So where does that Top 20 list come from?

EDIT: found it!

Edited July 15Jul 15 by ben08

On 13/07/2026 at 17:16, gasman449 said:

1980s

1. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

2. Bad - Michael Jackson (1987)

3. Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)

4. Back In Black - AC/DC (1980)

5. Appetite For Destruction - Guns N Roses (1987)

6. The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987)

7. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits (1985)

8. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (1984)

9. Tango In The Night - Fleetwood Mac (1987)

10. Super Trouper - ABBA (1980)

11. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths (1986)

12. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)

13. Reckless - Bryan Adams (1984)

14. Graceland - Paul Simon (1986)

15. Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi (1986)

16. Hysteria - Def Leppard (1987)

17. Straight Outta Compton - NWA (1989)

18. The Works - Queen (1984)

19. Songs From The Big Chair - Tears For Fears (1985)

20. Kick - INXS (1987)

Also revealed:

28. Once Upon A Time - Simple Minds (1985)

34. Like A Virgin - Madonna (1984)

38. Whitney - Whitney Houston (1987)

36 Faith George Michael

40 Make it Big Wham!

1 hour ago, ben08 said:

So where does that Top 20 list come from?

EDIT: found it!

Link?

Use https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yxrf

as previously given, and play the programme. Fast forward and you will get the top 20 albums.

The OCC will publish the list on Sunday.

On 13/07/2026 at 17:16, gasman449 said:

1980s

1. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

2. Bad - Michael Jackson (1987)

3. Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)

4. Back In Black - AC/DC (1980)

5. Appetite For Destruction - Guns N Roses (1987)

6. The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987)

7. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits (1985)

8. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen (1984)

9. Tango In The Night - Fleetwood Mac (1987)

10. Super Trouper - ABBA (1980)

11. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths (1986)

12. Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman (1988)

13. Reckless - Bryan Adams (1984)

14. Graceland - Paul Simon (1986)

15. Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi (1986)

16. Hysteria - Def Leppard (1987)

17. Straight Outta Compton - NWA (1989)

18. The Works - Queen (1984)

19. Songs From The Big Chair - Tears For Fears (1985)

20. Kick - INXS (1987)

Also revealed:

28. Once Upon A Time - Simple Minds (1985)

34. Like A Virgin - Madonna (1984)

38. Whitney - Whitney Houston (1987)

How is it possible that The Stone Roses are ahead of Michael Jackson?

6 minutes ago, ben08 said:

Use https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yxrf

as previously given, and play the programme. Fast forward and you will get the top 20 albums.

The OCC will publish the list on Sunday.

Thank you it’s not working in my country I need to register

16 minutes ago, Yog1963 said:

How is it possible that The Stone Roses are ahead of Michael Jackson?

You’re right - that is bizarre. I’m sure they haven’t been in the streaming charts, at least not significantly.

Edit: to be fair, I’ve just checked the streaming numbers on Spotify, and they are huge particularly for a band that were probably mostly popular in the UK.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by GreyAsh

9 minutes ago, GreyAsh said:

You’re right - that is bizarre. I’m sure they haven’t been in the streaming charts, at least not significantly.

Edit: to be fair, I’ve just checked the streaming numbers on Spotify, and they are huge particularly for a band that were probably mostly popular in the UK.

Only 821k streams in total on Kworb

Do you see other numbers?

15 hours ago, Yog1963 said:

Only 821k streams in total on Kworb

Do you see other numbers?

Kworb gave me this:

As the majority of these are probably in the UK, those numbers are quite high. Michael Jackson’s numbers would be global.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by GreyAsh

The Official most-streamed albums of the 1990s:

TITLE ARTIST PEAK

1 (WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY? OASIS 1

2 DEFINITELY MAYBE OASIS 1

3 NEVERMIND NIRVANA 5

4 2001 DR DRE 4

5 IN UTERO NIRVANA 1

6 THE LION KING ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK 4

7 OK COMPUTER RADIOHEAD 1

8 ALL EYEZ ON ME 2PAC 32

9 CALIFORNICATION RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 5

10 THE BENDS RADIOHEAD 4

11 METALLICA METALLICA 1

12 COME ON OVER SHANIA TWAIN 1

13 READY TO DIE NOTORIOUS BIG NC

14 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 17

15 STARS SIMPLY RED 1

16 JAGGED LITTLE PILL ALANIS MORISSETTE 1

17 BE HERE NOW OASIS 1

18 THE SLIM SHADY LP EMINEM 10

19 THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL 2

20 YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY FATBOY SLIM 1

21 WHITE LADDER DAVID GRAY 1

22 LIFE AFTER DEATH NOTORIOUS BIG 23

23 SPICE SPICE GIRLS 1

24 DOOKIE GREEN DAY 13

25 EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN'T WE? CRANBERRIES 1

26 ENEMA OF THE STATE BLINK-182 15

27 TEN PEARL JAM 18

28 THE GREAT ESCAPE BLUR 1

29 GRACE JEFF BUCKLEY 31

30 ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 CHAMBERS) WU-TANG CLAN 83

31 THE FAT OF THE LAND PRODIGY 1

32 DANGEROUS MICHAEL JACKSON 1

33 LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE – VOL 1 GEORGE MICHAEL 1

34 USE YOUR ILLUSION 2 GUNS N' ROSES 1

35 OLDER GEORGE MICHAEL 1

36 WESTLIFE WESTLIFE 2

37 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – OST ALAN MENKEN 19

38 PERFORMANCE AND COCKTAILS STEREOPHONICS 1

39 ILLMATIC NAS 57

40 AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE R.E.M. 1

On 06/07/2026 at 03:08, reissus123 said:

Pretty sure Oasis have now overtaken Adele

FFS I hope not! 🤢

On 13/07/2026 at 15:38, gasman449 said:

The other decades and the top 20 of all time are also on BBC Sounds!

What are they!? 🥰 I can't hear podcasts so I'd love to see a list!?

EDIT - I see you have posted them thanks! 😊

Edited July 16Jul 16 by Spiceboy

On 13/07/2026 at 16:35, gasman449 said:

Now the big one - the all time top 20! (sales and streams)

1. Greatest Hits - Queen (1981)

2. ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits - ABBA (1992)

3. (What’s The Story) Morning Glory - Oasis (1995)

4. 21 - Adele (2011)

5. Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles (1967)

6. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)

7. The Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd (1973)

8. Thriller - Michael Jackson (1982)

9. Legend - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)

10. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits (1985)

11. Back To Black - Amy Winehouse (2006)

12. Bad - Michael Jackson (1987)

13. Divide - Ed Sheeran (2017)

14. Greatest Hits II - Queen (1991)

15. 25 - Adele (2015)

16. X - Ed Sheeran (2014)

17. 1 - The Beatles (2000)

18. The Immaculate Collection - Madonna (1990)

19. Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf (1977)

20. The Fame - Lady Gaga (2008)

This one goes out on Radio 2 this afternoon from 5pm.

2 hours ago, lewistgreen said:

This one goes out on Radio 2 this afternoon from 5pm.

Listening now. Glad they're playing some non single tracks, Human Nature, my fave track from Thriller, Get Up Stand Up from Legend. The Chain from Rumours. A Day In The Life. The Great Gig In The Sky from DSOTM. Felt sure they'd play money...

Rumours and Bat Out Of Hall my favourites.

How many do you own? I have all 20 on CD.

Interesting little factoid. In 1973 Dark Side Of The Moon was kept from No.1 by a K-Tel compilation, 20 Flashback Hits Of The 60's. When compilations were allowed in the main charts, quite a few made NO.1.

No single from Rumours made the Top 20 with Dreams peaking at 22.

Edited Sunday at 17:305 days by CRAZY CHRIS

Songs played during the programme to showcase the albums:

Queen - We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions (Greatest Hits)

ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits)

Oasis - Champagne Supernova ((What's The Story) Morning Glory?)

Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (21)

The Beatles - A Day In The Life (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (Rumours)

Pink Floyd - The Great Gig In The Sky (The Dark Side Of The Moon)

Michael Jackson - Human Nature (Thriller)

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Get Up, Stand Up (Legend)

Dire Straits - So Far Away (Brothers In Arms)

Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good (Back To Black)

Michael Jackson feat. Stevie Wonder - Just Good Friends (Bad)

Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill (÷)

Queen - The Show Must Go On (Greatest Hits II)

Adele - Million Years Ago (25)

Ed Sheeran - Sing (x)

The Beatles - Hey Jude (1)

Madonna - Borderline (The Immaculate Collection)

Meat Loaf & Ellen Foley - Paradise By The Dashboard Light (Bat Out Of Hell)

Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - Just Dance (The Fame)

1 hour ago, CRAZY CHRIS said:

No single from Rumours made the Top 20 with Dreams peaking at 22.

Dreams made the top 20 in 2026.

Good choices of tracks (apart from ‘Bad’.)

Yeah 'Just Good Friends' is the worst song on Bad for me 😅 very odd choice when that record is basically a pseudo greatest hits

But lots of good picks, particularly appreciate 'You Know I'm No Good' as the Amy choice and 'The Show Must Go On' for Queen

Just now, Jade said:

Yeah 'Just Good Friends' is the worst song on Bad for me 😅 very odd choice when that record is basically a pseudo greatest hits

But lots of good picks, particularly appreciate 'You Know I'm No Good' as the Amy pick and 'The Show Must Go On' for Queen

Wasn't on the original vinyl, just cassette and CD.

4 minutes ago, Jade said:

Yeah 'Just Good Friends' is the worst song on Bad for me 😅 very odd choice when that record is basically a pseudo greatest hits

They have typically avoided the better known tracks, so ‘Liberian Girl’ would have been a good choice.