The 5 Best-Selling Albums Ever (And Why They Became So Big)

Even though many of the best-selling albums of all time came out decades ago, they are still adored by young and old fans alike today. Let’s look at five of the best-selling albums of all time and break down why they are such important pieces of work in music history.

1. ‘Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)’ by Eagles (1976)

The compilation album Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by Eagles was released in 1976 and has sold 44 million copies as of 2024.

When it comes to greatest hits albums like this, it makes perfect sense why this record became so big. It features all of the best songs from the heyday of Eagles’ career, from “Take It Easy” to “Desperado” to “One Of These Nights”. It was a must-have for even the most casual Eagles fan at the time.

2. ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ by Pink Floyd (1973)

The legendary Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd was released in 1973 and has sold 45 million copies as of 2024.

This record is a conceptual masterpiece in a number of ways. Pink Floyd explored quite a few taboo themes for their time on this album, including mental illness, greed, and the quickly-churning gear of time. It’s a philosophically sound piece of work; and on a musical level, few prog-rock albums have matched it.

3. ‘Back In Black’ by AC/DC (1980)

Ah, the album that almost never was. Back In Black by AC/DC was released in 1980 and has some 50 million copies as of 2024.

Back In Black was almost never released, as the band’s lead singer Bon Scott passed away before it came out. Luckily, the remaining band members decided to move forward and put the album out there as a tribute to Scott, and that choice changed the trajectory of their careers (and hard rock music) for good.

4. ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson (1982)

Thriller by Michael Jackson was released in 1982 and has sold 70 million copies since its release as of 2024.

Michael Jackson was already a household name by the time this record came out. But the creativity and genre-bending nature of this 1982 release made him the biggest pop star in the world. Music videos at the time were not on the level of MJ’s video releases for this album, and it set a new standard for the medium in the decades that followed.

5. ‘The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack’ by Whitney Houston (1992)

The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album featured a number of different artists. However, it’s widely believed that Whitney Houston’s contributions to the 1992 soundtrack record are what earned it 45 million copies sold as of 2024.

One cannot help but love Whitney Houston’s rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” on this soundtrack. Not a lot of people remember the movie the track was used for, but everybody remembers this heartwrenching song.

Photo via Epic Records

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