New UK chart shows Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’s’ is Britain’s favourite album

The Beatles’ 1967 game changer Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band remains the favourite album of all time for the British public.

This is according to a new Top 40 chart which counted off on Saturday (October 13) to mark the inaugural National Album Day.

The chart – which ranks albums by combining physical sales, downloads and streams in the UK – reflects album sales of 135 million across more than 60 years.

Sgt Pepper’s has sold a total of 5.34 million copies in the UK, a combination of physical purchases, downloads and streams.

It also cements the position of Sir Paul McCartney as the most successful albums artist in UK chart history.

McCartney racked up 22 #1 albums across his illustrious career (15 with The Beatles, 2 with Wings, 4 solo and 1 with Linda McCartney).

The Top 20 list is:

(1) The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), British sales: 5.34 million

(2) Adele: 21 (2011) 5.11 million

(3) Oasis: What’s The Story Morning Glory (1995) 4.94 million

(4) Pink Floyd: The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) 4.47 million

(5) Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982) 4.47 million

(6) Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms (1985) 4.34 million

(7) Michael Jackson: Bad (1987) 4.14 million

(8) Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977) 4.09 million

(9) Amy Winehouse: Back To Black (2006) 3.93 million

(10) Adele: 25 (2015) 3.50 million

(11) Simply Red: Stars (1991) 3.45 million

(12) Shania Twain: Come On Over (1997) 3.43 million

(13) Ed Sheeran: X (2014) 3.38 million

(14) Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell (1977) 3.37 million

(15) James Blunt: Back To Bedlam (2004) 3.36 million

(16) Verve: Urban Hymns (1997) 3,34 million

(17) Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Waters (1970) 3.26 million

(18) Leona Lewis: Spirit (2007) 3.17 million

(19) Michael Buble: Crazy Love (2009) 3.13 million

(20) Ed Sheeran: Divide (2017) 3.10 million

The total 40 albums on the new chart racked up 343 weeks at #1 in the Official Albums Chart.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters had the longest spell, a total of 33 weeks.

Sgt. Pepper’s follows close behind with 28 weeks, ahead of Adele’s 21 on 23 weeks.

Two in the Top 20 never reached #1 spot: Dark Side Of The Moon peaked at #2, and Bat Out Of Hell at #9.

Half of the Top 40 were British records. 18 were credited to bands, 12 to male artists and 10 to female artists.