Ongoing History Daily: The biggest-selling rock singles of all time

January 17, 2024 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

Here’s something that you can use to win a bar bet: Name the five best-selling rock singles of all time. Notice that I said “best-SELLING” not “best-STREAMING.” Here we go.

At number five, it’s Queen and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The fourth best-selling rock single is “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. Then it gets a little strange. In third place is “I’m a Believer,” the Monkees song written by Neil Diamond. At number two, it’s George Harrison and “My Sweet Lord.” And finally, the best-selling rock single of all time is “Rock Around the Clock” from Bill Haley and The Comets.

If you want to check my work on this, please go ahead. There’s something about the source that I’m not quite sure about.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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