U2 now top list of groups with the most Platinum Albums in the UK

[edge3]

Now that HTDAAB has gone 4xPlat in UK I think U2 now have more Platinum certifications than any other group in the UK (except Simply Red). Here is a list of what the top 10 (or 12) should now be :

1= U2 (38 *Platinum certifications)
1= Simply Red (38)
2. Queen (36)
3. Oasis (31)
4. Dire Straits (27)
5. Fleetwood Mac (25)
6. Abba (22)
7. REM (21)
8. Westlife (20)
9= Boyzone (17)
9= UB40 (17)
9= Wet Wet Wet (17)

* These are mainly for Platinum certifications of 300K which were introduced in January 1978. Before that Platinum in UK was 1M & therefore much harder to get. This is why massive bands like The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zep & Pink Floyd are not included.

 

[blindinglight]

I checked the bpi site and Simply Red actually have 43 platinum
certifications now but I,m sure U2 will surpass this once some of
their albums have been recertified

 

[edge3]

Yes, you're right. I stupidly forgot to check up on Simply Red's certifications.

Thanx for spotting my mistake.

Here's the list again....corrected :

1. Simply Red (43 *Platinum certifications)
2. U2 (38)
3. Queen (36)
4. Oasis (31)
5. Dire Straits (27)
6. Fleetwood Mac (25)
7. Abba (22)
8. REM (21)
9. Westlife (20)
10= Boyzone (17)
10= UB40 (17)
10= Wet Wet Wet (17)

* These are mainly for Platinum certifications of 300K which were introduced in January 1978. From April 1973 Platinum in UK was 1M & therefore much harder to get & in the 60's they didn't have Platinum certifications. This would explain why massive bands from the 60's & 70's such as The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zep & Pink Floyd are not included.

 

[STING2]

Yes, you're right. I stupidly forgot to check up on Simply Red's certifications.

Thanx for spotting my mistake.

Here's the list again....corrected :

1. Simply Red (43 *Platinum certifications)
2. U2 (38)
3. Queen (36)
4. Oasis (31)
5. Dire Straits (27)
6. Fleetwood Mac (25)
7. Abba (22)
8. REM (21)
9. Westlife (20)
10= Boyzone (17)
10= UB40 (17)
10= Wet Wet Wet (17)

* These are mainly for Platinum certifications of 300K which were introduced in January 1978. From April 1973 Platinum in UK was 1M & therefore much harder to get & in the 60's they didn't have Platinum certifications. This would explain why massive bands from the 60's & 70's such as The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zep & Pink Floyd are not included.

Certifications for albums and singles did not start in England until 1973. From 1973 to 1978, albums were certified based on the amount of money that was made, NOT the number of units sold.

Older albums by the Beatles, Stones etc. from before 1978 are eligible to be recertified based on the units sold system and many of these older albums have been recertified.

 

[edge3]

Yes, you're right about the certifications from 1973-1978. I always assumed £1M = 1M in sales, £500K = 500K in sales, £250K = 250K in sales.

But there are still many albums from the 60's that haven't been certified. Like Sgt Pepper has sold over 4.5M but doesn't have any certification. In fact all of the Beatles first 15 albums don't have any certifications and they all spent a total of 170 wks at #1!!!!. Same with the Stones. Let It Bleed from 1969 is the only exception with a single Platinum certificate. I guess this must be a 300K Plat certificate from after 1978. I don't think Led Zep's first 3 albums have any certifications either & they spent ages on the chart. But I do know that the BPI have just made '4 symbols' 5xPlat. Also none of Elvis' albums from the 50's & 60's are certified.

And what about Queen's 'A Night At The Opera' from 1975? - It has a single Platinum Certificate but is that for an old Plat certificate of £1M or a new one of 300K? It spent 4 wks at #1 and was on the chart (top 60 then) for 50 wks, so I rather assumed it had sold 1M copies.