%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='svg606'%20width='320'%20height='320'%20viewBox='0%200%20320%20320'%20sodipodi:docname='BBC_Radio_1_White_Roundel_RGB(1).eps'%20xmlns:inkscape='http://www.inkscape.org/namespaces/inkscape'%20xmlns:sodipodi='http://sodipodi.sourceforge.net/DTD/sodipodi-0.dtd'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:svg='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3e%3cdefs%20id='defs610'%20/%3e%3csodipodi:namedview%20id='namedview608'%20pagecolor='%23ffffff'%20bordercolor='%23666666'%20borderopacity='1.0'%20inkscape:showpageshadow='2'%20inkscape:pageopacity='0.0'%20inkscape:pagecheckerboard='0'%20inkscape:deskcolor='%23d1d1d1'%20showgrid='false'%20/%3e%3cg%20id='g614'%20inkscape:groupmode='layer'%20inkscape:label='Page%201'%20transform='matrix(1.3333333,0,0,-1.3333333,-160,479.99998)'%3e%3cg%20id='g616'%20transform='scale(0.1)'%3e%3cpath%20d='m%202667.94,1584.35%20h%20-344.69%20v%201256.97%20c%20-62.84,-32.17%20-126.03,-65.12%20-189.58,-98.8%20-63.59,-33.72%20-123.74,-66.63%20-180.39,-98.82%20v%20317.11%20c%2061.25,35.24%20129.44,72.4%20204.52,111.46%2075.04,39.07%20153.96,78.49%20236.69,118.36%20h%20273.45%20z%20M%202400,3600%20c%20-662.74,0%20-1200,-537.26%20-1200,-1200%200,-662.74%20537.26,-1200%201200,-1200%20662.74,0%201200,537.26%201200,1200%200,662.74%20-537.26,1200%20-1200,1200'%20style='fill:%23000000;fill-opacity:1;fill-rule:nonzero;stroke:none'%20id='path618'%20/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
The biggest selling album of every year since 1956
From Duffy to Dido, Meat Loaf to Madonna, Scissor Sisters to Simon & Garfunkel, click through the Official biggest selling albums of every year since 1956...
2019: Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent.
Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis scored a massive breakthrough in 2019 with his debut album. The record debuted at Number 1 in May and logged 10 weeks at the summit over the course of a year. By the end of 2019, it had shifted 641,000 chart sales.
2018: The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman film was a global phenomenon in 2018 Its accompanying soundtrack scored 28 weeks across 2018/2019.
By the end of 2018, the cast recording had racked up chart sales of 1.6 million.
2017: Ed Sheeran - ÷
2017 was the year of Ed Sheeran. While ÷ was his second album to top a Year End list, it was by far his most successful.
The album spent 19 weeks at Number 1 in 2017, spawned more Top 10 hits than any other studio album in history, and became the fastest-selling record ever by a male soloist.
2015 & 2016: Adele - 25
Despite being released in November that year, Adele's 25 still managed to be the biggest selling album of 2015, shifting 2.496 million copies by the end of the year.
25 is also the biggest Number 1 album in UK chart history after shifting 800,307 copies in its opening week.
She repeated her success in 2016 too, shifting a further 753,000 albums.
2014: Ed Sheeran - X
Ed Sheeran's second album proved even more popular than his debut +, shifting 1,689,000 to be 2014's biggest seller.
2013: One Direction - Midnight Memories
The band's third album was 2013's biggest album, despite being released just five weeks before the end of the year, shifting 685,000 copies.
2012: Emeli Sande - Our Version of Events
2012 was the year of Emeli Sande. Her debut album sold 1.39 million copies, and set a new record at the time for most weeks in the Official Albums Chart Top 10 at 63 weeks.
2011: Adele - 21
2011 was the year Adele went global; and on home soil, her second album 21 was the year's best seller, shifting 3.8m copies and is one of the longest running Number 1 albums in the UK of all time.
2010: Take That - Progress
After shifting 519,000 copies in its opening week, Take That's Progress went on to be 2010's biggest seller with a total of 1.84 million.
2009: Susan Boyle - I Dreamed a Dream
After taking the world by storm on Britain's Got Talent, Susan Boyle's debut album I Dreamed A Dream sold a massive 1.63 million copies in just six weeks to become the biggest seller of 2009.
2008: Duffy - Rockferry
Including the Number 1 single Mercy, the UK went mad for Duffy in 2008, and her debut album Rockferry sold 1.69 million by the end of 2008.
2007: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Originally released in October 2006, it wasn't until the following year that Amy Winehouse's Back To Black really took off, selling 1.82 million copies in 2007 alone.
2006: Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
Including the global smash Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol's fourth album Eyes Open sold 1.5 million copies to be 2006's biggest selling album in the UK.
2005: James Blunt - Back to Bedlam
You're Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover... James Blunt was all over 2005. And despite his debut album Back To Bedlam getting off to a slow start on the Official Albums Chart entering at Number 56 in March, it eventually topped the tally in July and had sold 2.37 million by the end of the year.
2004: Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters
The US five-piece band were the sound of 2004, and their self-titled debut had sold 1.6 million by the end of the year.
2003: Dido - Life for Rent
Dido's second album proved just as successful as her 2001 debut No Angel. It sold 400,000 copies in its opening week, and finished on 2.7 million by the end of 2003.
2002: Robbie Williams - Escapology
Robbie's fifth solo album arrived off the back of a record-breaking £80 million recording contract with EMI, and its sales figures didn't disappoint. Released in November, the album had sold 1.41 million by the end of 2002.
2001: Dido - No Angel
Dido's debut album wasn't an instant smash; first hitting the Official Chart at Number 50 in 2000. Things took off in a big way the following year though, shifting 1.9 million in 2001 alone to be the year's biggest seller.
2000: Beatles - 1
Issued on the anniversary of the band's breakup, 1 features virtually every chart-topping single by The Beatles, and was their first compilation album available on CD. Unsurprisingly, it was hugely popular that year, selling 1.85 million.
1999: Shania Twain - Come on Over
Shania Twain's third studio album spent almost an entire year in the lower regions of the Official Albums Chart in 1998, but the UK finally took to her in a big way in 1999, thanks to her singles That Don't Impress Me Much and Man! I Feel Like A Woman. In 1999 alone, Come On Over had sold 2.2 million to be the year's biggest album.
1998: The Corrs - Talk on Corners
1998 belonged to The Corrs in the UK. Featuring a string of hits including What Can I Do? and So Young, Talk On Corners was the biggest album of the year with sales of 1.61 million.
1997: Oasis - Be Here Now
After the global success of Oasis' first two albums, anticipation for their third effort was high, selling 696,000 in its first three days on sale. It went on to be 1997's biggest seller overall as well, shifting 1.47 million by the end of that year.
1996: Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
Alanis' signature album got off to a slow start initially, eventually hitting Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart eight months after its release and topping the year's best seller list with sales of 1.61 million.
1995: Robson Green & Jerome Flynn - Robson and Jerome
The duo's debut album sold 2.04 million copies in 1995, and for 20 years held the record of passing sales of two million in the shortest time, in 42 days. The record is now held by Adele, who managed it in 29 days with her 25 album.
1994: Bon Jovi - Cross Road - The Best Of
The US rock band's first greatest hits album was 1994's biggest selling album, outselling Beautiful South's Carry On Up The Charts and Mariah Carey's Music Box that year.
1993: Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell II: Back To Hell
Released 16 years after his seminal Bat Out Of Hell album, Meat Loaf's long-awaited sequel (which included I'd Do Anything For Love) proved just a popular as the original, and was 1993's biggest selling album.
Check out Meat Loaf's full Official Chart history here
1991 & 1992: Simply Red - Stars
Released in September 1991, the success of Simply Red's fourth album Stars extended over two years.
1990: Phil Collins - But Seriously
Featuring the hits Another Day In Paradise and I Wish It Would Rain Down, Phil Collins' fourth album was 1990's biggest selling album, beating Madonna's Immaculate Collection.
1989: Jason Donovan - Ten Good Reasons
Featuring three Number 1 singles Too Many Broken Hearts, Sealed With A Kiss and Kylie duet Especially For You, Jason Donovan's debut album found its way to the top of the 1989 best sellers list in the UK.
1988: Kylie Minogue - Kylie
Kylie went from the star of Neighbours to the top of the charts with her debut album in 1988, which included the hit singles The Loco-Motion and I Should Be So Lucky.
1987: Michael Jackson - Bad
Released five years after Thriller, anticipation was high for Michael Jackson's third album Bad. Topping the Official Album Chart in September, Bad went on to be the year's biggest seller over the likes of U2's The Joshua Tree and Whitney Houston's Whitney.
Look back at Micheal Jackson's full Official UK Chart history
1986: Madonna - True Blue
Featuring some of her most iconic hits including Papa Don't Preach, La Isla Bonita and Open Your Heart, True Blue entered the Official Albums Chart at Number 1 - the first US artist ever to do so - and spent six weeks at the top, shifting just shy of two million by the end of the year.
1985: Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
The British rock band's Grammy Award-winning fifth album was 1985's biggest selling record, and remains the eighth biggest in the UK of all-time.
1984: Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down
The singer's second album features his iconic hits All Night Long and Hello.
1983: Michael Jackson - Thriller
It's one of the biggest selling albums worldwide of all time, so it's no surprise that Thriller was the UK's biggest album of 1983 (despite being released in November 1982).
1982: Barbra Streisand - Love Songs
Originally called Memories for its US release, Love Songs was the biggest seller of 1982 and marked the first time a solo female had topped the year-end list.
1981: Adam & The Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
The British new wave band topped the Official Albums Chart for 12 weeks with their second album, which spawned the Top 10 singles Dog Eat Dog and Antmusic.
1980: Abba - Super Trouper
Abba's seventh studio album was 1980's biggest seller, including the hit singles The Winner Takes It All, Lay All Your Love On Me and, of course, the title track.
1979: Blondie - Parallel Lines
1979 was a massive year for Blondie. Their third album Parallel Lines became their international breakthrough and saw them reach new heights on home soil.
1978: Saturday Night Fever - Original Soundtrack
1978 saw the release of two massive movie musicals, Grease (who have the second biggest album of 1978) and Saturday Night Fever, which featured a string of Bee Gees classics and logged a staggering 18 weeks at Number 1.
Check out Saturday Night Fever's week-by-week run on the Official Chart
1977: ABBA - Arrival
The first of two entries from the Swedish quartet, Abba's Arrival features their iconic hits Dancing Queen, Money Money Money, and Knowing Me, Knowing You.
1976: Abba - Greatest Hits
Abba's first compilation album is 1976's biggest selling album. The UK/US version of the LP features the hit single Fernando.
1975: The Stylistics - The Best Of
The soul group's best of topped the Official Albums Chart on three separate occasions in 1975.
1974: Carpenters - The Singles 1969-1973
The first compilation from siblings Richard and Karen topped the UK charts for 17 non-consecutive weeks in 1974 and has logged a combined 137 weeks on chart.
The Carpenters' complete UK singles and albums chart history
1973: Elton John - Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player
Logging six weeks at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, Elton's sixth album beat David Bowie's Aladdin Sane to become 1973's biggest seller.
1972: Various Artists - 20 Dynamic Hits
Back in the day when compilations were eligible for the Official Albums Chart, this forgotten gem was the biggest seller of the year. Artists such as Cilla Black, Deep Purple and Santana.
1970 & 1971: Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water is a different type of beast altogether. The collection was Number 1 for a combined 33 weeks, having 8 runs at the helm in total.
1969: The Beatles - Abbey Road
The band's 11th album, Abbey Road is the last album in which all four Beatles participated.
1967: The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles' eighth studio album is also their biggest selling ever, featuring very prominently in the list of best selling albums of all time.
1965, 1966 & 1968: The Sound of Music Cast - Original Soundtrack
The hills were alive with the sound of music for what must have felt like an eternity back in the late 60s. SEVENTY WEEKS at Number 1 meant that this film wasn't going to be forgotten in a hurry.
1964: The Beatles - Beatles for Sale
The second of three Year to Date albums chart toppers for The Beatles, Beatles for Sale was Number 1 for 11 weeks.
1963: Beatles - With The Beatles
The Beatles' second Number 1 album stuck to the top spot for 21 weeks and spent 50 weeks on chart.
1962: West Side Story Cast - Original Soundtrack
Another musical, another few years of a mega selling soundtrack. West Side Story shifted more copies than anything else back in 1962.
1961: Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues
The King finished 1961 as the UK's biggest seller following three reigns at Number 1 spanning 22 weeks. Wowzers.
1959 & 1960: South Pacific - Original Soundtrack
We've already heard from The Sound of Music and West Side Story, and now let's look at South Pacific. More copies sold than any other album in 1959 and 1960, the soundtrack was the 3rd of 6 that were YTD biggest sellers.
1958: My Fair Lady Broadway Cast - Original Soundtrack
It was clearly a trend in the 50s to go out and buy the soundtrack for your favourite musical to listen to on your record player at home. Soundtracks listed under Various Artists no longer count towards the Official Albums Chart, but that wasn't a problem for My Fair Lady in 1958.
1957: The King and I - Original Soundtrack
Another year, another musical. The King and I soundtrack was an astonishing 48 week chart topper, finishing out 1957 as the biggest seller.
1956: Carousel Cast - Original Soundtrack
A six week chart topper in 1956, Carousel's Original Soundtrack was the biggest seller of 1956, the inaugural year of the Official Albums Chart.