Kylie and Jason's Especially For You hits one million UK sales. Kylie: "I'm thrilled!"

In 1988, the UK was in the throes of a serious case of Kylie fever. Kicking off with a five-week run at Number 1 with debut single I Should Be So Lucky, and scoring three Number 2 hits, Kylie Minogue certainly made sure the year belonged to her.

Making the transition from teatime favourite on Australian soap Neighbours to fully-fledged popstar, the only thing hotter than Kylie’s chart career was gossip about her relationship with her on-screen paramour Jason Donovan. It was the “are they or aren’t they?” that had the nation gripped, and what better way to fan the flames than bring the perfect couple together to record a romantic duet and make a play for the coveted Christmas Number 1 spot? Especially For You was born!

Above: Kylie and Jason's Especially For You original artwork

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26 years ago, Especially For You made its debut at Number 2, and the Official Charts Company can confirm that Kylie and Jason’s classic duet has now sold over a million copies.

Speaking exclusively to OfficialCharts.com, Kylie told us: “I’m thrilled to hear ‘Especially For You’ has become a million seller! Although so much time has passed since Jason and I recorded it in Sydney with Mike Stock, it has the ability to transport us all back to that time. It’s so touching to have a song which has a place in so many peoples’ hearts and one which remains a huge fan favourite.”

Especially For You is only the 154th single to join the exclusive million sellers’ club, and it’s the second time Kylie’s bagged herself a membership. The star’s 2001 Number 1 Can’t Get You Out Of My Head has also reached the million sales milestone. Especially For You was the second of seven Number 1s for everyone's favourite pop princess.

It’s also the second million-selling single for legendary music impresario Pete Waterman, who produced Steps’ Heartbeat/Tragedy, which achieved the feat in 1999.

Especially For You was Jason Donovan's first Number 1 – he'd have three more – so it's only fitting it should be his first million-seller too!

The story goes that there was never supposed to be a duet between the two stars, but PWL – the hit factory where all Kylie and Jason’s early hits came from – were inundated with phone calls wondering when the rumoured lovers’ single would be hitting the shops. Sensing they had a ready-made hit on their hands, ‘80s legendary producers Stock Aitken and Waterman got on the case.

Reminiscing about what was to become a huge pop moment, Pete Waterman tells OfficialCharts.com: "This was one of those records that nearly never made it. We mixed it – then scrapped it – started a new one with only the vocals, had 6 hours to do it all, mix it, and get it to the factory! We did it and it went on to sell over a million. Those were the days!"

Above: Original masters for Kylie and Jason's Especially For You show the track was finished just a few days before release!

When released, the track seemed like a shoo-in for the Christmas Number 1 spot, but while 1988 was the year our two bright former soapstars broke through, a pop veteran decided Christmas was going to be his.

Cliff Richard’s singalong, not to mention swayalong, Mistletoe and Wine proved to be strong competition for the starry-eyed duo, and they had to settle for second place as the Official Christmas Number 1 turkey was being dished out. Thye stayed at Number 2 for a whole month!

All was not lost for Kylie and Jason, however… Cliff’s residency at the Number 1 spot couldn’t last for ever, much like the Christmas tree from your living room, and Kylie and Jason made that final push to become the first Number 1 of 1989, remaining there for three weeks!

And what completed the Top 3 the week Kylie and Jason debuted in the Official Singles Chart? Why, it was none other than Angry Anderson’s Suddenly – the song that soundtracked Kylie and Jason onscreen wedding as Neighbours’ star-crossed lovers Scott and Charlene. There really was no escape!

Kylie and Jason shippers were in their element two years ago when the pair reunited on stage to sing Especially For You at PWL's Hit Factory Live concert.

Got any memories of this classic track? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter and we can talk about it together, togeeeeeeeether.

Main photo and above photo: Grant Matthews

The UK's million-selling singles

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