While it is impossible to get all of the data needed for a list of this type, enough information exists to make a fairly accurate stab. This is a list of the ten best selling albums of all time. From fewest sold to most sold:
10. 1 The Beatles
Reported Sales: 23,769,000
1 is a compilation album by The Beatles, released on November 13, 2000. The album features every #1 British and American hit single by the band released from 1962 to 1970.
9. Back in Black AC/DC
Reported Sales: 25,215,000
Back in Black is the seventh studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released on 25 July 1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died at the age of 33 on February 19, 1980.
8. Rumours Fleetwood Mac
Reported Sales: 27,008,000
Rumours is a worldwide best selling rock and roll album released by Fleetwood Mac in 1977. It was the second album recorded with this lineup, following the successful self-titled Fleetwood Mac album.
7. The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd
Reported Sales: 27,629,000
The Dark Side of the Moon (titled in the 1993 CD release as Dark Side of the Moon, and often abbreviated as DSotM) is a concept album by the British progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in 1973 and engineered by Alan Parsons. It is notable for its use of Musique concrète and philosophical lyrics, something that would eventually become a trademark of Pink Floyd’s music.
6. Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morisette
Reported Sales: 27,664,000
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album and the first internationally released album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. Released on June 13, 1995 (see 1995 in music), the album broke into the mainstream with Morissette’s confessional and emotional lyrics and vocals.
5. Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin
Reported Sales: 28,627,000
The untitled fourth album of English rock band Led Zeppelin was released on November 8, 1971. It has no official title mentioned on the cover and is commonly referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, in the style of the band’s previous three albums. Atlantic Records catalogues have used the names Four Symbols and The Fourth Album, and it is also variously referred to as Untitled, Runes, Sticks, Man with Sticks, Four and ZoSo (after the appearance of the first character or symbol printed on the LP label).
4. Come on Over Shania Twain
Reported Sales: 30,460,000
Come on Over is the third album by Shania Twain, released in 1997 (see 1997 in music). The album is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time by a female artist, and one of the biggest selling albums in music history. Come on Over is also the best-selling album of the 1990s.
3. The Bodyguard Whitney Houston
Reported Sales: 31,698,000
The Bodyguard is the soundtrack from the movie of the same name, released on November 8, 1992 on Arista Records and features six songs by Whitney Houston, as well as songs from various other noted artists of the time; the album was co-executive produced by Whitney Houston and Clive Davis.
2. Their Greatest Hits The Eagles
Reported Sales: 31,934,000
Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) is the fifth album by the American rock band the Eagles, a compilation released on Asylum Records in 1976. It is the best selling record in the history of the United States and the second best worldwide behind Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This album was the first ever to be certified platinum for shipping one million copies, and was later certified diamond.
1. Thriller Michael Jackson
Reported Sales: 42,537,000
Thriller is the very successful 6th studio album by pop icon Michael Jackson, released by Epic Records on December 1, 1982. It is Jackson’s most popular album and catapulted him to international stardom when it was released. In 2007, the NARM and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ranked Thriller third on their “Definitive 200″ list, a compilation of what they believed to be the greatest albums ever. According to the Guinness World Records, Thriller is the world’s best-selling album of all time.
Source: UKMix.org
the bodyguard??? really?
evan: yeah – I was pretty surprised actually
Well I did my contribution on 5, 7 and 9. My sister bought 1 and 8.
I haven’t bought a single one of these albums. None of them are really my sort of music.
I thought there was a huge selling Boston album? Or maybe that was biggest selling debut albums I’m thinking of…
Jagged Little Pill was my first CD!
AnotherEngine: Boston by Boston (1976) sold 18,100,000 – that is definitely a best seller – but not in the top ten.
Jackie: I think Alanis is very talented – did you see her parody of “My Humps”? It is here – it is totally worth watching – hilarious. It really shows us how ridiculous much of the modern music around now is.
I bought Come on Over.
all the others i havent bought, doesn’t mean i don’t own them, maybe my friends do…
anyway, somehow, i think
Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album deserves to be on this list, although, this list on wiki is kinda hard to understand.
My dad owns it, and it is a great album.
as for the others on the list, the only ones i like: AC/DC, Alanis Morisette, The Eagles, Shinana Twain
steve: hehe subtle
I agree about the Wikipedia list – it is out of date and lacking a huge amount of data – my source gave reasonable numbers for all the major sales markets and was most recently updated this year. Meatloaf is great – he was awesome in Rocky Horror. I like the Eagles too – they are one of my mother’s favorite groups.
yea, its one of those times on wikipedia when it’s out of date, or just plain wrong.
I’m not disagreeing on this list, it’s probably completely correct, and if its not, it’s cause there is no way to accurately get data on all of the music, especially in the past decade or so, with downloading it via questionable legal means
Jamie: I DID see that parody and thought it was hilarious. Have you seen her VH1 Storytellers? It’s great! She’s so awesome.
Heiho,
of which region is this a best-selling list? US? worldwide? Liechtenstein?
It would help if this info is added to the list header.
I only have one of those albums: the Eagles. The rest…meh, not my kind of music. Which means either my music isn’t very good or is very underrated.
The only one I have on this list is Dark Side of the Moon.
Actually, the Eagles was the best selling album, and The Wall by Pink Floyd is the third best selling album.
I have 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10
I would never have guessed that Alanis Morrisette and Shania Twain had sold THAT many albums, especially since the rest of the top sellers are classics. The best part is that probably 75% of the people who bought their CDs are totally embarrassed about it now!
More people own Shania Twain than Zeppelin IV…..that ***** ain’t right
hey Jfrater you mentioned that none of this music was your type, i was just wondering what type of music you are into?
Jackie: I haven’t seen her VH1 storytellers – I will keep my eyes out – I think she is quite an interesting and amusing person.
librarian: The world – I didn’t think it needed a mention as it was global – I will put it in the opening paragraph though.
Fe: It must be underrated
I am sure your music taste is excellent! And as I said – these aren’t really my sort of music either – though I do like listening to the Eagles and I don’t mind Alanis Morisette’s album. I have never bought one though.
Martin: according to what source? I found the most up to date statistics I could and that was not the rank I came up with.
Hannah: I was amazed too – I don’t even know what Shania Twain sounds like.
trebek: there is no accounting for taste
I agree with you though.
Guillermo: Aside from classical music (which I studied for a while), my favorite groups are The Arctic Monkeys, Dashboard Confessional, Green Day, Hoobastank, The Feeling, The Strokes, Keane, Paolo Nutini, Roosters, Raconteurs and a variety of pop stuff like Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Bjork, etc.
If you want to see my Last.FM page it is here – it updates through the day as I play music on iTunes.
Heiho,
well, I’ve spent some time now reading bits of the original thread.
I must agree with the posters there about the reliability of major labels’ sales data. Or some ‘awards’. But anyway, the list there grows and changes here’n'now because of anything any member will contribute anytime.
to quote a user named braca
http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=942909#942909
according to metal hammer mag on ac/dc march 06 back in black has sold 42 millon copys cheers
peter: thanks for that – the problem with this sort of list is that every source gives a different total, so while you are saying could be true – I had to pick one source and go with it.
Wow, surprising, I really thought Metallica’s black album was going to be on there.
I liked Michael Jackson………until he became a complete freak.
this list is seriously lacking. Meatloaf should definitely be on here. whats going on guys?
Strange…very strange…Where did you get it???
What about Celine’s “Falling Into You” and “Let’s Talk About Love”. Both of them have been sold over 32 000 000 copies all over the world.
And isn’t Elvis supposed to be in the list as the best selling male artist (Celine Dion’s the best selling female artist)?
i haven’t heard a track from the bodyguard, but i still like it, maybe because of the platnium album hanging on my wall because of it, but who knows?
im really shocked about the bodyguard being here,moreover that high on the list
hmm i thought maybe the spice girls would be on here?
mike sold that many records no wonder he made up the moonwalk!
WHA???
Shania Twain has sold more albums then Dark Side of The Moon?! Madness!
I have obviously not checked the stats for album sales recently…
Why would people be embarrassed about owning one of Shania’s great albums? Shania is a music icon whose music is loved worldwide. She is the only artist in history with 3 diamond albums in a row. Shania is the only artist I know of who can go on hiatus for 4 years in her private estates in Switzerland and New Zealand and still come out and have one of the biggest sellers in the world at age 42.
I speak for tens of millions worldwide,people love Shania and she will always have a massive fan base.
Rest in Peace Bon Scott :]
no allanis morrisset! what about the best of the doors?! that was a bad ass album
I thought Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” was #3 all-time.
Well at least they got number #1 right that’s all that counts! No one remembers Number 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 etc….. Like Simon Cowell always say if you’re not #1 then you are FORGETTABLE!
everyone remember DSotM
i cant belive the doors arnt on there they still sell 2million $ a year in music but i agree with the list good job
I have to point out that Nirvana’s Nevermind album replaced ‘Thriller’.
Nirvina’s Nevermind did not replaced Thriller in any way Mergedloki. it has not sell even one half as thriller and it will never sell that much. Thriller still has to sell in the next generation of music lovers cos its entertaining values are still there.
Sorry, yea i screwed up my jackson albums (what can i say i’m not a jackson fan lol).
It was ‘Dangerous’ that Nevermind bumped off the album charts. not thriller.
wasn’t bad the 2nd most-selling album of all time (also by michael jackson)?
I bought 9,8,7,6,5,2,and 1…seems like such a long time ago.
hm.. does anyone know the sales figues for Musicbox and Daydream by Mariah carey..
could have sworn they were 30 mil and 25 mil respectively…
that would have put musicbox on the list..
..well thats what wikipedia says
where is nevermind????
I’m not disputing any of the facts here I’m just saying that maybe you should have cut the compilations, they’re a bit cheap. Especially the Best Of’s (no other single-artist type is there). But apart from that great list – Zeppelin IV owned the Beatles (and that was a stupid compilation).
WHERE IS GUNS N ROSES???
actually, This list is wrong. Although your number one is correct, the number 2 best selling album of all time is Back in Black by AC/DC. As a huge fan of AC/DC, I know this quite well.
Your total for that album’s sales is only 3 million more than the album’s sales in the United States alone! Worldwide, the album has sold 42 million copies and is still selling quite fast, possibly the fastest of all the albums on this list.
The best selling albums lists is always all over the place so I don’t really trust any of these lists =D but I know Michael Jackson and The Eagles are top 2. Also, Michael Jackson has actually sold more than 100+ million albums, and Whitney Houston has sold about as much as AC/DC back in Black (I think Houston has sold 1 million more copies worldwide).
MICHEAL JACKSON 4 LYF…
(is his dick black or white?)
should do one of these for downloads
jfrater – The Beatles aren’t your kind of music? Far be it for me to judge, but that’s almost like blasphemy.
Though I do agree with you for the most part. The only other one on here I own is Zeppelin IV. As for the Eagles, I gotta defer to the Dude on that one. Give me CCR any day.
52. Bert : Hardly, I don’t like The Beatles much *at all* either. I do however love Zeppelin
only one i bought was 1
WRONG! This is list old. Check the RIAA website which lists the Eagles as number one in the most recent list and Michael #2.
RIP MICHAEL!
y the hell is back in black number 9!
list is bull *****
hmmm i thought the bodyguard sold 42 mill units worldwide lol
Alanis is rich, good maybe she will stay away because she doesn’t have to make money any more. Lets cross our fingers! That video with her nude is HORRIFIC
this list is outdated. must of been done in the mid nineties