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==Claims of at least 50 million copies==
==Claims of at least 100 million copies==


{| class="wikitable sortable" width=75%
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=75%
! Artist !! Album !! Released !! Genre !! Sales (millions)
! Artist !! Album !! Released !! Genre !! Sales (millions)
|-
|-
| [[Michael Jackson]] || ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' || align="center" | 1982 || R&B/Pop || align="center" | 54<ref name="showbuzz cbsnews" /><ref name="mtv uk" /><ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="mirror" /><ref name="Reuters press release"/><ref name="Thriller 54">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/12/03/do0302.xml|title=Michael Jackson's Thriller is old hat|last=White|first=Jim|date=12 March 2007|publisher=Telegraph Media Group, Ltd.|accessdate=2008-05-08}}</ref>
| [[Michael Jackson]] || ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' || align="center" | 1982 || R&B/Pop || align="center" | 108<ref name="showbuzz cbsnews" /><ref name="mtv uk" /><ref name="telegraph" /><ref name="mirror" /><ref name="Reuters press release"/><ref name="Thriller 108">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/12/03/do0302.xml|title=Michael Jackson's Thriller is old hat|last=White|first=Jim|date=12 March 2007|publisher=Telegraph Media Group, Ltd.|accessdate=2008-05-08}}</ref>
|}
|}


Revision as of 14:27, 9 May 2008

This is a list of the world's best-selling albums, as determined by sources that have a history as being trustworthy and reliable. The criteria are that the album must have been published by some organization (self-publishing by the artist is allowed), and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies worldwide. Albums are listed in alphabetical order by the artist's first name, rather than albums sold. Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks, the highest being for claims of over at least 100 million copies, and the lowest being for claims of 20-24 million copies.

A number of issues make exact figures difficult to calculate, historical data before the 1980s and from developing countries are also incomplete. Information is also lacking for non-English language albums. Additionally fans, record companies and the media are prone to exaggerating sales figures to boost the image of the relevant act.

Thriller is the best selling album of all time, though sales figures for the album vary between different sources the album is cited as selling between 45 million[1] and 108 million copies worldwide.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The BBC claim that the Guinness Book of World Records lists it as 65 million copies sold as of 2007.[8]


Claims of at least 100 million copies

Artist Album Released Genre Sales (millions)
Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 R&B/Pop 108[3][4][5][6][7][9]

Claims between 40 and 45 million copies

Artist Album Released Genre Sales (millions)
AC/DC Back in Black 1980 Hard Rock 42[10]
Bee Gees / Various artists Saturday Night Fever 1977 Disco 40 [10]
Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) 1976 Rock 41 [10]
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 1973 Progressive Rock 40[11]

Claims between 30 and 39 million copies

Artist Album Released Genre Sales (millions)
Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 Pop 30 [12]
Backstreet Boys Millennium 1999 Pop 30 [13]
The Beatles 1 2000 Rock 30[14]
The Beatles Abbey Road 1969 Rock 30[14]
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 Rock 32 [10]
Bee Gees Spirits Having Flown 1979 Pop/Disco 30 [15]
Celine Dion Falling into You 1996 Pop 32[14]
Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love 1997 Pop 31 [16]
Celine Dion / James Horner / Various artists Titanic 1997 Pop 30 [17]
Dire Straits Brothers in Arms 1985 Rock 30 [18]
Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1977 Rock 30 [19]
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV 1971 Rock 32[14]
Mariah Carey Music Box 1993 Pop/R&B 32[20]
Meat Loaf Bat out of Hell 1977 Rock 37 [10]
Shania Twain Come on Over 1997 Country/Pop 36 [21]
Various artists Dirty Dancing 1987 Pop/Dance 32[10]
Whitney Houston / Various artists The Bodyguard 1992 Pop/R&B 37[10]

Claims between 25 and 29 million copies

Artist Album Released Genre Sales (milions)
ABBA ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits 1992 Pop 26[22]
Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys 1997 Pop 28[23]
Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1986 Rock 27[24]
Britney Spears …Baby One More Time 1999 Pop 25 [25]
Eagles Hotel California 1976 Rock 26 [citation needed]
Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction 1987 Hard Rock 25[26]
Mariah Carey Daydream 1995 Pop/R&B 25 [citation needed]
Michael Jackson Bad 1987 Pop/R&B 29 [14]
Michael Jackson Dangerous 1991 Pop/R&B 27 [27]
Nirvana Nevermind 1991 Rock 26 [28]
Queen Greatest Hits 1981 Rock 25 [citation needed]
Santana Supernatural 1999 Rock 25 [citation needed]
Simon and Garfunkel Bridge over Troubled Water 1970 Folk 25 [citation needed]
Various artists Grease 1978 Pop 27 [citation needed]

Claims between 20 and 24 million copies

Artist Album Released Genre Sales (millions)
Ace of Base Happy Nation/The Sign 1993 Pop 23 [29]
Barbra Streisand Guilty 1980 Rock/Pop 20 [citation needed]
The Beatles 1967–1970 1973 Rock 20 [citation needed]
Billy Joel Greatest Hits - Volume I & Volume II 1985 Pop/Rock 21 [30]
Blondie Parallel Lines 1978 New Wave 20 [citation needed]
Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984 Rock 24 [citation needed]
Carole King Tapestry 1971 Pop 22 [citation needed]
Carpenters The Singles: 1969-1973 1974 Pop 20 [citation needed]
Celine Dion All the Way… A Decade of Song 1999 Pop 20 [citation needed]
Celine Dion The Colour of My Love 1993 Pop 20 [citation needed]
Cher Believe 1999 Pop/Dance 20 [31]
Dido No Angel 1999 Pop 21 [citation needed]
Elton John Greatest Hits 1974 Pop/Rock 24 [citation needed]
Garth Brooks Double Live 1990 Country 20 [30]
George Michael Faith 1987 Pop/Soul 20 [32]
Julie Andrews The Sound of Music 1965 Pop 21 [citation needed]
Linkin Park Hybrid Theory 2000 Rock 24 [33]
Lionel Richie Can't Slow Down 1983 R&B 22 [citation needed]
Madonna The Immaculate Collection 1990 Pop 22 [citation needed]
Madonna True Blue 1986 Pop 20 [citation needed]
MC Hammer Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em 1990 Rap/Hip-Hop 20 [citation needed]
Metallica Metallica 1991 Heavy Metal 22 [citation needed]
Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman The Phantom of the Opera 1986 Broadway 24 [citation needed]
Norah Jones Come Away with Me 2002 Jazz 20 [34]
Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 Rock 20 [citation needed]
Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 Progressive Rock 22[35]
Ricky Martin Ricky Martin 1999 Pop 20 [citation needed]
Simon and Garfunkel Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits 1972 Folk 21 [citation needed]
Spice Girls Spice 1996 Pop 23 [citation needed]
Tina Turner Private Dancer 1984 R&B/Rock 20 [36]
U2 The Joshua Tree 1987 Rock 20 [37]
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985 Pop/R&B 23 [citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Huey, Steve. "Biography - Michael Jackson". Macrovision Corp. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ a b "Michael Jackson Opens Up". CBS Interactive, Inc. 6 Nov 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  4. ^ a b "Jacko's Back!". MTV Networks. November 16 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b McNulty, Bernadette (07 Feb 2008). "Michael Jackson's Thriller". Telegraph Media Group, Ltd. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Michael Jackson - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition". 02 Feb 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b "'XM THRILLER: The Music of Michael Jackson' to Launch March 1 on XM". Reuters. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-05-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Winterman, Denise. "Thrills and spills and record breaks". BBC. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  9. ^ White, Jim (12 March 2007). "Michael Jackson's Thriller is old hat". Telegraph Media Group, Ltd. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "World's Top Selling Music Albums". TIMEFM.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  11. ^ Werde, Bill (05 May 2006). "Floyd's 'Dark Side' Celebrates Chart Milestone". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Fromm, Emily (13 June 2005). "Celeb Spotlight: Alanis Morissette". Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Backstreet Boys to become comic heroes". BBC. 15 Feb 2000. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Record-Breakers and Trivia - Albums". Everyhit.com. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  15. ^ "The Bee Gees on MSN Music". Microsoft. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  16. ^ "The Celine Dion Picture Pages". SuperiorPics.com. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
  17. ^ "Celine Dion". Hello!. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  18. ^ "Mark Knopfler hurt in crash". BBC. 18 Mar 2003. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  19. ^ Easlea, Daryl (14 Dec 2007). "Fleetwood Mac, Rumours". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  20. ^ Cashmere, Paul (24 April 2008). "Mariah Carey Has the Right Energy in E=MC2". Undercover Pty., Ltd. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  21. ^ "Shania Twain". A&E Television Networks. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  22. ^ "Abba Gold - The Site". Universal Music AB. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  23. ^ "Backstreet Boys to conquer web". BBC. 25 January 2000. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  24. ^ "SS Music - Bon Jovi". SS Music. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  25. ^ "Britney Spears' Biography". FOX News Network, LLC. 04 Feb 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ O' Dell, Dennis (19 March 2008). "Guns N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  27. ^ Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
  28. ^ Thomas, Lou (23 April 2007). "Nirvana, Nevermind". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  29. ^ "Ace of Base lyrics, music, and biography". Net Industries. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  30. ^ a b Booth, Michael (08 Aug 2006). "Top of the heap". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2008-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Don't Call it a Comeback". Rolling Stone. 23 Jan 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  32. ^ "George Micahel at HP Pavilion at San Jose". Yahoo Inc. 24 Mar 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  33. ^ "Linkin Park headlines Live Earth Tokyo". Live Earth, LLC. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  34. ^ "Global Track Chart". Media Traffic. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  35. ^ Whitlock, Kevin (March 2000). "Behind the Wall". Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  36. ^ "Tina Turner Biography". A&E Television Networks. 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  37. ^ "U2". Universal Music Canada. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
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