The Chart Project, part zero: an unmanageable and potentially mania-inducing look back at every UK #1 single ever

To date (27th April 2012) there have been 1192 songs that have reached the coveted position of #1 in the UK singles chart, a reflection of that song's success in outselling every other single available to buy in that week. The first chart to reflect the sales of physical copies of the single format was compiled in late 1952 after years of recording the keenest-selling sheet music. Over time the singles chart has evolved to include the CD format, the flexidisc, the cassette, the download, always with the overriding desire to create an accurate a picture as possible of the popular taste of the nation.

Here at AIM, we, err, seek to listen to and briefly write about every single one of these singles. There is a chronological list printed here. However, AIM shall not be reviewing the songs in chronological order lest the similarities of each pop era begin to dull the senses. Instead, using 1 and 1192 as low and high inputs, we have randomised a sequence over at random.org. The full sequence is below the cut and shall be strictly adhered to.

Partial credit and inspiration for this project must go to Jude Riley, with whom the genesis of this idea arose. Over tea, we read through a list of the singles from [years redacted] and realised that many of them were completely dreadful. Had there been a paradigm shift at some point indicative of a downward quality trend, or were we mere oldsters with our salad days long behind us? This project seeks to find out!

We estimate that this project could occupy much of the remainder of the year. People who particularly dislike popular culture would be well advised to unfollow now and delete our telephone number into the bargain.

Other addenda:

• Additional number ones beyond the 1192 until today's date shall be reviewed chronologically at the end of the task.
• No accounting for taste shall be made, of course, but ears shall be opened at all time to try and counterweight the pressure of prejudice and personal association.
• Each review will contain: the name of the artist, the name of the song, the year of charting, the number it appears in the list, a link to the song on Youtube, a rating out of 10, and a review of the song. These reviews could be as short as a tweet but may extend to essay-length for particularly troublesome entries. A short paragraph should often suffice.
• Regarding the 1-10 scale: this shall be strictly adhered to. 1 is nadir, 10 is zenith. Most shall fall somewhere between. We are willing to re-assess the marks given to any single at the end of the process to account for jading and over-emphasis.
• That said, all ratings are entirely subjective and go-fuck-yourself downgradings could also occur.

The first batch of reviews will be posted next weekend.