BBC Radio 2 have released their Top 30 best-selling albums by women with Adele’s 21 topping the list.
The list was announced as part of the radio network’s celebrations for National Album Day. This year the annual event features the theme of women in music. The list of albums has been compiled by The Official Charts Company and is constructed on UK sales and downloads. During National Album Day the station dedicated the day to women in music and featured a female-focused playlist. The theme was carried throughout the network’s programmes, including Sounds of the 60s and Craig Charles’ House Party. On Saturday 16th October 2021, the full list was announced by radio veteran Jo Whiley and British songstress Adele’s 21 was crowned the winner and confirmed as the biggest selling UK album of all time.
The singer’s second studio album topped the list with 5,007,000 sales. The rest of the top five consist of the biggest female artists in popular music. At number two is Back To Black by Amy Winehouse, the iconic singer’s 2006 album has accumulated 3,912,000 sales. Madonna’s early greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection charted at number three with 3,771,000 sales. Canadian singer-songwriter Shania Twain is at number four with her third studio album Come On Over with 3,411,000 sales. Closing the top five list is another Adele album, 25, released in 2015. The singer’s third studio album has accumulated 3,364,000 sales.
Jo Whiley has provided the following statement: the host discusses Adele and the power in which the singer holds. “Adele has enchanted us from the very beginning with her voice, her songs and her personality. When she writes, she writes from the heart and that’s why her music resonates with so many people. She tells it like it is, whether onstage to thousands of people at Glastonbury or through the songs on her albums, and that’s why she is so loved and a global superstar. She sings it like she means it – because she does. She also has a phenomenal voice and hasn’t changed from the very first Live Lounge I did with her at Radio 1 to when I spoke to her just before she headlined Glasto. Always honest, down to earth, a superstar and very very funny.”
Released in January 2011, 21, is now regarded as the ultimate heartbreak album. The singer’s second studio album was inspired and written about the artist’s break-up. Due to the album’s lyrical content, the release has become famously relatable and catapulted Adele into stardom. The album is the fourth best-selling album in the UK of all time, outsold by Queen’s Greatest Hits, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles and Gold by ABBA. The album’s sales record speaks for itself, it sold 18 million copies worldwide within its first year of release. The release has been titled as the longest-running number one album within the UK in 45 years and spent 23 weeks at the number one position.
The countdown was broadcasted on BBC Radio 2 and is now available to listen to on BBC Sounds. The full list of albums can be seen below:
Adele – 21
Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
Madonna – The Immaculate Collection
Shania Twain – Come On Over
Adele – 25
Leona Lewis – Spirit
Dido – No Angel
Spice Girls – Spice
Lady Gaga – The Fame
Dido – Life for Rent
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
Tracey Chapman – Tracey Chapman
Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
Adele – 19
Emeli Sandé – Our Version Of Events
Whitney Houston – Whitney
Duffy – Rockferry
Tina Turner – Simply The Best
Celine Dion – Falling Into You
Celine Dion – Let’s Talk About Love
Christina Aguilera – Stripped
Rihanna – Loud
Susan Boyle – I Dreamed A Dream
Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad
Katie Melua – Call Off The Search
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
Pink – Missundaztood
Avril Lavigne – Let Go
Whitney Houston – The Greatest Hits
Madonna – Ray Of Light
