On average we spend 18 hours per week listening to music and a whopping 54% of people identify themselves as ‘loving’ or being ‘fanatical’ about music! At The Insurance Emporium, we’ve had look at the top 10 best-selling albums of all time in the UK and it’s safe to say you have some pretty good taste! So take a look, give them a listen and let us know which hits you already have in your collection…
10. Queen – Greatest Hits II
Kicking us off with the tenth best-selling album in the UK is Queen. Selling 3,990,000 copies, the album was released just less than a month before the death of the star and lead singer Freddie Mercury.
Our favourite track: I Want To Break Free
9. Michael Jackson – Bad
Jacksons seventh and much anticipated album incorporates an edgier sound, introducing pop, rock and funk influences. The album sold 500,000 copies in its first five days and a total of 4,140,000 copies in the UK.
Our favourite track: The Way You Make Me Feel
8. Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms
British rock band Dire Straits released Brothers in Arms in 1986 and became the first album in the UK to be certified 10-times platinum. The album was also the first album to sell one million copies in CD format and sold 4,350,000 copies in total.
Our favourite track: Walk of Life
7. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
Primarily developed during live performances, Pink Floyd’s concept album explores themes of conflict, greed, time and death. The Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd’s most commercially successful album with 4,470,000 copies sold.
Our favourite track: Time
6. Michael Jackson – Thriller
Selling 4,470,000 copies in the UK, Thriller was Jackson’s first number one album and saw him set the record for the most top 10 singles from an album. The album was among the first of its kind to use music videos as a promotional tool, debuting Jackson’s signature moon walk and transforming music videos into a serious art form.
Our favourite track: Beat It
5. Oasis – What’s the Story Morning Glory
Breaking records for amount of copies sold in their first week, Morning Glory spent 10 weeks at number one on the UK albums chart and won Best British Album at the 1996 Brit Awards. It has sold 4,940,000 copies and remains the UK’s best-selling album of the 1990s.
Our favourite track: Roll With It
4. Adele – 21
Aged just 21, Adele raised the bar with her second studio album, 21. Selling 5,180,000 copies, it became the best-selling album of the 21st century in the UK and the best-selling album by a solo female artist ever!
Our favourite track: Rolling In The Deep
3. Beatles – SGT Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Recognised for its ground-breaking innovations in song writing, production and engineering, this album spent 27 weeks at number 1 on the UK charts and sold 5,340,000 copies.
Our favourite track: With a Little Help from My Friends
2. ABBA – Gold Greatest Hits
A multigenerational favourite, ABBA’s Greatest Hits album has spent a colossal 900 weeks on the UK album charts, making it the longest running top 100 album of all time and has sold 5,580,000 copies.
Our favourite track: Take A Chance On Me
1. Queen – Greatest Hits
We’re closing out the list the same way that we opened it, with Queen! Ranking #1 on our list with 6,300,000 sales. It’s no surprise either. Freddie, Brian, Roger and John took the UK by storm and have become national treasures. And years later, Freddie Mercury managed to steal our hearts once again, played by Rami Malek in the brilliant Bohemian Rhapsody!
Our favourite track: Don’t Stop Me Now
So, there you have it, 10 fantastic albums that are worth a listen! If you’re a music maestro yourself, you might want to consider insuring your instrument. At The Insurance Emporium, our Music Insurance includes cover for theft, loss and accidental damage as standard. You can then customise your cover with our range of optional benefits such as gadgets and mobile phones. You could even receive a 25% Introductory Discount*! Head down to The Insurance Emporium to find out more!
*The Introductory Discount is available for the first 12 premium payments on lunar and calendar monthly policies or one premium payment on annual policies.
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