Officially the first artist to achieve chart success over eight decades, Marty Wilde scoops first no.1 on his 85th birthday…
Pop icon Marty Wilde shot to No. 1 in the Heritage Chart as he turned 85 and said, “I’m No. 1 at 85—it’s the best birthday present ever!”
In the week our national music treasure, Marty Wilde, turns 85 yesterday, this iconic rock n roller proves he’s still dominating the charts, as he storms to No1 in the Heritage Charts with his new single ‘Two Eyes Streaming’; taken from his new EP of the same name, out now. Marty was recently celebrated by the Official Chart Company as the first-ever artist to have had chart success over 8-decades. He appeared on Good Morning Britain this month stating that he ‘just can’t stop making music’ and now this insatiable 85-year-old prepares to take his No1 hit on a 21-date tour of the UK (including a special homecoming gig, as the boy from Blackheath returns to The Blackheath Halls, for one night only).
Wilde just went wild!!
As Beat readers will know, we featured Marty on our March front cover and he generously signed a dozen copies for our readers. He also gave us an exclusive interview published in the same issue.
“What a birthday present! I’ve waited 89 decades to be No. 1, and now I top the charts a day before my 85th birthday! I’m overwhelmed!” beams Marty. I make music because I love it. It brings me an overwhelming joy to sing and compose, and I write about subjects that touch my heart. But to be No. 1 in the Heritage Chart for this special birthday….well, I’m speechless. Thank you, everyone. It means so much to me.”
Fellow long-time veteran Cliff Richard added, ‘Mike Read tells me you’re No.1 on the Heritage Chart. I’m so thrilled for you. My memories go back so far…as do yours. God bless you…it’s been good to know you all these years.”
Joe Brown added, “I hear your song got to No.1…I think that’s absolutely fantastic. Keep the old flag flying!”
“Well, what an honour to announce Marty Wilde as our No. 1 chart topper this week, the week he turns 85!” comments Mike Read. “Over eight incredible decades of chart success, Marty Wilde has delivered music that resonates within the hearts of the nation; that’s why he’s a life-long chart icon. Marty, it’s a pleasure and a joy to make you No. 1—congratulations. And never stop delivering the hits!”
“Despite never achieving a UK no.1 in his heyday, at the ripe old age of 85, it seems his popularity never wains”, added Beat’s Ian Woolley after hearing the news. “Marty is very popular with our Beat readers over the years, and this latest EP proves that he can still ‘knock out’ a good tune”.
Two Eyes Streaming EP
The EP ‘Two Eyes Streaming’ is Marty’s love letter to the world, touching on poignant moments of love across his 85 years. A divine, gentle, down-tempo ballad, the title single that’s now shot to No1, ‘Two Eyes Streaming’, showcases Marty Wilde’s distinct vocals that fast became the trade mark of his success and paints the emotion of love from the perspective of a young 5-year-old Marty, who’s missing his dad.
Other moments of love across the EP include ‘Elvis’ – Marty’s heartfelt tribute to the star he desperately misses, and live versions of ‘Danny’, the omitted King Creole track from Elvis and ‘Running Together’, the family song Marty recorded with his daughters Kim & Roxy Wilde, and released during lockdown.
From his teen heart-throb chart days of the 50s and 60s and his song-writing success for the likes of Status Quo, Lulu, Snow patrol, Hot Chocolate and Tom Jones, right through to his pennings for Brit Award-winning daughter, Kim Wilde throughout the 80s, and his own chart success as his ‘Dreamboats & Petticoats Presents: The Very Best of Marty Wilde’ shot to No7 in the UK album chart in 2019 – Marty Wilde has proven that he’s a stalwart within the industry. Marty has remained strong from the start of the teen pop revolution right through to the present day.
The release of his latest album ‘Running Together’ in 2020 took him into a new decade and scooped him the record-breaking crown** of officially becoming the first of his pop peers to have chart success across x8 decades.
Now Marty Wilde proves that he’s still going strong with the release of his new single, ‘Two Eyes Streaming’, which is the lead track from his new EP of fresh original of the same name.
Get the single ‘Two Eyes Streaming’ out now on Pushka Records/Right Track/Universal HERE