U2 rule the World!

NEW YORK (AP) - 'The Joshua Tree' by U2 has been voted the greatest album of all time, in a massive poll questioning a quarter of a million music fans.

The result sees The Beatles loosening their eternal stranglehold on the procession of surveys bidding to gage the most influential recordings in the history of popular music.

'The Joshua Tree' has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and sealed U2's position at the forefront of modern rock music when released in 1987.

Elsewhere in the poll, conducted by TV music channel VH-1, Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', the biggest selling album of all time, came in at Number Two, ahead of 'What's The Story (Morning Glory)' by Oasis.

'Revolver' by The Beatles, which is frequently citied by critics as one of the best records of all time, comes in at Number Eight, behind records by Meatloaf, Nirvana, Radiohead and Stevie Wonder.

The most recent album in the chart is Madonna's 'Ray Of Light' at ten, while 'Sing When You're Winning' by Robbie Williams is at 13 and Coldplay's 'Parachutes' at 23.

The poll will be featured in a five-hour countdown on VH1 this weekend.

The Top Ten is as follows:

1.U2 'The Joshua Tree'
2.Michael Jackson 'Thriller'
3.Oasis 'What's The Story (Morning Glory)'
4.Meat Loaf 'Bat Out Of Hell'
5.Nirvana 'Nevermind'
6.Radiohead 'The Bends'
7.Stevie Wonder 'Songs In The Key Of Life'
8.The Beatles 'Revolver'
9.The Beatles 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club'
10.Madonna 'Ray Of Light'