1981 Queen collection 'Greatest Hits' has been named as Britain's best-selling album of all time, in a new study by the Official Charts Company.

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury

Revealing the 60 best-selling albums in the UK to mark the chart's 60th anniversary, it was shown that Queen's 'Greatest Hits' has sold a whopping 6.1 million copies to-date - the only record in the country to sell over six million.

Queen guitarist Brian May commented: "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."

ABBA came a close second with their own collection with 1992 release 'Gold: Greatest Hits', which has sold 5.2 million, while The Beatles' 1967 LP 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' slots into third place with 5.1 million copies.

The most recent most successful album of course comes from Adele, who only five years ago released '21', but now sits at number four on the chart, and Oasis come in at number five with '(What's The Story) Morning Glory' - also named the fastest-selling album ever, selling 800,000 copies in its first week alone.

Adele / Credit: Simon Emmett
Adele / Credit: Simon Emmett

Robbie Williams is the most prominent act in the Top 60, charting with solo albums 'I've Been Expecting You' at 48, 'Swing When You're Winning' at 56 and Take That's 'Progress' at 57 and compilation 'Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection' at 59.

Other acts featured in the run-down included James Blunt, Simply Red, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac amongst others.

Check out the list of the 10 best selling albums of all time in Britain below:

  1. Queen - 'Greatest Hits'
  2. ABBA - 'Gold: Greatest Hits'
  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 - 'The Dark Side Of The Moon'
  8. Dire Straits - 'Brothers In Arms'
  9. Michael Jackson - 'Bad'
  10. Queen - 'Greatest Hits II'

by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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