Introduction
This thread would like to be a kind of database of all the information available (both from public sources and from the posters in this forum) regarding this fascinating subject of which albums are the most popular in the history of recorded music and how much they have sold in the last 50 years.
I propose two goals:
The first one will be to build the most complete sales database possible.
The second goal is to build a ordered list of the best-selling albums ever in the world.
In this list, more important than to show the exact sales of each album will be to discover (or calculate) the saleswise position of each album in that list (did a particular album sold less than the album above it and more than the album below it?).
Get the ideia? Obviously we will try to estimate a figure for the sales of each album but its position will be the most important.
This thread will deal with sales in the range 15 million or higher.
The help and collaboration of EVERYBODY will be extremely necessary.
This thread couldn't exist without all the facts, figures and opinions provided by all members of this forum with a special salute to:
AutomaticBR, davidalic, Nelson, MJDangerous, RollingBob, seattleboy, zeus555
(maybe i forgot someone...)
and a big big "THANK YOU" to:
Basil, Dane, jimmypage59, mario and obviously Hanboo without whom this thread would be impossible to make.
*****
The Worldwide Best-Selling Albums Ever
(ordered according to the sales posted in this thread)
WORK IN PROGRESS
Note: the sales total of each album (and its correspondent position on the list) can be altered at any moment as consequence of additional data. More albums will still be added to the list.
Top-97
50,302,000 Thriller Michael Jackson (1982) >>>UPDATED (June 2010)<<<
32,125,000 The Bodyguard Soundtrack (1992)
32,039,000 Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 Eagles (1976)
30,745,000 Come On Over Shania Twain (1997)
29,272,000 Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin (1971)
28,600,000 The Dark Side Of The Moon Pink Floyd (1973) >>>UPDATED (12 May 2009)<<<
28,320,000 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette (1995)
27,060,000 Rumours Fleetwood Mac (1977) >>>UPDATED (10 May 2009)<<<
25,990,000 Back In Black AC/DC (1980)
25,330,000 1 The Beatles (2000)
25,290,000 Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977) >>>UPDATED (7 May 2009)<<<
23,605,000 Supernatural Santana (1999)
23,470,000 Let's Talk About Love Celine Dion (1997)
22,965,000 Titanic Soundtrack (1997)
22,715,000 Grease Soundtrack (1978) >>>UPDATED (7 May 2009)<<<
22,700,000 Falling Into You Celine Dion (1996)
22,469,000 Appetite For Destruction Guns'N'Roses (1987)
22,000,000 Hotel California Eagles (1976) >>>UPDATED (11 May 2009)<<<
21,977,000 Bat Out Of Hell Meat Loaf (1977)
21,610,000 Gold - Greatest Hits ABBA (1992) >>>UPDATED (8 May 2009)<<<
20,680,000 Born In The U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen (1984) >>>UPDATED (8 May 2009)<<<
20,376,000 ...Baby One More Time Britney Spears (1999)
20,302,000 Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987)
20,230,000 Bad Michael Jackson (1987) >>>UPDATED (13 May 2009)<<<
20,130,000 The Wall Pink Floyd (1979)
19,757,000 Music Box Mariah Carey (1993)
19,675,000 The Immaculate Collection Madonna (1990)
19,570,000 Millenium Backstreet Boys (1999)
19,467,000 The Marshall Matters LP Eminem (2000)
19,065,000 Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles (1967) >>>UPDATED (12 May 2009)<<<
19,030,000 Brothers In Arms Dire Straits (1985)
19,004,000 Legend - The Best Of Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
18,988,000 Greatest Hits Queen (1981)
18,917,000 Metallica Metallica (1991)
18,826,000 Come Away With Me Norah Jones (2002)
18,464,000 Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits Simon & Garfunkel (1972)
18,408,000 Spice Spice Girls (1996)
18,110,000 No Jacket Required Phil Collins (1985) >>>UPDATED (9 May 2009)<<<
18,100,000 Boston Boston (1976)
18,080,000 Dangerous Michael Jackson (1991) >>>UPDATED (13 May 2009)<<<
17,665,000 Abbey Road The Beatles (1969) >>>UPDATED (12 May 2009)<<<
17,555,000 A Decade Of Song Celine Dion (1999) >>>UPDATED (9 May 2009)<<<
17,400,000 Greatest Hits Elton John (1974)
17,200,000 Unplugged Eric Clapton (1992)
17,100,000 Cracked Rear View Hootie & The Blowfish (1994)
16,995,000 The Joshua Tree U2 (1987)
16,833,000 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
16,700,000 No Fences Garth Brooks (1990)
16,327,000 Daydream Mariah Carey (1995)
16,280,000 Slippery When Wet Bon Jovi (1986) >>>UPDATED (11 May 2009)<<<
15,980,000 Oops!...I Did It Again Britney Spears (2000)
15,965,000 The Eminem Show Eminem (2003)
15,923,000 The Sign / Happy Nation Ace Of Base (1993)
15,919,000 Purple Rain Prince & The Revolution (1984)
15,888,000 Nevermind Nirvana (1991)
15,268,000 Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin (1969)
15,245,000 Cross Road Bon Jovi (1994)
15,116,000 True Blue Madonna (1986)
15,083,000 Like A Virgin Madonna (1984)
14,570,000 Ropin' The Wind Garth Brooks (1991)
14,500,000 Can't Slow Down Lionel Richie (1983) >>>UPDATED (9 May 2009)<<<
14,300,000 The Woman In Me Shania Twain (1995)
14,241,000 Romanza Andrea Bocelli (1997)
14,150,000 The Lion King Soundtrack (1994)
14,150,000 Breathless Kenny G (1992)
14,139,000 Hysteria Def Leppard (1987)
14,000,000 Greatest Hits Journey (1988)
14,000,000 Greatest Hits 1974-1978 Steve Miller Band (1978)
13,950,000 Eliminator ZZ Top (1983)
13,864,000 The Beatles 1962-1966 The Beatles (1973)
13,799,000 The Beatles 1967-1970 The Beatles (1973)
13,714,000 ...But Seriously Phil Collins (1989)
13,705,000 Faith George Michael (1987)
13,670,000 Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (1988)
13,626,000 Greatest Hits II Queen (1991)
13,570,000 The Colour Of My Love Celine Dion (1993)
13,526,000 The Best Of 1980-1990 U2 (1998)
13,407,000 Whitney Whitney Houston (1987)
13,175,000 Ten Pearl Jam (1991)
13,056,000 The Score The Fugees (1996)
12,979,000 Dookie Green Day (1994)
12,900,000 No Need To Argue The Cranberries (1994)
12,641,000 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
12,559,000 Please Hammer Don't Hurt'Em MC Hammer (1991)
12,513,000 Acthung Baby U2 (1991)
12,406,000 Ray Of Light Madonna (1998)
12,096,000 (What's The Story) Morning Glory? Oasis (1995)
11,892,000 Ricky Martin Ricky Martin (1999)
11,446,000 HIStory Michael Jackson (1995)
11,156,000 Use Your Illusion II Guns N'Roses (1991)
11,100,000 The Hits Garth Brooks (1994)
10,850,000 Use Your Illusion I Guns N'Roses (1991)
10,822,000 The Beatles (White Album) The Beatles (1968)
10,655,000 #1's Mariah Carey (1998)
10,000,000 Tapestry Carole King (1971)
9,885,000 Off The Wall Michael Jackson (1979)
9,412,000 Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd (1975)
**********
The Worldwide Best-Selling Albums Ever DATABASE
(see following posts)
Key
ALBUM TITLE
(Artist, Year of Release)
IMPORTANT:
the albums are listed in 7 categories, but any album can be moved to other category (either up or down) everytime new information about its sales appears, the category to which an album appears below must be seen generally as provisory, as we find more and more data about sales the albums can change category any time.
I created this categories in order to be more easy to describe all the albums which i believe have reached the minimum sales plateau of 15 MILLION copies sold worldwide necessary to be present in this thread.
In each category the albums are listed in ALPHABETIC order, only later a list will appear in the first post in which the albums will be ordered according to their estimated global sales. Also in the first post will appear a list with the albums ordered by the sales posted below.
1. Albums that have sold 30 MILLION copies or more
(by alphabetic order)
THRILLER (Michael Jackson, 1982)
Posted Sales = 50,302,000
*****THRILLER , Michael Jackson (1982)
29,000,000 ... USA (29xP , 2009)
4,075,000 ... UK (1)
2,500,000 ... Japan (2)
2,400,000 ... Canada (3) (2xDiamond, 1984)
2,000,000 ... France (4)
1,720,000 ... Mexico (2009)
1,500,000 ... Germany (3xP , 1995)
1,230,000 ... Brazil (5)
1,225,000 ... Italy (6)
1,050,000 ... Australia (15xP , 2009)
800,000 ... Netherlands (8xP , 1996)
600,000 ... Argentina (7) (Diamond, 1999)
420,000 ... Sweden (8) (4xP , 2008)
400,000 ... Austria (8xP , 2008)
395,000 ... Belgium
315,000 ... Switzerland (9) (6xP , 1995)
180,000 ... Denmark (6xP , 2008)
165,000 ... New Zealand
115,000 ... India (2009)
92,000 ... Finland
80,000 ... Portugal
40,000 ... Singapore
Total = 50,302,000
(1) = 3,607,000 (OCC, in Music Week) + 240k (Club Sales) + 230k (T25)
(2) Billboard , 11 July 2009 , page 19
(3) Billboard , 20 December 1986 , page 39
(4) = 1,800,000 (1984) + 200k (T25)
(5) = 1,200,000 (August 2001, Brazilian mag "Época") + 30k (T25)
(6) = 1,190,000 + 35k (T25)
(7) = 577k (1999) + 20k (T25)
(8) = 400k (4xP, 2008) + 20k (T25)
(9) = 300k (6xP , 1995) + 15k (T25)
*****
Career sales of 1.4-million albums in Australia
(1992, Billboard: January 4)
Career sales of 110 million albums worldwide
(1993, Billboard: May 29)
1 (The Beatles, 2000)
Posted Sales = 25,330,000
*****1 , The Beatles (2000)
11,385,000 ... USA (April 2009, Soundscan)
9,000,000 ... Europe (9xPlatinum, 2008)
2,000,000 ... Japan (2000)
1,060,000 ... Canada (Soundscan, 2001)
700,000 ... Australia (10xP , 2009)
605,000 ... Korea
250,000 ... Brazil (Platinum , 2001)
210,000 ... New Zealand (7xPlatinum)
120,000 ... Argentina (2xPlatinum)
Total = 25,330,000
Falling Into You (Celine Dion, 1996)
Posted Sales = 22,700,000
*****FALLING INTO YOU , Celine Dion (1996)
11,770,000 ... USA (1)
7,000,000 ... Europe (7xPlatinum, 1997)
1,400,000 ... Canada (2)
1,000,000 ... Japan (3) (1xMillion, 1996)
840,000 ... Australia (12xPlatinum, 1997)
420,000 ... South Africa (4)(1999)
180,000 ... New Zealand
90,000 ... Argentina 90,000
Total = 22,700,000
(1) 10,780,000 (2009, Soundscan) + 990,000 (BMG club sales)
(2) 1997, Billboard: March 22
(3) ORICON sales = 710,000
(4) Billboard
*****
17 million worldwide (with 1.3-million in Canada)
(1997, Billboard: January 18)
27 million worldwide (1999, Billboard: November 6)
30 million worldwide (2002, Billboard: January 26)
Let's Talk About Love (Celine Dion, 1997)
Posted Sales = 23,470,000
- Code: Select all
LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE , Celine Dion (1997)
Confirmed Estimated
USA (1) 10,535,000
Europe (*) 9,000,000 (1998)
Canada (2) 1,700,000 (1998)
Japan 1,030,000
Taiwan (3) 500,000
Australia 420,000 (1998)
Argentina 150,000
New Zealand 135,000
>>> 23,470,000 = Posted sales
(1) 9,425,000 (2006, Soundscan) + 1,110,000 (BMG club sales)
(2) 1998, Billboard: December 26
(3) 1998, Billboard: October 24
(*) sales in UK= 1,984,000 (2006, OCC)
*****
12 million worldwide (Billboard, February 1998)
24 million worldwide with 8 million in US
(1998, Billboard: October 17)
27 million worldwide (1999, Billboard: November 6)
Career sales of 110 million albums worldwide, including almost 9 million in Canada
(Billboard, January 2000)
Career sales approaching 130 million albums worldwide
(Billboard, January 2002)
30 million worldwide (2002, Billboard: January 26)
150 million albums worldwide (2003, Billboard: March 22)
*****
THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975 (Eagles, 1976)
Posted Sales = 32,039,000
- Code: Select all
THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971-1975 , Eagles (1976)
Confirmed Estimated
USA 29,000,000 (2006)
Canada 2,000,000 (1997)
Australia 490,000 (1996)
UK 360,000 (1977)
New Zealand 165,000
Japan 24,000
>>> 32,039,000 = Posted sales
*****
Rumours (Fleetwood Mac, 1977)
Posted Sales = 27,060,000
*****RUMOURS , Fleetwood Mac (1977)
19,000,000 ... USA (19xPlatinum, 2003)
3,300,000 ... UK (11xPlatinum, 2004)
2,000,000 ... Canada (2xDiamond, 1995)
1,250,000 ... Germany (5xGold, 2006)
840,000 ... Australia (12xPlatinum, 2001)
300,000 ... France (Platinum, 2001)
165,000 ... Netherlands (1)
105,000 ... New Zealand
100,000 ... Japan (Gold) (2)
Gold ... Belgium (2)
Total = 27,060,000
(1) Billboard 21-Jan-78 page 116
(2) Billboard 25-Feb-78 page SW-15
Led Zeppelin IV (Led Zeppelin, 1971)
Posted Sales = 29,272,000
*****LED ZEPPELIN IV , Led Zeppelin (1971)
23,000,000 ... USA (RIAA, 2003)
2,000,000 ... Canada (2xDiamond , 1995)
1,800,000 ... UK (6xP , 2007)
750,000 ... Germany (3xG , 2003)
600,000 ... France (2xP , 2001)
560,000 ... Australia (8xP , 2004)
147,000 ... Japan
105,000 ... New Zealand
100,000 ... Spain (Platinum , 2000)
100,000 ... Netherlands (Platinum , 2006)
60,000 ... Argentina (Platinum)
50,000 ... Switzerland (Platinum , 1997)
Total = 29,272,000
BAT OUT OF HELL (Meat Loaf, 1977)
Posted Sales = 21,977,000
- Code: Select all
BAT OUT OF HELL , Meat Loaf (1977)
Confirmed Estimated
USA 14,000,000 (2001)
UK 2,837,000 (2006)
Canada 2,000,000 (1995)
Australia 1,610,000 (2007)
Netherlands (1) 750,000 (2006)
Germany 500,000 (1983)
New Zealand 255,000
Switzerland 25,000 (1994)
>>> 21,977,000 = Posted sales
(1) Universal Music Nederland
(http://www.universalmusic.nl/p-detail.php?pid=0602517121003)
*****
28-million worldwide (Soundscan sales in US: 1.1-million CDs and 1.5-million cassettes sold since 1991 for a total of 2.6-million)
(1995, Billboard: October 7)
35 million worldwide (1996, Billboard: June 29)
*****
Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette, 1995)
Posted Sales = 28,320,000
- Code: Select all
JAGGED LITTLE PILL , Alanis Morissette (1995)
Confirmed Estimated
USA (1) 17,355,000 (2007)
Europe (2) 7,000,000 (2002)
Canada (3) 2,100,000 (1997)
Australia 980,000 (1998)
Brazil 500,000 (2005)
New Zealand 210,000
Argentina 120,000
Japan 55,000
>>> 28,320,000 = Posted sales
(1) 16,000,000 (1998, RIAA) + 1,355,000 (1999-2007, Soundscan)
(2) UK= 3,000,000 (2002, BPI) ;
Italy= 500,000 (1997, Billboard: June 14)
(3) 1997, Billboard: January 18
*****
23-million worldwide (with 2.1-million in Canada) (1997, Billboard: January 18)
28-million worldwide (1998, Billboard: October 3)
30-million worldwide (2004, Billboard: May 8)
*****
THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (Pink Floyd, 1973)
Posted Sales = 28,600,000
*****THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON , Pink Floyd (1973)
Confirmed Estimated
19,800,000 ... USA (1)
3,925,000 ... UK (2008, OCC)
2,000,000 ... Canada (2xDiamond, 2003)
1,000,000 ... Germany (2xPlatinum, 1993)
770,000 ... Australia (11xPlatinum, 1993)
400,000 ... France (Platinum, 1980)
240,000 ... Argentina (4xPlatinum)
240,000 ... New Zealand (16xPlatinum)
125,000 ... Japan
100,000 ... Austria (2xPlatinum, 1993)
Total = 28,600,000 = Posted sales
(1) 11,000,000 (19xPlatinum, 1990) + 8,800,000 (April 2009, Soundscan)
THE BODYGUARD (Soundtrack, 1992)
Posted Sales = 32,125,000
- Code: Select all
THE BODYGUARD , Soundtrack (1992)
Confirmed Estimated
17,000,000 USA (17xPlatinum, 1999)
2,800,000 Japan (1)
2,140,000 UK (2006, OCC)
1,700,000 Germany (2)
1,000,000 Canada (Diamond, 1993)
France 1,000,000 (1993)
South Korea (3) 1,000,000 (1993)
Italy 800,000 (1993)
Brazil 750,000 (2004)
Spain 600,000
Mexico (4) 500,000 (1994)
Netherlands 400,000 (1993)
Australia 350,000 (1993)
Sweden 340,000 (1993)
Indonesia 320,000 (1993)
Switzerland 300,000 (1995)
Taiwan 300,000 (1993)
Argentina 300,000
Austria 200,000 (2002)
Denmark 160,000 (1993)
South Africa (5) 110,000 (1993)
Finland 57,000
>>> 32,125,000 = Posted sales
(1) Billboard 23-Jan-99 , page 49
(2) Billboard 13-May-2000
(3) 1993, Billboard: August 21
(4) 1994, Billboard: November 26
(5) 1993, Billboard: february 21
*****
16 million worldwide, with 9-million outside US (1993, Billboard: February 27)
21-million worldwide (1993, Billboard: July 10)
28-million worldwide (1994, Billboard: July 23)
"The Bodyguard" becomes the best-selling English-speaking album ever in Mexico, with 500,000 sales
(1994, Billboard: November 26)
20-million sales outside US (2000, Billboard: May 13)
*****
GREASE (Soundtrack, 1978)
Posted Sales = 22,715,000
*****GREASE , Soundtrack (1978)
Confirmed Estimated
14,720,000 USA (1)
2,375,000 UK (2006, OCC)
1,750,000 Germany (2)
1,000,000 Canada (Diamond, 1978)
850,000 Netherlands (3)
770,000 Australia (11xPlatinum, 1991)
440,000 Japan (Oricon)
300,000 Spain (3xplatinum, 1991)
200,000 Belgium (4)
160,000 New Zealand (5)
150,000 Sweden (6)
Total = 22,715,000
(1) 8,000,000 (1984, RIAA)
+ 5,820,000 (April 2009, Soundscan) + 900,000 (BMG Record Club)
(2) Billboard 8-Dez-79 , page G-10
(3) Billboard 8-Sep-79 , page ABBA-14
(4) Billboard 2-Dec-78
(5) Billboard 10-Mar-79 , page 78
(6) Billboard 20-Jan-79 , page 106
*****
28 million worldwide (1997, Billboard: March 1 and February 10)
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (Soundtrack, 1977)
Posted Sales = 25,290,000
*****SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER , Soundtrack (1977)
15,000,000 USA (15xPlatinum , 1999)
2,150,000 UK (2006, OCC)
1,750,000 Germany (1)
1,300,000 Canada (2)
1,000,000 France (3)
800,000 Mexico (4)
770,000 Australia
700,000 Japan (5)
650,000 Netherlands (6)
250,000 Belgium (7)
250,000 India (8)
250,000 New Zealand (9)
150,000 Sweden (10)
150,000 Southeast Asia (11)
120,000 Greece (12)
Total = 25,290,000
(1) Billboard 8-Dez-79 , page G-10
(2) Billboard 19-Aug-78 , page 64
(3) Billboard 2-Sep-78
(4) Billboard 3-Nov-79 , page LA-46
(5) Billboard 26-May-79 , page J-6
(6) Billboard 8-Sep-79 , page ABBA-14
(7) Billboard 2-Dec-78
(8) Billboard 18-Jul-81 , page 70
(9) Billboard 17-Mar-79 , page SA-4
(10) Billboard 20-Jan-79 , page 106
(11) Billboard 6-Jan-79 , page 63
(12) Billboard 19-Sep-81 , page 74
COME ON OVER (Shania Twain, 1997)
Posted Sales = 30,745,000
COME ON OVER , Shania Twain (1997)
Confirmed Estimated
20,000,000 USA (20xPlatinum, 2004)
7,000,000 Europe (7xPlatinum, 2001)
2,000,000 Canada (2xDiamond, 2000)
1,050,000 Australia (15xPlatinum, 2000)
300,000 New Zealand (20xPlatinum)
240,000 Argentina (4xPlatinum)
125,000 Brazil (Gold, 1999)
30,000 Japan
Total = 30,745,000
*****
18 million worldwide (1999, Billboard, October 9)
26 million worldwide (2000, Billboard, March 16)
34 million worldwide
(2002, Universal: http://new.umusic.com/News.aspx?NewsId=128)