Elvis vs JXL]
Jan 2005
First act to have nineteen number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
Jailhouse Rock (re-issue); therefore, eighteen different songs.
Jan 2005
First act to have twenty number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
One Night / I Got Stung (re-issue); therefore, still eighteen different songs.
Feb 2005
First act to have twenty-one number ones - Elvis Presley
The above plus...
It's Now Or Never (re-issue); therefore, still eighteen different songs.
It is worth noting that since 1952 only seven acts have got into double figures with their number of chart-toppers. They are
Elvis Presley (21, three of these songs twice and one as 'Elvis vs JXL')
The Beatles (17, one with Billy Preston)
Cliff Richard (14, six with The Shadows, one with The Drifters, one with The Young Ones)
Westlife (14, one with Mariah Carey).
Madonna (13)
Take That(11)
The Shadows (11 : six of them with Cliff Richard)
Record Breakers and Trivia Index
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