The Naked Maja has a thoughtful (I'd never made the "Sunday Morning"/"Northern Sky" celeste connection, for instance) list of favorite British records including the song that haunted my fifth year, until replaced by Gary Lewis & the Playboys "This Diamond Ring".

"The Tornados' "Telstar," number one everywhere in the autumn of 1962, seemed to come from a place that the Shadows were unable to reach; unquestionably futuristic, slightly threatening but ultimately one of the saddest pop records ever made."

I could never quite hate Margaret Thatcher as much when I heard it was her favorite record, too. (more on "Telstar" auteur Joe Meek ) here.