For most of the 1970s, the main UK charts of the day was only a top 50 listing. The chart compiler, British Market Research Bureau (BMRB), compiled a full top 200 weekly chart that was distributed within the industry, but has never been made available to the public. Thanks to those at ukmix.org, some interesting chart data for singles has come to light in recent years, including the BMRB’s monthly top 200 best sellers lists between 1976 and 1982. These provided the panel sales used to compile the charts and give a rough indication of how much a single was selling.
- “White, White Dove” reached number 6 in the Star Breakers chart, but failed to crack the top 50. In the monthly lists, it peaked at number 83 in February 1976 and dropped to number 105 in March 1976. It sold an estimated 15,181 copies during those two months.
- “Here Comes the Sun” reached number 10 in the weekly top 50 chart. In the monthly lists, it was at number 47 in July 1976, number 13 in August 1976 and number 58 in September 1976. It sold an estimated 144,942 copies during those three months.
- “(I Believe) Love’s a Prima Donna” reached number 41 in the weekly top 50. In the monthly lists, it was at number 60 in October 1976, number 48 in November 1976 and number 99 in December 1976. It sold an estimated 46,019 copies during those three months.
- “The Best Years of Our Lives” (the live single) failed to reach the weekly top 50. In the monthly lists, it was at number 168 in August 1977 and dropped to number 199 in September 1977. It sold approximately 7,055 copies during those two months.
- “Roll the Dice” failed to reach the weekly top 75, but did reach number 76 in Record Business magazine’s Singles Chart. In the BMRB monthly lists, it appeared at number 195 in July 1978, then number 161 in August 1978. It sold approximately 5,762 copies.
- “Freedom’s Prisoner” reached number 58 in the weekly top 75. In the monthly lists, it appeared at number 71 in October 1979, then number 145 in November 1979. It sold approximately 28,237 copies.
From 1983, Gallup became the new chart compiler and they also produced a full top 200 weekly chart for the industry. Those charts between 1983 and 1994 have now been made available to the public via ukmix.org, providing the following chart and sales data:
- “Ballerina (Prima Donna)”: peaked at number 51 in the top 100 and sold 29,750 copies.
- “Irresistible”: peaked at number 81 in the top 100 and sold 10,404 copies.
- “The Phantom of the Opera”: peaked at number 7 and sold 122,434 copies.
- “Heartbeat Like Thunder”: peaked at number 172 and sold 544 copies.
- “Irresistible” (1986): peaked at number 156 and sold 731 copies.
- “Whatever You Believe” (Anderson, Harley & Batt, 1988): peaked at number 174 and sold 493 copies.
- “Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)” (1992 reissue): peaked at number 46 and sold 15,195 copies.
