Five Best Selling Albums in the World

There are likely as many opinions about the best albums in the world as there are individuals. People have differing tastes, and their personal preferences and favorite album list will reflect that. With a list like this, we need to have some clarity on how we are ranking these albums placed upon it. One qualifier for this list is that the album must be a studio album. They are heavily ranked by the number of albums sold worldwide.

Number 5: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

At forty million copies, Rumours holds the fifth position as Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh studio album. It sold 10 million copies within a week of its initial release. It spent 872 weeks total on the album chart peaking at #1. Rumours also won a Grammy in 1978 for Album of the Year. The album entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

Singles

Rumours had four singles released. Lindsay Buckingham wrote “Go Your Own Way” as a breakup song to Stevie Nicks. Nicks composed “Dreams” which ascended to 24 on the singles chart. Christine McVie penned the last two singles before exiting the band.

Number 4: The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd

With 45 million copies, The Dark Side of the Moon is number four. Pink Floyd’s eighth album focused on the pressures of band lifestyle and mental illness. Each side of the album is a continuous composition with no intervals between the tracks. This album spent 539 weeks on the chart peaking at the second position.

Singles

“Money” is the first single. The song has an unusual time signature switch from seven/fourths to four/fourths during the song. At seven minutes and 51 seconds, the longest song is “Us and Them.”

Number 3: Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf

This album occupies the third spot at fifty million copies and was Meat Loaf’s debut album. Jim Steinman composed the entire score. Bat Out of Hell climaxed ninth on the chart. Its 522 weeks on the Official Charts nominate it the third-longest charting studio album.

Singles

This album is the solitary component on this list with no singles. It’s the only one with a musical that will renew touring in 2021.

Number 2: Back in Black by AC/DC

Essentially tying with Meat Loaf, AC/DC’s seventh studio album sold 50 million records. However, it sold better, so it places second. Back in Black is the first album with Brian Johnson on lead vocals. The black album cover is a symbol of mourning for the deceased singer, Bon Scott. This one topped the official charts and remained for 61 weeks in total.

Singles

AC/DC released four singles on this album. The first one, “You Shook Me All Night,” has two music video versions. In the same week that the song was number one on the rock chart, “Back in Black” also entered the singles at 27.

Number 1: Thriller by Michael Jackson

Thriller carries the crown and scepter with 66 million copies. Michael Jackson’s sixth studio album resided on the Official Charts for 259 weeks. It won eight Grammys and eight AMAs. The album has also been in the Guinness Book of World Records since 1984.

Singles

This album contains seven singles. Michael Jackson wrote four of them. Michael Jackson never performed “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” live.

Rock On

Only time will tell how many of these albums remain in this layout. If you’ve never listened to them, make an effort to auscultate. Remember that whatever your taste in music, it’s fun to listen to it while reading, driving, or fx trading.

22 Mar 2021