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The 60 biggest-selling albums ever in the UK

Resistance is futile

The 60 biggest-selling albums ever in the UK

The death of the album is commonly talked-about these days but it seems we may have been too hasty.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the album chart, the Official Charts Company has revealed the sixty biggest-selling albums in the history of the UK.

And, much like the referendum, if you don't like the choices, then you've only got yourselves to blame, because this is what you all bought. Democracy: it gives you James Blunt whether you like it or not.

We're not giving it away here, but the number one album on this chart sold 6.1m copies, meaning more than one in 10 people in the UK own it. Which is a lot. To be fair, there are some serious tunes on it. As there are on virtually all of these massive-selling records.

Take a look below and see how many you own, and listen to the key track from all 60 albums on this Spotify playlist.

R.E.M. - Automatic For The People

Year: 1992

Approx sales: 2.1m

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Key track:Everybody Hurts


Take That - The Ultimate Collection

Year: 2005

Approx sales: 2.1m

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Key track:Back For Good


Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

Year: 2006

Approx sales: 2.3m

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Key track:Chasing Cars


Take That - Progress

Year: 2010

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:The Flood


Robbie Williams - Swing When You're Winning

Year: 2001

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:Somethin' Stupid


Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

Year: 2000

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:The Real Slim Shady


Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night

Year: 1987

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:Everywhere


George Michael - Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best Of George Michael

Year: 1998

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track: Careless Whisper


Original Cast Recording - The Sound of Music

Year: 1959

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:Maria


Paul Simon - Graceland

Year: 1986

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:You Can Call Me Al


Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

Year: 2002

Approx sales: 2.4m

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Key track:Come Away With Me


Ed Sheeran - X

Year: 2014

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Thinking Out Loud


Robbie Williams - I've Been Expecting You

Year: 1998

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:She's The One


Grease - Original Soundtrack

Year: 1978

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:You're The One That I Want


ABBA - Greatest Hits

Year: 1975

Approx sales: 2.7m

Key Track: Mama Mia


Coldplay - Parachutes

Year: 2000

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Yellow


Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman

Year: 1988

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Fast Car


Travis - The Man Who

Year: 1999

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Why Does It Always Rain On Me?


Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

Year: 1973

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track: Theme from Tubular Bells


Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

Year: 1995

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:You Oughta Know


Coldplay - X&Y

Year: 2005

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Fix You


Phil Collins - ...But Seriously

Year: 1989

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Another Day In Paradise


Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Year: 2004

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Take Your Mama


Jeff Wayne - The War of the Worlds

Year: 1978

Approx sales: 2.7m

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Key track:Forever Autumn


U2 - The Joshua Tree

Year: 1987

Approx sales: 2.8m

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Key track:With Or Without You


Keane - Hopes and Fears

Year: 2004

Approx sales: 2.8m

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Key track:Somewhere Only We Know


Take That - Beautiful World

Year: 2006

Approx sales: 2.8m

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Key track:Patience


Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Year: 2008

Approx sales: 2.8m

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Key track:Sex On Fire


Dido - Life For Rent

Year: 2003

Approx sales: 2.9m

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Key track:White Flag


Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

Year: 2002

Approx sales: 2.9m

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Key track:Clocks


Lady Gaga - The Fame

Year: 2008

Approx sales: 2.9m

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Key track:Poker Face


Spice Girls - Spice

Year: 1996

Approx sales: 3m

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Key track:Wannabe


The Corrs - Talk On Corners

Year: 1997

Sales: 3m

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Key track: What Can I Do


Adele - 25

Year: 2015

Approx sales: 3m

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Key track:Hello


David Gray - White Ladder

Year: 1998

Approx sales: 3m

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Key track:Babylon


Dido - No Angel

Year: 1999

Approx sales: 3.1m

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Key track:Here With Me


Michael Buble - Crazy Love

Year: 2009

Approx sales: 3.1m

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Key track:Haven't Met You Yet


Leona Lewis - Spirit

Year: 2007

Approx sales: 3.1m

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Key track:Bleeding Love


Dirty Dancing - Original Soundtrack

Year: 1987

Approx sales: 3.2m

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Key track:(I've Had) The Time Of My Life


Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Year: 1970

Approx sales: 3.2m

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Key track:Bridge Over Troubled Water


The Beatles - 1

Year: 2000

Approx sales: 3.2m

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Key track:Yesterday


Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell

Year: 1977

Approx sales: 3.2m

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Key track:Bat Out Of Hell


The Verve - Urban Hymns

Year: 1997

Approx sales: 3.3m

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Key track:Bittersweet Symphony


James Blunt - Back to Bedlam

Year: 2003

Approx sales: 3.3m

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Key track:You're Beautiful


Bob Marley and the Wailers - Legend

Year: 1984

Approx sales: 3.3m

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Key track: Three Little Birds


Shania Twain - Come On Over

Year: 1997

Approx sales: 3.4m

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Key track:You're Still The One


Simply Red - Stars

Year: 1991

Approx sales: 3.4m

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Key track:Stars


Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Year: 2006

Approx sales: 3.6m

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Key track:Back To Black


Madonna - The Immaculate Collection

Year: 1990

Approx sales: 3.7m

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Key track:Like a Prayer


Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Year: 1977

Approx sales: 3.6m

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Key track:Go Your Own Way


Queen - Greatest Hits II

Year: 1991

Approx sales: 3.9m

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Key track: Radio Ga Ga


Michael Jackson - Bad

Year: 1987

Approx sales: 4m

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Key track: Man In The Mirror


Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

Year: 1985

Approx sales: 4.4m

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Key track:Money For Nothing


Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon

Year: 1973

Approx sales: 4.4m

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Key track:Money


Michael Jackson - Thriller

Year: 1982

Approx sales: 4.4m

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Key track:Billie Jean


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

Year: 1995

Approx sales: 4.6m

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Key track:Wonderwall


Adele - 21

Year: 2011

Approx sales: 4.9m

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Key track: Someone Like You


The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club

Year: 1967

Approx sales: 5.1m

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Key track:A Day In The Life


ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits

Year: 1992

Approx sales: 5.2m

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Key track:The Winner Takes It All


Queen - Greatest Hits

Year: 1981

Approx sales: 6.1m

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Key track:Bohemian Rhapsody