Actually, it was the first since "Free as a Bird" in '95, at least according to CNN. Hey Jude was the first ever. The Beatles were the only ones to do it (4 times) till now.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/02/leisure.coldplay.reut/index.html

Bob

> ------------------------------ 
> 
> Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 19:44:54 -0700 
> From: "Miguel Motta" 
> To: 
> Subject: Re: Getting Coldplay 
> Message-ID: <002a01c54ec0$ebcd39f0$6401a8c0@a2jwmmjuabyyt9> 
> 
> It's the first Uk single to enter the America top 10 singles charts 
> since Hey Jude.. Go Figure! 
> 
> .... First I thought... nahhh.. I won't say it... THEN... the temptation was 
> TOO great and I thought...Heck, why not?... 
> 
> .....First UK single to enter the America top 10 singles chart since... Hey 
> Jude eh?... Hmmm... I wonder if this, once again, proves that The Beatles 
> were the greatest thing since slice bread?...Sorry guys, but just had to... 
> 
> Cheers, 
> 
> Miguel 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------