after being delayed for two months, "wuthering heights" was officially released in early 1978 and entered the top forty in the official singles chart in the united kingdom at number twenty-seven on 18 february, and quickly rose to number one three weeks later dethroning abba's "take a chance on me" from the top spot. bush became the first female artist to have an entirely self-penned number one hit in the uk. the single release unwittingly pitted bush against another female vocalist also charting with her first uk hit: debbie harry with her band blondie and their single "denis". amid much public discussion about the two singers' merits, bush came out on top, while blondie stalled at number two. "wuthering heights" remained at number one for an entire month until it was replaced at the top by brian and michael's celebration of the then-recently deceased artist l. s. lowry, "matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs". bush's début single finished the year as the tenth highest-selling and was certified gold by the british phonographic industry, denoting sales of over half a million.