What Are The All-Time Best-Selling U.S. Albums?

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            


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