AC/DC's 'Back In Black' Hits 21-Million Mark

[Hardrock69]

According to Billboard magazine, AC/DC's 1980 breakthrough "Back in Black" has been certified for U.S. shipments of 21 million copies, tying it for fifth place with BILLY JOEL's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II" on the Recording Industry Assn. of America's all-time best-sellers list.

The Australian hard rock group's first album with lead singer Brian Johnson, who replaced Bon Scott following his alcohol-related death, "Back in Black" was originally released by Atco and was reissued in 2003 by Epic along with the rest of the band's catalog.

JOEL's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & II" reached 21 million in 2000. The leader of the list remains "Eagles/Their Greatest Hits" (Asylum), last certified in 2002 at 28 million. In second is MICHAEL JACKSON's "Thriller" (Epic), which reached 27 million in an April RIAA accounting, followed by PINK FLOYD's "The Wall" (23 million/1999; Capitol) and "Led Zeppelin IV" (22 million/1999; Atlantic).

Elsewhere among the RIAA's May certifications is a triple-platinum award (U.S. shipments of three million) for AC/DC's 1976 set "High Voltage".

[flappo]

holy fuck , what a duo that'd make

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Amazing how many Rock & Roll albums are in the biggest sellers list and how little Van Hagar albums there are.

[FORD]

Back in Black is a great album, but half the album's sales are due to the fact that it's been remastered and released a half dozen times, with the original, the late 80's original CD, the BonFire remaster, the first Sony remaster, and now I believe there's a "dual disc" release with some videos or whatever. Probably the videos that were conveniently left off the Family Jewels DVD.

[Hardrock69]

Last year I saw an item in Billboard magazine where AC/DC were given some kind of award for selling 80 million albums world wide.......

And don't forget...the 21 million figure is for US SALES ONLY.

[Warham]

And many of those albums are 2-disc sets, so they count for two sales according to the RIAA.

Billy Joel's greatest hits has really only sold about 10.5 million in reality.

[Soul Reaper]

it deserves that 21 million. GRATE album!!

[Unchainme]

Awesome Album. The Coolest thing ever is that AC/DC has never done a ballad song EVER!!!!! There just straight Up Partying Rock And Roll.

[Panamark]

Does "Ride On" count as a ballad ??? Love that song..

[DavidLeeNatra]

Originally posted by Panamark
Does "Ride On" count as a ballad ??? Love that song..

it's more just a slow and bluesy song...wouldn't call it a "ballad"..keep that for the cheesy shit like "love walks in"

[Last_Child]

Holy Fuck!

This is Goddamn perfect album!

And..no, AC/DC never did any Ballads...closest thing is Ride On & Love Song.

[Shaun Ponsonby]

I'm probably gonna get shot down in flames for saying this (geddit?), but I actually think 'Back In Black' is slightly overrated. I think 'Highway To Hell' is better, as is 'Powerage', as is 'High Voltage'. Don't get me wrong, I do like it, and I do think that it is an achievment to do an album that good after your frontman has just died, but I don't think it is as good as sales indicate.

Having said that, I would much rather that AC/DC is given the title than Busted or some shit.

[sammysucks65]

whoa and to think i own one of those copies god bless you angus, malcom, brian, cliff, and the drummer hahah i forget his name

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Phil Rudd

[BITEYOASS]

Heck, I find it hilarious that an Eagles compilation beat out "Thriller"!

[flappo]

yeah , i prefer bon scott era ac/dc to the later stuff

not unlike vh

:)

the ORIGINAL and BEST !

[diamondsgirl]

BIB is one of my favorite albums. I just love it and always have.

I love Brians and Bons stuff ... does that make me a sheep? lol

the whole AC/DC story is just amazing....

[Terry]

Gotta give AC/DC props for never selling out with some bullshit power ballad, agreed.

These guys just went in and did what they wanted to do. Prefer what they did with Bon over Brian, but kinda only by a matter of degrees. Wasn't like Back In Black was a quantum stylistic shift from Highway To Hell, a la CVH to Van Hagar.

When I hear AC/DC, to me that just represents pure, hard rock and fucking roll.

[VonHalen]

glad to hear, great album