The Best Selling CDs Ever Revealed

ABBA’s greatest hits album ‘Gold’ is the best selling CD of all time in the UK.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the commercial release of the humble compact disc this month, the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) has rounded up the best-selling albums in the history of the format.

Released in 1992, ABBA’s ‘Gold’ has sold an impressive 4million CDs and tops the list ahead of Adele’s ‘21’ (3.5million).

Third placed is Oasis’s ‘What’s The Story (Morning Glory)’ which has racked up 3.4million CD sales over the past 17 years while Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back To Black’ has shifted 3.225million.

Also featured on the list are James Blunt’s ‘Back To Bedlam (3.209million), Dido’s ‘No Angel’ (3.031million) and Shania Twain’s ‘Come On Over’ (3.02million).

Completing the top ten are Leona Lewis’s ‘Spirit’ (2.95million), The Verve’s ‘Urban Hymns’ (2.9million) and David Grey’s ‘White Ladder’ (2.8million).

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the BPI, commented: "The CD represented a great leap forward in sound technology, becoming one of the most successful consumer products in history as music fans embraced its sound quality, durability, instant track access and ease of use.

"Even 30 years after its launch, it still remains the leading album format in the British music market."

According to Official Charts Company figures, last year 86million CD albums were sold in the UK.