Today marks the 50th birthday of the UK Hit Singles chart.

This barometer of pop success has undergone many changes. Back in 1952, conservative Britain was still struggling out of the shadow of the Second World War, and Elvis had yet to have his first hit.

Al Martino's Here in My Heart topped the first chart, which had only 15 songs. The chart was compiled by the New Musical Express's Percy Dickins, who introduced it as a bit of fun for his readers.

He compiled the list by doing a simple telephone poll of friends who worked in music retail.

How things have changed. Today, the Official UK Charts Company and Millward Brown electronically contact more than 5,000 retail outlets to compile the more familiarly known Top 40.

Pop and rock artists from the North-East have been a big part of the chart's history.

Gordon Sumner a.k.a Sting started his career as lead vocalist in the Newcastle jazz outfit Last Exit. Sting then formed The Police, and now performs solo.

Newcastle is also famous for a world-famous rock star, Mark Knopfler. He is regarded as one of the most talented songwriters and musicians the country has ever seen and produced many chart hits with Dire Straits.

Also from Tyneside are The Animals, who had a Number One back in 1964 with probably one of the most famous songs to have ever hit the British music scene, House of the Rising Sun.

Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant hails from Gosforth and topped the charts several times with West End Girls in 1985, Always On My Mind in 1987 and Heart the following year.

Teesside, meanwhile, is proud of Middlesbrough-born rock star Chris Rea.

But today chart success doesn't mean as much to musicians and music fans. Why?

In the beginning, the charts were a true battleground. Varied and talented musicians would compete for the coveted number one slot. Nowadays, our once-loved institution is full of formulaic releases, pushed ahead by the industry with massive marketing budgets.

There is of course still some great British music. Talent such as Radiohead, Coldplay, Dido and Oasis will hopefully save us from drowning in manufactured tosh.

But it's sad to say that on its 50th birthday the charts don't mean what they used to. Without a revolution in the music industry, this may be the last big birthday that the charts ever celebrate.

The full version of this article can be found online at www.thisisrevolution.co.uk

* To celebrate the British Singles Chart's 50th birthday, The Northern Echo has put together a list of the top 100 singles from the past 50 years. The full list can be found at www.thisisrevolution.co.uk

We want readers to look at the list and pick out their top ten singles since 1952.

Do you disagree with our choice? Is your favourite song missing? Let us know! Simply log on to the site and fill out the entry form.

Entrants will have a chance to win a copy of the compilation CD Fifty Years of The Greatest Hit Singles from Sanity Entertainment (formerly the V Shop, Darlington).

North-East chart stars can take a bow

The North-East has had its fair share of chart busting pop stars over the years. Here's a selection:

Sting: An ex-teacher, Sting (Gordon Sumner) had played in the Newcastle jazz outfit Last Exit. As lead vocalist and main songwriter, he formed The Police with drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers. Then he launched a successful solo career. Spread A Little Happiness was in the top 20 for eight weeks in 1982. He still remains an influential artist.

Dire Straits: Geordie Mark Knopfler, founder of rock band Dire Straits, whose hits include Sultans of Swing and multi-million selling album Brothers in Arms. Knopfler, 51, is a former pupil of Gosforth High School, in Newcastle. Walk of Life reached number two in January 1986.

Lindisfarne: This group had a big hit with Fog On The Tyne and remain massively popular with North-East fans today.

Lighthouse Family: This twosome met while at Newcastle University. Tunde, a Londoner who lived in Nigeria for 15 years, did "some arts course" while his partner, Paul Tucker from Cambridge, took French and German. They met through a DJ on Wear FM and their debut single Lifted was released by Polydor in 1995.

Pet Shop Boys: Neil Tennant, who now lives in Wolsingham, County Durham, topped the charts several times with West End Girls in 1985, Always On My Mind in 1987 and Heart the following year.

Chris Rea: The Middlesbrough-born rock star had a top ten hit with Road To Hell in 1989.

Bryan Ferry: Born in Washington, Wearside, Lets Stick Together reached number four in June 1976.

Susan Maughan: The Consett-born redhead had a sole top 40 hit with Bobby's Girl in October 1962.

The Animals: Hit number one in June 1964 with classic House of the Rising Sun which has been reissued several times since.

Robert Palmer: Lived in Scarborough for a short while before making it big in America. Addicted To Love reached number five in the UK charts in May 1986.He later had hits with Power Station.

Eurythmics: Sunderland-born rocker Dave Stewart found fame alongside Annie Lennox in the Eurythmics. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This reached number two in February 1983.