Have you ever wondered what the best-selling album of all time might be? If so, then you have come to the right place.
Millions of albums have been released over the past decades and sold to millions of fans. For this reason, deciphering the most famous music albums of all time might be slightly tricky. Luckily, we compiled this comprehensive list of the most admired and best-selling music albums in history.
Thriller by Michael Jackson
The most popular and best-selling album in history and of all time unsurprisingly belongs to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. His album, ‘Thriller,’ released in 1982, sold over 67 million copies worldwide.
It includes several bombastic singles the artist is known for, including Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, and Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’. These actually became the biggest hits of all time as well.
Their Greatest Hits (1971 to 1975) by The Eagles
Thriller and Their Greatest Hits have been head-to-head for decades in their race to be the best-selling album. While Thriller held the title for many years, as of 2017, it is believed that the best-selling album is Their Greatest Hits by the Eagles.
It is the first album to receive RIAA platinum certification for this title, making it the most popular album of all time.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
The eighth album by the English band has sold over 46 million copies worldwide. Not only is this album popular for its tracks, but also its unique album cover. The peculiar and fascinating artwork is considered one of the best album artworks of all time.
There has never been an album quite like this one. It earns points for songwriting, engineering, artwork, production, and much more.
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Despite being 45 years old, this spectacular album does not seem to have aged a day. There is no album like this, as it truly takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions.
The haunting and thought-provoking lyrics featured in the singles of this album have become massive hits. The Chain, Dreams and Oh Daddy are the album’s reigning singles that are still streamed frequently on platforms today.
Back in Black by AC/DC
Yet another best-selling album is this one by the Australian hard-rock album. Released in 1980, it has sold over 51 million copies worldwide. It was marked as the first album after the tragic death of the lead vocalist, Ronald Scott, who died of alcohol poisoning.
He was replaced by Brian Johnson the same year as the lead vocalist. The band then released this masterpiece as a homage to their former band member.
The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston
With over 45 million copies sold worldwide, this album by the pop sensation Whitney Houston is one of the most popular albums in history. This was the official soundtrack album for the movie ‘The Bodyguard.’
In fact, this album is one of the most successful soundtrack albums of all time. The singer also features in the movie, making the album all the more unique and special.
Final Words
The best-selling and popular albums of all time clearly hail from the 20th century, specifically from the decades considered the best of music history. And it is evident that these albums made this era remarkable.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe. Eric Dalius is also the host of the Weekly podcast program named FULL SPEED. Eric Dalius is also a philanthropist, who has established four scholarships for US based graduate & under grad students.