Oasis Overtakes The Beatles to Become Third Biggest-Selling UK Album

Shifting Rankings in UK Music History

The 1995 album from the Gallagher brothers has now reached third place on the all-time best-sellers list, while The Beatles’ 1967 release—which held the third position a decade ago—has moved down to fifth place. The current landscape of the UK’s most popular albums remains dominated by long-standing chart fixtures. Queen’s 1981 Greatest Hits collection continues to hold the top spot, followed by Abba’s 1992 release Gold in second place. Adele’s 2011 album 21 has climbed to fourth place, positioning itself just ahead of The Beatles. According to the Official Charts Company, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? has achieved 6.2 million UK chart units, a figure that combines both sales and streams. While the album has reached significant heights, it remains behind the industry’s top performers in terms of total units. In 2022, Queen’s compilation became the first album to surpass seven million UK chart units, an elite threshold that only Abba has also reached.

A Legacy Defined by Cultural Impact

The rise of the 1995 Oasis record comes amid a period of renewed interest in the band’s discography, driven in part by their highly publicized worldwide reunion tour. The tour’s setlist featured prominent tracks from the album, including Some Might Say, Champagne Supernova, “Wonderwall,” and Don't Look Back in Anger. The enduring popularity of these songs extends beyond traditional chart metrics. Don't Look Back in Anger became a symbol of resilience following its impromptu performance at a vigil held for victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. Additionally, “Wonderwall” saw a resurgence in popularity this summer as it was frequently sung by players and fans at the World Cup in North America. Despite its current status as a cultural staple, the album’s reception was not universally positive upon its release. The British music press provided mixed reviews when the record debuted in October 1995. However, it went on to win best British album at the 1996 Brit Awards and has maintained its commercial momentum for three decades.

Official Recognition

Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim co-managing directors of the Official Charts, issued a joint statement congratulating the band on the album’s milestone. They described the record as a defining British record that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack lives. The updated top 10 list reflects shifts in listener habits over the last decade, with Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic Rumours and Bob Marley’s Legend both entering the top 10 rankings during that period.

UK Official Albums Chart: All-Time Top 10