The best No 1 of 1952 was Here In My Heart, by dint of its being the only No 1 of 1952. Had the first hit parade been published a few months earlier, Al Martino could have had competition from Johnnie Ray's Cry or Nat King Cole's Unforgettable, but instead we're tied to this rather heavy-handed, poperatic piece, which held the top spot for nine weeks. Martino's one neat trick is to switch from a roar to a tearful near-whisper within the opening line. Beyond that, it is quite a struggle to work out why it was so big. Here In My Heart was released in Britain only on a 78, and the best way to unravel its mysterious appeal is to listen to it on a gramophone rather than an MP3 player.
The best No 1 singles: Al Martino – Here In My Heart
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1952: This was the very first No 1, though it's hard to understand why it was so big
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