The collection topped a list of 200 of the most-streamed albums released in the 70s, 80s and 90s; upon its original release, Queen’s “Greatest Hits” debuted on the UK charts at No. 2 before spending four weeks atop the list.
The compilation is the best-selling album of all time in the UK and, in 2014 it became the first album ever to sell 6 million copies in the country, with one in three British households at that time owning a copy of the record.
“It’s amazing that we accrued that kind of catalogue of bona fide hits,” explained Brian May on a recent episode of the band’s 50th anniversary series The Greatest. “Most people’s ‘Greatest Hits’ are like ‘yeah, we’ve got a couple but we’re going to throw a few things in which are kind of, could’ve been hits.’ But this is all gold-plated, chart material. So it’s easy, you just put the biggest ones in and that was it.”
Queen’s “Greatest Hits” has logged 973 weeks on the UK Official Albums Chart to date.
Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic, “Rumours”, came in at No. 2 on the most-streamed album list, with Oasis’ 1995 album, “(What's the Story) Morning Glory?”, at No. 3; ABBA’s 1992 set, “Gold: Greatest Hits”, landed at No. 4, while the Bob Marley & The Wailers 1984 collection, “Legend”, rounding out the 5.
Only two acts had multiple records in the Top 10: Oasis also had a No. 6 showing with their 1994 debut, “Definitely Maybe”, and Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1977 set, “Exodus”, came in at No. 10.
View the Top 40 most-streamed albums of the 70s, 80s and 90s in the UK at officialcharts.com.
See also:
Queen revisit Innuendo on The Greatest series
Queen highlight Freddie Mercury hits on 50th anniversary series
Queen revisit legendary parties on 50th anniversary series
Queen share part 2 of look back at historic 1986 Magic Tour
Search Queen at hennemusic
