100 Best Selling Albums Of All Time

[D]

I got to lookin on the RIAA sight and Appetite hasnt been updated 1998.

Slippery when wet hasnt been updated since 96 so its probably over 14 million by now.

[Izzy]

I got to lookin on the RIAA sight and Appetite hasnt been updated 1998.

Slippery when wet hasnt been updated since 96 so its probably over 14 million by now.

The RIAA are a rather sloppy bunch,

Mj's Dangerous album hasnt been updated since 1994 - it came out in 91! 30 odd million in three years, pretty darn good!

[Hysteron]

This list is as daft as all the others - you are comparing albums that have had a 40 year head start on others!

...not to mention the obvious point that if you think sales relate to album quality than your a muppet, but hey maybe Thriller is the best album of all time

I don't recall this being the 100 greatest albums of all time list.

[freedom78]

A good list of REAL numbers, but a there are a few problems:

The number of people buying albums has increased dramatically, because of changes in economies, lifestyles, and simple population increases.  So, the biggest selling album of 2000 has a natural advantage over the biggest seller of 1970, for example. 

Also, weren't 7" singles a more common way to buy music a few decades back (50s 60s?).  Probably had an effect. 

It's the same way you always have new boxoffice records for movies.  Yeah, because more people exist now than when Casa-fuckin'-blanca came out and tickets cost more!

[NicoRourke]

I cant believe Bon Jovi New Jersey didnt make the list. I thought it sold about 8 million in the US... must of barely missed the cut.

Strange that Cross Road isn't there either It was also a massive hit.

[Rocksteady]

Were all these people buying "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack just because of the Whitney Houston song, or were there other hits on it? 

[Jim]

It's the same way you always have new boxoffice records for movies.  Yeah, because more people exist now than when Casa-fuckin'-blanca came out and tickets cost more!

Box office records in as far as price, not necesarily people going to see the movie. I'm pretty sure that Gone With the Wind is still the most watched movie at the cinema, that is that the most people went to see it......

... But hey. I could be wrong.

[pasnow]

Were all these people buying "The Bodyguard" Soundtrack just because of the Whitney Houston song, or were there other hits on it??

It was pretty much just that song. But it was all over the place back then. And females from 15-50 were into it, so it had a mass appeal.


Yeah, these get distorted because not only do the older one's have a head start, but they get duplicate purchases for people switching mediums (Records to Cassette's, cassette's to CD etc). That said, I'm sure a ton of people bought Slippery When Wet in the last couple years, as back in the late 80's the originally had it on tape. Figured during his resurgence get it on CD.

Although like Atari Legend II said, it's a 'best selling' list, so take the numbers for what they're worth.

[freedom78]

It's the same way you always have new boxoffice records for movies.  Yeah, because more people exist now than when Casa-fuckin'-blanca came out and tickets cost more!

Box office records in as far as price, not necesarily people going to see the movie. I'm pretty sure that Gone With the Wind is still the most watched movie at the cinema, that is that the most people went to see it......

... But hey. I could be wrong.

Yes...I meant in terms of $$$.

[Walk]

Box office records in as far as price, not necesarily people going to see the movie. I'm pretty sure that Gone With the Wind is still the most watched movie at the cinema, that is that the most people went to see it......

... But hey. I could be wrong.

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