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

WIN: Special edition reissues of Kylie's first four albums up for grabs! Enter now!

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

YEAR OF RELEASE	TITLE	ARTIST
2014	RATHER BE	CLEAN BANDIT
2013	COUNTING STARS	ONEREPUBLIC
2013	LA LA LA	NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH
2013	HAPPY	PHARRELL WILLIAMS
2013	BLURRED LINES	ROBIN THICKE FT TI & PHARRELL
2013	GET LUCKY	DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS & NILE RODGERS
2013	WAKE ME UP	AVICII
2012	DIAMONDS	RIHANNA
2012	LET HER GO	PASSENGER
2012	CALL ME MAYBE	CARLY RAE JEPSEN
2012	GANGNAM STYLE	PSY
2012	IMPOSSIBLE	JAMES ARTHUR
2011	MOVES LIKE JAGGER	MAROON 5 FT CHRISTINA AGUILERA
2011	PARTY ROCK ANTHEM	LMFAO FT LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK
2011	GIVE ME EVERYTHING	PITBULL FT NE-YO, AFROJACK, NAYER
2011	PRICE TAG	JESSIE J FT B.O.B
2011	SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW	GOTYE FT KIMBRA
2011	SOMEONE LIKE YOU	ADELE
2011	THE A TEAM	ED SHEERAN
2011	TITANIUM	DAVID GUETTA FT SIA
2011	WE ARE YOUNG	FUN FT JANELLE MONAE
2011	WE FOUND LOVE	RIHANNA FT CALVIN HARRIS
2010	JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING)	BRUNO MARS
2010	ROLLING IN THE DEEP	ADELE
2010	LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE	EMINEM FT RIHANNA
2010	FIREWORK	KATY PERRY
2010	ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)	RIHANNA
2010	WHEN WE COLLIDE	MATT CARDLE
2009	BAD ROMANCE	LADY GAGA
2009	FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE	CHERYL COLE
2009	I GOTTA FEELING	BLACK EYED PEAS
2009	POKER FACE	LADY GAGA
2008	HALLELUJAH	ALEXANDRA BURKE
2008	SEX ON FIRE	KINGS OF LEON
2008	USE SOMEBODY	KINGS OF LEON
2007	BLEEDING LOVE	LEONA LEWIS
2007	RULE THE WORLD	TAKE THAT
2006	CHASING CARS	SNOW PATROL
2006	CRAZY	GNARLS BARKLEY
2005	(IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO	TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY
2005	THAT'S MY GOAL	SHAYNE WARD
2004	DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?	BAND AID 20
2002	ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN	WILL YOUNG
2002	UNCHAINED MELODY	GARETH GATES
2001	CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD	KYLIE MINOGUE
2001	IT WASN'T ME	SHAGGY FT RIKROK
2001	PURE AND SIMPLE	HEAR'SAY
2001	WHOLE AGAIN	ATOMIC KITTEN
2000	CAN WE FIX IT?	BOB THE BUILDER
1999	...BABY ONE MORE TIME	BRITNEY SPEARS
1999	BLUE (DA BA DEE)	EIFFEL 65
1998	HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY	STEPS
1998	BELIEVE	CHER
1998	I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING	AEROSMITH
1998	MY HEART WILL GO ON	CELINE DION
1998	NO MATTER WHAT	BOYZONE
1997	ANGELS	ROBBIE WILLIAMS
1997	BARBIE GIRL	AQUA
1997	I'LL BE MISSING YOU	PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS
1997	IT'S LIKE THAT	RUN-DMC VS JASON NEVINS
1997	NEVER EVER	ALL SAINTS
1997	PERFECT DAY	VARIOUS ARTISTS
1997	SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT / CANDLE IN THE WIND '97	ELTON JOHN
1997	TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!"	TELETUBBIES
1997	TORN	NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
1996	2 BECOME 1	SPICE GIRLS
1996	KILLING ME SOFTLY	FUGEES
1996	SPACEMAN	BABYLON ZOO
1996	THREE LIONS	BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS
1996	WANNABE	SPICE GIRLS
1995	BACK FOR GOOD	TAKE THAT
1995	EARTH SONG	MICHAEL JACKSON
1995	GANGSTA'S PARADISE	COOLIO FT LV
1995	I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF	ROBSON & JEROME
1995	MYSTERIOUS GIRL	PETER ANDRE FT BUBBLER RANX
1995	UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER	ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN
1995	WONDERWALL	OASIS
1994	ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU	MARIAH CAREY
1994	LOVE IS ALL AROUND	WET WET WET
1994	SATURDAY NIGHT	WHIGFIELD
1994	THINK TWICE	CELINE DION
1992	I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU	WHITNEY HOUSTON
1991	(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU	BRYAN ADAMS
1989	RIDE ON TIME	BLACK BOX
1988	ESPECIALLY FOR YOU	KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN
1987	FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK	POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL
1985	THE POWER OF LOVE	JENNIFER RUSH
1984	CARELESS WHISPER	GEORGE MICHAEL
1984	DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?	BAND AID
1984	GHOSTBUSTERS	RAY PARKER JR.
1984	I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU	STEVIE WONDER
1984	LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS	WHAM!
1984	TWO TRIBES	FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
1983	BLUE MONDAY	NEW ORDER
1983	KARMA CHAMELEON	CULTURE CLUB
1983	RELAX	FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
1983	RED RED WINE	UB40
1983	UPTOWN GIRL	BILLY JOEL
1982	COME ON EILEEN	DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS
1982	EYE OF THE TIGER	SURVIVOR
1982	FAME	IRENE CARA
1982	THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT	TIGHT FIT
1981	DON'T STOP BELIEVIN'	JOURNEY
1981	DON'T YOU WANT ME?	HUMAN LEAGUE
1981	STAND & DELIVER	ADAM AND THE ANTS
1981	TAINTED LOVE	SOFT CELL
1979	ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2)	PINK FLOYD
1979	BRIGHT EYES	ART GARFUNKEL
1979	HEART OF GLASS	BLONDIE
1979	I WILL SURVIVE	GLORIA GAYNOR
1978	HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK	IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS
1978	MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD	BONEY M
1978	RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING	BONEY M
1978	SUMMER NIGHTS	JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
1978	YMCA	VILLAGE PEOPLE
1978	YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT	JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
1977	I FEEL LOVE	DONNA SUMMER
1977	MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL	WINGS
1976	DANCING QUEEN	ABBA
1976	DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA	JULIE COVINGTON
1976	DON'T GIVE UP ON US	DAVID SOUL
1976	DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART	ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE
1976	SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME	BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
1976	UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE	SHOWADDYWADDY
1975	BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY	QUEEN
1975	IMAGINE	JOHN LENNON
1975	SAILING	ROD STEWART
1973	I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE	GARY GLITTER
1973	MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY	SLADE
1973	TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE	DAWN FT TONY ORLANDO
1972	EYE LEVEL	THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA
1972	LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL	LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND
1971	I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING	THE NEW SEEKERS
1969	SUGAR SUGAR	THE ARCHIES
1968	HEY JUDE	THE BEATLES
1967	RELEASE ME	ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
1967	THE LAST WALTZ	ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
1966	GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME	TOM JONES
1965	TEARS	KEN DODD
1965	THE CARNIVAL IS OVER	THE SEEKERS
1965	UNCHAINED MELODY	THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
1964	CAN'T BUY ME LOVE	THE BEATLES
1964	I FEEL FINE	THE BEATLES
1964	WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER	THE BEATLES
1963	I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND	THE BEATLES
1963	SHE LOVES YOU	THE BEATLES
1962	I REMEMBER YOU	FRANK IFIELD
1962	THE YOUNG ONES	CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS
1961	STRANGER ON THE SHORE	MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND
1960	IT'S NOW OR NEVER	ELVIS PRESLEY
1957	DIANA	PAUL ANKA
1957	MARY'S BOY CHILD	HARRY BELAFONTE
1955	(WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK	BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS
1942	WHITE CHRISTMAS	BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA

©2015 Official Charts Company . All rights reserved.