Retailers have reported rocketing sales of some of the classic albums that did well in Channel 4's Greatest Albums Poll, which was shown on Sunday night, with online retailer Amazon saying that certain older albums have sped to the top of their Hot 100 music chart, knocking off the work of contemporary favourites such as The Killers and Stereophonics. Albums benefiting from the exposure include Jeff Buckley's ?Grace', which jumped hundreds of places overnight to reach number 4, Nick Drake's ?Five Leaves Left' at 6, Joni Mitchell's Blue at 16, and that Radiohead album that topped the poll, ?OK computer', which re-entered the chart at number 14
Well, it's easy enough to diss these ?top whatever' programmes, for the fact that they are not exactly fair, given the online voting system, and also the fact that so much contemporary rubbish ends up beating classy old stuff. Not to mention all the inane punditry that goes on. But at least this one appears to have introduced new generations to some great albums that they might not otherwise have chosen to experience. And the sales boost thing is good too.