Compiled by The Official Charts Company in partnership with National Album Day, which will take place tomorrow (October 15), the ‘Official All-Time Debut Albums Top 20’ has placed the late artist’s 1977 solo album at the top.
- READ MORE: When I met Meat Loaf, he was everything I’d always wanted him to be: a showman to the bone
The chart is based on combined UK sales and streams since records began in 1956, with Meat Loaf having sold over 3.5million copies of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ in the UK alone to date.
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Second in the chart is James Blunt‘s 2004 LP ‘Back To Bedlam’, with Leona Lewis (‘Spirit’, 2007), Lady Gaga (‘The Fame’, 2008) and Dido (‘No Angel’, 1999) rounding out the top five.
Other entrants in the top 20 include debut albums by the Spice Girls, Coldplay, Mike Oldfield, Adele, The Killers, Guns N’ Roses and Oasis. You can see the full ‘Official All-Time Debut Albums Top 20’ chart below.
- ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ – Meat Loaf (1977)
- ‘Back To Bedlam’ – James Blunt (2004)
- ‘Spirit’ – Leona Lewis (2007)
- ‘The Fame’ – Lady Gaga (2008)
- ‘No Angel’ – Dido (1999)
- ‘Spice’ – Spice Girls (1996)
- ‘Hopes And Fears’ – Keane (2004)
- ‘Jagged Little Pill’ – Alanis Morissette (1994)
- ‘In The Lonely Hour’ – Sam Smith (2014)
- ‘Parachutes’ – Coldplay (2000)
- ‘Tubular Bells’ – Mike Oldfield (1973)
- ‘Scissor Sisters’ – Scissor Sisters (2004)
- ‘Tracy Chapman’ – Tracy Chapman (1988)
- ‘+’ – Ed Sheeran (2011)
- ‘Come Away With Me’ – Norah Jones (2002)
- ’19’ – Adele (2008)
- ‘Appetite for Destruction’ – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
- ‘Our Version of Events’ – Emeli Sandé (2012)
- ‘Definitely Maybe’ – Oasis (1994)
- ‘Hot Fuss’ – The Killers (2004)
A special Steve Wright-hosted radio programme about the new debut albums chart will air on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 2 from 1pm-3pm tomorrow.
Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday, passed away earlier this year at the age of 74. Jack Black was among those to pay tribute, writing: “Thank you Meat for rocking so hard!!! Much love to his friends and family. Meat Loaf Rest In Peace.”
Queen’s 1981 compilation ‘Greatest Hits’ has been named as the best-selling album of all-time in Britain.
Chart compilers Official Charts Company have revealed the 60 best-selling albums in Britain to mark the 60th anniversary of the album chart.
Queen’s ‘Greatest Hits’ has sold 6.1 million copies, the only album in Britain to sell more than six million.
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It’s followed by ABBA’s 1992 compilation ‘Gold: Greatest Hits’, which has sold 5.2 million. The Beatles’ 1967 album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is the best-selling non-compilation album, selling 5.1 million copies.
The first album chart was published on July 22, 1956. Frank Sinatra was at No 1 with ‘Songs For Swingin’ Lovers’.
‘21’ by Adele is the fourth best-selling album ever, despite only being released five years ago in 2011. Its follow-up ‘25’ is already at No 27 in the best-selling list seven months after its release in November 2015. ‘25’ beat Oasis’ 18-year-old record of being the fastest-selling album ever, selling 800,000 copies in its first week, compared to the 650,000 Oasis’ third album sold in 1997.
Ed Sheeran’s ‘X’ is also new in the Top 60, having sold 2.6 million since 2014 to be the 49th best-seller.
Robbie Williams has most appearances in the Top 60, charting with his solo albums ‘I’ve Been Expecting You’ (No 48) and ‘Swing When You’re Winning’ (No 56), as well as Take That’s ‘Progress’ (No 57) and compilation ‘Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection’ (No 59).
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Queen guitarist Brian May said of the band’s achievement: “What a great bit of news to wake up to. The most popular album? Well, I always thought the band showed promise, but this is beyond our boyhood dreams. Thanks, folks.”
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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