Million-selling and Platinum Records
In April 1973, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) began classifying singles and albums by the number of units sold. In the 1990s the highest threshold was "platinum record" and was awarded to singles that sold over 600,000 units. In February 1987, the BPI introduced multi-platinum awards so if a single sold 1,200,000 units it was classified as 2×platinum, 1,800,000 units as 3×platinum, and so on.
Sixty-six records, including forty-seven number ones, were classified platinum in the 1990s and three other songs released in the 1990s were classified as platinum in the subsequent decade. Thirty records from the decade sold over one million units. Fourteen of these also went multi-platinum and "Candle in the Wind 1997" went nine times platinum and became the best-selling single of all time. "Angels" by Robbie Williams, "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, and "Wonderwall" by Oasis all sold over one million copies but failed to get to number one.
| Artist | Song | Date released | Date certified platinum |
Year of millionth sale (Multi-platinum) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinéad O'Connor | "Nothing Compares 2 U" | 01990-01-088 January 1990 | 01990-03-011 March 1990 | — |
| Band Aid II | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | 01989-12-1111 December 1989 | 01990-04-011 April 1990 | — |
| Elton John | "Sacrifice" | 01990-05-011 May 1990 | 01990-09-011 September 1990 | — |
| The Righteous Brothers | "Unchained Melody" | 01990-10-1515 October 1990 | 01990-11-011 November 1990 | 2004–10 |
| Vanilla Ice | "Ice Ice Baby" | 01990-10-2929 October 1990 | 01991-01-011 January 1991 | — |
| Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 01991-06-1717 June 1991 | 01991-08-011 August 1991 | 1991, (2×: 1 September 1991) |
| Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives" | 01991-12-099 December 1991 | 01991-12-011 December 1991 | — |
| Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 01992-10-3131 October 1992 | 01992-12-011 December 1992 | 1993, (2×: 1 January 1993) |
| Charles and Eddie | "Would I Lie To You?" | 01992-10-1212 October 1992 | 01993-01-011 January 1993 | — |
| Ace of Base | "All That She Wants" | 01993-05-011 May 1993 | 01993-06-011 June 1993 | — |
| UB40 | "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love With You" | 01993-05-1010 May 1993 | 01993-07-011 July 1993 | — |
| Meat Loaf | "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" | 01993-09-2727 September 1993 | 01993-11-011 November 1993 | — |
| Mr Blobby | "Mr Blobby" | 01993-11-2222 November 1993 | 01993-12-011 December 1993 | — |
| Take That | "Babe" | 01993-12-066 December 1993 | 01994-01-011 January 1994 | — |
| Wet Wet Wet | "Love Is All Around" | 01994-05-044 May 1994 | 01994-06-011 June 1994 | 1994, (2×: 1 August 1994) |
| Whigfield | "Saturday Night" | 01994-09-1212 September 1994 | 01994-09-011 September 1994 | 1994 |
| All-4-One | "I Swear" | 01994-06-066 June 1994 | 01994-09-011 September 1994 | — |
| Pato Banton | "Baby Come Back" | 01994-09-1919 September 1994 | 01994-11-011 November 1994 | — |
| East 17 | "Stay Another Day" | 01994-11-2121 November 1994 | 01994-12-011 December 1994 | — |
| Céline Dion | "Think Twice" | 01994-10-1010 October 1994 | 01995-01-011 January 1995 | 1994 |
| Rednex | "Cotton Eye Joe" | 01994-12-1212 December 1994 | 01995-02-011 February 1995 | — |
| Take That | "Back for Good" | 01995-03-2727 March 1995 | 01995-04-011 April 1995 | 2007–2010 |
| Robson Green & Jerome Flynn | "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" | 01994-11-2121 November 1994 | 01995-05-088 May 1995 | 1995, (2×: 1 May 1995) |
| Robson & Jerome | "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" | 01995-10-3030 October 1995 | 01995-11-011 November 1995 | 1995 |
| Coolio ft. L.V. | "Gangsta's Paradise" | 01995-10-1616 October 1995 | 01995-11-011 November 1995 | 1995 |
| Simply Red | "Fairground" | 01995-09-1818 September 1995 | 01995-11-011 November 1995 | — |
| Michael Jackson | "Earth Song" | 01995-11-2727 November 1995 | 01995-12-011 December 1995 | 1996 |
| Babylon Zoo | "Spaceman" | 01996-01-1515 January 1996 | 01996-01-011 January 1996 | 1996 |
| Oasis | "Wonderwall" | 01995-10-3030 October 1995 | 01996-01-011 January 1996 | 2007 |
| Everything but the Girl | "Missing" | 01995-10-066 October 1995 | 01996-01-011 January 1996 | — |
| Boyzone | "Father and Son" | 01995-11-1313 November 1995 | 01996-01-011 January 1996 | — |
| Take That | "How Deep Is Your Love" | 01996-02-2626 February 1996 | 01996-03-011 March 1996 | — |
| Oasis | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | 01996-02-1919 February 1996 | 01996-04-011 April 1996 | — |
| Robert Miles | "Children" | 01996-02-1212 February 1996 | 01996-04-011 April 1996 | — |
| Mark Morrison | "Return of the Mack" | 01996-03-044 March 1996 | 01996-05-011 May 1996 | — |
| Gina G | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | 01996-03-2525 March 1996 | 01996-05-011 May 1996 | — |
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "Three Lions" | 01996-06-011 June 1996 | 01996-07-011 July 1996 | — |
| Fugees | "Killing Me Softly | 01996-06-033 June 1996 | 01996-06-011 June 1996 | 1996, (2×: 1 August 1996) |
| Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | 01996-07-1515 July 1996 | 01996-08-011 August 1996 | 1996 |
| Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | 01996-10-1414 October 1996 | 01996-10-011 October 1996 | — |
| Various Artists | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | 01996-12-099 December 1996 | 01996-12-011 December 1996 | — |
| Spice Girls | "2 Become 1" | 01996-12-1616 December 1996 | 01996-12-011 December 1996 | 1997 |
| Robson & Jerome | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" | 01996-10-2828 October 1996 | 01997-01-011 January 1997 | — |
| Toni Braxton | "Un-Break My Heart" | 01996-10-2121 October 1996 | 01997-01-011 January 1997 | — |
| The Prodigy | "Breathe" | 01996-11-1111 November 1996 | 01996-12-011 December 1996 | — |
| Spice Girls | "Mama / Who Do You Think You Are" | 01997-03-033 March 1997 | 01997-03-011 March 1997 | — |
| Hanson | "MMMBop" | 01997-05-2626 May 1997 | 01997-06-011 June 1997 | — |
| R. Kelly | "I Believe I Can Fly" | 01997-03-1717 March 1997 | 01997-06-011 June 1997 | — |
| Oasis | "D'You Know What I Mean?" | 01997-07-077 July 1997 | 01997-07-011 July 1997 | — |
| Rembrandts !The Rembrandts | "I'll Be There for You" | 01995-08-2121 August 1995 | 01997-07-011 July 1997 | — |
| Will Smith | "Men in Black" | 01997-08-044 August 1997 | 01997-08-011 August 1997 | — |
| Puff Daddy ft. Faith Evans | "I'll Be Missing You" | 01997-06-1616 June 1997 | 01997-07-011 July 1997 | 1997, (2×: 1 August 1997) |
| Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" |
01997-09-1313 September 1997 | 01997-09-011 September 1997 | 1997, (2–6×: 1 September 1997) 1997, (7–9×: 1 October 1997) |
| Chumbawamba | "Tubthumping" | 01997-08-1111 August 1997 | 01997-10-011 October 1997 | — |
| Spice Girls | "Spice Up Your Life" | 01997-10-1313 October 1997 | 01997-10-1717 October 1997 | — |
| Various Artists | "Perfect Day" | 01997-11-1717 November 1997 | 01997-11-2121 November 1997 | 1997, (2×: 9 January 1998) |
| Aqua | "Barbie Girl" | 01997-10-011 October 1997 | 01997-11-077 November 1997 | 1997, (2×: 5 December 1997) |
| All Saints | "Never Ever" | 01997-11-1010 November 1997 | 01997-12-055 December 1997 | 1998, (2×: 30 January 1998) |
| Natalie Imbruglia | "Torn" | 01997-10-27 27 October 1997 | 01997-12-1212 December 1997 | 2007 |
| Teletubbies | "Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'" | 01997-12-011 December 1997 | 01997-12-1212 December 1997 | 1997, (2×: 19 December 1997) |
| Spice Girls | "Too Much" | 01997-12-1212 December 1997 | 01998-01-099 January 1998 | — |
| Janet Jackson | "Together Again" | 01997-12-011 December 1997 | 01998-01-2323 January 1998 | — |
| Run-D.M.C. vs Jason Nevins | "It's Like That" | 01998-03-099 March 1998 | 01998-03-2727 March 1998 | 1998 |
| Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 01998-02-099 February 1998 | 01998-02-2727 February 1998 | 1998, (2×: 24 April 1998) |
| Savage Garden | "Truly Madly Deeply" | 01998-02-1616 February 1998 | 01998-05-2929 May 1998 | — |
| Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | "3 Lions '98" | 01998-06-011 June 1998 | 01998-07-033 July 1998 | — |
| B*Witched | "C'est la Vie" | 01998-06-011 June 1998 | 01998-07-033 July 1998 | — |
| LeAnn Rimes | "How Do I Live" | 01998-03-022 March 1998 | 01998-07-1717 July 1998 | — |
| Boyzone | "No Matter What" | 01998-08-033 August 1998 | 01998-08-077 August 1998 | 1998 |
| Spice Girls | "Viva Forever" | 01998-07-2020 July 1998 | 01998-08-1313 August 1998 | — |
| Pras Michel ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mýa | "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" | — | 01998-08-2121 August 1998 | — |
| Cher | "Believe" | 01998-10-19 19 October 1998 | 01998-10-3030 October 1998 | 1998, (2×: 8 January 1999) |
| Stardust | "Music Sounds Better with You" | 01998-08-1010 August 1998 | 01998-11-066 November 1998 | — |
| Robbie Williams | "Angels" | 01997-12-011 December 1997 | 01998-02-066 February 1998 | 1998, (2×: 4 December 1998) |
| Spice Girls | "Goodbye" | 01998-12-1414 December 1998 | 01998-12-1818 December 1998 | — |
| Steps | "Heartbeat" / "Tragedy" | 01998-11-099 November 1998 | 01999-01-088 January 1999 | 1999 |
| Bryan Adams ft. Melanie C | "When You're Gone" | 01998-11-3030 November 1998 | 01999-02-1212 February 1999 | — |
| Chef | "Chocolate Salty Balls" | 01998-12-1414 December 1998 | 01999-02-2626 February 1999 | — |
| Boyzone | "When the Going Gets Tough" | 01999-03-011 March 1999 | 01999-03-1919 March 1999 | — |
| Britney Spears | "Baby One More Time" | 01999-02-1515 February 1999 | 01999-02-1919 February 1999 | 1999, (2×: 26 March 1999) |
| Mr. Oizo | "Flat Beat" | 01999-03-2222 March 1999 | 01999-04-011 April 1999 | — |
| Martine McCutcheon | "Perfect Moment" | 01999-04-055 April 1999 | 01999-05-1414 May 1999 | — |
| Shanks & Bigfoot | "Sweet Like Chocolate" | 01999-05-1717 May 1999 | 01999-06-044 June 1999 | — |
| Shania Twain | "That Don't Impress Me Much" | 01999-05-1010 May 1999 | 01999-07-1616 July 1999 | — |
| TLC | "No Scrubs" | 01998-12-1414 December 1998 | 01998-12-1818 December 1998 | — |
| ATB | "9pm (Till I Come)" | 01999-06-2121 June 1999 | 01999-07-2323 July 1999 | — |
| S Club 7 | "Bring It All Back" | 01999-06-077 June 1999 | 01999-07-3030 July 1999 | — |
| Ricky Martin | "Livin' la Vida Loca" | 01999-07-011 July 1999 | 01999-08-1313 August 1999 | — |
| Lou Bega | "Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit Of...)" | 01999-08-011 August 1999 | 01999-09-1717 September 1999 | — |
| Eiffel 65 | "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" | 01999-09-1313 September 1999 | 01999-10-088 October 1999 | 1999 |
| Cliff Richard | "The Millennium Prayer" | 01999-11-1515 November 1999 | 01999-12-033 December 1999 | — |
| Westlife | "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" | 01999-12-1313 December 1999 | 01999-12-2323 December 1999 | — |
| R. Kelly | "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" | 01999-10-1818 October 1999 | 02000-01-1414 January 2000 | — |
| Artful Dodger | "Re-Rewind" | 01999-11-2929 November 1999 | 02000-03-033 March 2000 | — |
| Alice DeeJay | "Better off Alone" | 01999-07-1919 July 1999 | 02000-05-1919 May 2000 | — |
Read more about this topic: List Of 1990s UK Singles Chart Number Ones
Famous quotes containing the words platinum and/or records:
“Flouncing your skirts, you blueness of joy, you flirt of
politeness,
You leap, you intelligence, essence of wheelness with silvery nose,
And your platinum clocks of excitement stir like the hairs of a
fern.”
—Karl Shapiro (b. 1913)
“Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the mud stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime records unique, violin player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco.”
—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930)