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List of best-selling albums in the United States

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This is a list of best-selling albums in the United States according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Albums marked with a "≈" are double albums or multiple-disc albums, and therefore are counted accordingly for each sale (see below), some exceptions being Pink Floyd's The Wall, the Beatles' eponymous "White Album" and the Soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever which are double albums but are counted as one according to the RIAA because of their total time length (less than 100 minutes):

Platinum album certification in the United States indicates 1,000,000 albums sold.

Year Artist Album Label Certification
1967 The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Capitol 11× platinum[1]
1968 The Beatles The Beatles ("The White Album") Apple 19× platinum[2]
1969 The Beatles Abbey Road Apple 12× platinum[3]
1969 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II Atlantic 12× platinum
1971 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (ZoSo) Atlantic 23x platinum[4]
1972 Simon and Garfunkel Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits Columbia 14× platinum
1972 The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks, 1964–1971≈ London 12× platinum
1973 The Beatles 1962–1966 ("the Red Album") Capitol 15× platinum[5]
1973 The Beatles 1967–1970 ("the Blue Album") Capitol 16× platinum[6]
1973 Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy Atlantic 11× platinum
1973 Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon Capitol 15× platinum[7]
1974 Elton John Greatest Hits Polydor 16× platinum[8]
1975 Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti≈ Swan Song 16× platinum[9]
1976 Boston Boston Epic Records 17× platinum[10]
1976 The Eagles Hotel California Asylum 16× platinum[11]
1976 The Eagles Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) Elektra 29× platinum[12][13][14]
1976 James Taylor Greatest Hits Warner Bros. 11× platinum
1977 Meat Loaf Bat out of Hell Epic Records 14× platinum[15]
1977 Fleetwood Mac Rumours Warner Bros. 19× platinum[16]
1977 Bee Gees - Various Artists Saturday Night Fever(soundtrack) RSO 15× platinum
1978 Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits (1974–1978) Capitol 13× platinum
1980 AC/DC Back in Black Atlantic 22× platinum[17]
1980 Aerosmith Greatest Hits Columbia 11× platinum
1980 Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits Liberty 12× platinum
1982 Eagles Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Asylum 11× platinum
1982 Michael Jackson Thriller Epic Records 27× platinum[18]
1983 Def Leppard Pyromania Mercury Records 10× platinum[19]
1984 Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. Columbia 15× platinum
1984 Prince and the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack) Warner Bros. 13× platinum
1985 Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Arista 13× platinum
1985 Billy Joel Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 Columbia 21× platinum[20]
1985 Phil Collins No Jacket Required Atlantic 12× platinum
1986 Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet Mercury Records 12× platinum
1986 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live/1975-85≈ Columbia 13× platinum
1987 Def Leppard Hysteria Mercury Records 12× platinum
1987 George Michael Faith Columbia 10× platinum[21]
1987 Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction Geffen 15× platinum
1988 Journey Greatest Hits Columbia 14× platinum
1990 Garth Brooks No Fences Capitol 17× platinum[22]
1991 Garth Brooks Ropin' the Wind Capitol 14× platinum
1991 Pearl Jam Ten Epic Records 12× platinum
1991 Metallica Metallica ("the Black Album") Elektra 14× platinum
1991 Nirvana Nevermind DGC 10× platinum
1992 Kenny G Breathless Arista 12× platinum
1992 Whitney Houston The Bodyguard (soundtrack) Arista 17× platinum[23]
1993 Aerosmith Get a grip Columbia 7× platinum[24]
1994 Green Day Dookie Reprise Records 10× platinum[25]
1994 Various Artists Forrest Gump (soundtrack)≈ Epic Records 12× platinum
1994 Hootie and the Blowfish Cracked Rear View Atlantic 16× platinum[26]
1994 TLC CrazySexyCool LaFace 11× platinum
1995 Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Maverick 16× platinum
1995 Jewel Pieces of You Atlantic 12× platinum
1995 Shania Twain The Woman in Me Mercury Records 12× platinum
1996 2pac All Eyez On Me≈ Death Row 9× platinum
1996 Celine Dion Falling into You Epic Records 11× platinum
1996 Matchbox Twenty Yourself or Someone Like You Atlantic 12× platinum
1997 Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys Jive 14× platinum
1997 Shania Twain Come on Over Mercury 20× platinum [27]
1997 Various Artists Titanic Epic Records 11× platinum
1998 Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces Monument 12× platinum[28]
1998 Garth Brooks Double Live≈ Capitol 20× platinum[29]
1998 *NSYNC *NSYNC Jive 11× platinum
1998 Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause Atlantic 11× platinum[30]
1999 Backstreet Boys Millennium Jive 13× platinum
1999 Britney Spears ....Baby One More Time Jive 14× platinum
1999 Santana Supernatural Arista 15× platinum
1999 Creed Human Clay Wind-Up 11× platinum
2000 The Beatles The Beatles 1 Capitol 10× platinum
2000 *NSYNC No Strings Attached Jive 11× platinum
2000 Linkin Park Hybrid Theory Warner Bros. 10× platinum
2002 Shania Twain Up≈ Mercury Records 11× platinum
2003 Norah Jones Come Away With Me Blue Note 10× platinum
2004 Usher Confessions LaFace 9× platinum
2005 Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi Island 6× platinum
  1. Spice Girls - "Spice" (Virgin, 1996) - 7 times platinum
  2. Korn - "Follow The Leader" (BMG, 1998) - 5 times platinum
  3. Eminem - "The Marshall Mathers LP" (Aftermath, Interscope, 2000) - 9 times platinum
  4. Britney Spears - Oops!… I Did It Again (Jive, 2000) - 10 times platinum
  5. Green Day - Dookie (Reprise, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  6. Ace of Base - The Sign (Arista, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  7. Faith Hill - Breathe (Warner Bros., 1999) - 8 times platinum
  8. Madonna - Like a Virgin (Sire, 1984) - 10 times Platinum
  9. Mariah Carey - Music Box (Columbia, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  10. Mariah Carey - Daydream (Columbia, 1995) - 10 times platinum
  11. Dixie Chicks - Fly (Monument, 1999) - 10 times platinum
  12. Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love (Epic Records, 1997) - 10 times platinum
  13. No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (Interscope, 1995) - 10 times platinum
  14. Doobie Brothers - Best of the Doobies (Warner Bros., 1976) - 10 times platinum
  15. Billy Joel - The Stranger (Columbia, 1977) - 10 times platinum
  16. Garth Brooks - The Hits (Capitol, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  17. Eric Clapton - Unplugged (Reprise, 1992) - 10 times platinum
  18. Carole King - Tapestry (Ode, 1971) - 10 times platinum
  19. ≈ Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic, 1990) - 10 times platinum
  20. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (Sire, 1990) - 10 times platinum
  21. ≈The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death (Bad Boy Records, 1997) - 10 times platinum
  22. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend (Tuff Gong, 1984) - 10 times platinum
  23. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Greatest Hits (MCA, 1993) - 10 times platinum
  24. Elton John and others - The Lion King (Walt Disney, 1994) - 10 times platinum
  25. Lionel Richie - Can't Slow Down (Motown, 1983) - 10 times platinum
  26. MC Hammer - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (Capitol, 1990) - 10 times platinum
  27. Van Halen - Van Halen (Warner Bros., 1978) - 10 times platinum
  28. ZZ Top - Eliminator (Warner Bros., 1983) - 10 times platinum
  29. Van Halen - MCMLXXXIV (Warner Bros., 1984) - 10 times platinum
  30. ≈ Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life (Motown, 1976) - 10 times platinum
  31. U2 - The Joshua Tree (Island, 1987) - 10 times platinum
  32. Patsy Cline - 12 Greatest Hits - (Decca, 1967) - 10 times platinum
  33. Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey (Columbia, 1990) - 9 times platinum
  34. Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986) - 9 times platinum
  35. Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony (Motown, 1991) - 9 times platinum
  36. Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks (Capitol, 1989) - 9 times platinum
  37. Garth Brooks - Sevens (Capitol, 1997) - 9 times platinum
  38. Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All (Mercury Records, 1992) - 9 times platinum
  39. John Denver - Greatest Hits (RCA, 1974) - 9 times platinum
  40. Journey - Escape (Columbia, 1981) - 9 times platinum
  41. Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms (Warner Bros., 1985) - 9 times platinum
  42. The Doors - The Best of the Doors (Elektra, 1985) - 9 times platinum
  43. Whitney Houston - Whitney (Arista, 1987) - 9 times platinum
  44. REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity (Epic Records, 1980) - 9 times platinum
  45. ≈ Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (Virgin, 1995) - 9 times platinum
  46. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957) - 9 times platinum
  47. Will Smith - Big Willie Style (Columbia, 1997) - 9 times platinum
  48. Various Artists - Footloose (Columbia, 1984) - 9 times platinum
  49. Various Artists - The Great Band Era - 9 times platinum
  50. Various Artists - Top Gun (Columbia, 1986) - 9 times platinum
  51. Nelly - Country Grammar (Universal, 2000) - 9 times platinum
  52. Eminem - The Eminem Show (Aftermath, 2002) - 8 times platinum
  53. Backstreet Boys - Black & Blue (Jive, 2000) - 8 times platinum
  54. Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic (Columbia, 1975) - 8 times platinum
  55. Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (RCA, 1999) - 8 times platinum
  56. ≈ The Beatles - The Beatles Anthology Volume 1 (Capitol, 1995) - 8 times platinum
  57. Michael Bolton - Time, Love and Tenderness (Columbia, 1991) - 8 times platinum
  58. Toni Braxton - Secrets (LaFace, 1996) - 8 times platinum
  59. Toni Braxton - Toni Braxton (LaFace, 1993) - 8 times platinum
  60. Garth Brooks - The Chase (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
  61. Garth Brooks - In Pieces (Capitol) - 8 times platinum
  62. Destiny's Child - The Writing's On The Wall (Columbia, 1999) - 8 times platinum
  63. Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (Geffen, 1994) - 8 times platinum
  64. Fleetwood Mac - Greatest Hits (Warner Bros., 1988) - 8 times platinum
  65. Kenny G - Miracles: The Holiday Album - 8 times platinum
  66. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse, 1998) - 8 times platinum
  67. Michael Jackson - Bad (Epic Records, 1987) - 8 times platinum
  68. ≈ R. Kelly - R. (album) (Jive, 1998) - 8 times platinum
  69. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic, 1969)- 8 times platinum
  70. Live - Throwing Copper (Radioactive, 1994) - 8 times platinum
  71. Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing (Arista, 1997) - 8 times platinum
  72. Metallica - ...And Justice for All (Elektra, 1988) - 8 times platinum
  73. New Kids on the Block - Hangin' Tough (Columbia, 1988) - 8 times platinum
  74. The Police - Synchronicity (A&M, 1983) - 8 times platinum
  75. Queen - Greatest Hits (Elektra, 1981) - 8 times platinum
  76. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Greatest Hits (Capitol, 1994)- 8 times platinum
  77. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Columbia, 1970) - 8 times platinum
  78. Stone Temple Pilots - Core (Atlantic, 1992) - 8 times platinum
  79. ≈ George Strait - Strait Out of the Box (MCA, 1995) - 8 times platinum
  80. U2 - Achtung Baby (Island, 1991) - 8 times platinum
  81. Various Artists - Grease (soundtrack) (RSO, 1978) - 8 times platinum
  82. Whitesnake - Whitesnake (Geffen, 1987) - 8 times platinum

Albums by decade

1950s

  1. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album (1957) 9 million copies
  2. Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas (1958) 5 million copies
  3. My Fair Lady -(Original Broadway Cast) (1956) 3 million copies
  4. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (1959) 3 million copies
  5. Motion Picture Soundtrack - Oklahoma! (1955) 2 million copies

1960s

  1. The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969) 12 million copies
  2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II (1969) 12 million copies
  3. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 11 million copies
  4. Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits (1967) 10 million copies
  5. The Beatles - The Beatles (The White Album) (1968) 9.5 million copies (19 million units)
  6. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin I (1969) 8 million copies
  7. The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965) 6 million copies
  8. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour (1967) 6 million copies
  9. The Monkees - The Monkees (1967) 5 million copies
  10. The Monkees - More of the Monkees (1967) 5 million copies
  11. The Beatles - Meet the Beatles! (1964) 5 million copies
  12. The Beatles - Revolver (1966) 5 million copies

1970s

  1. The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976) 29 million copies
  2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 23 million copies
  3. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977) 19 million copies
  4. Boston - Boston (1976) 17 million copies
  5. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975) 16 million copies
  6. The Eagles - Hotel California (1976) 16 million copies
  7. Elton John - Greatest Hits (1974) 16 million copies
  8. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 15 million copies
  9. = The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack) (1977) 15 million copies [15 million units as well]
  10. Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (1977) 14 million copies
  11. = Simon & Garfunkel - Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits (1972) 14 million copies

1980s

  1. Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) 27 million copies
  2. AC/DC - Back in Black (1980) 22 million copies
  3. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. (1984) 15 million copies
  4. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987) 15 million copies
  5. Journey - Greatest Hits (1988) 14 million copies
  6. Prince - Purple Rain (1984) 13 million copies
  7. Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (1985) 13 million copies
  8. Def Leppard - Hysteria (1987) 12 million copies
  9. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet (1986) 12 million copies
  10. Kenny Rogers - Greatest Hits (1980) 12 million copies
  11. Phil Collins - No Jacket Required (1985) 12 million copies
  12. Aerosmith - Greatest Hits (1980) 11 million copies
  • Notes:
    • Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volume I & II (1985) has sold 10.5 million copies (21 million units)
    • Def Leppard's Pyromania (1983) is certified 10 times platinum
    • Madonna's Like A Virgin (1984) is certified 10 times platinum
    • Van Halen - 1984 (1984) is certified 10 times platinum
    • U2's The Joshua Tree (1987) is certified 10 times platinum
    • Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's Live/1975-85 (1986) has sold 6.5 million copies (13 million units)

1990s

  1. Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997) 20 million U.S.
  2. Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (1992) 17 million U.S.
  3. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995) 16 million U.S.
  4. Hootie & The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (1995) 16 million
  5. Santana - Supernatural (1999) 15 million
  6. Metallica - Metallica (1991) 15 million
  7. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time (1999) 14 million
  8. Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind (1993) 14 million
  9. Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (1997) 14 million
  10. Backstreet Boys - Millennium (1999) 13 million
  11. Boyz II Men - II (1994) 12 million
  12. TLC - CrazySexyCool (1994) 12 million
  13. Pearl Jam - Ten (1991) 12 million
  14. Shania Twain - The Woman In Me (1994) 12 million
  15. Kid Rock - Devil Without A Cause (1998)12 Million
  • Nielsen SoundScan Data (Actual retail sales, excludes catalog. Note: Does not include SoundScan data prior to March 1st, 1991.)
  1. Shania Twain - Come On Over - 15,449,000
  2. Metallica - Metallica - 15,077,000
  3. Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill - 14,557,000
  4. Backstreet Boys - Millennium - 12,099,000
  5. Whitney Houston/Soundtrack - The Bodyguard - 11,798,000
  6. Celine Dion - Falling Into You - 10,768,000
  7. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time - 10,501,125
  8. Nirvana - Nevermind - 10 million
  9. Hootie & the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View - 9,817,666
  10. Soundtrack - Titanic - 9,806,175
  11. Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind - 9,370,863
  12. Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys - 9,258,265

NOTE: These are in order from highest to lowest. Do not change it unless the numbers change.

2000s

  1. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 11.5 million. 10 million copies Soundscan, 1.54 million BMG [31]
  2. Creed - Human Clay (1999) 11.5 million copies (1999 album with most sales occurring after December 1999)
  3. N'Sync - No Strings Attached (2000) 11.1 million copies Soundscan, 1.52 million BMG [32]
  4. Outkast - "Speakerboxx/The Love Below" (2003) 11 million units (5.5 million double album copies)
  5. The Beatles - 1 (2001) 10.9 million
  6. Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again (2000) 10.4 million copies(9.2 millions soundscan, 1.2 millions BMG)[33]
  7. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000) 10 million copies
  8. Norah Jones - Come Away with Me (2002) 10 million copies
  9. Usher - Confessions (2004) 9 million copies
  10. Nelly - Country Grammar (2000) 9 million copies
  11. Eminem - The Eminem Show (2002) 9 million copies
  12. Backstreet Boys - Black and Blue (2000) 8 million
  13. Staind - Break the Cycle (2001) 8 million
  14. Nickelback - All The Right Reasons (2005) 6.6 million
  15. Evanescence - Fallen (2003) 6.5 million
  16. Avril Lavigne - Let Go (2002) 6.4 million
  17. Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts (2005) 6.4 million
  18. Mariah Carey -The Emancipation of Mimi (2005) 6.0 million
  19. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway (2004) 5.9 million

Records

Further research

  • For information about what makes a platinum album, see RIAA certification.
  • Multi-disc albums whose total length is at least 100 minutes count one for each disc in these figures, which accounts for the many double (or more) albums in the list.

See also

References

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