Thirty years after its publication, “(What's The Story) Morning Glory?” of Oasis adds another recognition to its history. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Official Albums Chart, the Official Charts Company has certified the Manchester band's second album as the best-selling studio album of all time in the United Kingdom.
The ranking, drawn up on the basis of physical, digital sales and streaming data, sees “(What's The Story) Morning Glory?” in third place overall among the best-selling albums in British history. Only two collections appear in front of Oasis' masterpiece: “Greatest Hits” by Queen and “Gold: Greatest Hits” by ABBA. It is therefore the first studio album in the general ranking, a result that confirms the extraordinary impact of the album released in 1995. The band's debut, “Definitely Maybe” (1994), also appears in the ranking, occupying 39th place.
The announcement came on July 22nd, the day on which the Official Albums Chart celebrates its seventy years of history. Becca Monahan and Chris Austin, Acting Co-Managing Directors of the Official Charts Company, commented: “Congratulations to Oasis, as the incomparable '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' is officially crowned as the greatest studio album of all time in the UK. Thirty years on, its reach and influence remains extraordinary: a seminal record for British music that continues to unite generations, fill stadiums and soundtrack people's lives.”
The two executives also highlighted how the 70th anniversary of the Official Albums Chart represents “a unique opportunity to honor the album's enduring place at the heart of musical culture.” They added: “The way fans discover and appreciate music may continually change, but the album remains the ultimate expression of an artist's creativity, ambition and vision. For seven decades, the chart has captured the records that have captured the public's imagination, making the achievements of each artist featured on this list a worthy centerpiece of this milestone anniversary.”
Here is the absolute Top 10 of the Official Albums Chart:
- “Greatest Hits” – Queen (1981)
- “Gold: Greatest Hits” – ABBA (1992)
- “(What's The Story) Morning Glory?” – Oasis (1995)
- “21” – Adele (2011)
- “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” – The Beatles (1967)
- “Rumours” – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
- “The Dark Side Of The Moon” – Pink Floyd (1973)
- “Thriller” – Michael Jackson (1982)
- “Legend” – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
- “Brothers In Arms” – Dire Straits (1985)
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
