Well, it is jubilee year... Queen's 'Greatest Hits' is Britain's best-selling album of past half-century
Kings of camp rock join Beatles with two entries in Top 40 – but the Stones are nowhere to be seen
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From soft rock to Noughties pop, a look back at the biggest albums of the past 50 years reveals that the tastes of the British public are nothing if not eclectic. Glam rock stalwarts Queen have topped a list of the best-selling albums in British history, fending off stiff competition from Abba and The Beatles.
Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits collection has sold 5.8 million copies since its release and will be revealed as the chart-topper in a Radio 2 special presented today by Tony Blackburn. The group sealed their domination of the chart with another entry in the Top 10 – a second hits compilation that came out 10 years later and which has sold 3.8 million.
Queen's nearest rival was The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which has sold 5 million. That came just ahead of Gold, Abba's greatest hits album, which has sold 4.9 million, according to figures from the Official Charts Company.
Queen's lasting appeal has been measured in numerous polls and charts over the years. Their six-minute epic "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the third-highest-selling single in UK history. The band is also unrivalled in its number of tribute outfits.
"They have got a such a wide range of music. If you look through the catalogue, there are about 140 to 150 songs, and it ranges from hard rock to dance, funk and almost classical," said Kevin Goodwin, the bass player in a Queen tribute band, The Bohemians.
Conspicuously absent from the Top 40 are the Rolling Stones, but a host of more recent acts have stormed their way on to the list. Adele's 2011 debut 21 stands at No 6, and Leona Lewis's 2007 hit Spirit comes in at No 20.
They will rock you: the top 40 releases
1. Greatest Hits (1981) Queen
2. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) The Beatles
3. Gold (1992) Abba
4. What's The Story (1995) Oasis
5. Thriller (1982) Michael Jackson
6. 21 (2011) Adele
7. Brothers In Arms (1985) Dire Straits
8. Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) Pink Floyd
9. Bad (1987) Michael Jackson
10. Greatest Hits II (1991) Queen
11. The Immaculate Collection (1990) Madonna
12. Back To Black (2006) Amy Winehouse
13. Stars (1991) Simply Red
14. Rumours (1977) Fleetwood Mac
15. Come On Over (1997) Shania Twain
16. Back To Bedlam (2005) James Blunt
17. Urban Hymns (1997) The Verve
18. Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) Simon and Garfunkel
19. No Angel (2001) Dido
20. Spirit (2007) Leona Lewis
21. Legend (1984) Bob Marley and the Wailers
22. Bat Out Of Hell (1977) Meat Loaf
23. Dirty Dancing (1987) Original soundtrack
24. 1 (2000) The Beatles
25. Talk On Corners (1997) The Corrs
26. White Ladder (1998) David Gray
27. Spice (1996) The Spice Girls
28. Crazy Love (2009) Michael Bublé
29. Life For Rent (2003) Dido
30. Beautiful World (2006) Take That
31. The Fame (2008) Lady Gaga
32. A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002) Coldplay
33. Hopes And Fears (2004) Keane
34. The Joshua Tree (1987) U2
35. But Seriously (1989) Phil Collins
36. Scissor Sisters (2004) The Scissor Sisters
37. Only By The Night (2008) The Kings of Leon
38. The War Of The Worlds (1978) Jeff Wayne
39. The Man Who (1999) Travis
40. x&y (2005) Coldplay
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments