Beatles top US album chart

The Beatles album has sold more than 2m copies

An album of Beatles' number one hits has gone to the top of the charts in the US.

The record, called simply 1, sold more than 500,000 copies in its first week on sale in America.

It is the number one record in 15 other counties, including Britain, Japan Germany, France, Canada and Australia, Capitol, the band's US record label has said.

The Spice Girls' album plummets in the US chart

Worldwide, the album has sold in excess of 2m copies.

The album of 27 number one singles in the UK and US sold twice as many copies in the US as industry pundits had predicted.

It outsold the new album from Latin idol Ricky Martin and a compilation album of pop hit singles, including records by Britney Spears and Bon Jovi.

British singer Sade is also celebrating a return to form with her new album, Lovers Rock, reaching number in the American chart.

But the Spice Girls' appeal in the US continues to wane.

The quartet's third album, Forever, has plummeted from a debut position of 39 to number 78 in the latest rankings.

The biggest climber in the charts is Charlotte Church's record Dream a Dream.

The classical album has jumped 25 places to the number 22 spot.

On Wednesday the teenage soprano reached a reported £2m settlement deal with her former manager who had been suing the star for breach of contract.