May 1 2024 – In a brand-new Top 40 from the Official Charts Company, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours takes the top spot in a countdown of the best-selling vinyl albums of the 21st Century that were originally released between 1970 and 1999. Commissioned by Greatest Hits Radio as part of its Vinyl Revival Day, songs from the chart will play out on the station between 1 and 4pm this Thursday.

Either side of the chart countdown, Ken Bruce (10am – 1pm) and Simon Mayo (4pm – 7pm) will be going back to where it all started for them as broadcasters, and playing a selection of their track listings on the day from original vinyl. Listeners will also be able to send in requests and their disc of choice will be played on air, on a record player!

This music lovers bonanza is all taking place to celebrate Cash for Kids Day which this year sees the children’s charity raising funds to combat holiday hunger, and the Official Charts Company have generously donated this chart to the station to show their support for this hugely important cause.

Ken Bruce said: ‘I’m a huge admirer of Fleetwood Mac and am not remotely surprised to see Rumours at the top of this chart – it’s one of their finest. And I’ve had a rummage through all those crates of vinyl in the attic chez Bruce and I’m looking forward to turning back the clock a few years for Greatest Hits Radio’s Vinyl Revival and dropping that needle on some of my favourite tracks. Do tune in and if you can please donate to Cash for Kids – it’s for a very special cause.’

Having fallen out of favour in the CD era of the 1990s, vinyl sales have been on the rise for several years now. In fact, this surge in popularity resulted in the Office of National Statistics including them in their 2024 basket of goods and services reflecting changing consumer tastes – an indication of just what a mainstream purchase vinyl records are now becoming.

Originally released in 1977, Rumours tops this chart having sold just under 280,000 copies on vinyl this millennium. The best-selling album of all time – Queen’s Greatest Hits – only makes it to number five on this chart and is trumped by albums fromPink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon), Nirvana (Nevermind) and Oasis (What’s The Story Morning Glory). Manchester in general is well represented in the Top Ten with the Stone Roses at number 7 and another Oasis album, Definitely Maybe, also in that top ten.

And – spoiler alert! – a preview of the Top Ten…

This century’s best-selling vinyl albums from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s:

01 - RUMOURS by FLEETWOOD MAC
02 - THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON by PINK FLOYD
03 - NEVERMIND by NIRVANA
04 - WHAT'S THE STORY MORNING GLORY by OASIS
05 - GREATEST HITS by QUEEN
06 - LEGEND by BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS
07 - THE STONE ROSES by STONE ROSES
08 - DEFINITELY MAYBE by OASIS
09 - THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST by DAVID BOWIE
10 - UNPLUGGED IN NEW YORK by NIRVANA

©Official Charts Company 2024

Data: Chart compiled by the Official Charts Company, counting UK vinyl sales in the 21st century of records released between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1999.