Go to main content

UK Top 40 Salesfigures

April 18, 2005 | Music
Here are this week's UK singles sales including downloads according to Music Week:

1. Tony Christie 69,000
2. Razarlight 28,537
3. Ciara 26,057 (1,781 downloads)
4, Elvis Presley 26,024 (79 downloads)
5. Freeloaders 8,296

The singles chart almost doubled in size to about 800,000 units after legal downloads from more than 20 sites including i-Tunes and Napster were counted for the first time. Christie's charity track (Is This the Way To) Amarillo was confirmed as No 1 for the fifth week running but the chart positions of some other songs was affected by the inclusion of downloads.

Elvis Presley's The Wonder of You would have been at No 3 under the old system, but was pushed to No 4 by 1, 2 Step by Ciara featuring Missy Elliott, according to the Official UK Chart Company which compiles the chart.

Oh My Gosh by Basement Jaxx would have been at No 45 but made No 27 once downloads were taken into account. Stereophonics' Dakota was at No 34 in the chart instead of No 46 under the old system.

The most dramatic leap was made by Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz which has only been available as a seven-inch vinyl single. It would have been at No 197 but was No 22 thanks to downloads.

Paul Clifford of the Official UK Chart Company said: "The chart has always been a reflection of the most popular songs and including downloads means we maintain that."

Independent labels have objected to the chart, claiming it puts them at a disadvantage because many are unable to sell their recordings in a downloadable format. But the Chart Company said there were eight indie records in the chart, one more than would have been under the old system.
Source:ElvisNews.com Readers Reactions
Tony C wrote on April 18, 2005
Well done to Tony Christie and Comic Relief. This great singer has made a long deserved comeback and the charity are raising lots of money. Elvis can never compete with sales of 69,000, despite comments that BMG/Sony should be producing 100,000 copies of each single. Many original numbered copies of the last few singles, including "The Wonder of You", are still on the shelves of shops in London. As well as the ebay bubble bursting, perhaps the desire to get these records as they are released has declined because of the knowledge that we will still be able to get the product after the series has ended. Regarding Elvis' number four postition, we would have been glad of that during the 1970's when his records were getting very low chart positions.
bossanovababy wrote on April 18, 2005
79 downloads is an utter disgrace! I don`t care if i start an argument or receive a massive backlash with what i`m about to say...whoever the 25,000 fans are who bought the single yet wouldn`t pay an extra 79p to get The King to what would`ve been NO.2 are no `fans` in my eyes. I believe part of being a `fan` is going that extra mile,i`m sure i`m not the only one who has these songs a million times but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to really get Elvis full `positive` publicity and some people aren`t making the most of it. Yes,NO.4 is a truly great achievement,as have been all our positions,no,no-one else could ever get near what The King and ourselves are doing today,BUT surely for the sake of these last 3 singles(including Wonder) spending an extra pound is well worth getting The King as high as possible! I`d like to add that if people are unable to download through lack of a personal computer,or credit card or anything like that,then i apologise,i`m not venting my frustration towards you.Also,if your Downloads have been conned and not counted then i`m not aiming at you either. I may be overly getting the hump,but i`m afraid that`s just the way i feel.I mean,even another 34 Downloads gets us to NO.3!!! TCB
John4126 wrote on April 18, 2005
scsa - my question to you is why? I bought the original single in 1970 - when it really mattered. I can download - and do! But i refuse to line the pockets of the record company. Ive gone the extra mile - time and time again. Thats what Elvis fans do. Thats what the record company relys on. Download one for me - it wont cost that much - and you will feel better! Cheers.
andyportland wrote on April 18, 2005
ive just tried to download WD, i registered with woolies and then put WD in my basket, but then i was sitting there about 20mins whilst it was been "Prepared" to be sent. No wonder people wont download, i cant hang around 20 mins or more each time, i was on my break at work and popped into the public library
andyportland wrote on April 18, 2005
i got one big burning question, What happens after this as all ended? I cant bear the thought of not having any Elvis single to look forward to and seeing what position it gets to. When will there be another single release after this do you think? And why dont they do the same with Elvis' 10 UK number 1 albums, but do one each month instead of each week
bossanovababy wrote on April 18, 2005
Hello John4126,not quite sure what you`re getting at when saying you bought it in the 70s when it mattered? I was born in 1975,had i been able to buy the original `when it mattered` i would have! Regarding your question to me of `why`,well i think i explained my reason well enough but i`ll be a bit more succinct.The more we buy and download the higher Elvis gets in the charts,that`s about it really! I guess `lining the record company`s pockets` depends on what you choose to buy,and what you think is of value. I don`t buy every single `new` compilation album going,due to money,and due to having the songs a million times,probably on one album,and probably only differing in track order! However,this singles campaign is different,new,unique(i hope so anyway,i don`t want any other artists doing the same)and exciting for me to see The King riding high, Wishing he would ride higher,which we can do for him,i don`t think is such a big ask.TCB
Jim Semple wrote on April 18, 2005
Although limited in numbers, my question is - are they only 26,000 odd Elvis fans in the UK who are willing to buy TWOY ? I think thats more dreadful than the Downloads figure.
Colin B wrote on April 18, 2005
Jill - There are more fans than that - but they can't find the single in the shops, and many of them they aren't into downloading !
Tina S wrote on April 18, 2005
why would we buy it weve got it so many of it on albums
emjel wrote on April 18, 2005
Andyportland - Sony/BMG are conducting a poll on what should happen next. Leading at the moment is the remainder of the UK singles produced in picture sleeves with additional CD sets like "Close Up" etc following on. Although I would love to have all the singles in the similar format to the current releases, they would have to be released on a maximum of 2 a month, and it would take about 3 years to collect. One a month - 6 years. However, maybe they could concentrate on either the Top 10 or Top 20 chart entries only (obviously excluding No1's). That would give you 36 Top 10 entries or 57 Top 20 entries to collect. Just think of the fun!!
shaneleebrown wrote on April 18, 2005
I repeat myself from previous weeks, but I do find the people who buy the singles just for the sake of seeing Elvis ride high in the charts a little...well, sad. I see no point in it whatsoever if you have the song already on something else. I have nothing against the limited singles releases. It's nice to have as a collector. But if they are getting so high in the charts then, to be honest, they aren't that limited! Limit each one to, say, 5000 and they might be worth having. Now if, for example, instead of releasing each master take of these songs they had released unreleased alternate or live takes instead, then I could see the point. You would be buying new material and many more fans would buy them too - including myself. But I have no interest in yet another copy of, for example, The Wonder Of You that I already have on "On Stage," "Walk A Mile In My Shoes," "Live In Las Vegas," - and for those fans that buy more run of the mill compilations you probably also have it on "The Essential Collection," "Artist Of The Century," "Elv1s" and many of the numerous love song Cds that have been issued over the years. And the point of being it is to see Elvis high in the charts and prove his popularity? The fact that he has his own collectors label proves his popularity. Instead of releasing the singles, BMG should spread the Elvis word much more easily by making all the original albums available in the shops (not on FTD) in their original form and at an affordable price so that new and upcoming fans can sample the catalogue and see what is waiting to be discovered.
John4126 wrote on April 18, 2005
scsa - i guess its your assertion that as a person who doesnt feel the need to download the songs isnt a 'real' fan, that kind of offends me. For me these charts dont matter. Elvis has nothing left to prove. It all reminds me of Parker and the movie years. He knew the hard core group of Elvis fans would go and see the movie 3/4 times so boosting revenue - all his calculations were based on that reliance of the fan base. In reality not that many people went to see them - particulary from the mid 60['s onwards. The hard core made sure they made money. I think its pretty dumb for someone who must have something like TWOY countless times on cd's to buy it as the new single and then download it just to boost a position in a chart that really is irrelevant. But then again i'm no 'real' fan - what do i know!
bossanovababy wrote on April 18, 2005
Shaneleebrown,i understand and am fine with most of what you say,however your opinion that as a `collector` the singles would be `worth having` if they were truly limited is purely selfish and un-fanlike. Many people are `collectors` of things,not through love,but purely because one day they may have a sell-on value. Personally i don`t claim to be a high and mighty `collector`,i merely buy what i can whether it is limited,or if 1,000,000 other people also have it. Buying something to get Elvis high in the charts is a sign of respect and gratitude to The King,not sadness. Sadness is someone who revels in someone`s greatness and gives nothing back!TCB
bossanovababy wrote on April 18, 2005
John4126,like i said it`s just my opinion-that`s all.I agree that Elvis has nothing to prove,i just disagree that charts are irrelevant. Perhaps i was out of order if i claimed you weren`t a `real` fan,i guess we just have different ideas about what is important for us to achieve on behalf of someone who can no longer help himself. I won`t like Elvis better or think he becomes a better singer if he gets to No.1 instead of No.4,i just think he DESERVES to be No.1,and that as fans during this once in a lifetime campaign for Elvis,we should do what we can to achieve that for his continuing legacy.TCB
Viva wrote on April 18, 2005
Way Down is a truly great and important recording, it really is deserving of that No1 slot. While a lot of you folks out there don't agree with the importance of the charts, you can't deny that it's great to see the king at No1 again, so for the sake of 99p, just download the damn thing, the worst that could happen is that Elvis will get to No1 - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
bossanovababy wrote on April 18, 2005
Well said Viva.TCB
2001 wrote on April 18, 2005
I would download way down 40times If I could, But I don`t have a credit card.
King 14 wrote on April 19, 2005
Im with scsa on this one-the cost of a download or 2,3 or 4 downloadsis not worth questioning if it gets Way Down and the rest of the singles to the top.Many youngerfans particularly are entitled to feel excited at seeing their man at the top.Way Down is a great song but alesser known (to the public generally) no.1 and I think this funky and still quite contempoary sounding rock track will provide positive promotion of seventies Elvis covering a time when most believed Elvis no longer rocked.This track more than anything will help bring E 'like ALLC to a youger generation.Stop being so stingy -this is the king of music who deserves to at the top as often as possible
macuser wrote on April 19, 2005
I really don't know why someone is talking about a the song "Way Down" beeing a great recording. In my view one of the lesser one cause in the end one could almost hear the Elvis is out of breath and having a hard time to pronounce the words... BUT! The Wonder Of You deserves more then this 4th place cause this song is ABOUT EVIS HIS FANS! if you haven't noticed by now.And such a song should deserve only one place: # 1!
Elvis girl wrote on April 19, 2005
I agree with SCSA TWOY should have been number 1, i too don't revel in so much the fact that Elvis HAS to be number 1 but that the song is so fab and should have made it there, i still feel that the whole chart system is a complete and utter carve-up! It is fixed i don't care what anyone says....i too go every Monday to buy whichever single is due out simply because i would like to see Elvis at number 1 but also to keep his name etc alive.i can't understand the people that say they don't buy them cos they have them already, so do but i still buy them and collect as much as i can afford to.
3LV!S wrote on April 19, 2005
eh.. wot? deserved to get to number 1? he did! what more is there to prove? chill and be happy
bossanovababy wrote on April 19, 2005
Nothing to do with `proving`, it`s to do with `continuing`, and `educating` today`s new audience. We are aware these HAVE been No.1 songs,we are merely trying to get them to be No.1 song`s NOW.TCB
Tony C wrote on April 19, 2005
Mister Cool, you are right about the sleeve for "Way Down". It should have been in the blue sleeve with the orange swirl, as it was in 1977, but they have used the one dating from the early seventies. This is either for cheapness or ignorance on BMG's part, take your pick!
emjel wrote on April 19, 2005
Kilburn Tony/Mister Cool - BMG couldn't get the sleeve right for the vinyl release on WD or TWOY. The RCA lettering is upside down on the bottom - compare it with the CD inner bag. Way Down did originally come in the Blue/Orange swirl bag, but some came with a black bag. This happened when RCA contracted out extra pressings. I guess as you say, this weeks release is down to costs. And all those complaining about not doing downloads because you've already got the song. Think of it like buying a bar of chocolate - you buy it, you eat it, and you havn't got it anymore - so you go out and buy another one. Maybe you should throw away all the old issues of Elvis songs and go out and buy them again. I think the real mistake BMG made was not giving collectors an unreleased take. Then there would have been a real need to buy the record.
Tina S wrote on April 23, 2005
what's downloading