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The top 10 Best-Selling Albums of All Time

If you're looking to start a music collection or are just curious about what records have sold the best, read on for a list of the ten highest-selling albums in history.

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These are the albums you’ve been jamming out to for decades!

The 10 best-selling albums of all time! Source: Freepik.

There are some albums that just never get old. Even after all these years, we can’t help but pop them in the CD player and jam out. Today we are looking at the top 10 best-selling albums of all time!

Whether it’s because of the amazing music or the nostalgia factor, these albums continue to sell like hotcakes. 

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Check out these best-selling albums of all time!

Some albums are just so good; they transcend time and genre. Whether you’re into rock, hip-hop, country, or classical music, there’s an album that everyone can enjoy. 

Here is a list of the ten best-selling albums of all time, based on information from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

So put on your favorite record and take a trip down memory lane!

Hootie & The Blowfish — “Cracked Rear View”

Is your favorite album in this list of best-selling? Source: Freepik.

In 1994, an unassuming album by an unknown band topped the charts and became one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Hootie & The Blowfish’s “Cracked Rear View” was a surprise success, thanks in part to the popularity of singles like “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You.” 

The album’s success was a much-needed bright spot in a dark year for rock music; just months before, grunge icon Kurt Cobain had taken his own life, dealing a devastating blow to the genre. 

In the wake of Cobain’s death, “Cracked Rear View” provided a welcome dose of optimism and good vibes. 

Garth Brooks — “Double Live”

Released in 1998, it features 26 live tracks recorded during Brooks’ world tour that year. 

The album was a massive success, selling 21 million copies worldwide and earning Brooks a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling live album artist of all time. 

If you’re a fan of Garth Brooks, then “Double Live” is a must-have for your collection. And if you’re not a fan, this might just be the album that converts you!

Pink Floyd — “The Wall”

The album was a massive success upon its release in 1979, selling over 23 million copies worldwide. 

The album’s title track, “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2”, became a global smash hit, reaching #1 in the US, UK, Canada, and many other countries. 

The album also features classic Pink Floyd tracks like “Comfortably Numb” and “Run Like Hell.” “The Wall” is a true rock music classic, and its commercial success is unsurprising.

Led Zeppelin — “Led Zeppelin IV”

Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, commonly known as “Led Zeppelin IV” or “Zoso,” is one of the best-selling albums of all time. 

Released in 1971, it features some of the band’s most iconic tracks, including “Stairway to Heaven” and “Black Dog.” 

The album has been certified 23 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America, making it one of the best-selling albums in history.

Billy Joel — “Greatest Hits Volume 1 & Volume 2”

Some of these albums are worth a lot of money nowadays. Source: Adobe Stock.

Billy Joel is a legendary figure in pop music, and his best-selling albums have cemented his place in history. 

“Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2” is a compilation of some of his best-known work, and it has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.

The Beatles — “The Beatles” (“The White Album”)

Released in 1968, the double album features some of the band’s best-known songs, including “Revolution,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Back in the U.S.S.R.” 

With over 24 million units sold, “The White Album” is a true rock ‘n’ roll classic. And, despite its age, it continues to sell well today, thanks to its timeless appeal.

AC/DC — “Back In Black”

Unsurprisingly, “Back In Black” is one of the best-selling albums. 

AC/DC’s signature hard rock is as catchy as it is heavy, and the album’s opening track, “Hells Bells,” is a perfect example. 

With its iconic riff and driving beat, the song epitomizes everything that made AC/DC one of the most popular bands in the world. No wonder “Back In Black” has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.

Eagles — “Hotel California”

Who would’ve thought that a song about an eerie Californian hotel would become one of the best-selling albums of all time? Certainly not the Eagles, who released “Hotel California” in 1977. 

The album quickly rose to the top of the charts, thanks in part to the popularity of its title track. 

“Hotel California” has since sold more than 26 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Not bad for a song about a creepy old hotel!

Michael Jackson — “Thriller”

In 1982, Michael Jackson released Thriller, the best-selling album of all time.

The album’s success was due in part to its groundbreaking title track, which featured Jackson’s now-iconic red leather jacket and dance moves.

The music video for “Thriller” was also a sensation, and it helped to launch Jackson’s career as a global pop star. 

Thriller remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, with 34 million certified units sold. It is a testament to Jackson’s artistry and enduring appeal.

Eagles — “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)”

The album has been certified 38 million units and has sold over 42 million copies worldwide. 

The album includes some of the band’s most iconic songs, such as “Hotel California” and “Desperado.”

It’s no surprise that the album has been so successful — it perfectly captures the Eagles’ laid-back California sound, and the hits just keep coming.

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About the author  /  Vinicius Barbosa

Vinicius Barbosa is a writer of finance-related content on this portal. Graduated in Social Communication, he writes about everything that involves the world of finances, from credit card recommendations to investment tips, for readers who want to make better decisions when it comes time to spend their money or invest wisely.

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