It's hard to single out just one name when talking about the’artist with the most albums released. The jazz musician Sun Ra, for example, is credited with nearly 100 albums throughout his career.
But what really fascinates most fans is actually the Ranking of the Best-Selling Albums of All Time, dominated by three monuments: Thriller, Back in Black and The Dark Side of the Moon.
These three albums alone account for a total of record sales that neither the Rolling Stones, nor the Beatles, nor Elvis Presley have never achieved with a single album.
" Thriller » by Michael Jackson
First place, of course, goes to the King of Pop. Michael Jackson releases its 6th studio album in 1982, and « Thriller »takes about 70 million copies worldwide, according to the most widely cited estimates. It is the best-selling album of all time, a record that has never been matched.
The album features one hit after another, starting with « Billie Jean » to « Beat It ». These singles led to a career marked by memorable live performances and concerts around the world. In June 2011, his famous red jacket from the music video was sold $1.8 million at auction at Julien’s Auctions. An all-time record for a music collectible.
The album has won numerous awards, including eight Grammy Awards in a single ceremony in February 1984, a record at the time.
In terms of sales, no other album can compete with « Thriller », and Michael Jackson stay the greatest artist in history based on this criterion, far ahead of the rest Elton John Where Paul McCartney.
" Back in Black » by AC/DC
Since their founding in 1973, the members of’AC/DC released 16 studio albums, two of which were first published exclusively in Oceania. Among them, " Back in Black » is their 7th album, published on July 25, 1980.
This album by rock and of blues The electric car sold for about 50 million copies worldwide. It is the second best-selling album of all time, just behind « Thriller ». These sales exceed those of any album by the Rolling Stones or of Metallica. To find out who has the most sold the most records Over the course of a career, the numbers tell a different story.
If this album has made such an impression on fans, it's largely thanks to its guitar solo which has become a cult classic, and lyrics that evoke the idea of getting back on your feet after hard times. This theme resonates all the more strongly because the band had just lost its lead singer Bon Scott, who died in February 1980.
The album became a bestseller as soon as it was released, reaching number one on the charts in France, in the United Kingdom and Australia.
" Dark Side of the Moon » by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd account 17 studio albums overall, but it's their eighth, Dark Side of the Moon, which left an indelible mark on music history. Released by Harvest Records the 1er March 1973, it has been about 45 million copies worldwide.
These sales make it the third best-selling album of all time, a record for longevity since the album has remained more than 900 weeks in the rankings Billboard 200 American.
As the title suggests, the album tackles some heavy themes: death, greed, conflict, and mental illness. This last topic directly refers to Syd Barrett, a former founding member of the band, who had left Pink Floyd in 1968. The album has also received numerous awards and awards over the years, cementing its status as a masterpiece in France as well as internationally. In the era of the streaming, he continues to rack up streams, proof that his record-breaking physical sales alone do not fully capture his influence.
If you want to discover these albums and other classics, you can find platforms where you can buy music online.
And if you'd like to learn more, you can also check out our ranking of the most beloved singers in the world.
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