Deep dive into music history! 🌟 In this video, we uncover the legendary albums that have sold millions and left an indelible mark on the music industry. From iconic classics to groundbreaking modern records.
Пікірлер: 158
@danmayberry11855 күн бұрын
1965 - Beatles 6 albums, 5 to 13 million copies, each. World population less than half of today, and you hoped you had a good enough record player. That scale of success can't be imagined by modern standards.
@Johnadams207607 күн бұрын
beatles had a top album on the charts thorugh 1987 17 years after they broke up. that is insane
@guitarcomet52 күн бұрын
Nope, that’s talent!😊
@Johnadams207602 күн бұрын
@@guitarcomet5 of course it is talent, but when i say insane, i mean it is beyond mesaure
@jk4675Күн бұрын
Shows much legacy they have
@alfredodedarc9 күн бұрын
Just shows how stagnant music has been since the 1980s
@skyblazeeterno8 күн бұрын
Nope. Chart music is mainly pointless nowadays as it's NOT BASED ON ACTUAL SALES. There is good music but you will need to look for it outside the charts
@alfredodedarc7 күн бұрын
@ even so, there’s damned little of it. The older guys/gals have spent all their creative juices, the younger guys/gals are repetitious.
@frankmarsh11596 күн бұрын
Yeah it's almost as bad as the music in this video..
@frankmarsh11596 күн бұрын
@@skyblazeeternoWell back in the day there was good music on the charts...
@DonnieSiler6 күн бұрын
No one buys albums anymore. Streaming killed in-store album sales.
@elliotmyers6254 күн бұрын
For people saying that this shows how bad music today is, that's not what this shows. This reflects exactly when Napster exploded and young people almost entirely stopped spending money on music. Suddenly music is just being copied over and over digitally and only older people with money were still buying albums.
@ericstan86962 күн бұрын
Napster was over 20 years ago. Those young people that you're referring to are probably grandparents by now.
@elliotmyers6252 күн бұрын
@@ericstan8696 For sure. That's my point. Many of the old people are saying, "See, this shows that music since then has been bad." Album sales just don't mean the same thing. We don't sell a lot of phonographs either.
@daveturkey-n7vКүн бұрын
Erm, they're not spending money on music because said music is crap.
@regfries82799 күн бұрын
It's interesting how stable the list becomes from the early 1990s.
@Lily_The_Pink9727 күн бұрын
Partly because music became so bad and the introduction of digital downloads and streaming etc.
@skyblazeeterno5 күн бұрын
@@Lily_The_Pink972 why buy albums? The vast majority of albums I've heard usually have only 1 or 2 decent tracks anyway
@Lily_The_Pink9725 күн бұрын
@skyblazeeterno True in many cases, but not where the top selling albums of all time are concerned. That's why they're the top sellers and why they're still desirable.
@skyblazeeterno5 күн бұрын
@@Lily_The_Pink972 I'm talking currently. Apart from some weird audio snobbery there's no need to buy albums
@AntonXul5 күн бұрын
@@skyblazeeterno I’ve been listening to old albums from before my time on Spotify and I disagree. There are bands that put out quality albums. From the big names like The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Scorpions, to other bands just below like Nazareth, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult, Mountain, UFO and even a one album wonder like Ursa Major. As someone who is going through the old groups, I am discovering some serious hidden gems. The ‘70s was truly the greatest musical decade.
@ANDROLOMA7 күн бұрын
The Beatles ruled the 1960s.
@daveshredmonster21713 күн бұрын
Beatle did rule the 1960s. They ruled the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and still do as of 2025 in my opinion.
@ANDROLOMA2 күн бұрын
Darn good opinion.
@nonnayoubuzinnes16694 күн бұрын
Rumours has sold over 40 million now. It has been in the UK album chart for over 20 years and is still in the top 20 albums this week, nearly 50 years after its release!
@normanpearson87533 күн бұрын
For good reason . Also , only separated by a year is ," Bat out of Hell " , another great biggie .
@brianw75026 күн бұрын
1975-1980 Probably the most incredible time in recorded music ever.
@misterschubert32425 күн бұрын
1965 -1985
@filmbuffo56164 күн бұрын
technology was all that that was, the technology of recorded music, the tech of its making marketing and sales and the oligopolies and cartels established by law to run those businesses - see how complex copyright law is, see how the music industry has ever controled the engineers who build the devices (from player pianos through to smart phones, not forgetting sheet music too, cannot make reproduction too easy they commanded) that people use to play back music now thats all gone, boo hoo hoo
@KevinLarkin-i3m2 күн бұрын
You got that right!
@CarlJohnson-c1h5 күн бұрын
Interesting that after 1985 or so, there was very little movement on that Top 12 list. Today, nobody buys albums... they download individual tracks by themselves.
@daveturkey-n7vКүн бұрын
Yeah, but they didn't download 1985-2005.
@adamc19667 күн бұрын
The Beatles did very well 👍
@normanpearson87533 күн бұрын
Not bad .
@transparent67482 күн бұрын
Kinda surprised not to see ABBA here unless I missed something lol
@MrRezRising6 күн бұрын
No compilations allowed, otherwise Eagles Greatest Hits would be about 4th.
@MrDboydeluxe6 күн бұрын
I had always thought Hotel California was right up there with Rumours. Surprised me a bit.
@MrRezRising6 күн бұрын
Eagles Greatest Hits is the #1 sold album in the USA. This list isn't including compilations.
@MrDamondam6 күн бұрын
Eagles hotel California is No1 worldwide, and greatest hits should be third
@Slammy5556 күн бұрын
As a band, Beatles even beat Michael in sales.
@ianharkin26919 күн бұрын
Nothing from this century. Not surprised.
@regfries82799 күн бұрын
i wonder if that's because downloads/streaming doesn't count?
@ianharkin26919 күн бұрын
@@regfries8279 In recent years, those things have been included. I think the two highest-selling albums this century were both by Adele. Her "21" would have gone close to making this list, but just missed out.
@jonallen31485 күн бұрын
It’s interesting though, Eminem album The Eminem Show has sold over 40 million and not included on the list. Marshal Mathers EP is around 36 million.
@jimromanski2702Күн бұрын
I can't tell if CDs are included in the numbers or not. But in the past 10 years streaming leads to people buying/playing individual songs rather than buying entire albums. So no surprise that the chart doesn't change much over the most recent 10 years. Fascinating that Dark Side of the Moon (hardly a pop album) stayed number one and two for soooo long. I remember reading how it had stayed in the top 20 for more than any other album for years and years.
@mayorb33663 күн бұрын
One factor in overall album sales was the changes in music media format. Many people bought the same album on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, and CD (or some combination thereof). Trivia: Born in the USA ('85) was the first CD put into wide release that had not been previously been sold on vinyl.
@melonsoda3344 күн бұрын
No new entry from 2000. Music download became the main stream and people started to purchase only one song and not the whole album.
@boondoggle48207 күн бұрын
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of the top selling albums year to year.
@UphillGardener-ly5sh9 күн бұрын
ANYONE STRUGGLING, WATCH AT HALF SPEED :o)
@benjaminmarker9 күн бұрын
lol, smoked as well you have....
@UphillGardener-ly5sh9 күн бұрын
only one change in the top ten in the last 25yrs (Bad over taking Jagged little pill) and Jacko beating Floyd despite a 10yr head start is amazing. The biggest surprise for me was the Bodyguard S/T
@komodosp9 күн бұрын
Head start doesn't mean much - the way the record industry worked before streaming took over resulted in the vast majority of records being sold when the album is released, before it kind of flattens out... I'm surprised Bad didn't do as well though, that was massive!
@UphillGardener-ly5sh9 күн бұрын
@komodosp it does, Dark side and Thriller did most of their business long before streaming had any affect, Thriller caught and passed Dark side's 10yr total in less than 1yr
@M2H-hm5cs4 күн бұрын
Interesting how almost every list has Back in Black as #2.
@ANDROLOMA7 күн бұрын
No Princess Bubblegum. That's a good thing.
@terrygarcia8974 күн бұрын
The king hasn't recorded a song in almost 50 years. When he was alive there's was one billion and half people here now 8 billion
@doughnutdoney9974 күн бұрын
According to records Bat out of hell has sold 43 million records and Dark side of the moon 45 million and Sgt Pepper 32m (wiki)
@paultaylor949817 сағат бұрын
The thing with this is bands like pink floyd and zeppelin sold the majority of their records in America. whereas michael jacksons sales were all over the world. I bet if American sales were taken out this list would be very different.
@IdleRider5 күн бұрын
So albums became relics of the past in 2004.
@petercena94976 күн бұрын
Inaccurate in so many ways.
@JazzyJabbz4 күн бұрын
Yea im thinking this too
@guitarcomet52 күн бұрын
I learned 3 things: #1. I was right that Elvis was only popular because there were not many artists like him at the time. The Beatles made his record sales look puny. 😂 Never liked Elvis. Now I know I wasn’t alone. #2. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album has obviously had some “cooking of the books” by the music industry executives. The sales popping up like they did and the distance that it pulled away (20 million sales beyond any record in history?) are very suspicious. Somebody’s been scratching somebody else’s back. #3. I was shocked that several albums didn’t at least pop up on the list once. Especially disappointing was the first Boston album. It was all over the radio for 2-3 years and everyone I knew had a copy.
@RichLamb6 күн бұрын
I don't know what the numbers are supposed to be telling us. It's impossible that each of these albums became one of the all-time biggest sellers the first year of its release. If Dark Side of the Moon has sold 40 something million, certainly wasn't in the first twelve months. So I find this a little too annoying to watch.
@JFK-ir7yz5 күн бұрын
Agreed. Dark side was on the charts for like 18 years straight.
@Metalhead4EVR5 күн бұрын
These numbers aren't according to Billboard Magazine. Where the Eagles Greatest Hits 71-75?
@PoppysGuitar5 күн бұрын
Jackson's Thriller hit bc it hit all the demo's. I mean what was Micheal Jackson? really? did he himself even know? Great entertainer, dancer, singer?, songwriter not really. But he could be everything to everyone it seems or at least he tried to be until his "problems" surfaced.
@thefrontpage5 күн бұрын
Sorry, this video is inaccurate. The official industry source for album and single sales is the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA. For all official records regarding album and single sales, please consult the RIAA. This is why dumbed-down, awfully-researched and stupid social media sites and other websites need constant, daily fact-checking.
@zodiac69684 күн бұрын
I tend to agree, where is Bat Out Of Hell and Eagles Greatest Hits in 2024?
@JazzyJabbz4 күн бұрын
@@zodiac6968or queen???? Or abba???
@zodiac69684 күн бұрын
@@JazzyJabbz Yes, good point.
@stCenturySchizoidMan-tm4kjКүн бұрын
RIAA is not official industry source for the whole world.
@johneaston1977 күн бұрын
I think the albums sold number was a little exaggerated.
@lordprotector33677 күн бұрын
Probably worldwide figures.
@petercena94976 күн бұрын
Definitely.
@PoppysGuitar5 күн бұрын
what is an OST
@paulsuchy62105 күн бұрын
Original Soundtrack Recording
@PoppysGuitar5 күн бұрын
@@paulsuchy6210 Thank You
@miket1783-j5j6 күн бұрын
What was the point of the last two and a half minutes?
@alexandercaviedes25595 күн бұрын
What is the point of the last 20 years in music?
@raggeragnar9 күн бұрын
It’s great not to see any ”Greatest hits” in the list. I would very much like to see one without any OST’s too. Just to have a pure studio albums list 1-100. That would be something to collect and have on the shelf.
@SteeeeveC5 күн бұрын
Always heard the Eagles greatest hits was a top 3 album
@garypowell15403 күн бұрын
Which all goes to show that the music died around 40 years ago.
@jj97499 күн бұрын
Shania Twain??
@adamc19667 күн бұрын
Rednecks buy records too😂
@MrDboydeluxe6 күн бұрын
Hell ya!
@stephenlees93866 күн бұрын
Come on Over is a great album
@kkrsnn56326 күн бұрын
Lack of "artists" from last 20 years speaks volumes.
@DonnieSiler6 күн бұрын
Not a lack of artists. Online streaming services basically killed in-store album sales. Nobody buys albums anymore.
@JFK-ir7yz5 күн бұрын
What’s the difference between Neil Armstrong and Michael Jackson?
@danmayberry11855 күн бұрын
They could both use some meat on their bones.
@dalblack87125 күн бұрын
One did the moonwalk on the moon. The other is a P-Dough-File.
@nonsuch9 күн бұрын
And to think, "Thriller" sold 32 million copies worldwide by the end of 1983 alone! Imagine selling 32 million copies of your album in less than a year... that's insane!
@danielburger17759 күн бұрын
It may also just be music industry hype.
@nonsuch8 күн бұрын
@@danielburger1775 Hype or not. The numbers are there.
@skyblazeeterno8 күн бұрын
@@nonsuchwhat numbers? Is the source ever mentioned?
@danielburger17758 күн бұрын
@nonsuch It is truly remarkable that the very decade when music piracy really took off somehow coincides with record high sales. Hardly anybody bought music at that time. Most people knew a guy who could make them a copy of any music they wanted. I find it unbelievable that Thriller sold so many copies in such a short space of time.
@doscwolny22215 күн бұрын
@@danielburger1775the hype was massive, I was a teenager then and everyone was racing home to watch the event on tv. It's amazing the effect of mass advertising and everyone wanting to breakdance and body pop. Money talks.
@danmayberry11855 күн бұрын
No Carole King - Tapestry. Credibility in question.
@drewscherping1515Күн бұрын
So various artists for the Bodyguard soundtrack are counted and greatest hits (Eagles Greatest Hits 71-75 and also biggest selling album of all time) isn't? WTF!!
@keithnaylor198111 күн бұрын
An incredible achievement for Michael Jackson!
@mr.g17585 күн бұрын
No Alice Cooper??! My what the public is missing out on!!
@gaskellr449 күн бұрын
I think the background music is better than most of these musicians could muster.
@johnculhane22789 күн бұрын
What a pill!
@gaskellr449 күн бұрын
@@johnculhane2278 I'm sure ur not that bad. Try and up your self esteam.
@Problembeing4 күн бұрын
The music album (and music more generally) died in the 2000s.
@gabix74886 күн бұрын
Nothing special about Thriller album. Average pop music of the 80's. David Bowie was and still better that Jacko 10 mil miles
@jayhpaq11 күн бұрын
Interesting video but the pace is too fast. An eight or ten minute long video with a more readable pace would be better next time.
@UphillGardener-ly5sh9 күн бұрын
Watch it at half speed :o)
@daverees93444 күн бұрын
so albums were dead by 1990
@stCenturySchizoidMan-tm4kjКүн бұрын
Best selling albums... where? In the world, in any country or in some god-forgotten hamlet?
@TheSeafordian9 күн бұрын
Little movement in the latter few years. Perhaps the quality has fallen.
@jj97499 күн бұрын
People stopped buying records when Napster arrived
@skyblazeeterno8 күн бұрын
@@jj9749this. What idiots are paying £20 for an album they'd only like 1 or 2 tracks on when you can simply download it cheaper
@andrewashdown35419 күн бұрын
This must be accumulated not year on year sales = hence gives a false impression
@lordprotector33677 күн бұрын
They definitely are. That's why big-sellers didn't get overtaken.
@filmbuffo56164 күн бұрын
things changed in 1982, after Reagan got elected
@theSunKing1424 күн бұрын
😎👍
@evonnemccausland35315 күн бұрын
Notice how NONE of these albums were released after the 2000's! I lived the years when music 🎵🎶 was the best! Like many others of my generation...I think the music of today is CRAP! Keep the executives out of music and maybe we will have a Renaissance ‼️
@MsDidi385 күн бұрын
No K Pop??
@alta580434 күн бұрын
Not surprised. Kids i know can't stand most of the crap now. It's all just samples of old music.
@JazzyJabbz4 күн бұрын
Dire Straits??? Seriously?? How are they even in this CONVERSATION?? And Alanis Morrisette?? Weird data. Don’t trust it
@transparent67482 күн бұрын
Brothers in Arms was huge!!
@danielburger17759 күн бұрын
Not true. 🤣
@ZOOTV-19764 күн бұрын
This is completely inaccurate
@PaulCarew-j9j9 күн бұрын
Jacko only sold through hype. On its initial release no one took much notice of Thriller or him and then as soon as all the overhyped stories of sleeping in oxygen tents and then the flashy videos came out, it gave him maximum publicity which everyone bought into. Add his death to all this and there are still people who are unhealthily obsessed with him. The most overrated 'musician' ever and if you want to know where to go to get a cheap copy of Thriller, just come to Britain where the charity shops can't give them away quick enough.
@gabix74887 күн бұрын
All publicity, his music was average. Not great vocals either
@abcdefghijklmnnopqrstuvwxy23127 күн бұрын
Change Jacko for Cobain and I'll agree.
@davidlarsen-tj4tn7 күн бұрын
Stupidest thing I’ve ever heard! If your gonna pick a moment where the album took off it was his performance at the Motown anniversary show where he did that moon walk. I never owned the album myself but 7 singles released and 7 top 10 in the USA. Btw 5 of the singles went top 10 in UK so your reasoning behind your post is stupid.
@archangelrapheal52316 күн бұрын
It's Jackson JACKass
@doscwolny22215 күн бұрын
Hype and timing, remember breakdance and body popping was huge at the time. Meatloaf is the one I can't get my head around.
@YannRingo5 күн бұрын
How to obtains multiples views with lies!
@raymondpierotti84148 күн бұрын
Amazing how lame most of them are. I am proud to say I don't own any of the albums on the final list.
@hertor88037 күн бұрын
I know musical taste is subjective but most of these are genuinely great albums (bodyguard aside) with fantastic songwriting, musicianship and production. Doesn't mean you have to like them but just because you don't that doesn't make them lame or you better than people that do appreciate them. In most cases these albums were written by the artists themselves and/or were musically groundbreaking.
@raymondpierotti84147 күн бұрын
@hertor8803 What makes them genuinely great other than they are popular? Thriller is popular because of a couple of music videos, not because of superb musical skill, although MJ is a fine performer. Led Zeppelin were satanists, the Bodyguard, Saturday Night Fever and Grease are Movie soundtracks, rather than artistic statements. AC/DC is just loud noise and Rumors was an album taking the name but not the music of a much better band. Even Pink Floyd which is one of the best here are the reincarnation of a fine band. I am trying to make people see through the hype machine and value the albums they love personally. Shania Twain never has been musically groundbreaking. Aside from Alanis Morrisette, no artist on this list could be considered groundbreaking in any way. Following what is simply popular is what is destroying culture.
@nexus31806 күн бұрын
I am proud to say I own 4 of them, don't let your ego get in the way.
@JackPullen-Paradox6 күн бұрын
@@raymondpierotti8414 Are you kidding?
@raymondpierotti84146 күн бұрын
@@JackPullen-Paradox See my response above. Most of them especially the soundtracks are bad albums.