Led Zeppelin IV album sold more than 20 million copies in the U.S.A. It was not a greatest hits album; and the hard rock genre was not even mainstream even in it's time, which makes it even more incredible. Six Led Zeppelin albums made the list. Another interesting fact is that Def Lepard's early album "Pyromania" sold more than 10 million copies but was overshadowed by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album in 1983. Please add your comments regarding the list of the Greatest Albums Sold. - Kenny Leibow
The list below is from www.digitaldreamdoor.com. It represents the top selling record albums of all time. It is based in U.S. sales only through 2006. The numbers are approximate used to illustrate great artists and albums categorized by number of millions.
29 Million Albums Sold
Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - Eagles (Elektra)
27 Million Albums Sold
Thriller - Michael Jackson (Epic)
23 Million Albums Sold
Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (Swan Song)
The Wall- Pink Floyd (Columbia)
21 Million Albums Sold
Back in Black - AC/DC (Elektra)
Greatest Hits Volumes I & II - Billy Joel (Columbia)
20 Million Albums Sold
Double Live - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Come On Over - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
19 Million Albums Sold
The Beatles - The Beatles (Capitol)
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)
17 Million Albums Sold
Boston - Boston (Epic)
The Bodyguard (Soundtrack) - Whitney Houston
16 Million Albums Sold
The Beatles 1967-1970 - The Beatles (Capitol)
No Fences - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Hotel California - Eagles (Elektra)
Cracked Rear View - Hootie & the Blowfish (Atlantic)
Greatest Hits - Elton John (MCA)
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin (Swan Song)
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (Maverick)
15 Million Albums Sold
The Beatles 1962-1966 - The Beatles (Capitol)
Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack) - Bee Gees (Polydor/Atlas)
Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses (Geffen)
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (Capitol)
Supernatural - Santana (Arista)
Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)
14 Million Albums Sold
Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (Jive)
Ropin' the Wind - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Greatest Hits - Journey (Columbia)
Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf (Cleveland Intl.)
Metallica - Metallica (Elektra)
Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel (Columbia)
...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears (Jive)
13 Million Albums Sold
Millennium - Backstreet Boys (Jive)
Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (Arista)
Greatest Hits 1974-1978 - Steve Miller Band (Capitol)
Purple Rain (Soundtrack) - Prince and the Revolution (Warner Bros.)
Bruce Springsteen & E St. Band Live 1975-1985 (Box set) - Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)
12 Million Albums Sold
Abbey Road - The Beatles (Apple)
Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi (Mercury)
II - Boyz II Men (Motown)
No Jacket Required - Phil Collins (Atlantic)
Hysteria - Def Leppard (Mercury)
Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks (Monument)
Pieces of You - Jewel (Atlantic)
Breathless - Kenny G (Arista)
Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
Yourself or Someone Like You - matchbox twenty (Atlantic)
Ten - Pearl Jam (Epic)
Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits - Kenny Rogers (Liberty)
Hot Rocks - The Rolling Stones (London)
The Woman in Me - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
Forrest Gump (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Epic)
11 Million Albums Sold
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles (Capitol)
Human Clay - Creed (Wind-Up Records)
Falling Into You - Celine Dion (550 Music)
Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. II - Eagles (Asylum)
Devil Without a Cause - Kid Rock (Lava)
Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
No Strings Attached - 'N Sync (Jive)
Speakerboxxx/the Love Below - Outkast (So So Def)
Dirty Dancing (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (RCA)
James Taylor's Greatest Hits - James Taylor (Warner Bros.)
CrazySexyCool - TLC (LaFace)
Up - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
Titanic (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Sony Classical)
10 Million Albums Sold
Aerosmith's Greatest Hits - Aerosmith (Columbia)
1 - The Beatles (Capitol)
The Hits - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Daydream - Mariah Carey (Columbia)
Music Box - Mariah Carey (Columbia)
Unplugged - Eric Clapton (Reprise)
Greatest Hits - Patsy Cline (MCA Nashville)
Pyromania - Def Leppard (Mercury)
Let's Talk About Love - Celine Dion (550 Music/Epic)
Fly - Dixie Chicks (Monument)
Best of the Doobies - Doobie Brothers (Warner Bros.)
Dookie - Green Day (Reprise)
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em - Hammer (Capitol)
The Stranger - Billy Joel (Columbia)
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones (Blue Note)
Tapestry - Carole King (Ode)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park (Warner Bros.)
Like a Virgin - Madonna (Sire)
The Immaculate Collection - Madonna (Warner Bros.)
Legend - Bob Marley & the Wailers (Island)
Faith - George Michael (Columbia)
'N Sync - 'N Sync (RCA)
Nevermind - Nirvana (DGC)
Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt (Trauma/Interscope)
Life After Death - Notorious B.I.G. (Bad Boy/Arista)
Greatest Hits - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (MCA)
Can't Slow Down - Lionel Richie (Motown)
The Lion King (Soundtrack) - (Walt Disney)
Oops! . . .I Did It Again - Britney Spears. (Jive)
The Joshua Tree - U2 (Island)
1984 (MCMLXXXIV) - Van Halen (Warner Bros.)
Van Halen - Van Halen (Warner Bros.)
Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder (Motown)
Eliminator - ZZ Top (Warner Bros.)
9 Million Albums Sold
All Eyez on Me - 2 Pac (Death Row/Interscope)
Greatest Hits - 2 Pac (Interscope)
The Sign - Ace Of Base (Arista)
Licensed To Ill - Beastie Boys (Colombia)
Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men (Motown)
Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks (Capitol)
Sevens - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey (Columbia)
Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus (Mercury)
John Denver's Greatest Hits - John Denver (RCA)
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits (Warner Bros.)
The Best Of The Doors - The Doors (Elaktra)
The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (Interscope)
Whitney - Whitney Houston (Arista)
Escape - Journey (Columbia)
Country Grammer - Nelly (Universal Records)
Elvis' Christmas Album - Elvis Presley (RCA Records)
Hi Infidelity - R.E.O. Speedwagon (Epic)
Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness - Smashing Pumpkins (Virgin Records)
Big Willie Style - Will Smith (Columbia)
Confessions- Usher (So So Def)
Footloose (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Columbia)
Top Gun (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Columbia)
Great Band Era - Various Artists (Reader's Digest Music)
8 Million Albums Sold
Toys In The Attic - Aerosmith (Columbia)
Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (RCA)
Black & Blue - Backstreet Boys (Jive)
The Beatles Anthology, Vol 1 - The Beatles (Capitol)
Time, Love & Tenderness - Michael Bolton (Columbia)
Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton (Laface)
Secrets - Toni Braxton (Laface)
The Chase - Garth Brooks (Liberty)
In Pieces - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
The Writing's On The Wall - Destiny's Child (Columbia)
Hell Freezes Over - Eagles (Geffen)
The Eminem Show - Eminem (Interscope)
Greatest Hits - Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)
Breathe - Faith Hill (Warner Bros.)
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse/Columbia)
Bad - Michael Jackson (Epic)
R. - R. Kelly (Jive)
Miracles: The Holiday Album - Kenny G (Arista)
Led Zeppelin I - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
Throwing Copper - Live (Radioactive)
Surfacing - Sarah McLachlan (Arista)
And Justice For All - Metallica (Elektra)
Hangin' Tough - New Kids On The Block (Columbia)
Synchronicity - The Police (A&M)
Greatest Hits - Queen (Elektra)
Greatest Hits - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullett Band (Capitol)
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel (Columbia)
Grease (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (RSO)
Core - Stone Temple Pilots (Atlantic)
Strait Out Of The Box - George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Achtung Baby - U2 (Island)
Whitesnake - Whitesnake (Geffen)
7 Million Albums Sold
Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul (Virgin)
Highway To Hell - AC/DC (Epic)
Get A Grip - Aerosmith (Geffen)
Pump - Aerosmith (Geffen)
New Jersey - Bon Jovi (Mercury)
Don't Look Back- BOSTON (Epic)
Don't Be Cruel - Bobby Brown (MCA)
Running On Empty - Jackson Browne (Asylum)
Songs You Know By Heart - Jimmy Buffett (MCA)
The Singles 1969 - 1973 - The Carpenters (A&M)
TimePieces/Best Of Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton (RSO)
Unforgettable With Love Natalie Cole - Natalie Cole (Electra)
August & Everything After - Counting Crows (Geffen)
No Need To Argue - The Cranberries (Island)
Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Atlantic)
Tuesday Night Music Club - Sheryl Crow (A&M)
No Way Out - P. Diddy and the Family (Bad Boy/Arista)
All The Way...A Decade Of Song - Celine Dion (550 Music/Epic)
The Long Run - Eagles (Asylum)
Live - Eagles (Asylum)
A Day Without Rain - Enya (Reprise)
Records - Foreigner (Atlantic)
Double Vision - Foreigner (Atlantic)
Use Your Illusion II - Guns 'n Roses (Geffen)
Use Your Illusion I - Guns 'n Roses (Geffen)
Off The Wall - Michael Jackson (Epic)
History: Past, Present & Future Book I - Michael Jackson (Epic)
Dangerous - Michael Jackson (Epic)
52nd Street - Billy Joel (Columbia)
An Innocent Man - Billy Joel (Columbia)
Glass Houses - Billy Joel (Columbia)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (MCA)
Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits - Janis Joplin (Columbia)
Sports - Huey Lewis & The News (Chrysalis)
Significant Other - Limp Bizkit (Interscope)
True Blue - Madonna (Sire)
Ricky Martin - Ricky Martin (C2/Columbia)
Crash - Dave Matthews Band (RCA Records)
Vs. - Pearl Jam (Epic)
Luck Of The Draw - Bonnie Raitt (Capitol)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Warner Bros.)
Greatest Hits - Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)
Santana's Greatest Hits - Santana (Columbia)
Savage Garden - Savage Garden (Columbia)
Waiting To Exhale (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Arista)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Lost Highway)
Spice - Spice Girls (Virgin)
To The Extreme - Vanilla Ice (SBK)
Disclaimer: There is nothing 'Official' about these lists. They are compiled by the 'editor' using the stated criteria, and revised considering the competent suggestions of visitors to this website only.
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