The Greatest Selling Albums Of All Time

[PHOENIX]

LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA have released some of the top-selling albums in the United States of all time, according to the figures released by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Here is a list of the all-time top selling albums (number in perenthesis indicates total U.S. sales in millions):

THE EAGLES - "Eagles/Their Greatest Hits: 1971-75" (29)
MICHAEL JACKSON - "Thriller" (27)
LED ZEPPELIN - "Led Zeppelin IV" (23)
PINK FLOYD - "The Wall" (23)
AC/DC - "Back in Black" (21)
BILLY JOEL - "Greatest Hits Vol. I & II" (21)
GARTH BROOKS - "Double Live" (20)
SHANIA TWAIN - "Come On Over" (20)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles" (19)
FLEETWOOD MAC - "Rumours" (19)
BOSTON - "Boston" (17)
WHITNEY HOUSTON - "The Bodyguard" (soundtrack) (17)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1967-70" (16)
GARTH BROOKS - "No Fences" (16)
THE EAGLES - "Hotel California" (16)
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH - "Cracked Rear View" (16)
ELTON JOHN - "Greatest Hits" (16)
LED ZEPPELIN - "Physical Graffiti" (16)
ALANIS MORISSETTE - "Jagged Little Pill" (16)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1962-66" (15)
BEE GEES - "Saturday Night Fever" (soundtrack) (15)
GUNS N' ROSES - "Appetite for Destruction" (15)
PINK FLOYD - "Dark Side of the Moon" (15)
SANTANA - "Supernatural" (15)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - "Born in the U.S.A." (15)
BACKSTREET BOYS - "Backstreet Boys" (14)
GARTH BROOKS - "Ropin' the Wind" (14)
JOURNEY - "Greatest Hits" (14)
MEAT LOAF - "Bat Out of Hell" (14)
METALLICA - "Metallica" (14)
SIMON & GARFUNKEL - "Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" (14)
BRITNEY SPEARS - "... Baby One More Time" (14)

The 20 top-selling artists in millions of albums/CDs (number in perenthesis indicates total U.S. sales in millions):

01. THE BEATLES (168.5)
02. ELVIS PRESLEY (118.5)
03. GARTH BROOKS (116)
04. LED ZEPPELIN (109.5)
05. EAGLES (91)
06. BILLY JOEL (79.5)
07. PINK FLOYD (73.5)
08. BARBRA STREISAND (71)
09. ELTON JOHN (69)
10. AC/DC (66)
11. THE ROLLING STONES (65.5)
12. AEROSMITH (65.5)
13. MADONNA (63)
14. GEORGE STRAIT (62.5)
15. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (62)
16. MARIAH CAREY (61.5)
17. MICHAEL JACKSON (60.5)
18. METALLICA (57)
19. VAN HALEN (56.5)
20. WHITNEY HOUSTON (54)

[BrownSound1]

I'll never, for as long as I live, understand the Garth Brooks thing.

[rustoffa]

Where the fuck is Frampton Comes Alive? It's a damn shame Britney Spears is on that list.

It'd be great if Peter Frampton smashed her over the head with his 4'x4' effects board!
:D

[m_dixon1984]

I'm a little surprised to see Physical Graffiti as Zeps second biggest selling album. Granted, I've never really looked into which Zeppelin albums are the most popular - I love 'em all so why would I bother - but I still would have thought their first album would come in behind IV. I guess Kashmir was far more popular a song than I ever gave it credit for. At least it wasn't CODA on the list...I'd have to believe then that the apocalypse is truly upon us.

M

PS - I'd heard Garth was popular but 3 albums on the list. Stunning! His brand of country music has never been my cup'o'tea. I guess I just don't "get" the popular country scene.

[MAX]

Originally posted by PHOENIX
19. VAN HALEN (56.5)

Hey Peenix,

Suup bro?

Anyhoo, I'll bet $$$ that if this were posted at the links the sheep would claim that the Van Hagar albums make up those sales. lmao

Also, I'm surprised that KI$$ isn't on that list anywhere?

[binnie]

That's an interesting read!

It's noticeable how many of those big sellers are "Greatest Hits" - that's people using the sheep mentality cos they heard one song on the radio.

It's great that so much heavy music is one their: proof that rock/metal is a bigger type of music than wave after wave of pop shit that radio churns out! (Britney is the notable exception - how the fuck did she sell 14 million records?)

I can't name one Garth Brooks song!

Also surprised at how high Streisand is on that list.....

[binnie]

No Queen on either of those lists either.....

[Panamark]

Who the fuck is George Strait ?????????


I recognize every other name on that list..
Never heard of this dude ...

[binnie]

Originally posted by Panamark
Who the fuck is George Strait ?????????


I recognize every other name on that list..
Never heard of this dude ...

I think he's a country singer, but I could be wrong....

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by binnie
I think he's a country singer, but I could be wrong....

he is...

Garth Brooks is a country singer too....

they've probably only sold millions of albums in the US.....no one in the UK has heard of them.....

[binnie]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
he is...

Garth Brooks is a country singer too....

they've probably only sold millions of albums in the US.....no one in the UK has heard of them.....

True dat, I can't name one Garth Brooks song...

[thome]

George Strait is Country .

Garth Brooks is Pop Counry crossover and shouldn't be considered Country.

If i was going to be a country singer i would hope i was as good and
of the Style and Vibe of George Strait.

He is old school like George jones and seems to have a originality
that lets me know he is no hack.

I think also these lists aren't real, i mean there are some bands that seem to be missing it doesn't say -Rock- it just sais -greatest selling-
and where is Frank and .....

This must be Top Selling as far as $ generated I'm not saying bogus
just odd showing on the list...?

Kinda like movies today get world record openings 50 mill $ first
week openings well -50- years ago -500- times more people saw
a movie that came out!!! but a ticket price was only .25 cents.


Fuk The POLE!!!!

[Mr Badguy]

Originally posted by binnie
No Queen on either of those lists either.....

Queen weren`t big in America after "The Game", partly due to the short hair, confusing "are they rock or pop?" image and Freddie growing that big, bushy and very gay moustache which alienated their core young male audience.

A discography full of patchy albums with killer singles probably didn`t help either.

[binnie]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
Queen weren`t big in America after "The Game", partly due to the short hair, confusing "are they rock or pop?" image and Freddie growing that big, bushy and very gay moustache which alienated their core young male audience.

A discography full of patchy albums with killer singles probably didn`t help either.

Cheers, I didn't know that, I thought they'd always been huge!

[binnie]

It's interesting that most of those bands are either finished, or pretty inactive. that list could change around a fair bit in th next 5-10 years

I mean, ACDC haven't had an album out for 6 years, or toured for a few either, no one really knows what is going on.

VH ain't doing anything in the near future (pray for a reuion)

The Stones still put out records though, don't they. I'm surprised that they are not much higher.

Mariah Carey's still realeasing records (sadly)

But Metallica and Aerosmith are the most active bands on that list, right? I suppose there is a good chance that they will continue to climb that list.

That's good news for heavy music!

[Last_Child]

Originally posted by rustoffa

It'd be great if Peter Frampton smashed her over the head with his 4'x4' effects board!
:D

My Dream:D

[PHOENIX]

Originally posted by binnie
It's interesting that most of those bands are either finished, or pretty inactive. that list could change around a fair bit in th next 5-10 years



Thats pretty much how i see it too.

[PHOENIX]

Originally posted by MAX
Hey Peenix,

Suup bro?

Anyhoo, I'll bet $$$ that if this were posted at the links the sheep would claim that the Van Hagar albums make up those sales. lmao

Also, I'm surprised that KI$$ isn't on that list anywhere?

Dude long time no see.

The sheep can all fuck themselves. Their idol wears capri pants for fucksakes.

Theres no way that a guy with so much yellow clothing in his closet could actually be considered cool or have anything to do with album sales.

Van Halen sold lots of albums because of 2 people.

Dave and Edweird!

[Steve Savicki]

Well, someone beat Michael Jackson.

Sales don't matter to me, I listen to what I like.

[Panamark]

Originally posted by Steve Savicki
Well, someone beat Michael Jackson.



Thank God ! That dude gets away with too much as it is..
Notice the only thing saving his ass these days is the
number one band on that list !!
Not his own musical achievements..

[Panamark]

oh, and thanks to all the dudes for setting me "strait" about "george" :)

Fookin never heard of the dude in Oz.
We have heard about Garth Brooks.

For your punishment we sent across Keith Urban !!! :p

[sadaist]

Originally posted by Steve Savicki

Sales don't matter to me, I listen to what I like.

The only problem with that is if what you like doesn't sell any records, it won't be around long.

[binnie]

Originally posted by sadaist
The only problem with that is if what you like doesn't sell any records, it won't be around long.

Exactly - sales are important also because a lot of bands you get into are as a result of promotions on the radio/TV, which is often a result of decent sales.

It's when people say "this sold a lot, therefore it's good, that the arguement falls down".

[Mr Badguy]

It`s also interesting that a lot (though not all) of those albums were released before the multi media hype and advertising campaigns that you get today.

Those albums sold because the bands got out there and played.

[binnie]

Yep, touring sells records (Metallica, Zepp, ACDC all toured their asses of!)

[Panamark]

CUNTS !

Those fucking recording industry corporate fucks who control music
now.

Sure they can manufacture a quick hit with image and saturation.
But its disposable crap. Even someone as hugely marketed and
hyped such as Destiny's Child are not even a piss drop in the ocean,
compared with the record sales listed here.

Back then we decided what we liked, and fucking bought it !
Now they think they can tell us what we like.

FUCK EM, DIRTY CUNTS !!

LOOK AT ALL THE ROCK BANDS IN THIS LIST....


LED ZEPPELIN - "Led Zeppelin IV" (23)
PINK FLOYD - "The Wall" (23)
AC/DC - "Back in Black" (21)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles" (19)
FLEETWOOD MAC - "Rumours" (19)
BOSTON - "Boston" (17)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1967-70" (16)
LED ZEPPELIN - "Physical Graffiti" (16)
THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1962-66" (15)
GUNS N' ROSES - "Appetite for Destruction" (15)
PINK FLOYD - "Dark Side of the Moon" (15)
SANTANA - "Supernatural" (15)
JOURNEY - "Greatest Hits" (14)
MEAT LOAF - "Bat Out of Hell" (14)
METALLICA - "Metallica" (14)


01. THE BEATLES (168.5)
02. ELVIS PRESLEY (118.5)
04. LED ZEPPELIN (109.5)
07. PINK FLOYD (73.5)
10. AC/DC (66)
11. THE ROLLING STONES (65.5)
12. AEROSMITH (65.5)
18. METALLICA (57)
19. VAN HALEN (56.5)

Could probably have included Eagles and Springsteen
too, depending on your interpretation of what is Rock..

How many of these acts would be promoted by
the corporate fucks these days, yet look at how
many squillions of albums they sold..

Im pissed...

[binnie]

It's true, I don't see many of the bands that are around now still seeing records 20 years from now....

[binnie]

How come U2 isn't on that list?

I thought that they were huge in the States?

[bastardog]

they are huge assholes

[blonddgirl777]

She might not be in our music range here but did someone mention: Céline Dion?

[m_dixon1984]

Originally posted by binnie
How come U2 isn't on that list?

I thought that they were huge in the States?

And North Americans have put up with them because we thought you Euros liked them. Is the truth, in fact, that nobody likes U2??? I'd certainly jump on that bandwagon!

For those questioning why Titney is on the list I'd suggest that it's no different than most others. She toured like hell through the US in support of that album. Same is true of Garth Brooks. He was always on the road in the nineties (seems to have slowed down a bit recently).

It will be interesting to see the list in 20 years. Will any of todays pop and rap stars be bumping our Rock and Metal icons from the list??? I don't see it myself. With the revolving door of Idol stars, the hundreds of rap and r&b clones - all essentially one-hit-wonders, and of course the Internet and it's buy a single song culture, the album is a dying format.

Look at the non-compilation albums on that list. Fantastic from beginning to end - the ones I've heard anyway. Sure they all had multiple hit singles but what I remember most about them is listening to them all the way through and really appreciating the artists vision/groove. Putting together an album was part of a musician\producer's art and played a huge part in capturing the listeners imagination, attention, and eventually their dollar. Then through word-of-mouth, reviews, etc, the albums end up on that list. I have a huge collection of albums and CDs bought for one single - even huge singles - and the album has fallen flat - my friends were told not to buy them as I'm sure were millions of others. These are nowhere to be seen on the list and the same will true of all the disposable pop stars of today.

M

[binnie]

Will the Chili Pepps make it onto that list?

Bloodsugarsexmagic, Californication, By the Way and their greastest Hits must have racked up some big sales.

And the new one as well.

Maybe in five years?

[Bob_R]

Originally posted by MAX
Anyhoo, I'll bet $$$ that if this were posted at the links the sheep would claim that the Van Hagar albums make up those sales. lmao


It is!

here (http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/showthread.php?t=33281&page=2&pp=15)

Check out GreenFags response.

[binnie]

There is no way Van Hagar outsold CVH.....

[Casemeister]

Originally posted by MAX

Also, I'm surprised that KI$$ isn't on that list anywhere?

They just haven't sold all that many records. Gene's "Gold Record Champions" claim is quite amusing. Yes, Gene, you guys have more gold records than any other band... but most bands prefer it when their albums go platinum or beyond. ;) I am pretty sure their biggest selling album is ALIVE, with 4 million or so.

The "Gold Record Champions" crap misleads a LOT of people. Probably just how Gene likes it, too... ;)


(I'm not really anti-KISS... the Gene sales rubbish just annoys me.)

[Casemeister]

It is a FACT that Van Hagar has NOT outsold CVH. Anybody who claims otherwise is either ignorant or stupid... or both. It has been proven time and time again with cold, hard facts.

[floyd95]

Originally posted by m_dixon1984
I'm a little surprised to see Physical Graffiti as Zeps second biggest selling album.

double albums are counted for each disc, so one sold equals two counted, if that makes sense...

the wall has sold 10.5 million x 2 discs = 21 million

[floyd95]

should be, the wall has sold 11.5 x 2 = 23 million

[binnie]

Originally posted by floyd95
double albums are counted for each disc, so one sold equals two counted, if that makes sense...

the wall has sold 10.5 million x 2 discs = 21 million

No fucking way!

What a cop out, it's still one record!

I didn't know that, cheers...

[Bob_R]

Originally posted by Casemeister
It is a FACT that Van Hagar has NOT outsold CVH. Anybody who claims otherwise is either ignorant or stupid... or both.

Yup.

[Panamark]

Van Hagar came prematurely.

Van Halen fucked for years.

[binnie]

Originally posted by Panamark
Van Hagar came prematurely.

Van Halen fucked for years.


That's a five star metaphor!

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by binnie
No Queen on either of those lists either.....

With it being US sales figures, it doesn't suprise me that much. Had it been a european CUNTry, they probably would have been there.

[Soul Reaper]

Originally posted by Shaun Ponsonby
With it being US sales figures, it doesn't suprise me that much. Had it been a european CUNTry, they probably would have been there.

lookee who's back....

how was your lovely tax dodge?

[Terry]

Originally posted by MAX
Hey Peenix,

Suup bro?

Anyhoo, I'll bet $$$ that if this were posted at the links the sheep would claim that the Van Hagar albums make up those sales. lmao

Also, I'm surprised that KI$$ isn't on that list anywhere?


'Specially seeing as how KISS put out maybe 20 or so studio albums - but someone else on another thread had mentioned that a lot of those albums barely broke a million, and that their biggest studio one, Destroyer, only did about 4 million - never went and checked the figures, but seems KISS's record sales never quite lived up to Gene's hype.

[Terry]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
It`s also interesting that a lot (though not all) of those albums were released before the multi media hype and advertising campaigns that you get today.

Those albums sold because the bands got out there and played.


Fuckin' A

[binnie]

Originally posted by Terry
'Specially seeing as how KISS put out maybe 20 or so studio albums - but someone else on another thread had mentioned that a lot of those albums barely broke a million, and that their biggest studio one, Destroyer, only did about 4 million - never went and checked the figures, but seems KISS's record sales never quite lived up to Gene's hype.

Just did some digging around, and according to wikipaedia, Kiss has sold 19 million records in the USA, with 22 gold records (nowhere near enough to make that list....)

They have sold over 80 million worldwide...

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
lookee who's back....

how was your lovely tax dodge?

Erm...twas alright, but had some bad news when I got home.

[Terry]

Originally posted by binnie
Just did some digging around, and according to wikipaedia, Kiss has sold 19 million records in the USA, with 22 gold records (nowhere near enough to make that list....)

They have sold over 80 million worldwide...

Yeah...they were no stiffs when it came to selling records -

I was kinda surprised to see they didn't make the list either at first, if only because they put out so many albums in comparison to a lot of the other groups on the list, and the perception of them as one of the hugest bands of all time in my mind naturally carries over to their album sales as well.

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by PHOENIX


01. THE BEATLES (168.5)
02. LED ZEPPELIN (109.5)
03. EAGLES (91)
04. PINK FLOYD (73.5)
05. AC/DC (66)
06. THE ROLLING STONES (65.5)
07. AEROSMITH (65.5)
08. METALLICA (57)
09. VAN HALEN (56.5)



I find that list pretty amazing,

The list of the top 9 selling bands in the US of all time.

Where is N-Sync?

Where are the rap bands?

Where are the Pop Idol people?

Where are U2?

Record companies are dumb cunts...

[Seshmeister]

Originally posted by PHOENIX


01. THE BEATLES (168.5)
02. LED ZEPPELIN (109.5)
03. EAGLES (91)
04. PINK FLOYD (73.5)
05. AC/DC (66)
06. THE ROLLING STONES (65.5)
07. AEROSMITH (65.5)
08. METALLICA (57)
09. VAN HALEN (56.5)



I find that list pretty amazing,

The list of the top 9 selling bands in the US of all time.

Where is N-Sync?

Where are the rap bands?

Where are the Pop Idol people?

Where are U2?

Record companies are dumb cunts...

I guess Metallica are the youngest band on the list in their mid 40s?

What happens in 10 years time when most of thses bands are gone?

The other thing that strikes me is that everyone you would ever meet in Europe has heard of 1-8 but Van Halen aren't a household name to anywhere near the same extent as the rest.

I think if they hadn't split with Roth, Van Halen would be the single biggest touring band in the world at this point and on a par with The Stones and the Beatles.

Cheers!

:gulp:

[binnie]

No Maiden either.....

[monkeythe]

Originally posted by m_dixon1984
I'm a little surprised to see Physical Graffiti as Zeps second biggest selling album. Granted, I've never really looked into which Zeppelin albums are the most popular - I love 'em all so why would I bother - but I still would have thought their first album would come in behind IV. I guess Kashmir was far more popular a song than I ever gave it credit for. At least it wasn't CODA on the list...I'd have to believe then that the apocalypse is truly upon us.

M

PS - I'd heard Garth was popular but 3 albums on the list. Stunning! His brand of country music has never been my cup'o'tea. I guess I just don't "get" the popular country scene.


Physical Graffiti is that high because it was released as a double album. Each copy of the album sold counted as two. I don't think that still holds up for the CD sales though.

The amazing thing about Garth Brooks is that most of his albums were bought only once. Due to technological changes, fans bought most of the albums on this list in different formats over the years (ex: records, 8-Track, cassette, & CD)