Number-one songs that never were

As Ed Power ponders a possible digital backlash, he talks to John Creedon about classic songs that never made it to the top of the charts

WHAT do Ultravox’s ‘Vienna’, The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and The Kinks’ ‘Waterloo Sunset’ have in common? All these iconic songs were denied a UK number one by arguably inferior rivals.

Instead, they are part of a pantheon of classic number-two singles, a club that also includes The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale Of New York’ and, in the UK, Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ (which topped the charts here).