Airplay yes, chart no

[Brumbiter]

What is the most played song of all time on UK radio without ever having been a hit single?

My guess, for what it's worth, would be "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison.

[littleoldme]

Maybe, or possibly Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin. The Beatles also had several well-known and well-played songs which were left as album tracks - When I'm 64, Nowhere Man, She's Leaving Home etc. Even Yesterday didn't come out as a single in the UK until 1976, eleven years after its album appearance.

[boobesque]

bohemian rhapsody- queen

[Brumbiter]

Boobesque, I'm assuming you misread the question.

[boobesque]

i did and i apologise, takes me a while to wake up!

[scarletpimp]

I would go along with "littleoldme" in suggesting the original versions (by The Beatles, of course) of "Michelle" (although a hit by The Overlanders) or Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da  (hit version by Marmalade).

Alternatively, what about songs from the shows, e.g. The Sound of Music or Oliver - no hit singles but what a lot of airplay for some of those tracks.