No one can Beat It

MICHAEL Jackson’s Thriller is the most inspiring album of all time, according to a survey.

The classic has sold 66million copies and has some of his biggest hits, including Billie Jean and Beat It. Second spot went to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, while third was secured by ABBA and their Gold: Greatest Hits compilation. Other records in the top 40 include Definitely Maybe by Oasis, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon and David Bowie’s Heroes. The poll of 2000 UK adults was commissioned ahead of the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize, which takes place on Thursday. Ed Sheeran made the top 40 thanks to his album, X, and is joined by the Spice Girls with their debut album, Spice, and Robbie Williams for Escapology. Queen are also in the top 40 for A Night at the Opera, alongside fellow rock legends Led Zeppelin with Led Zeppelin IV and Black Sabbath for Paranoid.

The study also identified the 60s as the decade to have produced the most inspiring music – and a number of records from that era are on the list. These include albums by The Beatles, The Doors and The Beach Boys in addition to The Mamas & the Papas and Bob Dylan.

Carried out through OnePoll. com, the research also found threequarters have been inspired by a piece of music, while 81 per cent have an album they turn to in difficult times.

Two-thirds said music makes them happier, half said it makes them less stressed or anxious and a third said it comforts them.

Forty-two per cent have experienced such a strong connection to a piece of music they’ve felt as if the song was written about them.