I’m a real record breaker: Man collects every number one single since charts started in 1952... and now he's flogging the lot

By Katie Silver
Updated: 10:35 EST, 15 February 2012

While many view their music collection as a source of pride, worthy of devouring their funds and free time, for Kevin Upchurch - who has collected every single UK number one since the charts began in 1952 – it’s in an entirely different league.

Mr Upchurch's massive haul - which totals a whopping 1,100 hits spanning vinyl, cassette, CD and MP3 - is all stored in his Kent flat.

Music mad Kevin has dedicated his life to scouring car boot sales, charity shops, independent record stores and the internet in a bid to complete his vast collection.

Kevin Upchurch lays amongst his CDs. The 51-year-old from Kent has collected all the number one chart hits since it began in 1952, totalling 1,100 songs. The collection will go under the hammer later this month

And after 39 years, it ranges from the classic How Much Is That Doggy In The Window by Lita Roza to modern dance anthems like Rihanna’s We Found Love.

But the 51-year-old, from Bexleyheath, Kent, is now putting the lot up for auction - with it expected to sell for a five figure sum - to make some room in his small flat.

He said: ‘My first record was Can the Can by Suzi Quatro. I was still a teenager back then and very much into my music.

‘A friend of mine collected football records that sides made when they reached a cup final and I wanted to do something similar, so decided upon every number one.

‘Back then I didn’t realise how big that would become - I never thought about the number one spot changing weekly.’

The collection is expected to make a five figure sum and will save room in his cramped one-bedroomed flat

The collection spans from Al Martino’s Here in My Heart, the UK’s first official number one in November 1952, to Rihanna’s We Found Love, which topped the charts in September 2011.

Kevin stipulates that every number one must be bought on the original label and be a single, not on an album or compilation.

And he revealed that he has spent thousands tracking down obscure past hits as well as new chart toppers the moment they are announced.

The retired post office clerk said: ‘Anything since 1973 I have bought the very next morning after the number one is announced. A few years ago I started downloading the latest number one and adding it to an iPod.

‘I figured my collection needed to move with the times, as it did when we moved from vinyl onto CD.

‘There were a lot of records that had been hits before I started collecting, so I had to track them all down.

‘Many were easy as they were still widely available, but some of the earlier offerings were tricky.

‘I remember the hardest being Lita Roza’s cover of How Much Was That Doggy In The Window.

‘There were moments when I thought about giving up on it and the collection as no matter how hard I tried I simply couldn’t find a version that was in the original format and on the original label.

‘Years passed before I randomly saw it on an internet site while looking for a completely different number one.

‘I can’t describe finally finding it - it meant I was that little bit closer to making it complete.

‘On another occasion my sister found another one I’d been having trouble with in a bric-a-brac shop by chance as she walked past. She gave it to me as a surprise on my birthday.

‘It’s fair to say that was the best birthday present I have ever got.’

Collected over 30 years, Mr Upchurch says his friends and family understand his hobby. He will celebrate his 52nd birthday the day of the auction

Kevin, who still continues to collect records from different genres despite planning to sell his treasured number one collection, continued: ‘It’s easily cost me £4,000-£5,000 over the years - some were 20p and some £20.

‘It has taken a bit of hard work, a lot of luck, and bundles of perseverance to get it up to date.’

Kevin, who used to utilise his huge hits collection by putting on mobile discos, has decided to part with it after his elderly mother became ill and he moved her into his tiny flat.

He said: ‘I used to live in a one-bedroom flat and every single cupboard in the place was jammed with records.

‘Aside from the number ones, I was also collecting records in general, so it totalled thousands and thousands of them at one point.

‘My family have been very helpful and bought me records as presents. They are very understanding about my hobby.

‘Sometimes they would be amazed that I could spend so much on music, but supported me nonetheless.

‘But I’ve decided to sell because of the room it takes up. My mum has recently fallen ill and I needed to move her in with me into my new flat, so I had to part with them.’

The staggering collection - thought to be the biggest of its kind in the world - will be sold at Omega Auctions in Stockport, Manchester, on February 25.

Auctioneer Paul Fairweather, from Omega Auctions, said: ‘It is an extensive collection and a fantastic archive of British popular music, which we were thrilled to have consigned to our auction.

‘It’s a real labour of love collected over more than 30 years and with many rare items it is a great investment, which can only increase in value.

‘The items themselves would cost over £10,000 to buy individually and then there’s the time to collect them all, trawling record fairs and shops, car boot sales and eBay.

‘We’ve estimated conservatively at £5,000 - £7,000 given the austere times, but this would still be a "steal" if it went for £10,000.’

And Kevin, who celebrates his 52nd birthday on the day of the auction, is hoping for a bumper birthday present.

He said: ‘The collection is being auctioned on my birthday so hopefully that will be a nice way to mark it with the records selling for a big sum.

‘It is estimated for £5,000-7,000 but we are hoping for five figures, which would be a lovely birthday present.

‘As long as it goes to a good home, preferably another collector, then I will be happy.

‘It would be terribly sad to see it go to waste.’

THE NUMBER ONE SONGS ON THIS DAY SINCE THE CHARTS BEGAN

Anne Shelton

1952 Anne Shelton - The Loveliest Night Of The Year

1953 Perry Como - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes

1954 Eddie Calvert - Oh Mein Papa

1955 Ruby Murray - Softly, Softly

1956 Dean Martin - Memories Are Made Of This

1957 Guy Mitchell - Singing The Blues

1958 Michael Holliday - The Story Of My Life

1959 Shirley Bassey - As I Love You

1960 Anthony Newley - Why

1961 Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight

1962 Cliff Richard and The Shadows - The Young Ones

1963 Jet Harris and Tony Meehan - Diamonds

1964 Searchers - Needles & Pins

1965 Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You

Elvis Presley

1966 Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walking

1967 Petula Clark - This Is My Song

1968 Manfred Mann - The Mighty Quinn

1969 Amen Corner - (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice

1970 Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

1971 George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

1972 Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father

1973 Sweet - Blockbuster

1974 Mud - Tiger Feet

1975 Pilot - January

1976 Four Seasons - December '63 (Oh, What A Night)

ABBA

1977 Leo Sayer - When I Need You

1978 ABBA - Take A Chance On Me

1979 Blondie - Heart Of Glass

1980 Kenny Rogers - Coward Of The County

1981 Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face

1982 Jam - Town Called Malice / Precious

1983 Kajagoogoo - Too Shy

1984 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

1985 Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well

1986 Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

1987 Ben E King - Stand By Me

1988 Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

1989 Marc Almond with Gene Pitney - Somethings Gotten Hold Of My Heart

Mariah Carey

1990 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

1991 Simpsons - Do The Bartman

1992 Wet Wet Wet - Goodnight Girl

1993 2 Unlimited - No Limit

1994 Mariah Carey - Without You

1995 Celine Dion - Think Twice

1996 Babylon Zoo - Spaceman

1997 U2 - Discotheque

1998 Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On

1999 Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away

2000 Oasis - Go Let It Out

2001 Atomic Kitten - Whole Again

Lily Allen

2002 Enrique Iglesias - Hero

2003 Tatu - All The Things She Said

2004 Sam and Mark - With A Little Help From My Friends / Measure Of A Man

2005 U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

2006 Meck featuring Leo Sayer - Thunder In My Heart Again

2007 Mika - Grace Kelly

2008 Basshunter - Now You're Gone

2009 Lily Allen - The Fear

2010 Helping Haiti - Everybody Hurts

2011 Jessie J feat. B.o.B - Price Tag

2012 Gotye feat. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used To Know