The late Steve Wright used to have a feature on his BBC Radio 2 Show called Serious Jockin’, or Jockin. It wasn’t clear whether there was an apostrophe in Jockin’. This page on the BBC website, from the final episode of his afternoon show, spells it both ways. Regardless of the apostrophe, there was definitely “No G”. Listeners would send in messages to say what they were up to: “paintin’ and decoratin’” perhaps, or “shoppin’”. Always without the G.

In honour of the late DJ, who would have turned 70 last month if he were still with us, there’s a list below of all the UK #1 singles that feature an “-ing” word (mostly verbs in their gerund form) without the G at the end. These titles feature people Walkin’, Singin’, Laughin’, Movin’ and Jumpin’. Somethin’ for everyone I hope. There have also been three chart-topping acts who dispensed with a G in the same way (Shakin’ Stevens, Livin’ Joy and Blazin’ Squad). Their #1 are listed at the very end of this piece.

The information comes from this page on the Official Chart Company website (“All The Number 1 Singles”). In keeping with the original data I have left the text in upper case, and left the apostrophes as they are (‘ rather than ‘). There are anomalies in some versions of these titles. Everyhit.com, which lists Top 40 singles up to 2011, lists the Walker Brothers’ 1965 #1 as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”. The Official Chart Company has added a G: “You’ve Lost That Loving Feelin’”.

#1 song titles missing a G

TITLE	ARTIST	YEAR	WEEKS AT 1
JUST WALKIN’ IN THE RAIN	JOHNNIE RAY	1956	7
GAMBLIN’ MAN/PUTTING ON THE STYLE	LONNIE DONEGAN	1957	2
TRAVELLIN’ LIGHT	CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS	1959	5
GOOD TIMIN’	JIMMY JONES	1960	3
SHAKIN’ ALL OVER	JOHNNY KIDD & THE PIRATES	1960	1
WALKIN’ BACK TO HAPPINESS	HELEN SHAPIRO	1961	3
CONFESSIN’ (THAT I LOVE YOU)	FRANK IFIELD	1963	2
YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELIN’	RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS	1965	2
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’	NANCY SINATRA	1966	4
SOMETHIN’ STUPID	NANCY SINATRA & FRANK SINATRA	1967	2
JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH	ROLLING STONES	1968	2
WANDRIN’ STAR	LEE MARVIN	1970	3
STAR TREKKIN’	THE FIRM	1987	2
DOCTORIN’ THE TARDIS	TIMELORDS	1988	1
HANGIN’ TOUGH	NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK	1990	2
KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR/THROW THESE GUNS AWAY	DUNBLANE	1996	1
BLOCK ROCKIN’ BEATS	CHEMICAL BROTHERS	1997	1
LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCA	RICKY MARTIN	1999	3
KEEP ON MOVIN’	FIVE	1999	1
ROLLIN’	LIMP BIZKIT	2001	2
DON’T STOP MOVIN’	S CLUB 7	2001	2
SOMETHIN’ STUPID	ROBBIE WILLIAMS & NICOLE KIDMAN	2001	3
I DON’T FEEL LIKE DANCIN’	SCISSOR SISTERS	2006	4
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN	MINT ROYALE	2008	2
NOTHIN’ ON YOU	B.O.B FT. BRUNO MARS	2010	1
GETTIN’ OVER YOU	DAVID GUETTA FT. CHRIS WILLIS	2010	1
DON’T STOP ME EATIN’	LADBABY	2020	1

 

#1 chart acts missing a G from their names, and their #1 hits

TITLE	ARTIST	YEAR	WEEKS AT 1
THIS OLE HOUSE	SHAKIN’ STEVENS	1981	3
GREEN DOOR	SHAKIN’ STEVENS	1981	4
OH JULIE	SHAKIN’ STEVENS	1982	1
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE	SHAKIN’ STEVENS	1985	2
DREAMER	LIVIN’ JOY	1995	1
CROSSROADS	BLAZIN’ SQUAD	2002	1