The charts are ablaze with Oasis news! After years of reigning supreme, The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band has been toppled from its third spot on the UK's all-time best-selling albums chart by the Gallagher brothers' mighty (What's The Story) Morning Glory?. This seismic shift marks a new era for the iconic 1995 album, which has now amassed an astonishing 6.2 million UK chart units – combining both sales and streams.
The album's influence is as vast as it is profound, with its enduring hits like 'Wonderwall' and 'Don't Look Back in Anger' still packing stadiums to the rafters. The Official Charts Company's updated list, unveiled on Wednesday to coincide with the chart's 70th anniversary, confirms that Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits collection remains the UK's biggest seller overall, while Abba's 1992 compilation Abba Gold takes second place.
Adele's 2011 album, 21, has climbed to fourth spot, but it's Oasis who are the real winners here – their album's popularity was given a major boost by last year's worldwide reunion tour, which saw 'Some Might Say' and 'Champagne Supernova' electrify crowds once more. It's a testament to the timeless appeal of this British record that it has transcended generations.
The impact of (What's The Story) Morning Glory? goes far beyond its chart performance. Initially met with mixed reviews in 1995, it later won Best British Album at the 1996 Brit Awards and has since become an integral part of British music heritage. Its influence can be seen in everything from England fans' anthems during the World Cup to the spontaneous outpouring of emotion that accompanied its rendition at a vigil for victims of the Manchester Arena attack.
Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, interim co-managing directors of the Official Charts Company, have paid tribute to Oasis's enduring legacy. 'Three decades on,' they said in a joint statement, 'its scale and influence remain extraordinary – a defining British record that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack lives.'
The music landscape has changed significantly since 1995, but one thing remains constant: the power of great music to bring people together. The Official Charts Company's list of most-streamed albums in the 2020s is dominated by Olivia Rodrigo's Sour, a critically acclaimed album that has spent an incredible 268 weeks on the chart since its release.