To mark the 60th anniversary of the Official Singles Chart next week, the Official Charts Company are publishing a hardback book – The Million Sellers. To celebrate its launch, today we unveil the complete list of the UK’s best selling singles ever. And yes, there may be some Whigfield in there!
2012 looks set to be the biggest ever year for singles sales in the UK, however it still takes something special for a record to join the hallowed ‘Million Sellers Club’. Since the Official Singles Chart began in 1952, an estimated 32,000 tracks have entered the chart, though only 123 of them have ever broken through the million copies sales barrier. And here for the first time we reveal them, and show how this decade we are entering a new era of the super hit.
The Million Sellers
TITLE | ARTIST | YEAR OF RELEASE | SALES (MILLION) | |
1 | SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 97 | ELTON JOHN | 1997 | 4.90 |
2 | DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? | BAND AID | 1984 | 3.69 |
3 | BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY | QUEEN | 1975 | 2.36 |
4 | MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL | WINGS | 1977 | 2.00 |
5 | YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT | JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN | 1978 | 2.00 |
6 | RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING | BONEY M | 1978 | 2.00 |
7 | RELAX | FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD | 1983 | 2.00 |
8 | SHE LOVES YOU | THE BEATLES | 1963 | 1.90 |
9 | UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER | ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN | 1995 | 1.86 |
10 | LOVE IS ALL AROUND | WET WET WET | 1994 | 1.85 |
11 | MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD | BONEY M | 1978 | 1.85 |
12 | I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU | STEVIE WONDER | 1984 | 1.83 |
13 | BARBIE GIRL | AQUA | 1997 | 1.79 |
14 | ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN | WILL YOUNG | 2002 | 1.79 |
15 | I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND | THE BEATLES | 1963 | 1.77 |
16 | BELIEVE | CHER | 1998 | 1.74 |
17 | (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU | BRYAN ADAMS | 1991 | 1.72 |
18 | LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS | WHAM! | 1984 | 1.60 |
19 | IMAGINE | JOHN LENNON | 1975 | 1.60 |
20 | SUMMER NIGHTS | JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN | 1978 | 1.59 |
21 | TWO TRIBES | FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD | 1984 | 1.58 |
22 | I'LL BE MISSING YOU | PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS | 1997 | 1.56 |
23 | PERFECT DAY | VARIOUS ARTISTS | 1997 | 1.55 |
24 | DON'T YOU WANT ME? | HUMAN LEAGUE | 1981 | 1.54 |
25 | CAN'T BUY ME LOVE | THE BEATLES | 1964 | 1.53 |
26 | I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU | WHITNEY HOUSTON | 1992 | 1.53 |
27 | THREE LIONS | BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS | 1996 | 1.53 |
28 | TEARS | KEN DODD | 1965 | 1.52 |
29 | ...BABY ONE MORE TIME | BRITNEY SPEARS | 1999 | 1.51 |
30 | MY HEART WILL GO ON | CELINE DION | 1998 | 1.48 |
31 | KARMA CHAMELEON | CULTURE CLUB | 1983 | 1.47 |
32 | YMCA | VILLAGE PEOPLE | 1978 | 1.46 |
33 | CARELESS WHISPER | GEORGE MICHAEL | 1984 | 1.45 |
34 | (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK | BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS | 1955 | 1.42 |
35 | I FEEL FINE | THE BEATLES | 1964 | 1.41 |
36 | THE CARNIVAL IS OVER | THE SEEKERS | 1965 | 1.41 |
37 | GANGSTA'S PARADISE | COOLIO FEATURING L.V. | 1995 | 1.41 |
38 | EYE OF THE TIGER | SURVIVOR | 1982 | 1.41 |
39 | THE POWER OF LOVE | JENNIFER RUSH | 1985 | 1.39 |
40 | WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER | THE BEATLES | 1964 | 1.39 |
41 | RELEASE ME | ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK | 1967 | 1.38 |
42 | SOMEONE LIKE YOU | ADELE | 2011 | 1.36 |
43 | KILLING ME SOFTLY | FUGEES | 1996 | 1.36 |
44 | UNCHAINED MELODY | GARETH GATES | 2002 | 1.34 |
45 | WANNABE | SPICE GIRLS | 1996 | 1.32 |
46 | (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO | TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY | 2005 | 1.31 |
47 | NEVER EVER | ALL SAINTS | 1997 | 1.31 |
48 | COME ON EILEEN | DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS | 1982 | 1.31 |
49 | THINK TWICE | CELINE DION | 1994 | 1.30 |
50 | I GOTTA FEELING | BLACK EYED PEAS | 2009 | 1.30 |
51 | IT WASN'T ME | SHAGGY FEATURING RIKROK | 2001 | 1.28 |
52 | TAINTED LOVE | SOFT CELL | 1981 | 1.27 |
53 | HEART OF GLASS | BLONDIE | 1979 | 1.27 |
54 | MOVES LIKE JAGGER | MAROON 5 FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA | 2011 | 1.27 |
55 | WONDERWALL | OASIS | 1995 | 1.26 |
56 | IT'S NOW OR NEVER | ELVIS PRESLEY | 1960 | 1.26 |
57 | DIANA | PAUL ANKA | 1957 | 1.25 |
58 | IT'S LIKE THAT | RUN-D.M.C. VS JASON NEVINS | 1997 | 1.25 |
59 | HALLELUJAH | ALEXANDRA BURKE | 2008 | 1.24 |
60 | GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME | TOM JONES | 1966 | 1.23 |
61 | SEX ON FIRE | KINGS OF LEON | 2008 | 1.20 |
62 | BRIGHT EYES | ART GARFUNKEL | 1979 | 1.20 |
63 | MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY | SLADE | 1973 | 1.19 |
64 | HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY | STEPS | 1998 | 1.18 |
65 | MARY'S BOY CHILD | HARRY BELAFONTE | 1957 | 1.18 |
66 | THE LAST WALTZ | ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK | 1967 | 1.17 |
67 | EARTH SONG | MICHAEL JACKSON | 1995 | 1.16 |
68 | DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? | BAND AID 20 | 2004 | 1.16 |
69 | BLUE MONDAY | NEW ORDER | 1983 | 1.16 |
70 | STRANGER ON THE SHORE | MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND | 1961 | 1.16 |
71 | DON'T GIVE UP ON US | DAVID SOUL | 1976 | 1.16 |
72 | CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD | KYLIE MINOGUE | 2001 | 1.15 |
73 | I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE | GARY GLITTER | 1973 | 1.14 |
74 | SPACEMAN | BABYLON ZOO | 1996 | 1.14 |
75 | SATURDAY NIGHT | WHIGFIELD | 1994 | 1.14 |
76 | WE FOUND LOVE | RIHANNA FEATURING CALVIN HARRIS | 2011 | 1.13 |
77 | NO MATTER WHAT | BOYZONE | 1998 | 1.13 |
78 | JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) | BRUNO MARS | 2010 | 1.12 |
79 | PARTY ROCK ANTHEM | LMFAO FEATURING LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK | 2011 | 1.12 |
80 | I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF | ROBSON & JEROME | 1995 | 1.11 |
81 | ANGELS | ROBBIE WILLIAMS | 1997 | 1.11 |
82 | HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK | IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS | 1978 | 1.11 |
83 | TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" | TELETUBBIES | 1997 | 1.11 |
84 | 2 BECOME 1 | SPICE GIRLS | 1996 | 1.11 |
85 | TORN | NATALIE IMBRUGLIA | 1997 | 1.11 |
86 | POKER FACE | LADY GAGA | 2009 | 1.11 |
87 | I REMEMBER YOU | FRANK IFIELD | 1962 | 1.10 |
88 | THAT'S MY GOAL | SHAYNE WARD | 2005 | 1.10 |
89 | GHOSTBUSTERS | RAY PARKER JR. | 1984 | 1.09 |
90 | PURE AND SIMPLE | HEAR'SAY | 2001 | 1.09 |
91 | ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) | PINK FLOYD | 1979 | 1.08 |
92 | BACK FOR GOOD | TAKE THAT | 1995 | 1.07 |
93 | BLUE (DA BA DEE) | EIFFEL 65 | 1999 | 1.07 |
94 | PRICE TAG | JESSIE J FEATURING B.O.B | 2011 | 1.07 |
95 | HEY JUDE | THE BEATLES | 1968 | 1.06 |
96 | THE YOUNG ONES | CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS | 1962 | 1.06 |
97 | SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW | GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA | 2011 | 1.06 |
98 | DANCING QUEEN | ABBA | 1976 | 1.06 |
99 | I FEEL LOVE | DONNA SUMMER | 1977 | 1.05 |
100 | LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE | EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA | 2010 | 1.05 |
101 | FAME | IRENE CARA | 1982 | 1.05 |
102 | RIDE ON TIME | BLACK BOX | 1989 | 1.05 |
103 | ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) | RIHANNA | 2010 | 1.04 |
104 | UNCHAINED MELODY | THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS | 1965 | 1.04 |
105 | BLEEDING LOVE | LEONA LEWIS | 2007 | 1.04 |
106 | CRAZY | GNARLS BARKLEY | 2006 | 1.04 |
107 | STAND & DELIVER | ADAM AND THE ANTS | 1981 | 1.03 |
108 | I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING | AEROSMITH | 1998 | 1.03 |
109 | CAN WE FIX IT? | BOB THE BUILDER | 2000 | 1.02 |
110 | UPTOWN GIRL | BILLY JOEL | 1983 | 1.02 |
111 | I WILL SURVIVE | GLORIA GAYNOR | 1979 | 1.02 |
112 | SAILING | ROD STEWART | 1975 | 1.02 |
113 | SUGAR SUGAR | THE ARCHIES | 1969 | 1.02 |
114 | SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME | BROTHERHOOD OF MAN | 1976 | 1.01 |
115 | I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING | THE NEW SEEKERS | 1971 | 1.01 |
116 | WHITE CHRISTMAS | BING CROSBY WITH THE KEN DARBY SINGERS AND JOHN SCOTT TROTTER ORCHESTRA | 1942 | 1.01 |
117 | DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA | JULIE COVINGTON | 1976 | 1.01 |
118 | THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT | TIGHT FIT | 1982 | 1.01 |
119 | EYE LEVEL | THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA | 1972 | 1.01 |
120 | LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL | LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND | 1972 | 1.00 |
121 | UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE | SHOWADDYWADDY | 1976 | 1.00 |
122 | TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE | DAWN FEATURING TONY ORLANDO | 1973 | 1.00 |
123 | WHEN WE COLLIDE | MATT CARDLE | 2010 | 1.00 |
© 2012 The Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.
Sir Elton John’s double A-Side Something About The Way You Look Tonight/Candle In The Wind ’97 tops the chart with sales of over 4.9 million copies. The single was released in September 1997 to pay tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales who had been killed in a car accident the previous month. It sold 658,000 copies on its first day on sale, and 1.5 million copies during its first week on sale, making it the UK’s biggest and fastest selling single ever.
The new era of the super hit!
When the Official Singles Chart celebrated its 50th birthday back in 2002, only 76 singles had registered on the million-selling record books. Today, that number is 123. That’s a disproportionately huge 62% increase in just one decade. It is clear from The Million Sellers book that the ‘70s was an era of the monster single producing 27 million-sellers – until the ‘90s, when 32 tracks reached the million mark.
Right now, however, the current decade is on course to surpass both the ‘70s and ‘90s , with 10 more singles passing that significant landmark in less than three years. Artists such as the unstoppable Rihanna having racked up 3 million-sellers to her name by the age of 24, plus the mighty Adele, Jessie J, Calvin Harris and Gotye – all of whom between them are creating a new era of the super-hit.
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