Winifred Atwell - Let's Have Another Party

Winifred Atwell - 'Let's Have Another Party'

3rd December, 1954 (5 weeks)

Winifred Atwell, the first black person to reach the top of the UK charts, became the 3rd UK Christmas Number 1 in 1954 with the follow up to her previous hit 'Let's Have A Party'.

On stage, Atwell was charming, warm and dazzled with her skills at the piano. No wonder she became a star in an austere, post-War Britain - she once performed a private show for Queen Elizabeth and was personally called back for an encore by the monarch herself.

Frankie Laine - Answer Me

Frankie Laine - 'Answer Me'

13th November, 1953 (8 weeks)

I said 'Answer Me' would be back before you knew it! Making its second appearance at number 1, this time recorded by Frankie Laine, making his 3rd appearance in this position for 1953:

Not content with having the biggest selling single of 1953, Mr Rawhide claimed the 1953 Christmas Number 1 as well with his version of the previous number 1 single. The first (but not only) time a number 1 would be removed by another version of the same song.

Which ties in nicely with the common theme of number 1 singles being a snap shot of popularity, not necessarily cultural trends. Multiple versions of the same version of a song appearing in the charts is still going to this day - the best example probably being the battle for Christmas number 1 2008 between Alexandra Burke and Jeff Buckley, which was of course well and truly won by X-Factor's Alexandra Burke. But more on that 'a bit later on'.

As a song though, I much prefer this version to David Whitfield's. Frankie Laine's voice is much rawer and charged with emotion, lending a greater poignancy to the song over the irritating operatic style of Whitfield.

Here In My Heart

Al Martino – ‘Here In My Heart’

14^th November 1952 (9 weeks)

The first UK number 1 and as result, one of the most important songs in chart history: stayed there for an impressive 9 weeks (a feat only topped 5 times in nearly 60 years) and as a result also became the first Christmas number 1 as well.

As for the song itself, it’s pretty much the warbling balladeer number that was very much of its time. The subject topic is a familiar one ‘here in my heart I’m alone and so lonely, here in my heart I just yearn for you only’, I have a feeling that’ll be a topic popping up again and again and again. And again. Clearly, musically, there is a long road to be travelled down - this is most definitely of a pre-rock n roll era (even if lyrically not much has changed in 50 years). Though having said that, I can imagine Michael Buble doing a cover of this today…