On March 29, 1980, "Dark Side of the Moon" spent its 303rd week on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales chart, surpassing the record set by Carole King's 1971 album "Tapestry." The iconic Pink Floyd album would remain on the chart an amazing 741 weeks from 1973 TO 1988, establishing a record for longevity. But just how does that album stack up against the latest list of America's top-selling albums, most of which happen to be classic-rock staples?
These are U.S. sales only. It takes 500,000 in sales to become a Gold Album, a million to go Platinum, and ten-million to reach the coveted Diamond Award. All of these big-sellers are above those landmarks, becoming not only money-making powerhouses but achieving cultural immortality as well.
Take note, that in the case of a double-album, each disc is counted to arrive at the sales total. So, a double-album title that sold 10-million units is counted as a 20-million seller. For instance, Billy Joel sold 11.5 million copies of "Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2," and it's counted as a 23-million seller.
1. Michael Jackson "Thriller" 33-million
2. The Eagles "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" 29-million
3. Billy Joel "Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2" (Double) 23-million
4. Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin" (IV) 23-million
5. Pink Floyd "The Wall" (Double) 23-million
6. AC/DC "Back in Black" 22-million
7. Garth Brooks "Double Live" (Double) 21-million
8. Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" 20-million
9. Shania Twain "Come on Over" 20-million
10. The Beatles "The Beatles" (The White Album) (Double) 19-million
11. Guns n' Roses "Appetite for Destruction" 18-million
12. Whitney Houston "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack 18-million
13. Boston "Boston" 17-million
14. Elton John "Greatest Hits" 17-million
15. Garth Brooks "No Fences" 17-million
16. The Beatles "1967-1970" (The Blue Album) (Double) 17-million
17. Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill" 16-million
18. Bee Gees "Saturday Night Fever" Soundtrack (Double) 16-million
19. Eagles "Hotel California" 16-million
20. Hootie & the Blowfish "Cracked Rear View" 16-million
21. Led Zeppelin "Physical Graffiti (Double) 16-million
22. Metallica "Metallica" 16-million
23. Bob Marley & the Wailers "Legend" 15-million
24. Bruce Springsteen "Born in the U.S.A. 15-million
25. Journey "Greatest Hits" 15-million
26. Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" 15-million