.png)
.png)
6 hours ago
4
The most sold medium of each time did not conscionable apical the charts, but it changed music forever. Over the years, a fistful of legendary albums person sold millions worldwide, leaving a lasting people connected fans everywhere. From Thriller to Back successful Black to The Dark Side of the Moon, these classics proceed to animate and entertain, decades later.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- The best-selling albums span crossed antithetic genres, from stone and popular to state and disco.
- Many of these albums person stayed fashionable for decades.
- The best-selling medium of each clip is Thriller by Michael Jackson, with implicit 70 cardinal copies.
- Other best-selling albums see Back successful Black by AC/DC and The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
Most sold albums of each time
We strive to supply our readers with invaluable insights and accusation done our assorted rankings and lists. We utilized information from credible sources, including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), euphony income reports, and large charting organisations similar Billboard, to make this database of the top-selling albums of each time.
| Album | Artist | Copies sold (more than) |
| Thriller | Michael Jackson | 70 million |
| Back successful Black | AC/DC | 50 million |
| The Dark Side of the Moon | Pink Floyd | 45 million |
| The Bodyguard Soundtrack | Whitney Houston and Various Artists | 45 million |
| Bad | Michael Jackson | 45 million |
| Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) | Eagles | 44 million |
| Hotel California | Eagles | 42 million |
| Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 40 million |
| Come On Over | Shania Twain | 40 million |
| Bat Out of Hell | Meat Loaf | 40 million |
| Saturday Night Fever | Bee Gees and assorted artists | 40 million |
| Led Zeppelin IV | Led Zeppelin | 37 million |
| Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | 33 million |
| Dirty Dancing | Various artists | 33 million |
| Falling into You | Celine Dion | 32 million |
1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
Source: UGC
- Release date: 30 November 1982
- Genres: Pop music, Rhythm and blues, Funk, Synth-pop, Post-disco
- Length: 42:16
- Copies sold: 70 M+
Thriller is the sixth workplace medium by the American vocalist and songwriter Michael Jackson. Released connected 29 November 1982 by Epic Records, the medium is estimated to person sold implicit 70 cardinal copies worldwide, making it the best-selling medium of each time.
Thriller is besides the best-selling non-compilation album successful the United States. It is certified 34x Platinum by RIAA. Some fashionable tracks from this medium see The Girl Is Mine, Billie Jean, Beat It, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin, Human Nature, and Thriller.
2. Back successful Black by AC/DC
Source: UGC
- Release date: 25 July 1980
- Genres: Hard rock, dense metal
- Length: 42:11
- Copies sold: 50 M+
Back successful Black is the seventh workplace medium by Australian rock band AC/DC. It was released connected 25 July 1980, by Albert Productions and Atlantic Records, and has since sold much than 50 cardinal copies worldwide, making it the 2nd best-selling medium of each time.
Back successful Black is besides the best-selling medium that ne'er reached the apical spot connected the American charts. In August 2024, the medium was certified 27× Platinum by the RIAA. It features hard stone anthems specified arsenic Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, and the rubric track, Back successful Black.
3. The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Source: UGC
- Release date: 1 March 1973
- Genres: Progressive rock, abstraction rock, psychedelic rock
- Length:42:50
- Copies sold: 45 M+
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth workplace medium by the English stone set Pink Floyd. Released successful 1973, it features songs similar Time, Money, and Us and Them.
The Dark Side of the Moon has sold implicit 45 cardinal copies worldwide. It is 1 of the mt sold albums of each clip worldwide and the band's astir commercially palmy release. The medium besides holds the grounds for the astir weeks spent connected the Billboard 200 chart.
4. The Bodyguard Soundtrack by Whitney Houston and Various Artists
Source: UGC
- Release date: 17 November 1992
- Genres: Pop, municipality pop, R&B
- Length: 57:44
- Copies sold: 45 M+
The Bodyguard Soundtrack is 1 of the bestselling workplace albums of each time, having sold 45 cardinal copies. It is the archetypal medium of Whitney Houston, 1 of the best achromatic singers, and was released connected 17 November 1992 by Arista Records. The medium was portion of the movie The Bodyguard, wherever Whitney besides starred.
The Bodyguard soundtrack has sold implicit 45 cardinal copies worldwide, making it the best-selling soundtrack of each clip and the best-selling medium by a pistillate artist. It features deed songs by Whitney Houston, including the deed I Will Always Love You.
5. Bad by Michael Jackson
Source: UGC
- Release date: 31 August 1987
- Genres: Pop, dance, R&B
- Length: 48:40 (CD version)
- Copies sold: 45 M+
Bad is among the best-selling albums of each time, having sold over 35 cardinal copies worldwide and is certified 11× platinum successful the United States. It is Michael Jackson's seventh workplace album, released successful 1987 by Epic Records.
Produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, the medium features a premix of pop, dance, R&B, funk, and stone elements. It includes hits similar I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man successful the Mirror, Dirty Diana, and Smooth Criminal.
6. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by Eagles
Source: UGC
- Release date: 17 February 1976
- Genres: Rock
- Length:43:08
- Copies sold: 44 M+
Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is the archetypal compilation medium by the American stone set the Eagles. It contains a enactment of songs from the band's archetypal 4 albums, which were released from 1972 to 1975. The medium has sold implicit 38 cardinal copies, making it the best-selling medium successful the United States.
Released by Asylum Records successful 1976, it includes the Eagles’ biggest songs from their aboriginal years, similar Take It Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, and One of These Nights. In 2018, Their Greatest Hits surpassed Michael Jackson's Thriller to go the best-selling medium of each time.
7. Hotel California by Eagles
Source: UGC
- Release date: 8 December 1976
- Genres: Rock
- Length: 43:28
- Copies sold: 42 M+
Hotel California is the 5th workplace medium by the American stone set Eagles. Upon its release, it received captious and commercialized success, topping the US Billboard 200 chart. Recorded by the set and produced by Bill Szymczyk, Hotel California has sold implicit 42 cardinal copies worldwide.
It is 1 of the astir iconic and best-selling albums of each time. In the US, it is certified 26x Platinum. The medium has celebrated songs similar Hotel California and New Kid successful Town.
8. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Source: UGC
- Release date: 4 February 1977
- Genres: Pop rock, brushed rock
- Length: 39:03
- Copies sold: 40 M+
Rumours by the British-American stone set Fleetwood Mac has sold implicit 40 cardinal copies worldwide. Released connected 4 February 1977, by Warner Bros. Records, it became the band's archetypal number-one medium connected the UK Albums Chart and besides topped the US Billboard 200.
The medium has galore deed singles, including Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Don't Stop, and You Make Loving Fun.
9. Come On Over by Shania Twain
Source: UGC
- Release date: 4 November 1997
- Genres: Country, pop-rock
- Length:60:08
- Copies sold: 40 M+
Come On Over is the 3rd workplace medium by Shania Twain, 1 of the classical 90s state singers. Come connected Over was the best-selling medium of the 1990s and has sold much than 40 cardinal copies worldwide to date. It remains the biggest-selling workplace medium by a pistillate creator of each time.
The album, which remains her astir palmy task to date, has been certified treble diamond for income of much than 20 cardinal copies successful the United States alone. It came retired successful 1997 and has large hits, specified arsenic You're Still the One, Man! I Feel Like a Woman! and From This Moment On.
10. Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf
Source: UGC
- Release date: 21 October 1977
- Genres: Wagnerian rock
- Length: 46:25
- Copies sold: 40 M+
Bat Out of Hell is the debut workplace medium by American stone vocalist Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman. Produced by Todd Rundgren, this iconic medium has reportedly sold 43 cardinal copies and has been certified 14x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Released successful 1977, it features epic songs, including Paradise by the Dashboard Light and the rubric way Bat Out of Hell.
11. Saturday Night Fever by Bee Gees and assorted artists
Source: UGC
- Release date: 15 November 1977
- Genres: Disco
- Length: 76:00
- Copies sold: 40 M+
Saturday Night Fever is a celebrated soundtrack medium released successful 1977. It features the Bee Gees and assorted artists. The medium sold over 40 cardinal copies worldwide, making it 1 of the best-selling albums of each time. It was certified 16x Platinum successful the United States.
Saturday Night Fever includes hits specified arsenic Stayin' Alive and Night Fever, How Deep Is Your Love, and If I Can't Have You.
12. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Source: UGC
- Release date: 8 November 1971
- Genres: Hard rock, dense metal
- Length: 42:37
- Copies sold: 37 M+
Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV (1971) is simply a ground-breaking stone medium that blends hard rock, blues, and people elements. Released successful 1971, Led Zeppelin IV has sold over 37 cardinal copies crossed the globe.
It was produced by Jimmy Page, the band's guitarist, and features iconic tracks like Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, and Rock and Roll.
13. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Source: UGC
- Release date: 13 June 1995
- Genres: Alternative rock, post-grunge
- Length: 57:23
- Copies sold: 33 M+
Jagged Little Pill is Alanis Morissette's 3rd workplace album, released connected 13 June 1995. Produced by Glen Ballard, the medium features raw, affectional lyrics and themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and empowerment.
The medium includes iconic tracks specified arsenic You Oughta Know, Ironic, Hand successful My Pocket, and Head Over Feet. It won 5 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and has sold implicit 33 cardinal copies worldwide.
14. Dirty Dancing by Various artists
Source: UGC
- Release date: 4 August 1987
- Genres: Pop rock, R&B, brushed rock
- Length: 39:25
- Copies sold: 33 M+
The Dirty Dancing soundtrack was released successful 1987 and features assorted artists, including Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes, Eric Carmen and Patrick Swayze. Some of the album's standout songs see (I've Had) The Time of My Life, Hungry Eyes, and She's Like the Wind.
The medium was a monolithic success, selling implicit 32 cardinal copies worldwide and becoming 1 of the best-selling soundtracks of each time. It adjacent inspired a follow-up album, More Dirty Dancing, successful 1988.
15. Falling into You by Celine Dion
Source: UGC
- Release date: 11 March 1996
- Genres: Pop
- Length: 67:00
- Copies sold: 32 M+
Celine Dion's Falling into You by Celine Dion was released connected 11 March 1996. It features a premix of pop, ballads, and brushed rock, with assorted deed tracks similar Because You Loved Me, It's All Coming Back to Me Now, and All by Myself.
The medium won 2 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Album, and has sold over 32 cardinal copies worldwide.
What is the #1 selling medium of each time?
The best-selling medium of each clip is Thriller by Michael Jackson, with implicit 70 cardinal copies sold worldwide.
What is the 2nd astir sold medium of each time?
Back successful Black by AC/DC is the 2nd astir sold medium of each time, with implicit 50 cardinal copies sold worldwide.
The best-selling medium of each clip is Thriller by Michael Jackson, with estimated worldwide income of 70 cardinal copies. Other apical contenders see Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 by the Eagles and Back successful Black by AC/DC.
Legit.ng precocious published an nonfiction astir the richest state singers. Country euphony is 1 of the fashionable euphony genres successful America. Country euphony stars person made a luck by selling records and performing connected tours worldwide.
Some person been successful the euphony manufacture for decades, accumulating fame and wealth. Alongside their philharmonic talent, immoderate state singers person ventured into different money-making ventures, specified arsenic acting and business. This nonfiction lists immoderate of the richest state singers successful the world.
Source: Legit.ng
