Top artists and albums of all time on UK and US album charts

In 1948, for Columbia, classical music was the main destination of new longplaying records. However, when first album charts started in 1955 in America and 1 year later in UK, it was clear that pop music will be dominant.

The first Number 1 albums in US and UK are, respectively:

28.05.1955 – US album chart – „Crazy Otto” [Decca, honky-tonk piano];

28.07.1956 – UK album chart – Frank Sinatra – „Songs For Swingin’ Lovers” [Capitol].

OK, at the end of June 2025 year we can look at UK and US album charts from quite a long perspective. It is good to know the lists of longest rivers and highest mountains… And it could be also interesting to create all time lists of top artists and albums. I believe it is different with albums than with singles. I mean sales figures are the most important for singles. So, how many millions of records were sold.

However, in order to measure somehow the long term importance of albums and artists one has much better tool – WEEKS ON CHART. So, how long the respective albums find their buyers.

Taking into consideration the whole period from the 50s till 31.12.2025 and adding weeks on charts, totally, you will find below the 10 top artists and albums ever in UK and US, respectively:

UK / Artists / Weeks

  1. Queen                2.545
  2. Oasis                  2.360
  3. Fleetwood Mac  2.320
  4. The Beatles         2.231
  5. Taylor Swift         2.171
  6. Michael Jackson 2.096
  7. David Bowie       1.955
  8. Elvis Presley        1.936
  9. Abba                   1.902
  10. Ed Sheeran          1.771

and UK / Albums / Weeks

  1. Abba’s Gold – Greatest Hits             1.239
  2. Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Legend  1.218
  3. Queen’s Greatest Hits                       1.186
  4. Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours               1.129
  5. Oasis’ [What’s The Story] Morning Glory? 729
  6. Eminem’s Curtain call: The Hits                  702
  7. Oasis’ Time Flies 1994-2007                        642
  8. Arctic Monkeys’ AM                                    641
  9. Oasis’ Definitely Maybe                              625
  10. Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black                611

US / Artists / Weeks

  1. Taylor Swift           3.642
  2. Drake                     3.600
  3. The Beatles            3.310
  4. Elvis Presley           2.644
  5. Frank Sinatra         2.558
  6. Eminem                 2.462
  7. Michael Jackson    2.284
  8. Johnny Mathis       2.260
  9. Elton John              2.164
  10. The Rolling Stones 2.066

and US / Albums / Weeks

  1. Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon 994
  2. Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Legend           918
  3. Journey’s Greatest Hits                              888
  4. Metallica /1991/                                          812
  5. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Chronicle 792
  6. Eminem’s Curtain Call: The Hits                 768
  7. Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans        760
  8. Nirvana’s Nevermind                                  755
  9. Guns N’ Roses’ Greatest Hits                      755
  10. Michael Jackson’s Thriller                           710

British fans have their Official Charts and American ones – Billboard 200. And what about European non-British fans? We are closer to UK chart, however, Billboard 200 cannot be neglected, absolutely. And that’s my „invention” – total weeks on British chart are corrected with a half of weeks on Billboard 200. Why a half of weeks ex Billboard 200? In order to reduce dominance of Billboard 200. I mean US chart includes 200 albums, whereas UK chart – 100 albums only.

Results? Well, thanks to American Queen-scepticism […] Queen is landing on my list at Number 4 „only”. And Number 1 is, yes, Taylor Swift… However, The Beatles are still No. 2. On the other hand, thanks to dominating British preferences, „Journey’s Greatest Hits” [nothing against…] are No. 41 „only” on my list… Again, an American Abba-scepticism makes their „Gold – Greatest Hits” No. 4 „only” on my list. These are just a few examples of advantages of those my „clever” lists…

So, top 10 artists and albums ever – from point of view of non-British European fan – are

Artists / Weeks

  1. Taylor Swift 3.992
  2. The Beatles 3.886
  3. Elvis Presley 3.258
  4. Queen          3.251
  5. Michael Jackson 3.238
  6. Fleetwood Mac  3.198
  7. Eminem              2.861
  8. Elton John          2.680
  9. Drake                 2.636
  10. Oasis                  2.439

and Albums / Weeks

  1. Bob Marley’s Legend                                1.677
  2. Queen’s Greatest Hits                               1.525 
  3. Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours                       1.461
  4. Abba’s Gold – Greatest Hits                      1.443
  5. Eminem’ Curtain Call: The Hits                 1.086
  6. Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon 1.079
  7. Arctic Monkeys’ AM                                     834
  8. Nirvana’s Nevermind                                   822
  9. Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans          797
  10. Guns N’Roses’ Greatest Hits                        790

For more – see below! You will find there also exact number of weeks on UK and US chart, respectively, for each artist and album. OK, the US figures should be abviously multiplied by 2.

By the way, I think my lists of all time should be interesting for all worldwide fans located closer to UK than US. And, obviously, having no their own representative charts in their countries.