Top Selling UK Singles Acts Of All-Time

[Brian Quinn]

The Official Charts Company today released the Top Selling Singles Acts of all time in the UK as follows:
The Top 12 were:

01 THE BEATLES 21.9m
02 ELVIS PRESLEY 21.6m
03 CLIFF RICHARD 21.5m
04 MADONNA 17.6m
05 MICHAEL JACKSON 15.3m
06 ELTON JOHN 14.8m
07 QUEEN 12.6m
08 ABBA 11.2m
09 DAVID BOWIE 10.6m
10 RIHANNA 10.4m
11 PAUL McCARTNEY 10.2m
12 KYLIE MINOGUE 10.1m

Regarding the above - The Official Charts Company have not given a source for their figures. I doubt that they can or will as most record companies keep such information confidential. I know Sony does. Point of sale scans and downloads are only part of the equation. A lot of Elvis' sales records have been lost in the mists of time e.g. his HMV sales for openers. I have e-mailed them requesting an official source.

Brian

[Snake Eyes]

Wow the top three are very close, I genuinely had no idea how popular Cliff Richards music is/was.

[KPM]

I have my doubts about this list also and Brian is correct so many sales for Elvis from 56 on up were lost when record companies were not that interested in keeping accurate totals and recordkeeping was very very lax (or 2 sets of books were used)
Accurate totals meant accurate royalty checks.

[Snake Eyes]

I have my doubts about this list also and Brian is correct so many sales for Elvis from 56 on up were lost when record companies were not that interested in keeping accurate totals and recordkeeping was very very lax (or 2 sets of books were used)
Accurate totals meant accurate royalty checks.

Is it only sales figures for Elvis that have been "lost" or did this affect more artists during that period? Also, Cliff Richard 21.5m sales, really??

[King Of The Whole World]

Well, this list was created for the Queen's celebrations and I would bet they wanted the Beatles to be at the top of the list since they are from England. Maybe that’s why Cliff Richard is in the top 3.

I do not even know who Cliff Richard is? Sorry.

I went on wikipedia to look up Cliff Richard, to see what he was about. I guess he was never a big hit in America, so maybe that's why I never really heard of him.

Over a 53-year career, Richard has become a fixture of the British entertainment world, amassing many gold and platinum discs and awards, including three Brit awards and two Ivor Novello awards. He has had more than 130 singles, albums and EPs make the UK Top 20, more than any other artist[4] and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s). He has achieved 14 UK No. 1 singles (or 18, depending on the counting methodology) and is the only singer to have had a No. 1 single in the UK in six consecutive decades: the 1950s through to the 2000s (discounting digital downloads and counting only CDs, he had a UK No. 1 single in the 2000s). Richard is the biggest selling singles artist of all time in the UK, with total sales of over 21 million[5] and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide.[6][7]

Richard has never achieved the same impact in the United States despite eight US Top 40 singles, including the million-selling "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore", the latter becoming the first to reach the Hot 100's top 40 in the 1980s by a singer who had been in the top 40 in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. In Canada, Richard achieved moderate success in the 1980s with several albums reaching platinum status. He has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Europe and Asia, and he retains a following in other countries.

[Snake Eyes]

Well, this list was created for the Queen's celebrations and I would bet they wanted the Beatles to be at the top of the list since they are from England. Maybe that’s why Cliff Richard is in the top 3.

I do not even know who Cliff Richard is? Sorry.

This really made me laugh

I don't quite know how to describe ol' Cliff, so........................
http://www.cliffrichard.org/

let me know what you think, he's not really my cup of tea

[poor boy]

It is irrelevant what you or i think of Cliff . Anyone who has survived in a music business that is continually changing and where the average life span for an act that is considered successful is a couple of years can continue to be a successful artist from 1958 till today deserves respect . A awful lot of acts that were considered hip and the critics raved about have come and gone but Cliff is still here . Gve the man the respect he deserves .

[King Of The Whole World]

It is irrelevant what you or i think of Cliff . Anyone who has survived in a music business that is continually changing and where the average life span for an act that is considered successful is a couple of years can continue to be a successful artist from 1958 till today deserves respect . A awful lot of acts that were considered hip and the critics raved about have come and gone but Cliff is still here . Gve the man the respect he deserves .

It is difficult for an artist to sell records for more than 10 years, if they are still relevant. I'm not putting Cliff Richard down, I just didn't know who he was, and I have never heard one of his songs. That is why Elvis should receive more credit than he does, he still can sell hundreds of thousands of records in a year and he has been dead for 35 years.

[T_J]

Didn't Cliff top a similar list a few years ago, beating both the Beatles and Elvis? I have no doubt that he would be right up there, given that he was releasing new material for so many more years than his closest competition, but there's no way that the true stats are known with that precision. I don't think anyone really knows the accurate order of the top three.

[Brian Quinn]

Well, this list was created for the Queen's celebrations and I would bet they wanted the Beatles to be at the top of the list since they are from England. Maybe that’s why Cliff Richard is in the top 3.

I do not even know who Cliff Richard is? Sorry.

I went on wikipedia to look up Cliff Richard, to see what he was about. I guess he was never a big hit in America, so maybe that's why I never really heard of him.

Over a 53-year career, Richard has become a fixture of the British entertainment world, amassing many gold and platinum discs and awards, including three Brit awards and two Ivor Novello awards. He has had more than 130 singles, albums and EPs make the UK Top 20, more than any other artist[4] and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s). He has achieved 14 UK No. 1 singles (or 18, depending on the counting methodology) and is the only singer to have had a No. 1 single in the UK in six consecutive decades: the 1950s through to the 2000s (discounting digital downloads and counting only CDs, he had a UK No. 1 single in the 2000s). Richard is the biggest selling singles artist of all time in the UK, with total sales of over 21 million[5] and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide.[6][7]

Richard has never achieved the same impact in the United States despite eight US Top 40 singles, including the million-selling "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore", the latter becoming the first to reach the Hot 100's top 40 in the 1980s by a singer who had been in the top 40 in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. In Canada, Richard achieved moderate success in the 1980s with several albums reaching platinum status. He has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Europe and Asia, and he retains a following in other countries.

You are quite correct. The List was compiled to coincide with the Queen's Jubilee and therefore they wanted a British act to be No.1 They did not pick Cliff Richard as he is not that well known abroad and there is more revenue to be made from The Beatles. Needless to say I am still awaiting a reply from the Official Charts Company as to their source!! The Beatles had 31 UK chart singles prior to their recent digital re-issue. Elvis had at least 155. Whilst The Beatles 60's singles sold in large amounts it would appear that not all of Elvis' sales have been taken into account.

Brian

[Snake Eyes]

It is irrelevant what you or i think of Cliff . Anyone who has survived in a music business that is continually changing and where the average life span for an act that is considered successful is a couple of years can continue to be a successful artist from 1958 till today deserves respect . A awful lot of acts that were considered hip and the critics raved about have come and gone but Cliff is still here . Gve the man the respect he deserves .

Sir! Yes Sir!

Credit where credit is due, Cliff has some pretty amazing sales figures but the fact remains, he is not my cup of tea. As for the Beatles being #1, don't get me started....................

[KPM]

Is it only sales figures for Elvis that have been "lost" or did this affect more artists during that period? Also, Cliff Richard 21.5m sales, really??

No all artists were pretty much kept at bay concerning true sales figures and when rock hit-it took on a whole new level of creative accounting.
Until the computer age-accounting was easily manipulated and controlled.
Of course now its easy for labels to claim that for artists like Elvis it was hard to keep track because he sold so big.

[KPM]

Well, this list was created for the Queen's celebrations and I would bet they wanted the Beatles to be at the top of the list since they are from England. Maybe that’s why Cliff Richard is in the top 3.

I do not even know who Cliff Richard is? Sorry.

I went on wikipedia to look up Cliff Richard, to see what he was about. I guess he was never a big hit in America, so maybe that's why I never really heard of him.

Over a 53-year career, Richard has become a fixture of the British entertainment world, amassing many gold and platinum discs and awards, including three Brit awards and two Ivor Novello awards. He has had more than 130 singles, albums and EPs make the UK Top 20, more than any other artist[4] and holds the record (with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its first six decades (1950s–2000s). He has achieved 14 UK No. 1 singles (or 18, depending on the counting methodology) and is the only singer to have had a No. 1 single in the UK in six consecutive decades: the 1950s through to the 2000s (discounting digital downloads and counting only CDs, he had a UK No. 1 single in the 2000s). Richard is the biggest selling singles artist of all time in the UK, with total sales of over 21 million[5] and has reportedly sold an estimated 250 million records worldwide.[6][7]

Richard has never achieved the same impact in the United States despite eight US Top 40 singles, including the million-selling "Devil Woman" and "We Don't Talk Anymore", the latter becoming the first to reach the Hot 100's top 40 in the 1980s by a singer who had been in the top 40 in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. In Canada, Richard achieved moderate success in the 1980s with several albums reaching platinum status. He has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Northern Europe and Asia, and he retains a following in other countries.

Globally IMO he is just not in the league of Elvis and the Beatles, but he was called Englands Elvis.
Elvis has done very very well in Cliffs back yard while not setting foot in the country (imagine the sales if he had toured England), but Cliff on the other hand did not really catch in the US.

[KPM]

I just looked thru several lists of claimed top 10 record sellers worldwide (albums and singles) and could not find Cliffs name on the list.
Here is one list from Wiki (grain of salt taken)
They claim that in order to be considered for claims-at least 15% of the claimed total must be certified in some form such as the RIAA
and Cliff is excluded because his claims are not at least 15% verified:
Beatles 1 billion
Elvis 1 billion
MJ 750 million
ABBA 370 million
Queen 300 million
Elton John 250 million
Bee Gees 220 million
Rolling Stones 200 million
Led Zeppelin 200 million
Madonna 200 million

[Snake Eyes]

Globally IMO he is just not in the league of Elvis and the Beatles, but he was called Englands Elvis.
Elvis has done very very well in Cliffs back yard while not setting foot in the country (imagine the sales if he had toured England), but Cliff on the other hand did not really catch in the US.

Englands Elvis maybe to some, definately not to me. Watch a video of Elvis, then watch Cliff, there is no comparision. I just can't work out why Cliff didn't catch a break in America

[King Of The Whole World]

I just looked thru several lists of claimed top 10 record sellers worldwide (albums and singles) and could not find Cliffs name on the list.
Here is one list from Wiki (grain of salt taken)
They claim that in order to be considered for claims-at least 15% of the claimed total must be certified in some form such as the RIAA
and Cliff is excluded because his claims are not at least 15% verified:
Beatles 1 billion
Elvis 1 billion
MJ 750 million
ABBA 370 million
Queen 300 million
Elton John 250 million
Bee Gees 220 million
Rolling Stones 200 million
Led Zeppelin 200 million
Madonna 200 million

What no Bieber fever!

[King Of The Whole World]

Englands Elvis maybe to some, definately not to me. Watch a video of Elvis, then watch Cliff, there is no comparision. I just can't work out why Cliff didn't catch a break in America

To each their own.

[King Of The Whole World]

You are quite correct. The List was compiled to coincide with the Queen's Jubilee and therefore they wanted a British act to be No.1 They did not pick Cliff Richard as he is not that well known abroad and there is more revenue to be made from The Beatles. Needless to say I am still awaiting a reply from the Official Charts Company as to their source!! The Beatles had 31 UK chart singles prior to their recent digital re-issue. Elvis had at least 155. Whilst The Beatles 60's singles sold in large amounts it would appear that not all of Elvis' sales have been taken into account.

Brian

I hope they respond to you, I would like to know what they say. I can take a guess though.

[Jimmy1966]

Looking at cliff richard in this list, mmm (Joker in the pack) comes to mind, just my opinion you understand.