Any number of worldwide sales figures is an estimate, as there's really no way to know how many copies of Thriller were bought in Ghana in the '80s. And this being the record industry, figures were often inflated for promotional purposes. Based on a consensus of industry sources, including Billboard's sales figures, here is our list of the world's top selling albums as of October, 2010.
10. Come On Over - Shania Twain (1997)
39 Million
With help from her then-husband Mutt Lange, Shania crossed over to the pop world with the best selling country music album of all time.
Key Tracks:
9. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1997)
40 Million
The original soundtrack of the movie Saturday Night Fever, starring the former Sweathog John Travolta, was written by The Bee Gees, whose falsetto vocals helped them rule the disco landscape. The movie is an excellent coming of age story dressed in polyester.
Key Tracks:
8. Millenium - Backstreet Boys (1999)
40 Million
The only Boy Band on this list, the Backstreet Boys might be the last artist to ever make the all-time top 10. Once the real millenium got going, digital song downloads started biting into album sales, making it a lot harder to sell a full-length LP.
Key Track:
7. Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987)
42 Million
Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, this endearing movie was a massive box office success, helping the soundtrack spend 18 weeks on top of the US album charts. We talked to one of the guys who wrote this stuff - get more Dirty Dancing Indulgence.
Key Tracks:
6. Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) - Eagles (1976)
42 Million
For a while, this was the best selling album of all time in the United States, where it had amassed about 3/4 of its sales. It benefited from those record clubs that would let you pick a bunch of albums for a penny, as it was a very popular selection.
Key Tracks:
5. Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf (1977)
43 Million
With songs written by the brilliant Jim Steinman, Bat Out Of Hell is what it's like to be young and restless and occasionally in love. The album spawned 2 sequels and has sold at least 200,000 copies each year since its release in 1977.
Key Tracks:
4. The Bodyguard Soundtrack (1992)
44 Million
Thanks to a soaring rendition of a Dolly Parton song performed by Whitney Houston in her prime, this mediocre movie starring Kevin Costner as Whitney's protector remains the best selling soundtrack of all time.
Key Tracks:
3. Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd (1973)
45 Million
Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon is the best selling album by an English band! The album has the record of longevity in the famous Billboard charts, where it found a cozy home in the Top 200 for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988.
Key Tracks:
2. Back In Black - AC/DC (1980)
50 Million
A tribute to their fallen lead singer Bon Scott, AC/DC's 7th studio album was a raging success with global appeal. The group didn't need a reality show to find their next lead singer Brian Johnson, who has filled in beyond expectations. They didn't need no stinking ballads either.
Key Tracks:
1. Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)
100 Million
Yeah, it's not even close. Out of the 9 songs on the album, 7 are available as singles and every one of them was a US Top-10 hit. The album set a new record when it earned 8 Grammy Awards in 1984.
Key Tracks:
Thanks to Bertrand - Paris, France for putting this together.
Comments: 25
I want to know where does Appetite for Destruction fits on this list.
-Jordan from San José, Costa Rica
Thriller sits at 110 million now. Dangerous from Michael Jackson has 40 million worldwide and Bad from MJ has 33 million. :)
-Chris
Growing up in the 70's and 80's I agree with many of the comments posted. I also agree with many who made the list. I just can't understand how Fleetwood Mac's Rumors didn't make it. The album sells to date are through the roof and the record is pure magic. Being a true FM fan I also love the Dance, the live album recorded in 1996 I think, that accompanied the fantastic DVD. So we all have our Favs, and we will all agree and disagree, lets just get over it.
-Kelly from Hendersonville, TN
I have nothing against The Backstreet Boys but even if every teenage girl bought an album when it came out, I don't see how it sold that many. (And they don't have the gay following many people believe.) I think I'd better buy a copy of Carol King's "Tapestry" right now. (P.S. Jeff from TX: excellent comment. I was thinking the same thing; some people must check their brains at the door before going online.)
-Xav from Chicago, IL
hey what about gnr's appetite for destruction
-josie from ohio
woot...I always thought metallica´s black album already sold more copies than micheal jackson´s thriller. Someone is terribly wrong.
-bEn
People, this is a list of all time, top selling albums! This is a list of facts, not someone's opinion. For those people who are saying "What about this? What about that?", you obviously are not that bright.
-Jeff from Texas
Shania Twain is one of the most beautiful women in the world. No one can disagree with that. :)
-Awesome Possum from Lone Star State, Princeton
This isn't about your favorite band it's about the TOP 10 selling albums of all time it's a fact that you can't argue with people
-Anonymous
SMH @ "thriller isn't even that great.." .. I can't even comment on that. You're clearly delusional.
-Isis from Queens, NY