Best Selling Albums in the US.

[Smokey]

This list in interesting that it show how much US album sales differ from worldwide sales. Also note that the best selling single album of all times (Michael Jackson's Thriller) is not on the list.

Platinum album certification in the United States indicates 1,000,000 albums sold.


1. 1967 The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:11× platinum


2. 1968 The Beatles ("The White Album"): 19× platinum


3. 1969 The Beatles Abbey Road: 12× platinum


4. 1969 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II: 12× platinum


5. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (ZoSo): 23x platinum


6. 1972 Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits: 14× platinum


7. 1972 The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks, 1964–1971: 12× platinum


8. 1973 The Beatles 1962–1966 ("the Red Album"): 15× platinum


9. 1973 The Beatles 1967–1970 ("the Blue Album"): 16× platinum


10. 1973 Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy: 11× platinum

[Smokey]

11. 1973 Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon: 15× platinum


12. 1974 Elton John Greatest Hits: 16× platinum


13. 1975 Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti: 16× platinum


14. 1976 Boston Boston: 17× platinum


15. 1976 The Eagles Hotel California: 16× platinum


16. 1976 The Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975): 29× platinum


17. 1976 James Taylor Greatest Hits: 11× platinum


18. 1977 Meat Loaf Bat out of Hell: 14× platinum


19. 1977 Fleetwood Mac Rumours: 19× platinum


20. 1977 Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever(soundtrack):15× platinum

[MindGoneHaywire]

What exactly does this list represent? Looks like current numbers on records released in a 10-year period that doesn't include when Thriller, which has sold more than all on the list except for the Eagles collection...and nothing more.

[Smokey]

I agree that sales seem to be kind of confusing.

I got this list from Wikipedia and although it list sales numerically, each ranking does not indicate actual sales. Just its certification accoding to RIAA:

RIAA list page

Wikipedia List page

[MindGoneHaywire]

It's chronological order, not sales order, so I guess it makes sense. Thriller's place on the Wikipedia page is based solely on release date, not anything to do with popularity. It was the 27th release out of those that have retained places in the top 100 selling albums of all time in the US. So the ranking is based on a column that only takes release date into account.

A couple of things to keep in mind, one being that some of the numbers are based on units shipped, which is not the same as units actually sold; and I'm not sure that Soundscan ended that practice, but it may have. Soundscan, of course, only ever dealt with larger retailers, completely, I do believe, ignoring mom'n'pop's, no matter how many copies of anything they ever sold. Would including anything from such sources, and going only with scans, vs. 'shipped' numbers (which doesn't take into account unsold copies returned to distributors), scratch the surface of this list? Probably not. But the order on the RIAA list might well be different, and the numbers, as well.

If you take a look at the list of top selling artists on the RIAA site, you see a picture that doesn't quite add up, even if the numbers are solid. Garth Brooks sold a good chunk more than Elvis; George Strait has sold more than the Rolling Stones; Metallica has sold more than U2; Guns N' Roses have sold more than Chicago & Foreigner. Neil Diamond, Shania Twain, Kenny G & Journey, among others, have all sold more than Bob Dylan. The Backstreet Boys & Tupac have sold more than Bon Jovi. John Denver has sold more than the Doors, and Mannheim Steamroller has topped both Barry Manilow & John Mellencamp. EVERY name I've mentioned has sold more than Frank Sinatra, who had a nearly 30-year head start on just about all of them. Jimi Hendrix has BARELY sold more than REO Speedwagon. Lastly, ZZ Top, Nirvana, Green Day, the Beastie Boys, TLC, Outkast, and Lionel Richie have ALL outsold the Who.

Sales numbers tell quite a story, don't they.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Well, at least he was able to match the album titles to the album covers.

A for effort Smokey.

[Davey]

I'm tempted to say "who cares?", but then again, who cares? Hehehe, way to post em Smokey. Probably more interesting than another of my posts about Richard Buckner, or John Vanderslice, or someone else no one has heard of, eh?



hey there thunderhead, I heard you've seen a little rain
did you let your angel burn out like a pipe load under a flame?
I know we've all had our visions, but we've been moonless too
I guess I shoulda known by now, we'd just slip away somehow

though we slip away our days, I know it's stronger
is that an angel or a bomb that drives your name across the stars
between our hearts tonight?

[Smokey]

It's chronological order, not sales order, so I guess it makes sense. Thriller's place on the Wikipedia page is based solely on release date, not anything to do with popularity.

Thanks for correction. Didn't realized it until you mention it. I guess now we can quote sales according to release date

If you take a look at the list of top selling artists on the RIAA site, you see a picture that doesn't quite add up, even if the numbers are solid

May be RIAA certification platinum numbers are sales in the US only. For example, it list Thriller as 27 million sold, but worldwide that figure is above 100 million.

Well, at least he was able to match the album titles to the album covers.

A for effort Smokey

Thanks Rich and Davey, try to do better next time