The Top 10 Most Sold Albums Of All Time
Welcome to the list of best-selling albums of all time. This list can often vary due to artists claiming much higher sales than can be certified, so your favourite artist may not appear in the top 10. Still, we’re sure you’ll recognise some of these iconic names who devoted their lives to music and created some of the most genre-defining albums of all time.
10. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in 1965 and took the late 60s by storm. Pink Floyd became known for leading the progressive rock genre during their time. The Dark Side of the Moon was their eighth studio album. It was released on March 1st, 1973, by Harvest Records.
The Dark Side of the Moon focused on the band’s struggles during their heavy lifestyle. It also touched on some of the more sensitive topics surrounding their former band member Syd Barrett, who parted ways with Pink Floyd in 1968.
Harvest Records claimed that the album sold over 45 million copies. However, the total number of certified copies sold sits at 25 million, which squeezes Pink Floyd’s album into the number 10 spot on our list.
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9. Adele – 21
Born in 1988, British singer and songwriter Adele graduated from the BRIT School in 2006. After graduation, Adele signed a record deal with XL Recordings and released her first album, 19, with them in 2008. The album was a success but would not match her album 21.
21 was released on January 24th, 2011, by Columbia Records and would go on to be the highest-sold album of the 21st century. As a matter of fact, Adele’s album is the only album in this list released after the year 2000.
The album follows the breakup of Adele and her partner and explores the topics of love, heartbreak and forgiveness. It went on to amass over 27 million certified copies sold worldwide and broke multiple records in the music industry.
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8. Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard
The Bodyguard soundtrack is an album from the film โThe Bodyguard”. The album features tracks recorded by Whitney Houston, an American artist who also starred in the movie. The album was released on November 17th, 1992, by Arista Records.
The album was a global success, hitting number one in eighteen countries and receiving praise from music critics for its production, distribution, and Houston’s stellar vocal performance.
The Bodyguard album claimed to have sold over 45 million copies, with a confirmed number of just under 29 million.
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7. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
Fleetwood Mac is a British-American rock band that formed in London in 1967. Rumours was the title of their 11th and most successful album, released on February 4th, 1977, by Warner Bros. Records.
Over the years, the band underwent a flurry of roster changes and breakups. These relationship struggles and heavy drug use largely influenced the album’s lyrics.
Within the first month, Rumours sold over 8 million copies. It won album of the year at the 1977 Grammy Awards and has reached a certified 30 million copies since its launch.
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6. AC/DC – Back in Black
AC/DC are an Australian rock band. They were formed in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Back in Black is the band’s 7th studio album, released on July 25th, 1980, by Atlantic Records and Albert Productions.
After the tragic death of their lead singer Bon Scott, the group decided to continue and recruited a new singer Brian Johnson rather than disband. Back in Black was the first album he featured on, and it proved to be an immediate success. However, following the album’s completion in New York, the band mixed Back in Black with an all-black cover design to mourn their previous singer Bon Scott.
Over the years, the album is claimed to have sold a whopping 50 million copies. While this may be true, the number of certified copies sold is just over 30 million, placing AC/DC’s Back in Black as the 6th most-sold album of all time.
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5. Shania Twain – Come on Over
Shania Twain is a Canadian singer and songwriter born in 1965. She specialises in country pop and is the best-selling female artist in her genre, granting her the title of the โqueen of country pop”.
Come on Over is Twain’s third studio album. It was released in 1997 on November 4th by Mercury Records. The album boasted multiple achievements, such as the best-selling Canadian album, the best-selling country album, and the best-selling studio album released by a solo female artist.
The album sold over 30 million certified copies, with the studio claiming over 40 million copies. Come on Over remained at the No.1 spot on the โBillboard Top Country Albums Chart” for over 50 non-consecutive weeks, and puts it 5th on our list.
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4. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin is an English rock band that was formed in 1968. They are still known today to have had a monumental influence on the music industry, specifically the hard rock and metal genre.
The fourth studio album released by the band was untitled, which resulted in the album being referred to as Led Zeppelin IV. Although small, this aspect likely generated interest and helped support the album’s success.
Led Zeppelin IV was released on November 8th 1971, by Atlantic Records. The band’s signature song, โStairway to Heaven”, features in the album and is their most iconic track to this day. The album sold a certified 31 million copies.
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3. Eagles – Hotel California
The Eagles are an American rock band that formed in California in 1971. They have won 6 Grammy Awards and 5 American Music Awards, making them one of the most successful bands from the 70s.
Hotel California is the Eagle’s 5th studio album, released by Asylum Records on December 8th, 1976. In November 2017, a 40th-anniversary version of Hotel California was released to the delight of their fans.
The album sold 32 million certified copies.
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2. Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975): The Second Most Sold Album
Once again, American rock band The Eagles released their first compilation album on February 17th, 1976, by Asylum Records. It was the first in history to receive the RIAA’s Platinum certification, introduced in 1976. Since the album’s release, it has spent over 240 weeks on the Billboard 200.
The album amassed just over 42 million certified copies sold, which makes it the most significant jump on the list. The album has had an enormous impact on the music industry and the rock genre.
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1. Michael Jackson – Thriller: The Most Sold Album of All Time
Michael Jackson is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. He has become one of the biggest names in the music industry and earned the notorious title โKing of Pop”. Aside from Jackson’s success in songwriting, he also excelled in his performances on stage, popularising complex moves like the moonwalk, and quickly became a global personality.
Thriller is Jackson’s sixth studio album. It was released on November 29th, 1982, by Epic Records. The album’s success was immediate; within a year, it had spent a record-breaking 35 weeks at number one.
Sitting comfortably at the number one spot on our list, Michael Jackson’s album Thriller has sold just over 50 million certified copies and has claimed to have sold a massive 70 million copies.
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Conclusion: Celebrating the Most Sold Albums in History
Thank you for reading. We hope this answers your questions or settles any family disputes. But remember, this list is based on certified numbers only, so don’t worry if your favourite artist didn’t make the list.
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