Highest selling recording artists ever
by Art West
When you think about the highest selling recording artists of all time, one name comes to mind...The Beatles.
The Beatles had 20 number one singles between 1964-1970. That's 20 number ones in 7 years! Another thing that is impressive is the fact that in early 1964 The Beatles had the TOP 5 songs on the U.S. Billboard charts. Talk about dominating! The Beatles also had 2 number one singles off of their Anthology album in 1996. That gives them a total of 22 number one singles.
In 1967 they released one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time in Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. This album changed rock music forever. It was said that The Beatles opened a door to a whole new room for recording by adding instruments and sounds that were not used on rock and roll records in the past.
There were no singles released from that album but you could probably add 1-3 more number ones to their total. You pretty much know they would have had at least 1 more number one with Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. I say that based on the fact that Elton John took that song to number one in 1974 with the help of John Lennon.
Another thing to consider is The Beatles success after they broke up in 1970, not only individually but also a band. The Beatles had a top 10 hit with Got To Get You Into My Life in 1976, that was SIX YEARS AFTER THE BEATLES HAD BROKEN UP and 10 years after the song had originally been released! The Beatles had released it on their Revolver album in 1966.
Now let's talk a little about individuals. Each Beatle individually had at least 1 number one single as a solo artist. No other group in history can make that claim. While John, George and Ringo worked as solo artists, Paul McCartney started one of the most successful groups of the 1970's with Wings.
John Lennon took 5 years off of recording to help raise his son Sean. He took that time off shortly after he had achieved his first number one single as a solo artist. One has to wonder how many more number ones he would have had if he had continued to record. Then came the tragic day in December 1980 when John Lennon was murdered. That put an end to any dream of a Beatle reunion. Personally, I think The Beatles would have reunited for a concert or two, but not to do any serious recording as a group.
George Harrison also had some success in The Traveling Wilbury's posting some number one songs with them.
When all is said and done The Beatles were one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Their music is still heard regularly on TV and radio 40 years after it was recorded and you can still hear their influence on today's artists.