Top 200 Best Selling Singles Of All Time (UK)

[Robbie]

Where is ATB / 9 PM (Till I come) from the top 200 ??

"In the United Kingdom alone, it became the country's fifth best-selling single of 1999, with around 850,000 copies sold there."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9PM_(Till_I_Come)

The sales of the UK release of '9 PM' were 791,538 copies in 1999 though it did sell around 30,000 copies on import in the same year. Overall UK sales (excluding imports) aren't enough to place it inside the top 200 best sellers of all time, number 200 being on 860,000 copies in June 2013.

[brian05]

From Music Week,

Total singles sales fell annually between July and September by 3.1% to 43.9 million units, despite the Top 10 titles collectively selling nearly 40% more copies than the equivalent releases sold combined over the corresponding three months last year. This was led by Universal’s Positiva/PRMD track Wake Me Up by Avicii selling more copies in a third quarter (980,316 units) than any release since Elton John’s record-breaking Candle In The Wind 1997 16 years ago.

[brian05]

OCC have today given an updated list of UK million sellers. The previous update was on 27/6/13. It gives (here) a list of numerically descending million sellers. Quite a number of songs have changed positions.

La La La has broken through the million copies sales barrier to become the UK’s 148th million selling single. Plus: the UK's biggest selling singles of all time revealed!

According to the Official Charts Company’s sales data, Naughty Boy and Sam Smith’s La La La has now become one of the biggest selling singles in British history, smashing though one million UK sales. La La La is only the 148th track to reach this sales milestone since the Official Singles Chart began in November, 1952.

Elton John’s Something About The Way You Look Tonight / Candle In The Wind ’97 remains the UK’s biggest selling single of all time with 4.92 million sales to its name. Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas is in second place with 3.75 million sales, followed by Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (2.44 million sales). The Top 5 is completed by Wings’ Mull Of Kintyre / Girls’ School (2.08 million sales) and John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s You’re The One That I Want (2.05 million sales).

[Gambo]

I wonder if we shall see 200 million sellers (or believed-to-be million-sellers) in the Top 200 all-time list in a few years' time, or whether sales will begin to stall in favour of streaming and the frequency of seven-figure tallies will drop off, possibly for good?

[Robbie]

From the OCC list in the above link:

1 SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 97 ELTON JOHN (4.92m)
2 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID (3.75m)
3 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY QUEEN (2.44m)
4 MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL WINGS (2.08m)
5 YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN (2.05m)
6 RELAX FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
7 RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING BONEY M
8 SHE LOVES YOU THE BEATLES
9 LOVE IS ALL AROUND WET WET WET
10 MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD BONEY M
11 UNCHAINED MELODY/(THERE'LL BE BLUEBIRDS OVER) THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER ROBSON GREEN & JEROME FLYNN
12 I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU STEVIE WONDER
13 BARBIE GIRL AQUA
14 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND THE BEATLES
15 ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN WILL YOUNG
16 BELIEVE CHER
17 (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU BRYAN ADAMS
18 LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS WHAM!
19 IMAGINE JOHN LENNON
20 SUMMER NIGHTS JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
21 I'LL BE MISSING YOU PUFF DADDY & FAITH EVANS
22 TWO TRIBES FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD
23 DON'T YOU WANT ME? HUMAN LEAGUE
24 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU WHITNEY HOUSTON
25 BLURRED LINES ROBIN THICKE/TI/PHARRELL
26 PERFECT DAY VARIOUS ARTISTS
27 THREE LIONS BADDIEL & SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS
28 CAN'T BUY ME LOVE THE BEATLES
29 EYE OF THE TIGER SURVIVOR
30 MY HEART WILL GO ON CELINE DION
31 ...BABY ONE MORE TIME BRITNEY SPEARS
32 SOMEONE LIKE YOU ADELE
33 TEARS KEN DODD
34 KARMA CHAMELEON CULTURE CLUB
35 GANGSTA'S PARADISE COOLIO FEATURING L.V.
36 YMCA VILLAGE PEOPLE
37 CARELESS WHISPER GEORGE MICHAEL
38 MOVES LIKE JAGGER MAROON 5 FEATURING CHRISTINA AGUILERA
39 SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW GOTYE FEATURING KIMBRA
40 (WE'RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS
41 THE POWER OF LOVE JENNIFER RUSH
42 THE CARNIVAL IS OVER THE SEEKERS
43 I FEEL FINE THE BEATLES
44 I GOTTA FEELING BLACK EYED PEAS
45 KILLING ME SOFTLY FUGEES
46 WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER THE BEATLES
47 WONDERWALL OASIS
48 GET LUCKY DAFT PUNK FT PHARRELL WILLIAMS
49 RELEASE ME ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
50 HAPPY PHARRELL WILLIAMS
51 COME ON EILEEN DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS
52 IT WASN'T ME SHAGGY FEATURING RIKROK
53 WANNABE SPICE GIRLS
54 UNCHAINED MELODY GARETH GATES
55 WE FOUND LOVE RIHANNA FEATURING CALVIN HARRIS
56 THINK TWICE CELINE DION
57 NEVER EVER ALL SAINTS
58 (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO TONY CHRISTIE FT PETER KAY
59 WAKE ME UP AVICII
60 TAINTED LOVE SOFT CELL
61 SEX ON FIRE KINGS OF LEON
62 HEART OF GLASS BLONDIE
63 CALL ME MAYBE CARLY RAE JEPSEN
64 IT'S LIKE THAT RUN-D.M.C. VS JASON NEVINS
65 HALLELUJAH ALEXANDRA BURKE
66 IMPOSSIBLE JAMES ARTHUR
67 IT'S NOW OR NEVER ELVIS PRESLEY
68 MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY SLADE
69 DIANA PAUL ANKA
70 GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME TOM JONES
71 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) BRUNO MARS
72 PARTY ROCK ANTHEM LMFAO FEATURING LAUREN BENNETT AND GOONROCK
73 GANGNAM STYLE PSY
74 BRIGHT EYES ART GARFUNKEL
75 BLUE MONDAY NEW ORDER
76 HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY STEPS
77 PRICE TAG JESSIE J FEATURING B.O.B
78 MARY'S BOY CHILD HARRY BELAFONTE
79 EARTH SONG MICHAEL JACKSON
80 THE LAST WALTZ ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
81 CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD KYLIE MINOGUE
82 DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS? BAND AID 20
83 LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE EMINEM FEATURING RIHANNA
84 ANGELS ROBBIE WILLIAMS
85 STRANGER ON THE SHORE MR ACKER BILK AND HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND
86 SATURDAY NIGHT WHIGFIELD
87 TITANIUM DAVID GUETTA FT SIA
88 DON'T GIVE UP ON US DAVID SOUL
89 SPACEMAN BABYLON ZOO
90 TORN NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
91 POKER FACE LADY GAGA
92 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE GARY GLITTER
93 NO MATTER WHAT BOYZONE
94 GHOSTBUSTERS RAY PARKER JR.
95 ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) RIHANNA
96 2 BECOME 1 SPICE GIRLS
97 LET HER GO PASSENGER
98 HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK IAN DURY AND THE BLOCKHEADS
99 I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF ROBSON & JEROME
100 I DON'T WANT TO MISS A THING AEROSMITH
101 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) PINK FLOYD
102 TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH!" TELETUBBIES
103 THAT'S MY GOAL SHAYNE WARD
104 I REMEMBER YOU FRANK IFIELD
105 HEY JUDE THE BEATLES
106 BLUE (DA BA DEE) EIFFEL 65
107 BACK FOR GOOD TAKE THAT
108 PURE AND SIMPLE HEAR'SAY
109 WE ARE YOUNG FUN FT JANELLE MONAE
110 I FEEL LOVE DONNA SUMMER
111 DANCING QUEEN ABBA
112 CRAZY GNARLS BARKLEY
113 BLEEDING LOVE LEONA LEWIS
114 UNCHAINED MELODY THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
115 RIDE ON TIME BLACK BOX
116 THE YOUNG ONES CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS
117 FAME IRENE CARA
118 USE SOMEBODY KINGS OF LEON
119 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK POGUES FT KIRSTY MACCOLL
120 I WILL SURVIVE GLORIA GAYNOR
121 STAND & DELIVER ADAM AND THE ANTS
122 UPTOWN GIRL BILLY JOEL
123 SAILING ROD STEWART
124 CHASING CARS SNOW PATROL
125 THE A TEAM ED SHEERAN
126 SUGAR SUGAR THE ARCHIES
127 WHITE CHRISTMAS BING CROSBY
128 CAN WE FIX IT? BOB THE BUILDER
129 THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT TIGHT FIT
130 ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU MARIAH CAREY
131 SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME BROTHERHOOD OF MAN
132 FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE CHERYL COLE
133 MYSTERIOUS GIRL PETER ANDRE FEATURING BUBBLER RANX
134 BAD ROMANCE LADY GAGA
135 I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING THE NEW SEEKERS
136 WHEN WE COLLIDE MATT CARDLE
137 DIAMONDS RIHANNA
138 WHOLE AGAIN ATOMIC KITTEN
139 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE
140 UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE SHOWADDYWADDY
141 DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA JULIE COVINGTON
142 EYE LEVEL THE SIMON PARK ORCHESTRA
143 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE DAWN FEATURING TONY ORLANDO
144 ROLLING IN THE DEEP ADELE
145 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL LITTLE JIMMY OSMOND
146 GIVE ME EVERYTHING PITBULL FEATURING NE-YO, AFROJACK AND NAYER
147 FIREWORK KATY PERRY
148 LA LA LA NAUGHTY BOY FT SAM SMITH

[brian05]

I was unsure if I should post the complete list due to copyright laws.

[Robbie]

As has been pointed out at another forum, the above list seems to be at odds with a list that was only recently issued by the OCC which had 'Happy' inside the top 40 rather than at number 50. These lists seem to be very contradictory at times.

[Gambo]

It is phenomenally frustrating for those of us who just want an accurate list that there seem to be so many easily-identified, but not so easily-explained, anomalies! I think we all appreciate how difficult it is to devise anything approaching a 'definitive' ranking, and that with the ongoing availability of titles as catalogue downloads any Top 200 supposed bestsellers of any given period are subject to weekly alteration. But you'd think there'd be greater consistency with all the technology available to collate data from the various sources.

[Robbie]

It is phenomenally frustrating for those of us who just want an accurate list that there seem to be so many easily-identified, but not so easily-explained, anomalies! I think we all appreciate how difficult it is to devise anything approaching a 'definitive' ranking, and that with the ongoing availability of titles as catalogue downloads any Top 200 supposed bestsellers of any given period are subject to weekly alteration. But you'd think there'd be greater consistency with all the technology available to collate data from the various sources.

I agree. There seems to be so much contradiction at times in what the OCC publish. I've just looked at the previous OCC list and 'Happy' is at number 44 rather than in the top 40 but even so it makes no sense! On that list 'Get Lucky' is at number 50 and is at number 48 on the above list, two places above 'Happy'.

It is possible that the list (which is only from 3 weeks ago) wasn't actually compiled by the OCC as the list in the forum I referred to doesn't have a link to an OCC thread.

Here's that list:

2002 v. 2014

[2014] (2002) Artist TITLE (YEAR) 2014 Sales (Sales since 2002)

[1] (1) Elton John - SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT/CANDLE IN THE WIND 1997 (1997) 4,911,000 (47,000)
[2] (2) Band Aid - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS (1984) 3,748,000 (198,000)
[3] (3) Queen - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (1975/1991) 2,404,000 (274,000)
[4] (4) Wings - MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS' SCHOOL (1977) 2,072,000 (22,000)
[5] (6) John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT (1978/1998) 2,040,000 (65,000)
[6] (7) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - RELAX (1983/1993) 2,030,000 (120,000)
[7] (5) Boney M - RIVERS OF BABYLON/BROWN GIRL IN THE RING (1978) 2,020,000 (35,000)
[8] (8) Beatles - SHE LOVES YOU (1963) 1,915,000 (25,000)
[9] (11) Wet Wet Wet - LOVE IS ALL AROUND (1994) 1,875,000 (91,000)
[10] (10) Boney M - MARY'S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD (1978) 1,873,000 (83,000)

[11] (9) Robson Green & Jerome Flynn - UNCHAINED MELODY/WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER (1995) 1,860,000 (16,000)
[12] (13) Stevie Wonder - I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU (1984) 1,840,000 (65,000)
[13] (15) Aqua - BARBIE GIRL (1997) 1,800,000 (78,000)
[14] (14) Beatles - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (1963) 1,791,000 (41,000)
[15] (12) Will Young - ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE/EVERGREEN (2002) 1,790,000 (10,000)
[16] (16) Cher - BELIEVE (1998) 1,786,000 (114,000)
[17] (18) Bryan Adams - (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU (1991) 1,785,000 (257,000)
[18] (26) Wham! - LAST CHRISTMAS/EVERYTHING SHE WANTS (1984) 1,742,000 (322,000)
[19] (23) John Lennon - IMAGINE (1975/1980/1999) 1,642,000 (155,000)
[20] (21) John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John - SUMMER NIGHTS (1978) 1,600,000 (85,000)

[21] (22) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - TWO TRIBES (1984) 1,600,000 (90,000)
[22] (28) Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'LL BE MISSING YOU (1997) 1,596,000 (186,000)
[23] (36) Whitney Houston - I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU (1992) 1,585,000 (250,000)
[24] (25) Human League - DON'T YOU WANT ME (1981) 1,581,000 (151,000)
[25] (17) Various Artists - PERFECT DAY (1997) 1,555,000 (6,000)
[26] (NE) Lightning Seeds ft Baddiel & Skinner - 3 LIONS (1996) 1,540,000
[27] (20) Beatles - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE (1964) 1,540,000 (20,000)
[28] (24) Britney Spears - BABY ONE MORE TIME (1999) 1,532,000 (82,000)
[29] (39) Celine Dion - MY HEART WILL GO ON (1998) 1,531,000 (218,000)
[30] (80) Survivor - EYE OF THE TIGER (1982) 1,530,000 (540,000)

[31] (NE) Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell - BLURRED LINES (2013) 1,526,600
[32] (19) Ken Dodd - TEARS (1965) 1,522,000 (1,000)
[33] (NE) Adele - SOMEONE LIKE YOU (2011) 1,519,825
[34] (29) Culture Club - KARMA CHAMELEON (1983) 1,495,000 (90,000)
[35] (43) Coolio ft LV - GANGSTA'S PARADISE (1995) 1,472,000 (226,000)
[36] (33) Village People - YMCA (1978) 1,471,000 (91,000)
[37] (34) George Michael - CARELESS WHISPER (1984) 1,461,000 (95,000)
[38] (NE) Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera - MOVES LIKE JAGGER (2011) 1,456,000
[39] (NE) Gotye featuring Kimbra - SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW (2012) 1,434,000
[40] (31) Bill Haley & His Comets - (WE’RE GONNA) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (1955) 1,430,000 (38,000)

[41] (37) Jennifer Rush - THE POWER OF LOVE (1985) 1,421,000 (99,000)
[42] (30) Seekers - THE CARNIVAL IS OVER (1965) 1,420,000 (20,000)
[43] (27) Beatles - I FEEL FINE (1964) 1,420,000 (10,000)
[44] (NE) Pharrell Williams - HAPPY (2014) 1,414,500
[45] (NE) Black Eyed Peas - I GOTTA FEELING (2009) 1,400,000
[46] (41) Fugees - KILLING ME SOFTLY (1996) 1,401,000 (133,000)
[47] (32) Beatles - DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT (1965) 1,393,000 (8,000)
[48] (35) Engelbert Humperdinck - RELEASE ME (1967) 1,380,000 (15,000)
[49] (48) Dexy's Midnight Runners - COME ON EILEEN (1982) 1,365,000 (164,000)
[50] (NE) Daft Punk featuring Pharrell - GET LUCKY (2013) 1,362,430

[51] (49) Shaggy ft RikRok - IT WASN'T ME (2001) 1,350,000 (169,000)
[52] (40) Spice Girls - WANNABE (1996) 1,345,000 (75,000)
[53] (38) Gareth Gates - UNCHAINED MELODY (2002) 1,342,000 (23,000)
[54] (45) Celine Dion - THINK TWICE (1994) 1,331,000 (96,000)
[55] (NE) Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris - WE FOUND LOVE (2011) 1,330,000
[56] (NE) Avicii - WAKE ME UP (2013) 1,324,750
[57] (42) All Saints - NEVER EVER (1997) 1,322,000 (67,000)
[58] (NE)Tony Christie ft Peter Kay - (IS THIS THE WAY TO) AMARILLO (1971) 1,321,000 (53,852 is added from 1971)
[59] (57) Soft Cell - TAINTED LOVE (1981) 1,301,000 (166,000)
[60] (NE) Kings of Leon - SEX ON FIRE (2008) 1,300,000

[61] (50) Blondie - HEART OF GLASS (1979) 1,288,000 (108,000)
[62] (59) Run-DMC vs Jason Nevins - IT'S LIKE THAT (1998) 1,284,000 (164,000)
[63] (NE) Carly Rae Jepsen - CALL ME MAYBE (2012) 1,272,000
[64] (NE) Alexandra Burke - HALLELUJAH (2008) 1,268,000
[66] (46) Elvis Presley - IT'S NOW OR NEVER (1960) 1,260,000 (50,000)
[67] (NE) James Arthur - IMPOSSIBLE (2012) 1,260,000
[68] (73) Slade - MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY (1973) 1,255,610 (250,000)
[69] (44) Paul Anka - DIANA (1957) 1,250,000 (10,000)
[70] (96) Oasis - WONDERWALL (1995) 1,248,300 (281,000)

[71] (47) Tom Jones - GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME (1966) 1,240,000 (35,000)
[72] (NE) Bruno Mars - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (AMAZING) (2010) 1,234,550
[73] (NE) LMFAO/Lauren Bennett/GoonRock - PARTY ROCK ANTHEM (2011) 1,225,000
[74] (NE) PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (2012) 1,225,000
[75] (53) Art Garfunkel - BRIGHT EYES (1979) 1,220,000 (65,000)
[76] (76) New Order - BLUE MONDAY (1983) 1,195,000 (193,000)
[77] (54) Steps - HEARTBEAT/TRAGEDY (1998) 1,195,000 (45,000)
[78] (51) Harry Belafonte - MARY'S BOY CHILD (1957) 1,195,000 (20,000)
[79] (NE) Jessie J featuring B.o.B - PRICE TAG (2011) 1,181,000
[80] (69) Michael Jackson - EARTH SONG (1995) 1,176,000 (137,000)

[81] (52) Engelbert Humperdinck - THE LAST WALTZ (1967) 1,175,000 (15,000)
[82] (NE) Band Aid 20 - DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS (2004) 1,175,000
[83] (70) Kylie Minogue - CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD (2001) 1,168,000 (131,000)
[84] (58) Acker Bilk - STRANGER ON THE SHORE (1961) 1,167,000 (37,000)
[85] (NE) Robbie Williams - ANGELS (1997) 1,166,000
[86] (NE) Donna Summer - I FEEL LOVE (1977) 1,166,000
[87] (64) Whigfield - SATURDAY NIGHT (1994) 1,165,000 (73,000)
[88] (NE) Eminem feat Rihanna - LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE (2010) 1,165,000
[89] (55) David Soul - DON'T GIVE UP ON US (1977) 1,165,000 (20,000)
[90] (61) Babylon Zoo - SPACEMAN (1996) 1,151,000 (52,000)

[81] (NE) David Guetta featuring Sia - TITANIUM (2012) 1,150,280
[92] (85) Natalie Imbruglia - TORN (1997) 1,145,000 (163,000)
[93] (NE) Lady GaGa - POKER FACE (2009) 1,142,000
[94] (56) Gary Glitter - I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE (1973) 1,141,000 (1,000)
[95] (66) Boyzone - NO MATTER WHAT (1998) 1,131,000 (57,000)
[96] (92) Ray Parker Jnr. - GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) 1,126,000 (152,000)
[97] (67) Spice Girls - 2 BECOME 1 (1996) 1,120,000 (48,000)
[98] (NE) Rihanna - ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) (2010) 1,120,000
[99] (63) Robson & Jerome - I BELIEVE/UP ON THE ROOF (1995) 1,120,000 (26,000)
[100] (87) Ian Dury & The Blockheads - HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK (1979) 1,113,000 (134,000)

[101] (60) Teletubbies - TELETUBBIES SAY "EH-OH" (1997) 1,111,000 (4,000)
[102] (78) Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (1979) 1,110,000 (115,000)
[103] (NE) Aerosmith - I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING (1998) 1,107,000
[104] (NE) Shayne Ward - THAT’S MY GOAL (2005) 1,106,000
[105] (62) Frank Ifield - I REMEMBER YOU (1962) 1,100,000 (4,000)
[106] (NE) Beatles - HEY JUDE (1968) 1,097,000
[107] (NE) Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl - FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK (1987) 1,097,000
[108] (NE) Passenger - LET HER GO (2013) 1,090,060
[109] (98) Take That - BACK FOR GOOD (1995) 1,090,000 (130,000)
[110] (71) Eiffel 65 - BLUE (DA BA DEE) (1999) 1,090,000 (66,000)

[111] (65) Hear’Say - PURE AND SIMPLE (2001) 1,090,000 (12,000)
[112] (NE) Abba - DANCING QUEEN (1976/1992) 1,086,000
[113] (NE) Leona Lewis - BLEEDING LOVE (2007) 1,085,000
[114] (NE) fun featuring Janelle Monae - WE ARE YOUNG (2012) 1,085,000
[115] (NE) Gnarls Barkley - CRAZY (2006) 1,078,000
[116] (94) Black Box - RIDE ON TIME (1989) 1,077,000 (103,000)
[117] (NE) Righteous Brothers -UNCHAINED MELODY (1965/1990) 1,076,000
[118] (68) Cliff Richard & The Shadows - THE YOUNG ONES (1962) 1,061,000 (9,000)
[119] (91) Irene Cara - FAME (1982) 1,057,000 (82,000)
[120] (NE) Gloria Gaynor - I WILL SURVIVE (1979) 1,045,000 (780k + 160k + downloads 60k)

[121] (83) Adam & The Ants - STAND AND DELIVER (1981) 1,044,000 (59,000)
[122] (NE) Kings of Leon - USE SOMEBODY (2008) 1,043,000
[123] (99) Rod Stewart - SAILING (1975) 1,032,000 (77,000)
[124] (93) Billy Joel - UPTOWN GIRL (1983) 1,031,000 (57,000)
[125] (NE) Ed Sheeran - THE A TEAM (2011) 1,030,000
[126] (NE) Snow Patrol - CHASING CARS – (2006) 1,029,825
[127] (88) Archies - SUGAR SUGAR (1969) 1,025,000 (46,000)
[128] (NE) Bing Crosby - WHITE CHRISTMAS (1977) 1,025,000
[129] (72) Bob The Builder - CAN WE FIX IT (2000) 1,024,000 (15,000)
[130] (89) Tight Fit - THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT (1982) 1,024,000 (46,000)

[131] (NE) Mariah Carey - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU (1994) 1,024,000
[132] (74) Brotherhood Of Man - SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME (1976) 1,020,000 (14,000)
[133] (NE) Cheryl Cole - FIGHT FOR THIS LOVE (2009) 1,018,000
[134] (NE) Peter Andre featuring Bubbler Ranx - MYSTERIOUS GIRL (1996) 1,017,000
[135] (81) New Seekers - I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING (1972) 1,016,000 (26,000)
[136] (NE) Matt Cardle - WHEN WE COLLIDE (2010) 1,016,000
[137] (NE) Lady GaGa - BAD ROMANCE (2009) 1,010,000
[138] (NE) Atomic Kitten - WHOLE AGAIN (2001) 1,010,000
[139] (84) Showaddywaddy - UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE (1976) 1,010,000 (25,000)
[140] (79) Julie Covington - DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA (1977) 1,010,000 (17,000)

[140] (NE) Elton John & Kiki Dee - DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (1976) 1,010,000
[141] (75) Simon Park Orchestra - EYE LEVEL (1972) 1,010,000 (5,000)
[142] (NE) Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer - GIVE ME EVERYTHING (2011) 1,006,000
[143] (NE) Katy Perry - FIREWORK (2012) 1,001,000
[144] (82) Dawn - TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE (1973) 1,001,000 (13,000)
[145] (77) Little Jimmy Osmond - LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL (1972) 1,001,000 (3,000)
[146] (NE) Rihanna - DIAMONDS (2012) 1,000,000
[147] (NE) Adele - ROLLING IN THE DEEP (2011) 1,000,000

It could possibly be a poster, rather than OCC, compiled list? The sales data is mainly estimates and the comparison to 2002 is based on the sales given by the OCC back in 2002 for the 50th anniversary of the singles chart.

[rubcale]

And we have the anomaly of course where some of the records from 1994-1996 have been downgraded to DUS sales while others such as Celine Dion's Think Twice which appears on the list have been allowed to remain on their original total.

I don't know which figure is right but what I would like to see is consistency.

[Gambo]

Yes; a key example of the inconsistency that dogs the OCC's compilations - just pick a method and STICK WITH IT!

I mean on the face of it, the above list looks exactly like the kind of thing us chart buffs are after: an apparently comprehensive listing of the current million-sellers, not only with sales figures beside each entry, but also a figure indicating the rough sales since the 50th anniversary list was compiled - manna from heaven! Any unseasoned person with a passing interest in this information couldn't be blamed for stumbling across this and assuming it was reliable enough to treat as gospel, with a sort of "I can rely on Wikipedia for everything" naivety. Sadly, on this site we know it is never that simple. But I almost envy the 'uninitiated' chart follower who has the 'luxury' of taking charts like this completely at face value believing them to be definitive, which is what we're all after. They do say ignorance is bliss!

[jszmiles]

And we have the anomaly of course where some of the records from 1994-1996 have been downgraded to DUS sales while others such as Celine Dion's Think Twice which appears on the list have been allowed to remain on their original total.

I don't know which figure is right but what I would like to see is consistency.

Yeah I remember that Robert Miles' Children's sales was like 750K before, than I've read somewhere that OCC changed the sales to 680K... wondering why it has happened and what is the exact sales for this record...

[brian05]

[47] (32) Beatles - DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT (1965) 1,393,000 (8,000)

Any idea how OCC deals with double A sides?
Are both tracks combined or only downloads for Day tripper added on?

[MFR]

The 680,000 figure, which presumably includes some downloads because Children was only up to 650,000 by 2002 by this method, is based on an estimate of sales in the 'Defined Universe' (Defined Universe Sales or DUS). These are shops that belong to those parts of the UK retail market which are represented in the chart sample. Therefore the total sales for these parts of the market can be estimated quite accurately.

The 750,000 was a previous estimate for the whole UK market and made allowances for parts of the retail market that were not represented in the chart sample at all. Naturally far less was known about these parts of the market in terms of what they sold, how many, whether they sold records at all or even existed, i.e. they may have gone out of business, ceased selling records to concentrate on other products or their sales of records were of very low volume compared with shops in the sample.

OCC of late have preferred to use the first method because it is more accurate. By 1996 when Children was in the charts sales outside the defined universe were very low, so a true figure would be nearer the lower figure than the higher figure.

[Robbie]

The 680,000 figure, which presumably includes some downloads because Children was only up to 650,000 by 2002 by this method, is based on an estimate of sales in the 'Defined Universe' (Defined Universe Sales or DUS). These are shops that belong to those parts of the UK retail market which are represented in the chart sample. Therefore the total sales for these parts of the market can be estimated quite accurately.

The 750,000 was a previous estimate for the whole UK market and made allowances for parts of the retail market that were not represented in the chart sample at all. Naturally far less was known about these parts of the market in terms of what they sold, how many, whether they sold records at all or even existed, i.e. they may have gone out of business, ceased selling records to concentrate on other products or their sales of records were of very low volume compared with shops in the sample.

OCC of late have preferred to use the first method because it is more accurate. By 1996 when Children was in the charts sales outside the defined universe were very low, so a true figure would be nearer the lower figure than the higher figure.

The OCC also prefer to use DUS because the figures are easy to access as it is DUS rather than estimated total market sales (TMS) that are held on their product database.

However it looks like they still stick with the original TMS figures for the likes of 'Love Is All Around', 'Unchained Melody' and the other records which were anniounced as million sellers back in the period 1994 to 1996. A few years ago the OCC did publish a best sellers chart which used the DUS figures for the 1994 to 1996 big sellers and this greatly reduced the sales figures for 'Love Is All Around' and 'Unchained Melody' (both were down to something like 1.3m) and removed the million seller status of 'Think Twice', 'Saturday Night' and 'Spaceman'. However the next time they compiled a best sellers list they restored the previous sales and haven't used DUS for these singles since. I suppose it makes the best sellers charts look dubious if records from a certain time period suddenly have their sales downgraded.

[jszmiles]

Thanks for explanation (I think I need to read it more carefully to understand a whole though). Shame, you think (know) that the sales should be much lower than first sales stats for Children - I suppose all top 10 from 1996's YE had their sales figures reduced?

[MFR]

The reduction does apply to all singles from this period, but OCC are inconsistent with this and previously acknowledged million-sellers have often kept their original figures. Among these is Spaceman by Babylon Zoo, out at roughly the same time as Children, but which is often still credited with 1.1 million sales plus downloads. By the same measure by which Children sold 650,000 Spaceman sold only about 945,000.

[brian05]

From data published in Music Week today 97 LET HER GO - PASSENGER was on 1,134,873 last week.

[brian05]

[47] (32) Beatles - DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT (1965) 1,393,000 (8,000)

Any idea how OCC deals with double A sides?
Are both tracks combined or only downloads for Day tripper added on?

I can now answer my own question.

Got this email from the OCC.

For all Double A sides in the digital era, physical sales are combined with the sales of the lead track (as a double A side is technically 2 lead tracks, the label can nominate which track is the “lead” track to be combined)

So in the case of WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER physical sales from the original release are combined with digital sales of WE CAN WORK IT OUT.

John Lennon will not be pleased with that decision.
In 1965 music papers listed it as Day tripper/We can work it out. So now it is reversed.
Both tracks originally contributed to the overall physical sales but now Day tripper only has download sales.
That's the problem of adding physical and digital sales.
Presume Penny Lane is the "lead" track for Penny Lane/Strawberry fields forever.

[Graham76man]

[47] (32) Beatles - DAYTRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT (1965) 1,393,000 (8,000)

Any idea how OCC deals with double A sides?
Are both tracks combined or only downloads for Day tripper added on?

I can now answer my own question.

Got this email from the OCC.
[quote:3pfmdohx]For all Double A sides in the digital era, physical sales are combined with the sales of the lead track (as a double A side is technically 2 lead tracks, the label can nominate which track is the “lead” track to be combined)

So in the case of WE CAN WORK IT OUT/DAY TRIPPER physical sales from the original release are combined with digital sales of WE CAN WORK IT OUT.

John Lennon will not be pleased with that decision.
In 1965 music papers listed it as Day tripper/We can work it out. So now it is reversed.
Both tracks originally contributed to the overall physical sales but now Day tripper only has download sales.
That's the problem of adding physical and digital sales.
Presume Penny Lane is the "lead" track for Penny Lane/Strawberry fields forever.[/quote:3pfmdohx]

I would have thought the original pairing listing of the above tracks was done on an alphabetical basis not on the choice of a record company. Even so there's no reason why both tracks digital sales couldn't be added. However they could have listed them as separate tracks, especially as each track would be taken from different albums. Unless of course iTunes counted them as a bundle.

Aside from all that presumably streaming data (when it merges with the main OCC singles chart) won't be added to the list of best sellers since none have been "sold". Or will they add it?

[fiesta]

The 750,000 was a previous estimate for the whole UK market and made allowances for parts of the retail market that were not represented in the chart sample at all. Naturally far less was known about these parts of the market in terms of what they sold, how many, whether they sold records at all or even existed, i.e. they may have gone out of business, ceased selling records to concentrate on other products or their sales of records were of very low volume compared with shops in the sample.

If this were thew case though wouldnt it affect the accuracy of the actual weekly chart itself, especially down in the lower positions where the difference between positions can be as small as a few hundred. There could have been extra sales occurring outside the universe that would make the difference between a number 41 hit single and a number 39 hit. In order for the charts to be accurate they'd need to be confident that sales patterns inside the universe were almost identical to those outside the universe?

However, I have never read anywhere that stated that there was a certain confidence level as to the accuracy of the charts, there was an article in Record Mirror circa 1971, when BMRB did the chart, from one of their staff explaining about how the charts were compiled and that they could not be confident of the accuracy of the positions outside the top 30.

[Gambo]

I would have thought the original pairing listing of the above tracks was done on an alphabetical basis not on the choice of a record company. Even so there's no reason why both tracks digital sales couldn't be added. However they could have listed them as separate tracks, especially as each track would be taken from different albums. Unless of course iTunes counted them as a bundle.

Aside from all that presumably streaming data (when it merges with the main OCC singles chart) won't be added to the list of best sellers since none have been "sold". Or will they add it?

I tend to accord with Graham on this issue; surely digital sales per track should be counted towards that track's position in the overall rankings? Although I admit it would create tension where physical sales were originally accrued as a double 'A' side or even an EP, where all of the tracks could've contributed to the reason for the single/EP to be purchased, but each constituent track would now have to be listed separately on the all-time chart, presumably with the same number of physical sales shifted by the double 'A' or EP added to the definable digital sales of each track associated with it?

I suppose it's analogous to the problem of allowing slightly different versions of a track, including re-mixes, to count towards the lead version's chart position. There are numerous examples of an album version of a song charting ahead of the release of the digital single version despite any differences, and also re-mixed versions issued thereafter, that all count towards the same title's chart position. I'm not sure where I stand on the rights and wrongs of that. I do feel though that even if we accept similar instrumentation on different mixes of a song to count as one for chart purposes, if a different vocal recording is used then that really should count separately (as in Lady Gaga & R Kelly/Christina Aguilera on 'Do What You Want', Taio Cruz & Kylie Minogue/Travie McCoy on 'Higher' etc). Given that during the physical era the same recording used to be able to count as a separate chart entry just by dint of being issued by a different label, or on a new catalogue number, it seems counter-intuitive to have a policy where markedly different recordings of the same song can be permitted to chart as a singular entity.

Oh dear; this chart following thing really isn't as straightforward as it should be! I wish I didn't really care like the majority of people in the UK nowadays........

[Robbie]

The 750,000 was a previous estimate for the whole UK market and made allowances for parts of the retail market that were not represented in the chart sample at all. Naturally far less was known about these parts of the market in terms of what they sold, how many, whether they sold records at all or even existed, i.e. they may have gone out of business, ceased selling records to concentrate on other products or their sales of records were of very low volume compared with shops in the sample.

If this were thew case though wouldnt it affect the accuracy of the actual weekly chart itself, especially down in the lower positions where the difference between positions can be as small as a few hundred. There could have been extra sales occurring outside the universe that would make the difference between a number 41 hit single and a number 39 hit. In order for the charts to be accurate they'd need to be confident that sales patterns inside the universe were almost identical to those outside the universe?

However, I have never read anywhere that stated that there was a certain confidence level as to the accuracy of the charts, there was an article in Record Mirror circa 1971, when BMRB did the chart, from one of their staff explaining about how the charts were compiled and that they could not be confident of the accuracy of the positions outside the top 30.

Here's a scan of the Record Mirror article that you have referred to, taken from the issue dated 31 July 1971.

http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1971/3 ... Albums.jpg

Archive footage of Penny Tipton, who is mentioned in the article, was featured in the BBC Four documentary "Pop Charts Britannia: 60 Years of the Top 10" which was originally shown on BBC Four a few years back but does get an occasional repeat. The programme is due to be repeated next weekend http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nwfx ... s/upcoming

[MFR]

The 750,000 was a previous estimate for the whole UK market and made allowances for parts of the retail market that were not represented in the chart sample at all. Naturally far less was known about these parts of the market in terms of what they sold, how many, whether they sold records at all or even existed, i.e. they may have gone out of business, ceased selling records to concentrate on other products or their sales of records were of very low volume compared with shops in the sample.

If this were thew case though wouldnt it affect the accuracy of the actual weekly chart itself, especially down in the lower positions where the difference between positions can be as small as a few hundred. There could have been extra sales occurring outside the universe that would make the difference between a number 41 hit single and a number 39 hit. In order for the charts to be accurate they'd need to be confident that sales patterns inside the universe were almost identical to those outside the universe?

Yes, you can assume that sectors outside the defined universe might well have had different sales patterns and therefore if included would change the chart. But in the end, these were mostly small independents selling hardly anything (probably mostly specialist outlets selling albums that fitted their specialism , motorway service stations, market stalls and - less relevant to singles - mail order.

But the DUS and market estimates were calculated from the same sample, just up to different maxima, so in that sense it makes no difference to the accuracy of an individual weekly chart.

[jszmiles]

OCC just reported sales data from 1995 (recent MW article) with sales for all albums inside top 10... so that means they actually have the real sales stats from 90s? (at least from 94?)