The 20 bestselling CDs at Readings in 2016

Here are our 20 bestselling CDs from the past year.

(We’ve also compiled our 100 bestselling books of 2016 and our 20 bestselling DVDs of 2016.)


Our top 20 albums of 2016 include releases from some of the biggest names in music: Van Morrison, Radiohead, Joan Baez and the Rolling Stones; as well as local legends Paul Kelly, Nick Cave and Archie Roach. 2015’s number one bestselling album, 25 by Adele, continued to enjoy strong sales, while Readings favourite, Gillian Welch, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut with a companion album, Boots No. 1.

Two iconic musicians who passed away in 2016, David Bowie and Leonard Cohen, appear in our top 20 CDs with both established albums and new releases.


20. Coming Home by Leon Bridges
19. Nothing Has Changed by David Bowie
18. Shine A Light by Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
17. A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
16. Boots No. 1 by Gillian Welch
15. The Ghosts Of Highway 20 by Lucinda Williams
14. The Kiss by Nicole Car
13. Death’s Dateless Night by Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen
12. 75th Birthday Celebration by Joan Baez
11. Keep Me Singing Van Morrison
10. Let Love Rule by Archie Roach
9. Blue & Lonesome by Rolling Stones
8. 25 by Adele
7. The Essential Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
6. J.S. Bach: Cello Suites Volume 1 by Slava Grigoryan
5. case/lang/veirs by Neko Case, K.D. Lang and Laura Veirs
4. Skeleton Tree by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
3. Blackstar by David Bowie
2. Seven Sonnets and a Song by Paul Kelly


And, our top selling album for 2016 is….


You Want It Darker is the latest chapter in Leonard Cohen’s significant musical career. Released just weeks before the legendary musician passed away, it was recorded in the living room of his home in LA and has been described as ‘realistically grim, spiritually radiant and deeply poetic’.


Ed. note: The list combines sales from all Readings shops and our website. The list covers sales from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.

Cover image for You Want It Darker

You Want It Darker

Leonard Cohen

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