Beatles vs. Everybody

Here`s part one of a chart statistics analysis of ten of pop music`s most well-known and biggest selling acts: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Bee Gees, and Cliff Richard.

Who holds the most records in three of the world`s biggest music markets, America, Britain and Germany?

The charts analysed are the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, the UK singles and albums chart, and the German singles and albums chart since 1956.

This is the first of 20 categories:

Number One Hits

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 18
2) BEATLES: 17
3) CLIFF RICHARD: 14
4) MADONNA: 10
5) ABBA: 9
6) STONES: 8
7) JACKSON: 7
8) BEE GEES: 5
9) ELTON JOHN: 4
10) McCARTNEY: 3

United States

1) BEATLES: 20
2) ELVIS: 18
3) JACKSON: 13
4) MADONNA: 12
5) McCARTNEY: 9
5) ELTON JOHN: 9
5) BEE GEES: 9
8) STONES: 8
9) ABBA: 1
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 11
2) ABBA: 9
3) STONES: 6
4) BEE GEES: 4
5) JACKSON: 3
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 3
7) McCARTNEY: 2
7) ELTON JOHN: 2
7) MADONNA: 2
10) ELVIS: 1

Go the Fabs! Not bad at all considering their original record output spanned a mere 8 years or so [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] (excluding 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love' of course). Living proof of indubitable greatness methinks.

Exactly, Exis Beat! It`d be fair to accumulate Paul`s and the Beatles` total, to make things more even. Then we`d get to see how the Beatles would have done if they had stayed together like the Stones. Paul`s success as a solo artist is the minimum level of success the Beatles would have had if they had remained together, because a Paul McCartney song going to #1 would at least have enjoyed the same success if it had been released as a Beatles recording.

Next category:

Number One Albums

United Kingdom

1) BEATLES: 15
2) STONES: 10
3) ABBA: 9
4) JACKSON: 8
5) ELVIS: 7
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 7
5) MADONNA: 7
8) ELTON JOHN: 6
8) McCARTNEY: 6
10) BEE GEES: 2

United States

1) BEATLES: 19
2) ELVIS: 10
3) STONES: 9
4) McCARTNEY: 7
4) ELTON JOHN: 7
6) JACKSON: 5
7) MADONNA: 4
8) BEE GEES: 3
9) ABBA: 0
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 11
2) MADONNA: 8
3) ABBA: 7
4) STONES: 6
5) JACKSON: 5
6) BEE GEES: 4
7) ELTON JOHN: 2
8) McCARTNEY: 1
9) ELVIS: 0
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

ABBA....how did they get on this list.....????

ABBA is very popular in various regions. I think the UK is one. I don't think so much here in the states, though I admit to liking them. [img]graemlins/blush4.gif[/img]

ABBA are the world`s best-selling group after the Beatles, with over 250 million record sold, according to the Guinness Book Of Records.

Next category:

Top 10 Hits

United Kingdom

1) CLIFF RICHARD: 64
2) ELVIS: 56
3) MADONNA: 50
4) JACKSON: 38
5) BEATLES: 28
6) ELTON JOHN: 26
7) McCARTNEY: 23
8) STONES: 21
9) ABBA: 19
9) BEE GEES: 19

United States

1) ELVIS: 38 (33)*
2) MADONNA: 35
3) BEATLES: 33 (27)*
4) JACKSON: 28
5) ELTON JOHN: 25
6) STONES: 23
7) McCARTNEY: 22
8) BEE GEES: 15
9) ABBA: 4
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 3

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 29
2) ABBA: 21
3) MADONNA: 18
4) STONES: 17
4) BEE GEES: 17
6) JACKSON: 13
7) ELVIS: 12
8) CLIFF RICHARD: 10
9) ELTON JOHN: 6
10) McCARTNEY: 5

Top 10 Albums

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 40
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 35
3) STONES: 32
4) ELTON JOHN: 25
5) BEATLES: 24
6) McCARTNEY: 20
7) MADONNA: 14
7) BEE GEES: 14
9) ABBA: 10
9) JACKSON: 10

United States

1) STONES: 35
2) BEATLES: 29
3) ELVIS: 27
4) McCARTNEY: 15
4) ELTON JOHN: 15
6) MADONNA: 13
7) BEE GEES: 8
8) JACKSON: 7
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
9) ABBA: 0

West Germany

1) STONES: 29
2) BEATLES: 24
3) BEE GEES: 16
4) ABBA: 15
5) ELTON JOHN: 11
5) MADONNA: 11
7) McCARTNEY: 8
8) JACKSON: 7
9) ELVIS: 6
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 3

I think it would be interesting to see what percentages of their songs did what. For example, on the Top 10 Hits in the UK they seem to fare rather poorly. However, I happen to know for a fact that they didn't release many more than 28 singles in their career over there. Another great list, as always. [img]graemlins/thumbsup2.gif[/img]

Wow! this is awesome.thanks for the info is really cool.

Good point, Mindgames, and thanks Bluemaryryan!

The Beatles released 30 official singles in the UK (from "Love Me Do" in 62 to "Real Love" in 96), thus 80% of their singles made the British Top 10. From 1962-1970, only one of their official singles didn`t reach the Top 10! (Love Me Do, 1962). Elvis has released over 100 singles in Britain, and roughly 50% of them managed to reach the Top 10, for example.

Weeks at Number One(Singles)

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 77
2) BEATLES: 69
3) CLIFF RICHARD: 44
4) ABBA: 31
5) MADONNA: 21
6) STONES: 18
6) ELTON JOHN: 18
8) JACKSON: 16
9) McCARTNEY: 14
10) BEE GEES: 13

United States

1) ELVIS: 79
2) BEATLES: 59
3) JACKSON: 37
4) ELTON JOHN: 34
5) MADONNA: 32
6) McCARTNEY: 30
7) BEE GEES: 29
8) STONES: 15
9) ABBA: 1
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 40
2) ABBA: 33
3) STONES: 22
4) CLIFF RICHARD: 16
5) McCARTNEY: 15
6) BEE GEES: 11
6) ELTON JOHN: 11
8) JACKSON: 9
9) MADONNA: 6
10) ELVIS: 2

[size="1"][ Jan 06, 2003, 09:12 AM: Message Edited By: Wolf ][/size]

Weeks at Number One(Albums)

United Kingdom

1) BEATLES: 174
2) ABBA: 55
3) ELVIS: 52
4) STONES: 44
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 30
6) ELTON JOHN: 28
7) MADONNA: 24
8) JACKSON: 21
9) BEE GEES: 20
10) McCARTNEY: 14

United States

1) BEATLES: 132
2) ELVIS: 67
3) JACKSON: 51
4) ELTON JOHN: 39
5) STONES: 38
6) BEE GEES: 31
7) McCARTNEY: 22
8) MADONNA: 15
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
9) ABBA: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 118
2) ABBA: 45
3) JACKSON: 32
4) STONES: 32
5) BEE GEES: 27
6) MADONNA: 21
7) ELTON JOHN: 12
8) McCARTNEY: 2
9) ELVIS: 0
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

Two new important categories:

Weeks On Chart(Singles)

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 1,185
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 1,147
3) MADONNA: 568
4) ELTON JOHN: 567
5) JACKSON: 493
6) BEATLES: 456
7) McCARTNEY: 398
8) STONES: 366
9) BEE GEES: 354
10) ABBA: 252

United States

1) ELVIS: 1,468 (1,110)*
2) ELTON JOHN: 972
3) MADONNA: 791
4) JACKSON: 643
5) BEATLES: 635 (490)*
6) STONES: 587 (567)*
7) BEE GEES: 516
8) McCARTNEY: 510
9) ABBA: 261
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 209

West Germany

1) MADONNA: 654
2) ABBA: 579
3) BEATLES: 577
4) BEE GEES: 541
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 508
6) JACKSON: 503
7) ELVIS: 478
8) ELTON JOHN: 476
9) STONES: 444
10) McCARTNEY: 359

* = includes b-sides (in brackets number without b-sides)

Weeks On Chart(Albums)

United Kingdom

1) BEATLES: 1,285
2) ELVIS: 1,155
3) MADONNA: 947
4) ELTON JOHN: 897
5) ABBA: 862
6) JACKSON: 861
7) CLIFF RICHARD: 799
8) STONES: 761
9) McCARTNEY: 533
10) BEE GEES: 443

United States

1) BEATLES: 2,022
2) ELVIS: 1,878
3) STONES: 1,636
4) ELTON JOHN: 1,390
5) MADONNA: 1,113
6) BEE GEES: 882
7) McCARTNEY: 824
8) JACKSON: 653
9) ABBA: 381
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 75

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 1,232
2) STONES: 879
3) ABBA: 796
4) BEE GEES: 626
5) ELTON JOHN: 573
6) JACKSON: 548
7) MADONNA: 524
8) McCARTNEY: 383
9) ELVIS: 366
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 147

Hit Singles

United Kingdom

1) CLIFF RICHARD: 123
2) ELVIS: 114
3) ELTON JOHN: 74
4) MADONNA: 53
5) JACKSON: 51
6) McCARTNEY: 50
7) STONES: 46
8) BEE GEES: 38
9) BEATLES: 32
10) ABBA: 25

United States

1) ELVIS: 138 (99)*
2) BEATLES: 71 (47)*
3) ELTON JOHN: 66
4) STONES: 53 (50)*
5) MADONNA: 47
6) BEE GEES: 43
7) JACKSON: 41
7) McCARTNEY: 41
9) ABBA: 20
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 19

* = includes b-sides (in brackets number without b-sides)

West Germany

1) CLIFF RICHARD: 51
2) MADONNA: 47
3) ELVIS: 43
3) BEE GEES: 43
5) BEATLES: 41
6) ELTON JOHN: 39
7) STONES: 38
8) JACKSON: 37
9) McCARTNEY: 34
10) ABBA: 26

Hit Albums

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 102
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 55
3) STONES: 43
4) ELTON JOHN: 38
5) BEATLES: 31
6) McCARTNEY: 27
7) JACKSON: 23
8) BEE GEES: 19
9) ABBA: 16
10) MADONNA: 14

United States

1) ELVIS: 102
2) BEATLES: 43
3) STONES: 42
4) ELTON JOHN: 38
5) McCARTNEY: 31
6) BEE GEES: 29
7) JACKSON: 15
7) MADONNA: 15
9) ABBA: 11
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 4

West Germany

1) STONES: 40
2) BEATLES: 32
3) ELTON JOHN: 31
4) BEE GEES: 27
5) ELVIS: 26
6) McCARTNEY: 24
7) ABBA: 20
8) MADONNA: 15
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 15
10) JACKSON: 6

Number Two Hits

United Kingdom

1) CLIFF RICHARD: 10
2) ELVIS: 9
2) MADONNA: 9
4) McCARTNEY: 6
4) JACKSON: 6
6) BEATLES: 5
7) ABBA: 2
7) ELTON JOHN: 2
7) STONES: 2
10) BEE GEES: 1

United States

1) MADONNA: 6
1) ELVIS: 6
3) ELTON JOHN: 4
4) BEATLES: 3
5) JACKSON: 2
5) McCARTNEY: 2
7) STONES: 1
8) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
8) ABBA: 0
8) BEE GEES: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 6
2) STONES: 4
2) JACKSON: 4
2) BEE GEES: 4
5) MADONNA: 3
5) ELVIS: 3
7) CLIFF RICHARD: 1
7) ABBA: 1
9) McCARTNEY: 0
9) ELTON JOHN: 0

Number Two Albums

United Kingdom

1) STONES: 7
2) ELVIS: 5
2) ELTON JOHN: 5
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 5
5) McCARTNEY: 4
5) MADONNA: 4
7) BEATLES: 2
7) BEE GEES: 2
9) JACKSON: 0
9) ABBA: 0

United States

1) BEATLES: 6
1) STONES: 6
3) MADONNA: 5
4) McCARTNEY: 4
5) ELVIS: 2
5) BEE GEES: 2
7) ELTON JOHN: 0
7) ABBA: 0
7) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
7) JACKSON: 0

West Germany

1) STONES: 10
2) BEATLES: 2
2) ABBA: 2
2) BEE GEES: 2
5) ELVIS: 1
5) MADONNA: 1
5) McCARTNEY: 1
5) ELTON JOHN: 1
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 1
5) ABBA: 1

Weeks at Number Two(Singles)

United Kingdom

1) CLIFF RICHARD: 22
2) ELVIS: 16
3) BEATLES: 11
4) MADONNA: 10
4) JACKSON: 10
6) McCARTNEY: 8
7) STONES: 6
7) ABBA: 6
9) ELTON JOHN: 2
10) BEE GEES: 1

United States

1) MADONNA: 14
2) ELVIS: 11
3) ELTON JOHN: 7
4) BEATLES: 6
4) McCARTNEY: 6
6) JACKSON: 5
7) STONES: 3
8) BEE GEES: 0
8) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
8) ABBA: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 17
2) MADONNA: 15
3) ELVIS: 13
3) JACKSON: 13
3) BEE GEES: 13
6) STONES: 9
7) ABBA: 5
7) CLIFF RICHARD: 5
9) McCARTNEY: 0
9) ELTON JOHN: 0

Weeks at Number Two(Albums)

United States

1) BEATLES: 28
2) STONES: 16
3) MADONNA: 10
3) McCARTNEY: 10
5) ELVIS: 4
6) JACKSON: 0
6) ELTON JOHN: 0
6) CLIFF RICHARD: 0
6) ABBA: 0
6) BEE GEES: 0

Number of Hits in a Calendar Year

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 11
2) BEATLES: 7
3) JACKSON: 6
3) MADONNA: 6
3) CLIFF RICHARD: 6
6) ABBA: 5
7) ELTON JOHN: 4
7) BEE GEES: 4
7) McCARTNEY: 4
10) STONES: 3

United States

1) BEATLES: 30 (19)*
2) ELVIS: 16 (9)*
3) STONES: 6 (5)*
3) JACKSON: 6
5) McCARTNEY: 4
5) ABBA: 4
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 4
5) MADONNA: 4
5) ELTON JOHN: 4
5) BEE GEES: 4

* = includes b-sides (in brackets number without b-sides)

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 16
2) ELVIS: 7
3) STONES: 6
3) MADONNA: 6
5) JACKSON: 5
5) BEE GEES: 5
5) ABBA: 5
8) McCARTNEY: 4
8) CLIFF RICHARD: 4
10) ELTON JOHN: 3

Number of Hit Albums in a Calendar Year

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 8
2) STONES: 3
2) JACKSON: 3
2) ABBA: 3
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 3
6) MADONNA: 2
6) BEATLES: 2
6) ELTON JOHN: 2
6) BEE GEES: 2
6) McCARTNEY: 2

United States

1) BEATLES: 11
2) ELVIS: 7
3) ELTON JOHN: 4
4) BEE GEES: 3
4) STONES: 3
6) ABBA: 2
6) MADONNA: 2
6) JACKSON: 2
6) McCARTNEY: 2
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 1

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 6
2) STONES: 3
2) ELVIS: 3
2) ABBA: 3
2) BEE GEES: 3
6) ELTON JOHN: 2
6) MADONNA: 2
6) CLIFF RICHARD: 2
6) McCARTNEY: 2
10) JACKSON: 1

So, number one hits...it's interesting that Elvis had more in the UK and the Beatles had more in the US! Neat...thanks for these!

Interesting that The Beatles only had one less number 1 hit in the UK than Elvis, and had two more number 1 hits in the US than Elvis did, and their career as a record producing band and number of released singles was significantly less than Elvis. Just goes to show what an amazing and revolutionary band they were and still are. The best ever as far as I'm concerned! [img]graemlins/rocknroll1.gif[/img]

Consecutive Number One Hits

United Kingdom

1) BEATLES: 7
2) STONES: 5
3) ELVIS: 4
4) ABBA: 3
5) CLIFF RICHARD: 2
5) MADONNA: 2
5) JACKSON: 2
8) McCARTNEY: 1
8) ELTON JOHN: 1
8) BEE GEES: 1

United States

1) BEATLES: 6
1) BEE GEES: 6
3) ELVIS: 5
3) JACKSON: 5
5) STONES: 2
5) McCARTNEY: 2
5) ELTON JOHN: 2
5) MADONNA: 2
9) ABBA: 1
10) CLIFF RICHARD: 0

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 6
2) ABBA: 5
3) STONES: 4
4) BEE GEES: 3
5) JACKSON: 2
6) McCARTNEY: 1
6) ELVIS: 1
6) MADONNA: 1
6) CLIFF RICHARD: 1
6) ELTON JOHN: 1

Consecutive Top 10 Hits

United Kingdom

1) MADONNA: 34
2) CLIFF RICHARD: 23
3) ELVIS: 20
4) BEATLES: 18
4) ABBA: 18
6) STONES: 14
7) JACKSON: 9
8) McCARTNEY: 4
8) ELTON JOHN: 4
10) BEE GEES: 3

United States

1) BEATLES: 20**
2) MADONNA: 16
3) ELVIS: 12**
4) STONES: 9**
5) ELTON JOHN: 8
5) McCARTNEY: 8
7) JACKSON: 7
8) BEE GEES: 6
9) ABBA: 1
9) CLIFF RICHARD: 1

** = excludes b-sides

West Germany

1) BEATLES: 17
2) STONES: 14
3) ABBA: 13
4) BEE GEES: 5
5) ELVIS: 4
5) JACKSON: 4
7) MADONNA: 2
7) CLIFF RICHARD: 2
9) ELTON JOHN: 1
9) McCARTNEY: 1

Number One Hits

United Kingdom

1) ELVIS: 18
2) BEATLES: 17

I'm sorry, but I don't consider the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" a number one hit for Elvis. If it was the original untouched version then it would have bombed in the charts, but since it was a heavily remixed version with 2 other people participating then it isn't an Elvis single.

The general rule is, that as long as an artist`s voice is heard in a song, it is that artist`s hit. I know that even many Elvis fans have problems counting this as a No. 1 hit for Elvis, but he is singing, and that`s what matters.

Btw, the question is more if the Beatles have 17 or 18 No. 1 hits. Because if "Please Please Me" is counted as a No. 1 hit, then the Beatles actually have 18 British No. 1s! The problem here is that the famous "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles" decided to use the Record Retailer chart for the 1960s. That chart was the only British chart that had "Please Please Me" as a No. 2 hit, while all the other British charts of the 1960s listed it as a No. 1 hit (New Musical Express, Melody Maker, Disc, Record Mirror). The only reason why the authors of the Guinness book chose to use the (flawed) Record Retailer chart as their source, was that it consisted of a Top 50, while all the others only consisted of a Top 30. Guinness` decision to use RR charts is especially annoying, when one considers that the RR chart was an industry-only chart that was not recognized by the general public of the 1960s! The two most well-known charts were that of the NME and the Melody Maker (where the Beatles have 18 and 20 No. 1 hits, respectively).