The Bestselling Albums of All Time

Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images
Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images

Music defines certain time periods — but some albums live on longer than others. The bestselling albums of all time might’ve debuted 20, 30 or 40 years ago, but they’re still significant today.

No doubt, there are plenty of songs that immediately take you back in time at the first beat. Whether they elicit a special memory or offer a flashback to a bygone era, these songs remain special because so many people feel a connection to them.

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Some albums topped the bestseller lists upon their debut and continue to reign today. Decades of holding court at the top prove they will never be unseated.

Curious if any of your favorite albums are among the all-time bestsellers? Keep reading to find out which iconic records have the highest sales numbers, along with some interesting facts about the album.

Last updated: Sept. 23, 2021

Henry Harris/Featureflash Photo
Henry Harris/Featureflash Photo

19. (tie) Led Zeppelin: ‘Physical Graffiti’

  • Release year: 1975

  • Units sold: 16 million

  • Label: Swan Song

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Globe Photos/Mediapunch/Shutterstock
Globe Photos/Mediapunch/Shutterstock

19. (tie) Bee Gees: ‘Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack)’

  • Release year: 1977

  • Units sold: 16 million

  • Label: Capitol

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Sonia Recchia / Getty Images
Sonia Recchia / Getty Images

19. (tie) Alanis Morissette: ‘Jagged Little Pill’

  • Release year: 1995

  • Units sold: 16 million

  • Label: Maverick

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David Magnus/REX/
David Magnus/REX/

16. (tie) The Beatles: ‘The Beatles 1967-1970’

  • Release year: 1973

  • Units sold: 17 million

  • Label: EMI

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JStone / Shutterstock.com
JStone / Shutterstock.com

16. (tie) Elton John: ‘Greatest Hits’

  • Release year: 1974

  • Units sold: 17 million

  • Label: Island

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Robb Cohen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Robb Cohen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

16. (tie) Boston: ‘Boston’

  • Release year: 1976

  • Units sold: 17 million

  • Label: Epic Records

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Agf/Shutterstock
Agf/Shutterstock

13. (tie) Whitney Houston: ‘The Bodyguard (Soundtrack)’

  • Release year: 1992

  • Units sold: 18 million

  • Label: RCA Records

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Shutterstock.com

13. (tie) Guns N’ Roses: ‘Appetite for Destruction’

  • Release year: 1987

  • Units sold: 18 million

  • Label: Geffen

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Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP
Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP

13. (tie) Garth Brooks: ‘No Fences’

  • Release year: 1990

  • Units sold: 18 million

  • Label: Pearl Records, Inc.

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lev radin / Shutterstock.com
lev radin / Shutterstock.com

11. (tie) Shania Twain: ‘Come on Over’

  • Release year: 1997

  • Units sold: 20 million

  • Label: Mercury Nashville

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Nancy Barr Brandon/Mediapunch/Sh
Nancy Barr Brandon/Mediapunch/Sh

11. (tie) Fleetwood Mac: ‘Rumours’

  • Release year: 1977

  • Units sold: 20 million

  • Label: Warner Bros.

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Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock
Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock

9. (tie) Hootie & the Blowfish: ‘Cracked Rear View’

  • Release year: 1994

  • Units sold: 21 million

  • Label: Rhino

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s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

9. (tie) Garth Brooks: ‘Double Live’

  • Release year: 1998

  • Units sold: 21 million

  • Label: Capitol Nashville

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Shutterstock.com
Shutterstock.com

6. (tie) Pink Floyd: ‘The Wall’

  • Release year: 1979

  • Units sold: 23 million

  • Label: Columbia

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Barry Peake/Shutterstock
Barry Peake/Shutterstock

6. (tie) Led Zeppelin: ‘Led Zeppelin IV’

  • Release year: 1971

  • Units sold: 23 million

  • Label: Atlantic

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Shutterstock.com

6. (tie) Billy Joel: ‘Greatest Hits Volume 1 & Volume II’

  • Release year: 1985

  • Units sold: 23 million

  • Label: Columbia

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Kevin Wisniewski/REX/
Kevin Wisniewski/REX/

5. The Beatles: ‘The Beatles (White Album)’

  • Release year: 1968

  • Units sold: 24 million

  • Label: Apple

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CHRIS CAPSTICK/REX/Shutterstock
CHRIS CAPSTICK/REX/Shutterstock

4. AC/DC: ‘Back in Black’

  • Release year: 1980

  • Units sold: 25 million

  • Label: Columbia

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

3. Eagles: ‘Hotel California’

  • Release year: 1976

  • Units sold: 26 million

  • Label: Rhino

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Vince Bucci / Getty Images
Vince Bucci / Getty Images

2. Michael Jackson: ‘Thriller’

  • Release year: 1982

  • Units sold: 33 million

  • Label: Epic Records

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Picture Perfect/Shutterstock
Picture Perfect/Shutterstock

1. Eagles: ‘Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975’

  • Release year: 1976

  • Units sold: 38 million

  • Label: Rhino

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Photo Disclaimer: Photos are for representational purposes only.

Methodology: GOBankingRates used RIAA certification data to find the 20 bestselling albums of all time, in terms of units (albums) sold. For each album, GOBankingRates found (1) the name of the artist; (2) album title; (3) year released; (4) label originally released on; and (5) units sold, which was cut off at 13 million. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 6, 2021.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Bestselling Albums of All Time

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