It'll be a damn shame if it happens, but I have a horrible feeling that the 1,000th UK number one single will be by someone who isn't even alive to see it. That’ll cause a problem for the press conferences. The reason? From the start of January, each of Elvis Presley's 18 number ones will be released as CD and 10" singles, one hit per week, over seventeen consecutive weeks. (There appear to be two released in the first week, for reasons unknown. There are also lots of mistakes on that HMV web page.) If the marketing people get it right, in terms of extra tracks etc. (and the original cover artwork looks great), these will be snapped up by collectors and new fans alike. As it can take as few as 24,000 sales to top the charts these days, it's not hard to imagine strings of consecutive Elvis number ones from January through to April.

Elvis's total of 18 already puts him top of the pile for UK number ones, one ahead of the Beatles (17), but if he scores a few more, then Cliff Richard (14), Westlife (12, including one with Mariah Carey) and Madonna (10) will surely be weeping buckets, as their realistic chances of overtaking him one day will probably be gone for ever.

I think World Of Chig may start a campaign called 'Let Someone Alive Have The 1,000th Number One Single'. More on this when we get closer. (Probably mid-January if Band Aid 20 holds on as the 997th for a few weeks.)

2005 release dates / Title(s) / Original entry - chart dated... / UK No.1 number:
3rd Jan: All Shook Up (and the box for all 18 releases) (14Jun 1957) 62nd
Also 3rd Jan: Jailhouse Rock (24 Jan 1958) 67th
10 Jan: One Night / I Got Stung (23 Jan 1959) 80th
17 Jan: A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight (24 Apr 1959) 85th
24 Jan: It's Now Or Never (03 Nov 1960) 109th
31 Jan: Are You Lonesome Tonight? (19 Jan 1961) 112th
07 Feb: Wooden Heart (09 Mar 1961) 115th
14 Feb: Surrender (Torna Surriento) (25 May 1961) 119th
21 Feb: (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister (02 Nov 1961) 129th
28 Feb: Rock-A-Hula Baby / Can't Help Falling In Love (01 Feb 1962) 133rd
07 Mar: Good Luck Charm (10 May 1962) 136th
14 Mar: She's Not You (30 Aug 1962) 140th
21 Mar: Return To Sender (29 Nov 1962) 143rd
28 Mar: (You're The) Devil In Disguise (04 Jul 1963) 154th
04 Apr: Crying In The Chapel (27 May 1965) 197th
11 Apr: The Wonder Of You (11 July 1970) 289th
18 Apr: Way Down (13 Aug 1977) 412th
25 Apr: A Little Less Conversation (Elvis vs JXL) (22 Jun 2002) 930th
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