We sample some of the biggest selling band albums we’ve crooned along to over the years. Was your copy on vinyl, cassette or CD?
Spice 1996
When Baby, Sporty, Posh, Scary and Ginger launched their album in September 1996, little did they know it would become the best-selling album by a girl group in music history.
With it, Spice Girls brought a new interpretation for pop success, sharing song writing credits and vocal input, while delivering the feminist call to action “Girl Power” to the young women of the world. The first hit song of many, Wannabe became its anthem.
Diana Ross and the Supremes Greatest Hits 1968
The most commercially successful Motown act, The Supremes produced multiple hits, 15 of which appear on this album. In 1967 the band was renamed Diana Ross & The Supremes, causing tensions and a change in the line-up. Founding member Florence Ballard had already been replaced by the time it was released.
ABBA Arrival 1976
This was ABBA’s fourth album and the one that really marked their “arrival” into the pop stratosphere.
With two number ones, Dancing Queen and Knowing Me, Knowing You – plus Money, Money, Money – it sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK and spent 11 weeks at the top of the album chart. The band’s greatest hits album, ABBA Gold, entered the charts in 1992 and has remained there ever since, becoming the second-biggest selling album ever in the UK.
Rumours 1977
The complex relationships between the five members of Fleetwood Mac provided plenty of inspiration for their 11th album Rumours, also the UKs 11th most successful selling album of all time. During its recording, John and Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks split up, while drummer Mick Fleetwood was in the process of divorce – his wife had been having an affair with a former band member. It was against these dynamics that most of the album’s tracks were created.
Stars 1991
The unmistakable red curls of Simply Red’s lead singer Mick Hucknall identify him as this hit album’s cover star. The album ranks 14 in the UK’s chart of best sellers, spurred by its five top ten hits, including the title track.
Queen Greatest Hits 1981
This is officially the UKs biggest selling album of all time, estimated to be owned by one in four UK households. The cover was captured by Lord Snowdon, society photographer and former husband of Princess Margaret, at his home. Guitarist Brian May later described the image as, �
