
At The Insurance Emporium, we’ve had look at the UK’s top 10 best-selling albums of all time 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 of these you already have in your collection…
10. Queen – Greatest Hits II (1991)
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 (1987)
Jackson’s 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 (1985)
British rock band Dire Straits released Brothers in Arms in 1985 and it 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 (1973)
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 (1982)
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? (1995)
Breaking records for the number of copies sold in their first week, (What’s the Story) 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 (2011)
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. The Beatles – SGT Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
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 (1992)
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 (1981)
We’re closing out the list the same way that we opened it, with Queen! Ranking #1 on our list with 6,100,000 sales, the only album in the UK to have sold more than 6 million copies. Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John took the UK by storm and have become national treasures.
Our favourite track: Don’t Stop Me Now

So, there you have it, 10 fantastic albums that are well 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 family member cover and record/CD collection. You could even receive a 25% Introductory Discount*!
*The 25% Introductory Discount is available from the start of the policy until its first review/renewal date.
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