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Top 100 Best Selling Albums Of The Decade...So Far!

Gezza
in UK Charts

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I can't believe we live in a world where Plan B outsells Katy Perry, Jessie J and Olly Murs.
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10. CRAZY LOVE- MICHAEL BUBLE (2-4-5-6-7-10-10) 1,915,300 (T/S 3,112,700)

 

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Ah the Buble, an album selling machine which all really shifted in gear with this 2009 album which sold 1.1 million in 11 weeks, funny to think how it was initially held off the top by albums by Alexandra Burke and Cheryl Cole. It’s ticking along nicely at roughly 20k a year meaning it may make 2 million sales in this decade alone depending on Buble’s profile.

 

 

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09. LOUD- RIHANNA (4-3-3-5-5-9-9) 1,978,000

 

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Debuting at No 2 behind Take That it took “Loud” seven weeks to top the charts but once it got into its stride the album spent its first 24 weeks in the top 10. By the end of December 2010 Rihanna had three singles in the top 10, quite an achievement, whilst this was flying off the shelf, it should reach 2 million before the decade end. She did have the help of David Guetta, Drake, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, and Nicki Minaj to help on the album, pretty much a who’s who of pop in 2010.

 

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08. + - ED SHEERAN (20-7-7-6-8-8) 2,123,800

 

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Trailing in in 3rd place in the 2012 listings to the two Adele’s, Ed Sheeran’s debut album proper saw him catapulted into the “A List”ers of pop stars, no album on this list or indeed this decade has spent more weeks in the top 100 (249) than “+” and it’s also just one of five albums to spend a whole 52 wks in the top 10 (consecutive or otherwise)- the others are all to come!

 

Loud's sold almost 30,000 since the release of Anti, despite last entering the top 100 in June 2013. Forget "by the end of the decade", hitting 2 million could happen by this time next year!
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07. IN THE LONELY HOUR- SAM SMITH (17-7-7) 2,274,900

 

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Transforming Smith into an international superstar his debut album spent 71 of its first 72 weeks in the top 10 producing 7 top 10 singles by the end and 3 chart toppers (in its deluxe version). Along the way it garnered him BRITS and Grammy’s and put him in line to do the Bond theme!

 

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06. OUR VERSION OF EVENTS- EMELI SANDE (10-3-4-6-6) 2,323,700

 

http://factmag-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/emeli-sande-Our-Version-Of-Events-2.6.12.jpg

 

Time now for the best seller of 2012 and almost 2013 until it was overtaken in the dying days by One Direction. Can anyone forget the near saturation of Sande back in those days? We finally got the follow up last month so we’ll have to see if it can do anywhere near this but the fact that it remains in the record books as the first debut album to spend its first 66 weeks in the top 10 illustrates how popular she was.

 

Id be interested to know how many of the albums in the top 10 were reeeleased.
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05. PROGRESS- TAKE THAT (1-2-2-2-2-4-5) 2,382,800

 

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Considerable press attention focused on Robbie’s return to the Take That fold back in 2010 and sure enough “Progress” sold a mighty 518k in its first week (still the 3rd highest ever 7 day sale) and 1.8 million in its first 7 weeks. Sales cooled quickly however though a deluxe version issued in June 2011 saw the set return to the top spot, it marks the final appearance for both Robbie and Jason in the group- perhaps forever?

 

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04. CHRISTMAS- MICHAEL BUBLE (7-4-4-3-5-4) 2,577,000

 

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Well isn’t this just turning into the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” of the album charts? When it charts you just know that the big day is almost here, of all the albums on this list this was the 9th highest of 2016 proving that it’s when you chart that counts. It charted higher in 2016 than in any year since 2012 but with only 52 weeks charted it’s the shortest lived album in the top 10.

 

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03. x- ED SHEERAN (8-2-3) 2,898,400

 

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And so what happened to Emeli Sande in 2012/13 happened to Sheeran in 14/15, the clear winner in sales terms in the first year and on course to become the best seller again in the second year until beaten at the last minute. His second album “x” moved 8-2 in the 2015 listings but it falls back this year unable to cope with the Adele onslaught, that move despite selling almost a quarter of a million in 2016 with no new single to assist- not bad going, with both his albums placing in the top 10 of the decade can he add a third with his new album?

 

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02. 25- ADELE (3-2) 3,249,100

 

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Naturally the top 2 belong to Adele, let’s have a quick recap of the feats of the album include the largest opening weekly sale of 800,000 which was followed by 4 weeks with over 350k registering 5 of the 21 biggest weekly sales of all time and becoming the fastest album to reach first the million mark (10 days) then the 2 million mark (29 days) and finally the 3 million mark (220 days). The final landmark coincided with her star turn at Glastonbury which saw the album return to No 1 and yet it’s still 1.7 million away from making it to the top here!

 

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01. 21- ADELE (1-1-1-1-1) 4,999,100

 

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Still easily clear and looking untouchable, “21” is of course the best selling album of the decade so far and the fourth biggest album of all time selling its five millionth copy this month. It spent its first 72 weeks in the top 10 including 23 weeks at No 1 even stealing a cheeky week in the top 10 last year after her Glastonbury stint. It launched her as an international superstar and sold 3.8 million in its first year on the charts becoming the best selling album in the UK for 2011 and then the second biggest seller of 2012- could anything brake her top 2 stranglehold by 2020?

 

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Here's the full Top 100 updated

 

100. #3- The Script (83-94-97-100) 537,800

99. THE XX- XX (37-59-70-72-83-95-99) 560,200 (T/S 603,100)

98. III- Take That (93-98) 562,900

97. LES MISERABLES- Original Cast Recording (82-88-92-97) 570,000

96. A DECADE IN THE SUN- THE BEST OF- The Stereophonics (85-93-91-96) 583,200 (T/S 1,321,200)

 

95. NUMBER ONES- Michael Jackson (xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-100-95) 588,500 (T/S 2,417,500)

94. TIME- Rod Stewart (64-69-84-94) 598,000

93. GREATEST HITS- Westlife (50-51-65-73-90-93) 601,000

92. ONLY REVOLUTIONS- Biffy Clyro (26-39-49-59-71-87-92) 604,900 (T/S 728,700)

91. MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY- Rod Stewart (71-62-68-81-91) 605,300

 

90. RED- Taylor Swift (80-81-88-90) 608,400

89. HOME- Rudimental (78-83-89) 613,200

88. THE GIFT- Susan Boyle (13-32-40-55-65-79-88) 617,300

87. IF YOU WAIT- London Grammar (85-85-87) 617,300

86. DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL- Paloma Faith (42-64-73-63-67-80-86) 625,400 (T/S 755,500)

 

85. THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2- Eminem (91-74-82-85) 631,000

84. TURN IT UP- Pixie Lott (17-33-41-53-62-73-84) 634,700 (T/S 883,000)

83. FOUR- One Direction (92-76-83) 635,700

82. SEASONS OF MY SOUL- Rumer (36-36-43-54-61-71-82) 642,000

81. LEGEND- Bob Marley & The Wailers (NEW) 644,200 (T/S 4,200,200)

 

80. GOLD- GREATEST HITS- Abba (xx-xx-xx-98-96-89-80) 649,000 (T/S 5,504,100)

79. GHOST STORIES- Coldplay (77-77-79) 657,200

78. ONLY BY THE NIGHT- Kings Of Leon (31-44-50-60-66-78-78) 663,900 (T/S 2,924,000)

77. HEAVEN- Rebecca Ferguson (60-39-48-59-67-77) 671,400

76. GET WEIRD- Little Mix (NEW) 675,800

 

75. NO MORE IDOLS- Chase & Status (43-44-49-58-64-75) 686,600

74. OUTTA THIS WORLD- JLS (18-28-37-47-56-63-74) 688,700

73. 4- Beyonce (48-45-56-61-69-73) 690,900

72. CAUSTIC LOVE- Paolo Nutini (75-68-72) 694,200

71. EVERY KINGDOM- Ben Howard (97-61-64-65-71) 711,000

 

 

70. UNAPOLOGETIC- Rihanna (58-46-55-61-70) 716,900

69. GREATEST HITS- Foo Fighters (71-66-68-70-70-66-69) 719,700 (T/S 1,035,700)

68. FALL TO GRACE- Paloma Faith (62-58-63-62-68) 721,400

67. ULTIMATE COLLECTION- Whitney Houston (81-97-76-75-67) 722,100 (T/S 1,432,700)

66. TIME FLIES 1994-2009- Oasis (38-62-67-77-72-72-66) 722,700

 

 

65. IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS- GREATEST HITS 1990-2010- Robbie Williams (14-29-36-43-51-57-65) 727,800

64. SINCE I SAW YOU LAST- Gary Barlow (76-52-60-64) 728,200

63. SWINGS BOTH WAYS- Robbie Williams (52-50-58-63) 740,600

62. JAKE BUGG- Jake Bugg (57-53-59-62) 754,800

61. CHAOS AND THE CALM- James Bay (98-61) 756,900

 

 

60. BACK TO BLACK- Amy Winehouse (55-60-78-80-74-60) 757,500 (T/S 3,789,500)

59. LADY KILLER- Cee-Lo Green (23-28-37-45-54-59) 765,600

58. A PERFECT CONTRADICTION- Paloma Faith (82-56-58) 766,200

57. CEREMONIALS- Florence + The Machine (54-38-44-54-55-57) 768,600

56. MY WORLD- Justin Bieber (12-22-29-40-47-52-56) 784,100

 

55. TO BE LOVED- Michael Buble (50-48-51-55) 794,400

54. SCIENCE AND FAITH- The Script (19-27-30-39-44-50-54) 799,500

53. NEVER BEEN BETTER- Olly Murs (NEW) 816,800

52. NOEL GALLAGHER’S HIGH FLYING BIRDS- Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (27-32-38-46-48-52) 826,500

51. OLLY MURS- Olly Murs (20-24-27-32-40-46-51) 829,300

 

50. LIGHTS- Ellie Goulding (24-25-35-41-42-47-50) 830,300

49. DISC-OVERY- Tinie Tempah (29-21-26-33-39-45-49) 836,700

48. LIONESS: HIDDEN TREASURES- Amy Winehouse (31-25-31-37-43-48) 857,600

47. NOTHING BUT THE BEAT- David Guetta (90-46-36-41-44-47) 859,000

46. BAD BLOOD- Bastille (79-49-49-46) 863,500

 

45. THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE- P!nk (63-34-36-42-45) 873,400

44. ELEMENT OF FREEDOM- Alicia Keys (7-17-24-28-33-41-44) 881,200 (T/S 1,019,700)

43. MIDNIGHT MEMORIES- One Direction (45-34-38-43) 896,700

42. 18 MONTHS- Calvin Harris (89-42-38-40-42) 908,600

41. COME AROUND SUNDOWN- Kings Of Leon (11-15-21-25-30-35-41) 920,700

 

40. GREATEST HITS...SO FAR- P!nk (32-35-34-35-35-36-40) 930,800

39. I CRY WHEN I LAUGH- Jess Glynne (86-39) 947,800

38. RECOVERY- Eminem (9-16-22-26-32-34-38) 961,500

37. AM- Arctic Monkeys (73-43-39-37) 963,800

36. UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX- Bruno Mars (30-29-32-36) 996,200

 

35. BORN THIS WAY- Lady Gaga (18-18-22-25-28-35) 1,009,700

34. TAKE ME HOME- One Direction (42-24-28-30-34) 1,018,100

33. A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS- Coldplay (NEW) 1,019,600

32. SUNNY SIDE UP- Paolo Nutini (6-14-20-23-24-27-32) 1,033,000 (T/S 1,843,500)

31. TALK THAT TALK- Rihanna (26-17-20-23-26-31) 1,039,300

 

30. GREATEST HITS- Bon Jovi (16-30-31-29-31-31-30) 1,047,500

29. BORN TO DIE- Lana Del Rey (33-27-27-29-29) 1,064,700

28. 1989- Taylor Swift (33-28) 1,092,600

27. IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW- Olly Murs (34-19-18-21-24-27) 1,106,400

26. IF I CAN DREAM- Elvis Presley (37-26) 1,106,900

 

25. PURPOSE- Justin Bieber (70-25) 1,123,000

24. BABEL- Mumford & Sons (47-21-22-25-24) 1,131,100

23. UP ALL NIGHT- One Direction (41-23-19-20-23-23) 1,132,900

22. HALCYON- Ellie Goulding (51-26-22-22) 1,172,300

21. WANTED ON VOYAGE- George Ezra (57-21-21) 1,182,900

 

20. LUNGS- Florence & The Machine (8-11-16-17-19-20-20) 1,224,800 (T/S 1,740,600)

19. WHO YOU ARE- Jessie J (19-14-14-16-18-19) 1,279,900

18. TEENAGE DREAM- Katy Perry (15-12-15-16-18-19-18) 1,283,900

17. RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME- Olly Murs (48-15-15-17-17) 1,350,700

16. DEFAMATION OF STRICKLAND BANKS- Plan B (5-8-12-13-14-16-16) 1,373,600

 

15. MYLO XYLOTO- Coldplay (13-11-11-12-15-15) 1,512,900

14. SIGH NO MORE- Mumford & Sons (10-10-13-12-13-14-14) 1,533,300 (T/S 1,685,300)

13. THE FAME/ MONSTER- Lady Gaga (3-5-9-10-11-13-13) 1,551,000 (T/S 2,940,000)

12. DOO WOPS AND HOOLIGANS- Bruno Mars (9-8-9-9-12-12) 1,719,200

11. 19- ADELE (xx-6-6-8-10-11-11) 1,773,600 (T/S 2,350,300)

 

10. CRAZY LOVE- MICHAEL BUBLE (2-4-5-6-7-10-10) 1,915,300 (T/S 3,112,700)

09. LOUD- RIHANNA (4-3-3-5-5-9-9) 1,978,000

08. +- ED SHEERAN (20-7-7-6-8-8) 2,123,800

07. IN THE LONELY HOUR- SAM SMITH (17-7-7) 2,274,900

06. OUR VERSION OF EVENTS- EMELI SANDE (10-3-4-6-6) 2,323,700

05. PROGRESS- TAKE THAT (1-2-2-2-2-4-5) 2,382,800

04. CHRISTMAS- MICHAEL BUBLE (7-4-4-3-5-4) 2,577,000

03. x- ED SHEERAN (8-2-3) 2,898,400

02. 25- ADELE (3-2) 3,249,100

01. 21- ADELE (1-1-1-1-1) 4,999,100

 

Some minor alterations have been made as I've managed to sure up some previous estimates to actual sales.

 

The top 4 next year could very well consist of just Ed Sheeran and Adele albums, as ÷ will obviously sell amazingly.

Is this Adele's 6th year at the top?

 

All the same, congrats for compiling this list! It must be so time consuming for you!

The top 4 next year could very well consist of just Ed Sheeran and Adele albums, as ÷ will obviously sell amazingly.

I think it's unlikely that Ed will sell the 2.7m he needs this year to reach the top 4, but it seems certain that 50% of the top 12 will be Adele and Ed albums.

I can't imagine anything will be even near competing with Adele by the end of the decade, it would have to be something truly earth shattering

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