The UK's 10 best-selling albums ever: from Queen to Adele

Daniel Fessahaye
·Contributor
Updated ·2-min read
A picture of lead vocalist of Queen, Freddie Mercury performing. (Getty Images)
Queen's Greatest Hits album has passed seven million chart sales. (Getty Images)

Rock legends Queen have made UK music history as their Greatest Hits has become the first album to pass seven million chart sales.

The album was first released in 1981 and includes classic tracks We Will Rock You, Don't Stop Me Now and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Brian May and Roger Taylor said they are "humbled and honoured" by news of the milestone.

The album has been streamed a staggering 1.26bn times in the UK and it is estimated that one in four UK households own it.

Other best-selling albums in the UK include Abba's compilation Gold and The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Take a look at the full list below, via the Official Charts Company.

The UK's 10 best-selling albums ever

  1. Queen - Greatest Hits

  2. Abba - Gold

  3. The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

  4. Adele - 21

  5. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

  6. Michael Jackson - Thriller

  7. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

  8. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

  9. Michael Jackson - Bad

  10. Queen - Greatest Hits II

Adele performing on stage.
Adele is the only artist who debuted in the noughties to make the top 10. (Getty Images)

How have Queen responded?

Queen guitarist Brian May told OfficialCharts.com: "We're here to bring you the joyous news that Queen's Greatest Hits album has sold seven million copies, which nobody has ever done before.

"No album has done this before in history. Thank you. We appreciate it.”

Drummer Roger Taylor added: "The British public and their infinitely great taste have made this the biggest-selling album in history.

"Thank you very much. We're humbled and honoured. We salute you."

British pop music group The Beatles, one week before their tour to Germany and Japan, L-R: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, John Lennon. London, June 17, 1966. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Liverpool-based rock band The Beatles made the top three of the list. (Getty Images)

The news comes after Sir Elton John expressed his concern about the inclusion of greatest hits compilations on album lists.

Speaking to Music Week, he said: "The albums chart is full of things like me, Abba and Queen.

"The odd thing comes through, like Sam Fender or Harry Styles, or you get a new artist coming in at number three and then disappearing.

"It's depressing – there are a lot of good albums that deserve to be in the albums chart, like Juanita Euka, Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen.

"What I want to know is, why aren't they there? Because of people like me!"

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