For as long as people have been making music, they’ve also been trying to get it on vinyl. But while anyone can put out an album, not every album has made its way into the hearts and minds of millions.
We’re looking for something more than that: Something special that transcends what’s happening in popular culture at any given moment in time, something timeless enough for future generations to still enjoy decades from now. So without further ado…
Thriller, Michael Jackson
Thriller, released in 1982, is the most popular album. It sold over 100 million copies worldwide and won a Grammy for Album of the Year. The album was produced by Quincy Jones and covered a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, R&B and disco. It includes songs like “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” and “Beat It.”
Back in Black, AC/DC
In the early ’80s, AC/DC was still considered one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. Their previous album, For Those About to Rock We Salute You, was released in 1981 and sold more than five million copies. The band set out to record their follow-up album in April 1981 with producer Mutt Lange at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas and completed it by June.
The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is a British rock band that was formed in 1965. The band’s album The Dark Side of the Moon was released in 1973 and became their most successful album, selling over 40 million copies worldwide.
The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album, Whitney Houston
In 1992, Whitney Houston’s album The Bodyguard was the best-selling album in the world. It is still the best-selling soundtrack album of all time. This record-breaking album held that title for over ten years before being dethroned by Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1999, which sold over 40 million copies as well.
Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf
Released in 1977 and selling over 40 million copies, Bat Out of Hell is the best-selling album by American singer Meat Loaf. The album stayed at number 1 on the charts for 14 weeks and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Meat Loaf won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male for the title track “Bat Out Of Hell.”
Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), Eagles
The Eagles have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide and are among the best-selling bands of all time. They are one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s, second only to The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, ABBA
ABBA (or The Move) were formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog; Anni-Frid Lyngstad joined them soon afterward.
ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the Swedish pop group ABBA. It was released in 1992 and sold over 35 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. The album includes many hit songs from their years together as a group, including “Waterloo,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Take a Chance on Me.”
These are the top most popular albums of all time. The list was compiled based on sales, streams and, interestingly, some of these albums have been around for more than 40 years!
