Which albums had the most units sold? This Top 10 list investigates the highest grossing albums in history:
“Their Greatest Hits” by the Eagles- 38 million units A compilation album of all their greatest hits, not including those from their Hotel California album, the marketing for this album was very strategic. The album was released 10 months before Hotel California, which was instantly a hit album. This goaded fans to buy both albums to be able to get all the songs. After that, the album just kept selling!
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson- 32 million units The King of Pop’s album Thriller is a real chart topper! It includes songs such as “Billie Jean”, “Thriller”, “P.Y.T. (pretty young thing), “This Girl is Mine”, and “Wanna be Startin’ Somethin’”. The album is considered revolutionary to how pop music was made and changed the direction of music for decades afterwards.
“Hotel California” by the Eagles- 26 million units Hotel California was released in 1976, just 10 months after “Their Greatest Hits” album dropped, also by the Eagles. Its songs “Hotel California” and “New Kid in Town” won two Grammy awards. Three songs from the album also topped the Billboard hits 100 list. The album was considered to be the peak of the Eagles, and afterwards they began growing apart.
“The Beatles” by The Beatles- 24 million units The Beatles by The Beatles features 30 songs! It was popular when it dropped in 1968 and remains to be a classic album today. It is often known as the “White Album” because of the white album cover that says ‘The Beatles’ on it in small in the center. The Beatles made music history with this album drop, and it is known as the album of some of their best songs.
“Led Zeppelin IV” by Led Zeppelin- 23 million units Led Zeppelin’s most popular album, Led Zeppelin IV, was actually untitled when it was released. It is commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV because it was the band’s fourth album to be released. Each of the band members chose a symbol for the album, and even guest vocalist Sandy Denny was able to pick an additional fifth.
“Back in Black” by AC/DC- 22 million units Back in Black was written and released posthumously to the lead singer Bon Scott, who died in February that year (1980). The lead singer was then replaced with Brian Johnson, who sang on this album. The album cover was made black in mourning of Scott, in his memory. The album went 22x platinum, with copies still being sold today.
“Rumors” by Fleetwood Mac- 21 million units Did you hear the rumors? Rumors was at the top of the charts for 31 weeks in the United States when it first came out. And it was appropriately named too- the album was created in a time of many arguments, splits, and affairs between the band members. Its 11 song track featured hit songs such as “Dreams” and “You Make Loving Fun”.
“Double Live” by Garth Brooks- 21 million units Brooks’s new album was played heavily on the radio when it first came out. Brooks also did live shows for this album (his first shows for albums ever). With an array of ballads and party songs, the album has mass appeal. Brooks’s popularity among both kids and adults at the time also helped his album explode.
“Come on Over” by Shania Twain- 20 million units Come on Over is the best selling country album in history. It is also the best selling album ever recorded by a female artist in the world. At its peak, it was number 2 on the Billboard top 200 chart. It was later reimagined, and the new version of the album was stripped of its country status, and named Come on Over: International Version, as country was not popular internationally.
“Cracked Rear View” by Hootie & the Blowfish- 19 million units A surprisingly dark album, Cracked Rear View addresses topics and issues such as drug abuse, racism, mortality, and heartache. Even so, people remember it as an album that reminded them of good times, with “Hold My Hand” and “Only Want to Be with You” as prime examples of the legacy Hootie & the Blowfish made with their album.
