Queen :: Charts & Sales History

[HUR]

Some posts above, I left my list of all number one albums I have collected from diffrent sources. Plaese, if someone has some number one to add, post them here.

[HUR]

What is this "Jewel" release in Japan all about? What are the tracks?
Why availalbe only in Japan?

Oh sorry, I hadnīt seen your question. Well, Queen jewels was a japanese compilation realise, due to a TV program in that country, called "Pride", whose author decided to use Queen songs in it. The main song was "I was born to love you", and other ones which appeard on that TV program. Of course, EMI Toshiba realsed, when it started, these compilation. They also re-relesed all Queen back catalog. there, and two DVDīs in that same year. The album was 3 weeks at number one.

The tracklist included the same songs we all know: "Bohemian rhapsody", "We will rock you", "We are the champions", "Crazzy little thing called love", "Another one bites the dust", "Radio ga-ga", "The show must go on", "Under pressure", and others.

[HUR]

Thank you MJ Dangerous, I really didīt know that figure from Mexico, very good information. And itīs incredible the success of Greatest hits in Canada, and also Classic queen. Both albums should be re-certified.

[MJDangerous]

There, I made my own breakdown for Queen Greatest hits 2, some posts above. Please, if someone has more information (specially for Asian markets, ans other places that I donīt have) or wants to make some corrections, post them here.

I only know that in Mexico it sold AT LEAST 250.000 copies. It was certified for this but I don't know when and I don't know if it has received higher certifications since this one. So take this number as a minimum.

[MJDangerous]

Thank you MJ Dangerous. Yes I know that some figures are higher than that. In Canada, Greatest hits 1 spent more than 400 weeks on catalog charts. And for Japan it sold 147.000 copies their three entries on the charts (in 1981, 1986 and 2001), but sales are bigger as you said. If your estimations are right, it gives about 20 M in those 13 countries. How are your estimations for the rest of the world?. There is no many information avaible from other places. Thank you for your answer.

I don't have other informations but I estimate his WW sales at a minimum of 27 millions, more likely over 28 millions.

BTW, GH1 spent now over 500 weeks on catalog charts

[Classicrock]

What is this "Jewel" release in Japan all about? What are the tracks?
Why availalbe only in Japan?

[HUR]

There, I made my own breakdown for Queen Greatest hits 2, some posts above. Please, if someone has more information (specially for Asian markets, ans other places that I donīt have) or wants to make some corrections, post them here.

[HUR]

Thank you MJ Dangerous. Yes I know that some figures are higher than that. In Canada, Greatest hits 1 spent more than 400 weeks on catalog charts. And for Japan it sold 147.000 copies their three entries on the charts (in 1981, 1986 and 2001), but sales are bigger as you said. If your estimations are right, it gives about 20 M in those 13 countries. How are your estimations for the rest of the world?. There is no many information avaible from other places. Thank you for your answer.

[MJDangerous]

Well, here I leave my breakdown about Greatest hits 1, in selected countries:

UK: 5,1 M (Basilīs numbers)

USA: 8,5 M

GER: 1,7 M

NET: 0,4 M (estimated)

AUS AND NEW ZEL: 1 M

CAN: 0,3 M

BRA: 0,25 M

SPA: 0,2 M

SWISS: 0,25 M

AUS: 0,2 M

KOR: 0,5 M

JAP: 0,147 M


If those numbers are right, that gives a total of 18,5 M in only 13 countries. And it has to add sales from countries in which the album was huge, like Argentina, South Africa and others. And it has to update figures for most countries like Canada, Japan, Austria, and a lot more.

Can I "dream" with a 25 M figure worldwide?. I would like to hear opinions from specialists here What do you think?.

Hur I think that 3 of those sales are 'fake' : Canada, Brazil, Japan. It sold sure MUCH more in those countries.
In Canada it is an incredible catalog seller even more than in USA, it is selling like an album charted in the bottom of the top 100 every week. It was certified 300k in 1994, it sold by now an absolute minimum of 800000 copies, I think that this is more around 1 million.
In Brazil I can't believe that this album have so low sales. Sales in this country are much higher than what people are thinking, this is a market stronger than the Italian or the Spanish market for example.
About Japan, it sold 147k in a few weeks and without import sales, I estimate his sales easily over 500k in this country.

[HUR]

Here, I leave my list of all nunber one albums that I have.

Queen number one albums

- "A night at the opera": UK (4 weeks), Netherlands (9 weeks), Finland, Australia (2 weeks), Japan (on international charts).

- "A day at the races": UK (1 week), Netherlands (5 weeks), Japan (1 weeks).

- "News of the world": Netherlands (5 weeks), France (3 weeks), Japan (on international charts).

- "Jazz": Japan (on international charts)

- "The game": UK (2 weeks), USA (5 weeks), Canada, Argentina, Japan (on international charts).

- "Flash Gordon": Austria (2 weeks).

- Greatest hits 1: UK (4 weeks), Netherlands (4 weeks), Austria (4 weeks), Germany (2 weeks), Spain (1 week), Japan (on international charts).

- "Hot space": Austria (2 weeks)

- "The works": Netherlands (2 weeks)

- "A kind of magic": UK (1 week)

- "The miracle": UK (1 week), Netherlands (3 weeks), Switzerland (2 weeks), Austria (1 week), Germany (8 weeks), Finland.

- "Innuendo": UK (2 weeks), Netherlands (4 weeks), Switzerland (8 weeks), Germany (6 weeks), Italy.

- Greatest hits 2: UK (5 weeks), Netherlands (13 weeks), Switzerlands (11 weeks), Austria (3 weeks), Italy, Finland, Spain (8 weeks), France (4 weeks), Hungary, Canada.

- "Live at wembley": Italy

- "Made in heaven": UK (1 week), Netherlands (4 weeks), Switzerland (9 weeks), Austria (9 weeks), Germany (10 weeks), Finland, Denmark, Spain (2 weeks), Italy, Sweden.

- "In vision" (japanese only release): Japan (on international charts).

Platinium collection: South Africa, Korea, France (on mid price charts).

Queen jewels: Japan (3 weeks), Taiwan (on international charts).

So, they had 18 different numnber one albums (counting japanese international charts)

[HUR]

Greates hits 2

Here my breakdown about this album.

Europe
UK 2.500.000 (estimated, shop sales only)
Netherlands 500.000 (1997)
Swistzerlands 250.000
Austria 200.000 (1997)
Germany 2.500.000 (estimated)
Finland 132.000 (2003)
Italy 1.000.000 (1992)
Spain 700.000 (estimated)
Chez. Republic 60.000
France 1.500.000
Sweden 200.000 (estimeted)
Denmark 250.000

South America

Brazil 500.000 (1999)
Argentina 500.000(2002)
Mexico 250.000

Classic Queen (only for USA and Canada)

USA 3.200.000
Canada 500.000 (1993)

Well, it has to say that the album was huge in most european countries. It was number one in the following countries: UK (5 weeks), Netherlands (13 weeks), Switzerland (11 weeks), Austria (3 weeks), Italy, Spain (8 weeks), Hungary, France (4 weeks). It was also at number 2 in Germany (12 weeks at that positions), and Sweden, and number 4 in Norway.

About South America, in Brazil, I have to say that sales were bigger than 500.000 copies. It was certified 2 platinum award in 1999, but in Brazil those certifications are given for cdīs sales (as I understand). I think that sales there must be close to million copies. And itīs the same for Argentina, where itīs said to be over one million copies. Dispite that, I still prefere those conservative figures.

For Canada, the album has been more than 400 weeks on back catalog. charts, so sales are higher than 500.000 copies.

I also took two figures from a Queen site: I have 150.000 copies for New Zeland, and 280.000 for Australia. But I havenīt confirmed.

The album was probably huge in another small countries, like Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, Estonia, and others. And I donīt have figures for Asian countries and other places. Therefore, if I could get some more figures, or update some of aboveīs numbers, sales for this album could be at very big number.

Only with the figures that I have, sales are over 15 millions copies.

[HUR]

Well, here I leave my breakdown about Greatest hits 1, in selected countries:

UK: 5,1 M (Basilīs numbers)

USA: 8,5 M

GER: 1,7 M

NET: 0,4 M (estimated)

AUS AND NEW ZEL: 1 M

CAN: 0,3 M

BRA: 0,25 M

SPA: 0,2 M

SWISS: 0,25 M

AUS: 0,2 M

KOR: 0,5 M

JAP: 0,147 M


If those numbers are right, that gives a total of 18,5 M in only 13 countries. And it has to add sales from countries in which the album was huge, like Argentina, South Africa and others. And it has to update figures for most countries like Canada, Japan, Austria, and a lot more.

Can I "dream" with a 25 M figure worldwide?. I would like to hear opinions from specialists here What do you think?.

[HUR]

Here, a link with the article which appeard on "Los 40 principales" in 2004:

http://www.los40.com/articulo/noticias/ ... not_5/Tes/

[HUR]

Hello Nelson, here I leave a link:

http://www.emimusic-spain.com/

And the diamond award was at that moment 1 M, I donīt if itīs low than that nowaday.

It was not a "real" Diamond award, they receive it for all their discogrpahy (3M CDs). it's not like an official AFYVE certification (even if its' true)

Yes, of course, it was for all their albums in cdīs, and they were given by EMI. I donīt know how "official" we can considere them, but I think they are true.

[john2000]

Hello Nelson, here I leave a link:

http://www.emimusic-spain.com/

And the diamond award was at that moment 1 M, I donīt if itīs low than that nowaday.

It was not a "real" Diamond award, they receive it for all their discogrpahy (3M CDs). it's not like an official AFYVE certification (even if its' true)

[HUR]

Hello Nelson, here I leave a link:

http://www.emimusic-spain.com/

And the diamond award was at that moment 1 M, I donīt if itīs low than that nowaday.

[nelson]

For example in the case of Queen, they were given 3 diamonnd awards for their sales in Spain in 2004. So in that moment, EMI gave those numbers.

Hello, Hur, can you give me the link?
And how many units for diamond in Spain?
Thanks.

[HUR]

Hello Nelson. Well, I donīt have any other figure, sorry. My friend gave me those figures because he knew Iīm a Queen fan. I even donīt know if they are true, although they seem to be right.

But anyway, you could visit EMIīs pages from different countries (or others labels) from time to time and search for some artists, and maybe you find something. For example in the case of Queen, they were given 3 diamonnd awards for their sales in Spain in 2004. So in that moment, EMI gave those numbers.

[nelson]

Some years back, a friend gave some numbers about Queenīs sales in Spain and Netherlands. They were taken from EMIīs pages of those countries. However, when I wanted to find that information, I couldnīt. But a few weeks ago I found those same numbers in a Queen site: caal.net.

Spain (cdīs only until 2004)
Netherlands (cdīs only between 1994 and 2003)

I donīt know if they are confirmed, but look right.

Hello, Hur, do you have the similar figures for other artists?

[HUR]

Some years back, a friend gave some numbers about Queenīs sales in Spain and Netherlands. They were taken from EMIīs pages of those countries. However, when I wanted to find that information, I couldnīt. But a few weeks ago I found those same numbers in a Queen site: caal.net.

Spain (cdīs only until 2004)

Greatest hits 2: 606.606

Gretaets hits 1: 182.700

"A kind of magic": 207.695

"Live magic": 109.418

"The miracle": 164.969

"Innuendo": 137.861

"Live at wembley": 202.278

"Made in heaven": 281.785

Queen rocks: 74.203

Greatest hits 3: 85.633

Platinium collection: 197.571

Total: 2.250.819





Netherlands (cdīs only between 1994 and 2003)

Greatest hits 2: 174.580

Greatest hits 1: 155.481

"A night at the opera": 27.458

"A day at the races": 13.037

"A kind of magic": 16.567

"Live magic": 19.445

"Innuendo": 23.221

"Live at wembley": 17.587

"Made in heaven": 243.033

Queen rocks: 28.487

Greatest hits 3: 66.791

Platinium collection: 138.379

Total: 906.479


I donīt know if they are confirmed, but look right.

[Basil]

Looking at the track listings of the various Greatest Hits in the UK.....

Greatest Hits Vol 1 - 17 tracks - all UK and/or US hits.

Greatest Hits Vol 2 - 17 tracks - all UK and/or US hits.

This leaves exactly 17 tracks which were UK/US hits. How neat is that?

So why on earth didn't Greatest Hits Vol 3 comprise these 17 hits??

If it had, Greatest Hits Vol 3 would have comprised

1 - Tie Your Mother Down
2 - Spread Your Wings
3 - It's Late
4 - Love Of My Life
5 - Need Your Loving Tonight
6 - Body Language
7 - Las Palabras De Amor
8 - Calling All Girls
9 - Backchat
10 - Thank God It's Christmas
11 - Scandal
12 - These Are The Days Of Our Lives
13 - Heaven For Everyone
14 - A Winter's Tale
15 - Too Much Love Will Kill You
16 - Let Me Live
17 - You Don't Fool Me

OK, not as strong as Vol 1 and Vol 2, but they were all hits (by Queen on their own and with Freddie singing).

If you didn't want the Christmas song, you could have substituted (just for example):-

No-One But You
Princes of the Universe
Stone Cold Crazy
Keep Yourself Alive

Instead we got the Turkey called Greatest Hits Vol 3 that was actually released. Who the hell compiled this? Compared to Vols 1 & 2 it's sales were abysmal - quelle surprise. An unfortunate blip on the Queen catalogue.

[Basil]

I would say RIAA have combined shipments of the old and new "Greatest hits". On the bestselling list Queen is listed with 31.5 million certified units. If I'm any good at math that would mean the 7m is a combined number.

Neat trick Dane, I think that sorts it out. john2000 also make a point about the sequence of the album's certification that further supports this.

[Basil]

Thanks to NothingFails, HUR and Dane for sorting out the track listings.

To summarise

GH 1981 USA - shadowed the UK version but only 14 tracks instead of 17 and Under Pressure included.

GH 1991 USA - similar to the UK version but includes 2 later tracks - Body Language + I Want to Break Free.

Classic 1992 USA - vaguely similar to UK GH 2, but has 2 earlier tracks - Bohemian Rhapsody + Tie Your Mother Down.

GH We Will Rock You 2004 - same as UK GH, plus 3 extra tracks.

Let the riaa sort that out when certifying them!

[Dane]

The LP version I have of Queen "Greatest hits" has 18 songs on it! "Under pressure" is added as the last song on side 1. The album also has 'under pressure' printed on the cover (printed - not a sticker!)

I found a fan site with detailed discography w/tracklisting here:

http://www.pcpki.com/queen/discography/queenalbums.html

Believe it or not there are 108 entries listed for "Greatest hits"!!!

Apparantly my version is German (the label just say 'made in the EEC') catalog number is EMI 064 7 94111 1

[Dane]

by the end of the year, A Night At The Opera should be able to make Dane's list

It looks like it's time for A Kind Of Magic to be recertified platinum since it's done nearly 600k units in the past 15 years.

It's neat to see how that cd has really become a cult classic for Queen (mostly due to Highlander) considering when the album was originally released, it was their poorest selling album after 1974 and failed to make the top 40, yet now only Opera and News Of The World sell more for the studio albums.

Yes, I got my eyes on "Opeara"

I was also surprised to see "A kind of magic" outselling the likes of "The Game", "Live killers" and "A day at the races".
I was a big hit in Europe, but flopped stateside.
Even "Miracle" (the follow-up) charted higher and longer.
It would seem the Americans have changed their minds as "Magic" has outscanned "Miracle" by 10-1!!!

I would say RIAA have combined shipments of the old and new "Greatest hits". On the bestselling list Queen is listed with 31.5 million certified units. If I'm any good at math that would mean the 7m is a combined number.