TQR

Air hairlair. Welcome to, gosh, the FIFTEENTH edition of Kill or Save! As we continue to slam through the UK charts through the decades, we arrive here: the last decade (until 2030 at least) of No.1s to sort through. Except it’s actually the first decade, for we travel back to a sepia time where the Singles Charts as we know them were born: the 1950s. It was an education sorting through this list. Back then, you actually had songs tied on sales, which involved people going to actual shops and everything. And 90% of the entries were by someone “And His Orchestra”, much of which I’ve painstakingly edited out. Different times innit. Of course, you won’t be expected to know all these singles from 65+ years ago - that’d be a stretch even for our cherished player theoldlady - so you might need a little familiarisation session. Don’t worry though, it’s a much smaller list than the last game. Fancy reliving all the action? See below for links to all Kill or Save games to date: 50s No.1s (you are here); 60s No.1s; 70s No.1s; 80s No.1s; 90s No.1s; 00s No.1s; 10s No.1s 60s No.2s; 70s No.2s; 80s No.2s; 90s No.2s; 00s No. 2s 70s No.3s; 80s No.3s (IN PLAY!) Christmas Special 2023 KoS HoF The Rolling Stones — Paint It, Black Donna Summer — I Feel Love Nena — 99 Red Balloons Madonna — Vogue Gorillaz — Dare Gotye ft. Kimbra — Somebody That I Used To Know The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York Barry Ryan — Eloise Queen — Somebody To Love A-Ha — Take On Me The Cardigans — Lovefool Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Murder On The Dancefloor David Bowie — Life On Mars? Rules here, purely for me to quote if you break them: Each song starts with 20 points (whether it deserves it or not). You can vote once a day. Since we all live in different parts of the world with all sorts of different timezones, please add a date at the top of your votes to avoid any confusion (e.g. Thu 25 Jul, 25/7/24, 7/25/24 if you’re a wrongun). Each day you may add up to 4 points to and subtract 6 points from any song on the board. You can split your points between as many songs as you like. You must use all six minus points (unless it’s a round-ending turn) and give at least one plus point. Placeholder posts are allowed, but if you don't edit your votes within 5 minutes, then the next person can go and do their votes. Consecutive votes are not allowed. Before voting, please listen to the songs of each round and vote according to your own opinions, don't vote for songs because they're high/low on the board or because of your opinions about the artist, only the song matters. Make sure you copy and paste the most recent voter's scoreboard when you take your turn to score. For your own ease, ‘paste as plain text’ to get rid of the previous poster’s formatting. Then, delete their +/- scores, add yours, adjust the song’s points total and make your scores bold. Here’s a random example post from a previous game’s finale: See, below, the dinky little list of 94 UK No.1 songs from the 1950s: Usually, we go through 5 group stages, but the charts only began in November 1952 so there are actually only 4 groups, beginning with the No.1 hits of 1952/53, followed by a grand final consisting of the 25 songs that have qualified, where we will ultimately decide what the best chart topper of the 1950s is, and the artist(s) can smile down on all the copies of their singles that’ve been gathering dust in charity shops since your nan’s house clearance. The groups are as follows: 1952-53: 15 songs, 4 finalists 1954-55: 25 songs, 7 finalists 1956-57: 25 songs, 7 finalists 1958-59: 29 songs, 7 finalists Should be a piece of piss, this. Anyway, time to dig out the old 12-inches. Let’s Kill or Save!

Thu 12 Sep 39 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 38 The Bangles — Walk Like an Egyptian 33 The Damned - Eloise -6 22 Tears for Fears - Mad World 20 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 17 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 09 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 Wise up. Eloise has already won a game.

Thu 12 Sep 54 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 52 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 43 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 38 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 38 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 36 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 25 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon -1 14 Paul Anka — Diana 08 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 0 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Spaghetti Carbonara Fiat Punto Whatever -5

Wed 11 Sep 40 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 39 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 28 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 28 The Damned - Eloise -6 27 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 22 Tears for Fears - Mad World 14 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 08 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

Wed 11 Sep 50 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 49 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock -1 43 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 41 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 35 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 30 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 28 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 20 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 16 Paul Anka — Diana  14 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 08 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire -5 08 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Tue 10 Sep 46 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 44 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 32 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 30 The Damned - Eloise -6 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 26 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 14 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 10 The Vapors - Turning Japanese Come on you miserable cunting fucks, the nutty boys clearly deserve to win this!

Tue 10 Sep 48 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 46 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 46 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 40 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 37 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 30 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 28 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 23 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 22 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire -6 18 Paul Anka — Diana 16 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 14 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love

Well, this is going alright for me...13 left and all of my personal top-10 are still there!

Mon 9 Sep 41 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 40 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 40 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 31 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 28 The Damned - Eloise -6 16 Ultravox - Dancing WithTears In My Eyes 12 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 12 The Vapors - Turning Japanese

Mon 9 Sep 46 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 42 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 42 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 37 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 36 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 33 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 28 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 24 Paul Anka — Diana 24 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 23 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 22 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire -6 20 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 07 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 06 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues

Sun 8 Sep 44 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 40 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 34 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 32 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 31 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 30 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 28 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 23 Paul Anka — Diana 23 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 23 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 21 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 20 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 20 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 17 Frankie Laine — I Believe 17 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 09 Perry Como & The Ramblers — Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes 08 Alma Cogan — Dreamboat -6

Sun 8 Sep 48 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 38 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 37 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 35 The Damned - Eloise -6 34 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 22 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 12 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 12 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 08 Queen - A Kind of Magic

Sat 7 Sep 36 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 36 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 27 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 27 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 26 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 24 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 24 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 24 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 22 Paul Anka — Diana 22 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 22 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 20 Alma Cogan — Dreamboat 20 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 20 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 20 Frankie Laine — I Believe 19 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 17 Perry Como & The Ramblers — Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes 14 Mantovani & His Orchestra — The Song From Moulin Rouge 09 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 08 Kay Starr — Comes A-Long A-Love 08 Rosemary Clooney — This Ole House 07 Prez Prado & His Orchestra — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White -6

Sat 7 Sep 42 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 40 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 37 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 36 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 34 The Damned - Eloise -6 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 22 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 20 Queen - A Kind of Magic 14 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 12 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 10 Queen - I Want It All 03 Roy Orbison — You Got It 02 Aztec Camera- Somewhere In My Heart

...here. This game has been hugely entertaining and, against all odds, the final 25 is a bloody strong lineup! Game on... GRAND FINAL Fri 6 Sep 24 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 20 Prez Prado & His Orchestra — Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White 20 Alma Cogan — Dreamboat 20 Guy Mitchell — Singing The Blues 20 Johnston Brothers — Hernando’s Hideaway 20 The Teenagers ft. Frankie Lymon — Why Do Fools Fall In Love 20 Paul Anka — Diana 20 Mantovani & His Orchestra — The Song From Moulin Rouge 20 The Crickets — That’ll Be The Day 20 Rosemary Clooney — This Ole House 20 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 20 Perry Como & The Ramblers — Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes 20 Elvis Presley — All Shook Up 20 Kay Starr — Comes A-Long A-Love 20 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 20 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 20 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 20 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 20 Frankie Laine — I Believe 20 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 20 Tony Bennett — Stranger In Paradise 20 Tennessee Ernie Ford — Sixteen Tons 20 Bill Haley & His Comets — Rock Around The Clock 20 Rosemary Clooney & The Mellomen — Mambo Italiano 14 Doris Day — Que Sera Sera -6

Fri 6 Sep 58 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 55 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire -2 54 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 52 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 52 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 50 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 47 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 0 Buddy Holly — Oh. It Mattered. -4 Grand Final to follow...

Fri 6 Sep 48 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 44 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 38 The Damned - Eloise -6 35 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 34 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 22 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 19 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 15 Queen - A Kind of Magic 12 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 10 Aztec Camera- Somewhere In My Heart 09 Roy Orbison — You Got It 04 Queen - I Want It All You people are fucking monsters.

Thu 5 Sep 51 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +2 51 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife +2 47 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 46 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 46 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 45 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 41 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 23 Perry Como — Magic Moments 18 Elvis Presley — One Night / I Got Stung 18 Buddy Holly — It Doesn’t Matter Anymore 18 Jerry Keller — Here Comes Summer -6 08 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe

Thu 5 Sep 50 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 42 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 37 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 35 The Damned - Eloise 28 Tears for Fears - Mad World 24 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 24 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes -6 22 Queen - I Want it All 22 Roy Orbison - You Got It 22 Queen - A Kind of Magic 15 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 13 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 12 Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 10 Aztec Camera— Somewhere In My Heart

Wed 4 Sep 44 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 37 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 32 The Damned - Eloise 31 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 28 Queen - I Want it All 28 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 27 Tears for Fears - Mad World 27 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes -6 24 Queen - A Kind of Magic 20 Roy Orbison - You Got It 17 Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 14 Aztec Camera- Somewhere In My Heart 13 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 13 Eurythmics - Who's That Girl 13 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 08 Heart - Alone  06 Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy

Wed 4 Sep 47 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 45 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 43 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 43 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 37 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 36 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 36 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 35 Jerry Keller — Here Comes Summer -4 34 Perry Como — Magic Moments 21 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Elvis Presley — One Night / I Got Stung 18 Buddy Holly — It Doesn’t Matter Anymore 12 Marvin Rainwater — Whole Lotta Woman 12 Russ Conway — Roulette 05 Emile Ford — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For 0 Shirley Bassey — As I Love You -2

I think Who’s Sorry Now better demonstrates her beautiful voice tbh. Stupid Cupid is good too though (but not a fan of Carolina Moon).

Tue 3 Sep 39 Madness - Baggy Trousers +4 33 Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time 33 The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian 30 The Damned - Eloise 29 Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes -6 27 Tears for Fears - Mad World 26 Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill 24 Roy Orbison - You Got It 22 Aztec Camera — Somewhere In My Heart 21 Soft Cell - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye 20 Queen - I Want it All 20 Queen - A Kind of Magic 17 Heart - Alone  16 Tina Turner - We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) 16 Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy 14 The Vapors - Turning Japanese 12 Eurythmics - Who's That Girl 07 New Order - Blue Monday 88 

Tue 3 Sep 43 Bobby Darin — Dream Lover +4 39 Jerry Lee Lewis — Great Balls Of Fire 39 Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife 38 Elvis Presley — Jailhouse Rock 35 Jerry Keller — Here Comes Summer 33 Connie Francis — Stupid Cupid / Carolina Moon 33 Perry Como — Magic Moments 31 The Everly Brothers — All I Have To Do Is Dream / Claudette 31 The Platters — Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 23 Emile Ford — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For 21 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Elvis Presley — One Night / I Got Stung 20 Russ Conway — Roulette 18 Marvin Rainwater — Whole Lotta Woman 18 Buddy Holly — It Doesn’t Matter Anymore 14 Connie Francis — Who’s Sorry Now 12 Shirley Bassey — As I Love You -6 06 Elvis Presley — A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight

I Want It All isn't my favourite Queen song (that'd be Innuendo) but I like it a lot. More than A Kind Of Magic (which is also great).