As we reveal Queen’s 1981 Greatest Hits is one of the top 60 albums of last 60 years… how many of the top 60 do you have?
To celebrate six decades of the album chart, we've compiled the UK's official top selling albums of all time
ON July 22, 1956, Frank Sinatra’s Songs For Swingin’ Lovers topped the very first UK album chart.
But six decades ago, no one could have guessed the impact Britain’s official hit parade would go on to make.
To celebrate this milestone, we can today reveal the UK’s official top 60 selling albums of the past 60 years.
Topping the list is Queen’s 1981 Greatest Hits.
Responding to the news, guitarist Brian May said: “The most popular album? I always thought the band showed promise, but this is beyond our boyhood dreams. Thanks, folks.”
Here I look at the top ten biggest-selling albums, below, and reveal the rest of the list from 11 to 60.
1. Queen – Greatest Hits
Released in 1981, Freddie Mercury and the boys’ first singles compilation sold 6.1million copies – and they have another album in the Top Ten.
2. ABBA – Gold, Greatest Hits
Following their recent reunion, Abba take silver with the second biggest-selling album of all time, flogging 5.2million units since its release in 1992.
3. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Fab Four claim the best-selling studio album in Britain with 5.1million copies shifted since its release in the summer of 1967.
4. Adele – 21
Adele is at No4 thanks to her second album’s relentless success following its release in 2011. The release topped the charts in more than 30 countries, selling 4.9million units in the UK alone.
5. Oasis – (What’s the Story?) Morning Glory
Oasis’s biggest album is currently nearing 4.7million sales. Released in 1995, it is considered the defining record of the Britpop era.
6. Michael Jackson – Thriller
The first of two albums from the King of Pop in the Top Ten. The 1982 release is the best-selling album of all time worldwide. In the UK alone, it has sold more than 4.2million copies.
7. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
The only album in the Top Ten that never reached No1 in the weekly chart. It peaked at No2 in 1973 . . . but has sold around 4.1million.
8. Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
The 1986 record, which has notched up sales of more than 4million, was the fifth studio album from the British rock legends and spent ten weeks at the No1 spot.
9. Michael Jackson – Bad
Jacko’s 1987 Grammy-winning album is his second biggest-selling in the UK, having sold 3.9million units.
10. Queen – Greatest Hits II
Another Queen compilation rounds off the Top Ten, certifying them as Britain’s all-time favourite band. The 1991 hits package has shifted 3.8million units.
The rest of the top 60
11 Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
12 The Immaculate Collection – Madonna (1990)
13 Back To Black – Amy Winehouse (2006)
14 Stars – Simply Red (1991)
15 Come On Over – Shania Twain (1997)
16 Legend – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
17 Back To Bedlam – James Blunt (2004)
18 Urban Hymns – The Verve (1997)
19 Bat Out Of Hell – Meat Loaf (1977)
20 1 – Beatles (2000)
21 Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
22 Dirty Dancing original soundtrack (1987)
23 Spirit – Leona Lewis (2007)
24 Crazy Love – Michael Buble (2009)
25 No Angel – Dido (2000)
26 White Ladder – David Gray (1998)
27 25 – Adele (2015)
28 Talk On Corners – The Corrs (1997)
29 Spice – Spice Girls (1996)
30 The Fame – Lady Gaga (2008)
31 A Rush Of Blood To The Head – Coldplay (2002)
32 Life For Rent – Dido (2003)
33 Only By The Night – Kings Of Leon (2008)
34 Beautiful World – Take That (2006)
35 Hopes And Fears – Keane (2004)
36 The Joshua Tree – U2 (1987)
37 The War Of The Worlds – Jeff Wayne (1978)
38 Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters (2004)
39 . . .But Seriously – Phil Collins (1989)
40 X&Y – Coldplay (2005)
41 Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette (1995)
42 Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield (1973)
43 The Man Who – Travis (1999)
44 Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman (1988)
45 Parachutes – Coldplay (2000)
46 Greatest Hits – ABBA (1975)
47 Grease original soundtrack (1978)
48 I’ve Been Expecting You – Robbie Williams (1998)
49 X – Ed Sheeran (2014)
50 Come Away With Me – Norah Jones (2002)
51 Graceland – Paul Simon (1986)
52 The Sound Of Music – original cast recording (1965)
53 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael – George Michael (1998)
54 Tango In The Night – Fleetwood Mac (1987)
55 The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (2000)
56 Swing When You’re Winning – Robbie Williams (2001)
57 Progress – Take That (2010)
58 Eyes Open – Snow Patrol (2006)
59 Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection – Take That (2005)
60 Automatic For The People – REM (1992)
The 60 At 60 list has been compiled by the Official Charts Company to celebrate 60 years of the Official Albums Chart.
It is the centrepiece of a retail campaign offering selected titles across a range of retailers – a unique partnership bringing together the Official Charts Company, the three major record companies and participating retailers Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, iTunes, Amazon and Morrisons.
View the full list at