I'd say both countries have some crap they listen too, but The Beatles are on the USA list 4 times as opposed to 2 on the UK list. And Floyd and Zeppelin are at least in our top 5. AND Madonna's not even on our list. Which is a major plus. Anyway, get your facts straight before you insult. I think the list that was previously posted were WORLD sales. So I guess we're not the only country that listens to crap occasionaly.
Thank you!! You proved my point better than I ever could have done by providing the proof!
ALL TIME BEST SELLING ALBUM WORLDWIDE CHART (15 millions album sold and more) Last update: January 20, 2005
(Title - Artist - Source)
59 millions THRILLER - JACKSON, MICHAEL - MJJ source + IFPI
42 millions EAGLES/THEIR GREATEST HITS 1971 - 1975 - EAGLES - CNN + IFPI BACK IN BLACK - AC/DC - Official site + IFPI
40 millions SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (BEE GEES) (2LP) - SOUNDTRACK - Polydor site + IFPI
37 millions BAT OUT OF HELL - MEAT LOAF - Jim Steinman source + IFPI THE BODYGUARD (HOUSTON, WHITNEY) - SOUNDTRACK - Official Site + IFPI
35 millions DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - PINK FLOYD - Official site + IFPI COME ON OVER - TWAIN, SHANIA - Official Site + IFPI
32 millions SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND - BEATLES, THE - MSAW + IFPI LED ZEPPELIN IV - LED ZEPPELIN Official Site + IFPI DIRTY DANCING - SOUNDTRACK Official Site + IFPI
30 millions RUMOURS - FLEETWOOD MAC - Official Site + IFPI LET'S TALK ABOUT LOVE - DION, CELINE - Sony + IFPI MILLENNIUM - BACKSTREET BOYS - Official Site + IFPI
29 millions ABBEY ROAD - THE BEATLES - MSAW + IFPI BAD - JACKSON, MICHAEL - MJJ Source + IFPI JAGGED LITTLE PILL - MORISSETTE, ALANIS - MSAW + IFPI FALLING INTO YOU - DION, CELINE - Sony + IFPI TITANIC - SOUNDTRACK - Official Site + IFPI
28 millions GREASE (2LP) - SOUNDTRACK - Polygram + IFPI BORN IN THE U.S.A. - SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE - Official Site + IFPI DANGEROUS - JACKSON, MICHAEL - MJJ Source + IFPI 1 (ONE) - BEATLES, THE - EMI site + IFPI
27 millions HOTEL CALIFORNIA - EAGLES Official Site + IFPI MUSIC BOX - CAREY, MARIAH - Official site + IFPI THE JOSHUA TREE - U2 - Official Site
26 millions BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - SIMON & GARFUNKEL Official Site + IFPI BROTHERS IN ARMS - DIRE STRAITS Official Site + IFPI APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION - GUNS 'N ROSES Official Site + IFPI SUPERNATURAL - SANTANA - Official Site + IFPI
25 millions SLIPPERY WHEN WET - BON JOVI - Official Site + IFPI ABBA GOLD - ABBA - Official Site + IFPI BACKSTREET BOYS (aka BACKSTREET 's BACK) - BACKSTREET BOYS - Official Site + IFPI ...BABY ONE MORE TIME - SPEARS, BRITNEY - Official Site + IFPI
24 millions THE WALL (2CD) - PINK FLOYD - Official site + IFPI SPICE - SPICE GIRLS - Official Site + IFPI WHITNEY HOUSTON - HOUSTON, WHITNEY - Official Site + IFPI THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION - MADONNA - W.B. + IFPI
23 millions TAPESTRY - KING, CAROLE Official Site + IFPI CAN'T SLOW DOWN - RICHIE, LIONEL Official Site + IFPI TRUE BLUE - MADONNA Official Site + IFPI METALLICA - METALLICA Official Site + IFPI
22 millions SOUND OF MUSIC - SOUNDTRACK Official Site + IFPI GREATEST HITS - SIMON & GARFUNKEL Official Site + IFPI DAYDREAM - CAREY, MARIAH Official Site + IFPI
21 millions THE BEATLES 1967 - 1970 (2CD) - BEATLES, THE - MSAW + IFPI BOSTON - BOSTON - Official Site +IFPI GREATEST HITS - JOHN, ELTON - Official Site +IFPI SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN - BEE GEES - Polydor + IFPI LIKE A VIRGIN - MADONNA - W.B. + IFPI THE SIGN/HAPPY NATION - ACE OF BASE - Official Site + IFPI
20 millions THE BEATLES 1962 - 1966 (2CD) - BEATLES, THE - MSAW + IFPI PURPLE RAIN (SOUNDTRACK) - PRINCE & THE REVOLUTIONS - Official Site + IFPI PLEASE HAMMER DON'T HURT 'EM - HAMMER - Official Site +IFPI RICKY MARTIN - MARTIN, RICKY - Official Site +IFPI COME AWAY WITH ME - JONES, NORAH - Official Site
19 millions THE BEATLES (WHITE ALBUM) (2CD) - BEATLES, THE - MSAW + IFPI OFF THE WALL - JACKSON, MICHAEL - MJJ Source + IFPI WHITNEY - HOUSTON, WHITNEY - Official Site - IFPI OOPS!... I DID IT AGAIN - SPEARS, BRITNEY - Official Site + IFPI
18 millions BREAKFAST IN AMERICA - SUPERTRAMPS - Official Site + IFPI HYSTERIA - DEF LEPPARD - Official Site + IFPI THE WOMAN IN ME - TWAIN, SHANIA - Mercury - IFPI (WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY - OASIS - Official Site + IFPI THE SCORE - FUGEES - IFPI ALL THE WAY... - DION, CELINE - Sony + IFPI HISTORY: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE BOOK I (2CD) - JACKSON, MICHAEL - MJJ Source + IFPI NEW NEVERMIND - NIRVANA - Amazon.com + NEW
17 millions GREATEST HITS VOLUME I & VOLUME II (2CD) - JOEL, BILLY - Official Site + IFPI PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (2LP) - LED ZEPPELIN - Official Site + IFPI FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE (2LP) - FRAMPTON, PETER - Pop Matters + IFPI NO FENCES - BROOKS, GARTH - IFPI ACHTUNG BABY - U2 - Official Site MARIAH CAREY - CAREY, MARIAH - Official Site + IFPI CRACKED REAR VIEW - HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH - Official Site + IFPI UNPLUGGED - CLAPTON, ERIC - Official Site +IFPI SPICE WORLD - SPICE GIRLS - Official Site + IFPI ROMANZA - BOCELLI, ANDREA - Official Site +IFPI THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP - EMINEM - Official Site +IFPI FALLEN - EVANESCENCE - Official Site
16 millions TUBULAR BELLS - OLDFIELD, MIKE - Official Site +IFPI LEGEND - MARLEY, BOB & THE WAILERS - Official Site +IFPI FAITH - MICHAEL, GEORGE - Official Site +IFPI USE YOUR ILLUSION I - GUNS'N'ROSES - Official Site +IFPI JANET. - JACKSON, JANET - Official Site +IFPI MERRY CHRISTMAS - CAREY, MARIAH - Official Site +IFPI ROPIN' THE WIND - BROOKS, GARTH - Official Site BUTTERFLY - CAREY, MARIAH - Official Site +IFPI BEST OF 1980-1990 - U2 - Official Site NO STRINGS ATTACHED - 'N SYNC - Official Site +IFPI
15 millions II - LED ZEPPELIN - Official Site +IFPI GREATEST HITS - ROGERS, KENNY - Official Site +IFPI GREATEST HITS VOL.2 - THE EAGLES - Official Site +IFPI GUILTY - STREISAND, BARBRA - Polydor GREATEST HITS - QUEEN - Official Site + IFPI NO JACKET REQUIRED - COLLINS, PHIL Official Site + IFPI NEW JERSEY - BON JOVI - Official Site LIKE A PRAYER - MADONNA - W.B. TO THE EXTREME - VANILLA ICE - Official Site + IFPI CROSS ROADS - BON JOVI - Official Site COLOUR OF MY LOVE - DION, CELINE - Official Site - Official Site + IFPI USE YOUR ILLUSION II - GUNS'N'ROSES - Official Site + IFPI THE LION KING - SOUNDTRACK - Official Site + IFPI TRAGIC KINGDOM - NO DOUBT - Official Site + IFPI BAT OUT OF HELL 2: BACK INTO HELL - MEAT LOAF - Official Site + IFPI YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU - MATCHBOX 20 - Official Site + IFPI BLACK & BLUE - BACKSTREET BOYS - Official Site RAY OF LIGHT - MADONNA - W.B. - Official Site + IFPI DOUBLE LIVE (2CD) - BROOKS, GARTH - Official Site THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL - HILL, LAURYN - Official Site + IFPI MUSIC - MADONNA - W.B. THE EMINEM SHOW - EMINEM - Official Site + IFPI NEW BUSINESS AS USUAL - MEN AT WORK - Official Site + NEW
10 millions WAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS - ADAMS, BRYAN - 10 millions - Official site KICK - INXS - 10 millions - Official site
Soundscan only counts American sales of albums. For example, Moby's Play album sold 10 million copies worldwide but only 2.6 million in the States. I really wish there was a chart that compiled total world sales of albums.
The numbers I posted are from the RIAA website, so that means Anthology 1 sold 8 millions only in the States
Ok, everyone..........I can solve the mysteries for you all......
that list that was posted at the start of the thread is correct.......those are the actual soundscan sales for those albums. Note that Soundscan was VERY weak in the United States back in the early nineties, whereas now it tracks nearly EVERYTHING. So U2's Achtung Baby, which has sold more than 8,000,000 in the United States, has only sold 5,000,000 through Soundscan because Soundscan was only tracking about a third of the US market in the early nineties.
The Beatles Anthology I has sold 8 million units in the united states. However, that's because it is a DOUBLE album. Soundscan counts all albums as 1 copy, whereas the RIAA counts double albums as two units and so forth. Therefore, The Beatles Anthology I has sold 4,000,000 two disc sets in the United States for a total of 8,000,000 units.
That list posted at the bottom of the first page of this thread actually is the overall US sales. You will note that a lot of albums on it have higher sales than listed in the Soundscan list, and that's because of Soundscan not tracking a great deal of albums sales (particularly through record clubs) in the nineties.
Finally, the list posted on this page (page 2) with the World's Biggest Selling albums is extremely flawed to say the least. Tracking world sales has always been a huge problem, and I can already spot plenty of errors in it.
Hope that solves a lot of the debating.
"Only people know just how to talk to people. Only people know just how to change the world."
"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The Beatles (1967) (4.5 million copies) "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" - Oasis (1995) (4.2 million) "Brothers In Arms" - Dire Straits (1985) (3.9 million) "Bad" - Michael Jackson (1987) (3.9 million) "The Immaculate Collection" - Madonna (1990) (3.6 million) "Abba Gold Greatest Hits" - Abba (1992) (3.6 million) "Stars" - Simply Red (1991) (3.6 million) "Thriller" - Michael Jackson (1982) (3.3 million) "Greatest Hits (Volume One)" - Queen (1981) (3.3 million) "Jagged Little Pill" - Alanis Morissette (2002) (3.0 million) "Come On Over" - Shania Twain (2000) (3.0 million) "Rumours" - Fleetwood Mac (1977) (3.0 million) "Spice" - The Spice Girls (1996) (3.0 million) "No Angel" - Dido (2002) (2.8 million) "I've Been Expecting You" - Robbie Williams (2000) (2.7 million) "Talk On Corners" - The Corrs (1999) (2.7 million) "The Very Best Of Elton John" - Elton John (1995) (2.7 million) "White Ladder" - David Gray (2002) (2.6 million) "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel (1970) (2.5 million) "Greatest Hits" - Simon & Garfunkel (1972) (2.5 million) "Sing When You're Winning" - Robbie Williams (2.4m) "Urban Hymns" - Verve (2.4m) "Robson And Jerome" - Robson & Jerome (2.4m) "Sound Of Music" - Soundtrack (2.4m) "Greatest Hits Vol.II" - Queen (2.4m) "The Man Who" - Travis (2.4m) "Simply The Best" - Tina Turner (2.4m) "But Seriously" - Phil Collins (2.4m) "Life For Rent" - Dido (2.2m) "Swing When You're Winning" - Robbie Williams (2.1m) "The Marshall Mathers LP" - Eminem (2.1m) "1" - Beatles (2.1m) "Now That's What I Call Music 44" - Various (2.1m) "Ladies & Gentlemen - The Best Of..." - George Michael (2.1m) "Life Thru A Lens" - Robbie Williams (2.1m) "Falling Into You" - Celine Dion (2.1m) "A New Flame" - Simply Red (2.1m) "Tubular Bells" - Mike Oldfield (2.1m) "The Bodyguard" - Soundtrack (2.1m) "Bat Out Of Hell" - Meat Loaf (2.1m) "Dark Side Of The Moon" - Pink Floyd (2.1m) "Tango In The Night" - Fleetwood Mac (2.1m) "True Blue" - Madonna (2.1m)
I'd say both countries have some crap they listen too, but The Beatles are on the USA list 4 times as opposed to 2 on the UK list. And Floyd and Zeppelin are at least in our top 5. AND Madonna's not even on our list. Which is a major plus. Anyway, get your facts straight before you insult. I think the list that was previously posted were WORLD sales. So I guess we're not the only country that listens to crap occasionaly.
This UK list does not reflect the whole truth, it has to be said.
If you look closely at that list, you will see that only three albums are from pre-1973. The reason for that is that this list relies almost exclusively on the information supplied by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). It goes without saying that this is a reliable source, but only for albums released since 1973. The BPI has a rule that it only certifies albums that were released since 1973 - the year they introduced the Gold award system in Britain. This is different to the US where the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is certifying any record regardless of its release date as long as the record company can supply sufficient documentation of its sales.
This explains why there are only 2 Beatles albums featured in the U.K. list.
If the above quoted list of best selling albums in the U.K. would take into account albums released prior to 1973, the following Beatles LPs/CDs would be featured:
"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The Beatles (1967) (4.5 million copies) "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" - Oasis (1995) (4.2 million) "Brothers In Arms" - Dire Straits (1985) (3.9 million) "Bad" - Michael Jackson (1987) (3.9 million) "The Immaculate Collection" - Madonna (1990) (3.6 million) "Abba Gold Greatest Hits" - Abba (1992) (3.6 million) "Stars" - Simply Red (1991) (3.6 million) "Thriller" - Michael Jackson (1982) (3.3 million) "Greatest Hits (Volume One)" - Queen (1981) (3.3 million) "Abbey Road" - Beatles (1969) (3.2 million) "Jagged Little Pill" - Alanis Morissette (2002) (3.0 million) "Come On Over" - Shania Twain (2000) (3.0 million) "Rumours" - Fleetwood Mac (1977) (3.0 million) "Spice" - The Spice Girls (1996) (3.0 million) "No Angel" - Dido (2002) (2.8 million) "I've Been Expecting You" - Robbie Williams (2000) (2.7 million) "Talk On Corners" - The Corrs (1999) (2.7 million) "The Very Best Of Elton John" - Elton John (1995) (2.7 million) "White Ladder" - David Gray (2002) (2.6 million) "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel (1970) (2.5 million) "Rubber Soul" - Beatles (1965) (2.5 million) "Greatest Hits" - Simon & Garfunkel (1972) (2.5 million) "1" - Beatles (2.4m) "Sing When You're Winning" - Robbie Williams (2.4m) "Urban Hymns" - Verve (2.4m) "Robson And Jerome" - Robson & Jerome (2.4m) "Sound Of Music" - Soundtrack (2.4m) "Greatest Hits Vol.II" - Queen (2.4m) "The Man Who" - Travis (2.4m) "Simply The Best" - Tina Turner (2.4m) "But Seriously" - Phil Collins (2.4m) "The Beatles" (White Album) - Beatles (2.2m) "Life For Rent" - Dido (2.2m) "Swing When You're Winning" - Robbie Williams (2.1m) "The Marshall Mathers LP" - Eminem (2.1m) "Now That's What I Call Music 44" - Various (2.1m) "Ladies & Gentlemen - The Best Of..." - George Michael (2.1m) "Life Thru A Lens" - Robbie Williams (2.1m) "Falling Into You" - Celine Dion (2.1m) "A New Flame" - Simply Red (2.1m) "Tubular Bells" - Mike Oldfield (2.1m) "The Bodyguard" - Soundtrack (2.1m) "Bat Out Of Hell" - Meat Loaf (2.1m) "Dark Side Of The Moon" - Pink Floyd (2.1m) "Tango In The Night" - Fleetwood Mac (2.1m) "True Blue" - Madonna (2.1m)
Those added Beatles figures are from a 1997 article in Q magazine. In the 8 years that have passed since then, they of course increased their sales, meaning that these figures are quite conservative.
Beatles '1' is easily their highest selling album ever worldwide...........it had sold over 28 million as of ealry in 2004.....and the album was the top catalog album of '04, selling over 700,000 copies in the United States.........so I'd say that '1' is undoubtedly one of the highest selling albums of all time with about 30,000,000 sold so far.........considering the pace it's at, I could see it becoming the highest selling album ever (worldwide) in a decade or two........
As for Sgt. Pepper's, that seems to be be their biggest hit studio album, but it'll be passed up by '1' sometime around next year.
"Only people know just how to talk to people. Only people know just how to change the world."
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