Britain’s 75 Most Heard Song List Topped By….Procul Harum?

To mark its 75th anniversary, British music-licensing firm Phonographic Performance Ltd. released a list of the 75 most played songs in public places in Britain over the last 75 years. In calculating the list, the PPL defined public places as “radio stations, sports stadiums, jukeboxes, elevators, and supermarkets.”

A PPL spokesperson noted, “These are the records that have ‘outplayed’ all others, not just on the radio but everywhere music is heard in public, from cafés to clubs and from high street to hospital radio.”

The BBC revealed the identified playlist last night in a countdown format. The number one most played song in Britain is Procul Harum’s 1967 hit “Whiter Shade of Pale.” Reacting to the announcement, Gary Brooker, frontman for Procul Harum, said, “Every musician and singer hopes to reach out and communicate to the audience, so it means a great deal that the record has such an indefinable popularity and lasting appeal.”

In addition to the Procul Harum selection, a scan of the list produces a few noted surprises. For one, no song by the Beatles cracked the top ten. Instead, the Beatles had to settle for their top place finish with “Hello Goodbye” in the number eleven spot, followed by “Get Back,” number 13 and “From Me to You,” number 51. As solo artists, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney, all managed to place one solo hit each on the chart. Popular British artist Robbie Williams tied with the Beatles for the most appearances on the chart with three. The oldest song on the chart is Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” from 1939, while the most recent is the 2003 OutKast hit “Hey Ya!”.

The complete list below:

1. Procol Harum A Whiter Shade Of Pale, 1967
2. Queen Bohemian Rhapsody, 1975
3. The Everly Brothers All I Have To Do Is Dream, 1958
4. Wet Wet Wet Love Is All Around, 1994
5. Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, 1991
6. Robbie Williams Angels, 1997
7. Elvis Presley All Shook Up, 1957
8. Abba Dancing Queen, 1976
9. Perry Como Magic Moments, 1958
10. Bing Crosby White Christmas, 1942
11. The Beatles Hello Goodbye, 1967
12. Rod Stewart Maggie May, 1971
13. The Beatles Get Back, 1969
14. All Saints Pure Shores, 2000
15. Cristiano Spiller ft Sophie Ellis-Bextor Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love), 2000
16. Robbie Williams Rock DJ, 2000
17. Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You, 1992
18. George Harrison My Sweet Lord, 1971
19. The Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Women, 1969
20. Sinead O’Connor Nothing Compares 2 U, 1990
21. The Verve Bitter Sweet Symphony, 1997
22. Natalie Imbruglia Torn, 1997
23. Elton John & Kiki Dee Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, 1976
24. T Rex Hot Love,1971
25. Madonna Vogue, 1990
26. Stardust Music Sounds Better With You, 1998
27. Doris Day Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera, Sera), 1956
28. Al Martino Here In My Heart, 1952
29. Paul Anka Diana, 1957
30. Bing Crosby Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, 1943
31. Freda Payne Band Of Gold, 1970
32. John Lennon Imagine, 1971
33. Candi Staton Young Hearts Run Free, 1976
34. Glenn Miller In The Mood, 1939
35. Elton John Sacrifice/Healing Hands, 1990
36. Texas Say What You Want, 1997
37. Frankie Goes To Hollywood Two Tribes, 1984.
38. New Radicals You Get What You Give, 1999
39. The Everly Brothers Cathy’s Clown, 1960
40. John Travolta & Olivia Newton John You’re The One That I Want, 1978
41. David Whitfield Cara Mia, 1954
42. The Archies Sugar Sugar, 1969
43. Elvis Presley It’s Now Or Never, 1960
44. Cliff Richard The Young Ones, 1962
45. Human League Don’t You Want Me, 1981
46. Judy Garland The Trolley Song, 1944
47. Slim Whitman Rose Marie, 1955
48. Celine Dion Think Twice, 1994
49. Macy Gray I Try, 1999
50. Nilsson Without You, 1972
51. The Beatles From Me To You, 1963
52. Band Aid Do They Know It’s Christmas, 1984
53. Les Brown And His Orchestra Sentimental Journey,1944
54. Harry Belafonte Mary’s Boy Child, 1957
55. Cher Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss), 1991
56. Robbie Williams Strong, 1999
57. Billy Joel Uptown Girl, 1983
58. Frankie Laine I Believe, 1953
59. Gerry & The Pacemakers You’ll Never Walk Alone, 1963
60. OutKast Hey Ya, 2003
61. Tony Christie (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, 1971
62. Shadows Wonderful Land, 1962
63. Barry White You’re The First, The Last, My Everything, 1974
64. East 17 Stay Another Day, 1994
65. No Doubt Don’t Speak, 1997
66. Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive, 1977
67. Sean “Puffy” Combs I’ll Be Missing You, 1997
68. Tom Jones Green Green Grass Of Home, 1966
69. The Real Thing You To Me Are Everything, 1976
70. John Travolta & Olivia Newton John Summer Nights, 1978
71. Ella Fitzgerald It’s Only A Paper Moon, 1945
72. Wings Mull Of Kintyre, 1977
73. Eddie Calvert Oh Mein Papa, 1954
74. The Police Every Breath You Take, 1983
75. Snap Rhythm Is A Dancer, 1992