You could spend years arguing about what constitutes the first rockвЂ™nвЂ™roll record. Also, note that dates listed are the dates the songs reached No 1.Д«en Beaumont-Thomas, music editor 100 Bill Haley and His Comets вЂ“ Rock Around the Clock (1955) After weвЂ™ve reached No 1, weвЂ™ll ask what you think we unforgivably missed out from the overall list, and then publish highlights from your selections. WeвЂ™d love to hear what you think of our choices вЂ“ whether in agreement or outrage вЂ“ and hear your fond or not-so-fond memories of these singles. The only rule was that an artist could only feature once.ДЄs such, it is very much open to discussion, which we heartily encourage in the comments section. The ranking isnвЂ™t based on sales or longevity, itвЂ™s the fruit of that discussion: what we as critics, fans and lifetime listeners think are the most brilliant songs to top the UK charts, and, of those, which are more brilliant than others. This list, and the songsвЂ™ order, was compiled via a politely raging video call between me, chief rock and pop critic Alexis Petridis and deputy music editor Laura Snapes.

That takes us up to the Top 20, and from Monday to Friday for four weeks weвЂ™ll have standalone celebrations of each remaining song by our team of critics.

WeвЂ™ll be counting this down over six weeks вЂ“ for the first two weeks, weвЂ™ll spend Monday to Thursday counting down 10 at a time. We present to you a ranking of the 100 greatest UK No 1 singles since the charts began in 1952. A s the coronavirus lockdown continues, the GuardianвЂ™s music desk thought you might be in need of a distraction вЂ“ something to send you down memory lane, or to divert the annoyance at your housemates or children on to us.

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