Thanks to the number crunchers at Chart Masters, we can now peek behind the curtain to see exactly how these musical titans stack up against each other. From rock gods who made stadiums shake to pop phenoms who turned teenage bedrooms into dance floors, these are the albums that didn’t just make history – they’re making up Part 2 of our list!
65. …Baby One More Time – Britney Spears (Equivalent Album Sales: 33,287,000)
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Britney Spears’ debut album, …Baby One More Time (1999), launched her into pop superstardom. The title track became a global sensation, and the album’s success established Spears as one of the leading figures in the teen pop wave of the late 1990s.
64. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (Equivalent Album Sales: 33,471,000)
Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (1975) paid tribute to former band member Syd Barrett and explored themes of alienation and industry disillusionment. Featuring tracks like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” the album is considered one of the band’s greatest achievements.
63. 25 – Adele (Equivalent Album Sales: 33,476,000)
Adele’s 25 (2015) broke numerous sales records worldwide and became one of the fastest-selling albums of all time. Featuring the chart-topping single “Hello,” the album continued Adele’s dominance in pop and soul music and won several major awards.
62. Private Dancer – Tina Turner (Equivalent Album Sales: 33,625,000)
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Private Dancer (1984) marked Tina Turner’s triumphant comeback as a solo artist. Featuring hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” the album was a commercial and critical success that redefined her career and established her as a pop icon.
61. No Fences – Garth Brooks (Equivalent Album Sales: 34,014,000)
Garth Brooks’ No Fences (1990) was instrumental in bringing country music to a mainstream audience. Featuring hits like “Friends in Low Places,” the album became one of the best-selling country records of all time and solidified Brooks’ status as a genre-defining artist.
60. Hysteria – Def Leppard (Equivalent Album Sales: 34,109,000)
Def Leppard’s Hysteria (1987) became a landmark album in hard rock, featuring seven hit singles, including “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Love Bites.” Its polished production and arena-ready sound made it a commercial juggernaut and one of the best-selling rock albums of all time.
59. Paranoid – Black Sabbath (Equivalent Album Sales: 34,326,000)
Paranoid (1970) by Black Sabbath defined the heavy metal genre with tracks like “Iron Man” and the title track. The album’s dark themes, heavy riffs, and Ozzy Osbourne’s distinct vocals set the blueprint for future metal bands and established Black Sabbath as pioneers of the genre.
58. The Game – Queen (Equivalent Album Sales: 34,908,000)
Released in 1980, The Game saw Queen successfully experiment with new sounds, including funk and disco influences, as evidenced by the massive hit “Another One Bites the Dust.” The album became a commercial success and further expanded the band’s global fan base.
57. Escape – Journey (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,081,000)
Journey’s Escape (1981) propelled the band to superstar status, driven by timeless hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms.” The album became a cornerstone of arena rock, achieving multi-platinum status and influencing countless rock acts of the 1980s.
56. Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,088,000)
Led Zeppelin II (1969) solidified the band’s reputation as rock titans. Featuring classics like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Ramble On,” the album combined blues-inspired riffs with innovative production, setting the stage for Led Zeppelin’s dominance in the 1970s.
55. Exodus – Bob Marley & The Wailers (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,329,000)
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus (1977) became a cornerstone of reggae music, featuring iconic tracks like “One Love” and “Jamming.” The album’s themes of spirituality and resistance resonated globally, cementing Marley’s legacy as a cultural and musical icon.
54. Music Box – Mariah Carey (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,657,000)
Mariah Carey’s Music Box (1993) became one of the best-selling albums of the 1990s, featuring hits like “Hero” and “Dreamlover.” The album showcased Carey’s powerful vocal range and solidified her status as a leading figure in pop and R&B.
53. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,726,000)
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) by The Beatles revolutionized popular music with its concept album structure, innovative recording techniques, and tracks like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” It remains a milestone in the evolution of rock music.
52. Machine Head – Deep Purple (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,729,000)
Deep Purple’s Machine Head (1972) became a definitive hard rock album, featuring tracks like “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star.” Its groundbreaking guitar work and dynamic energy cemented Deep Purple as pioneers in the heavy rock genre.
51. Daydream – Mariah Carey (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,778,000)
Daydream (1995) marked a peak in Mariah Carey’s career, blending pop and R&B influences with chart-topping hits like “Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day.” The album’s success reinforced Carey’s dominance in the mid-1990s music scene and earned critical acclaim.
50. Divide – Ed Sheeran (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,780,000)
Ed Sheeran’s Divide (÷) (2017) achieved massive commercial success with global hits like “Shape of You” and “Perfect.” The album’s mix of pop, folk, and R&B styles resonated with a broad audience, solidifying Sheeran as one of the most successful artists of the decade.
49. Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf (Equivalent Album Sales: 35,997,000)
Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell (1977) became a cultural phenomenon, blending theatrical rock with operatic storytelling. Featuring hits like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” the album achieved enduring popularity and became one of the best-selling records in rock history.
48. The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,093,000)
Released in 2000, Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP pushed boundaries with its provocative lyrics and autobiographical storytelling. Featuring hits like “Stan” and “The Real Slim Shady,” the album became a defining release in hip-hop and one of the best-selling rap albums of all time.
47. Let It Be – The Beatles (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,239,000)
The Beatles’ Let It Be (1970) was their final studio album, featuring classics like “The Long and Winding Road” and the title track. Despite the band’s internal tensions, the album became a critical and commercial success, marking the end of their legendary career.
46. Help! – The Beatles (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,263,000)
Help! (1965) served as both the soundtrack to The Beatles’ film and a standalone album. Featuring hits like “Yesterday” and the title track, the album showcased the band’s evolution toward more sophisticated songwriting and cemented their global dominance.
45. Elvis’ Christmas Album – Elvis Presley (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,441,000)
Elvis Presley’s Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957) became one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time. Featuring classics like “Blue Christmas,” it blended traditional carols with Presley’s rock and roll style, becoming a seasonal favorite for generations.
44. Titanic – James Horner (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,608,000)
The Titanic soundtrack (1997), composed by James Horner, became a global sensation, driven by Celine Dion’s hit single “My Heart Will Go On.” The album’s sweeping orchestral score captured the emotional gravity of the film and became one of the best-selling soundtracks in history.
43. Dirty Dancing – Various Artists (Equivalent Album Sales: 36,712,000)
The Dirty Dancing soundtrack (1987) featured a mix of classic and contemporary hits, including “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” Its commercial success mirrored the film’s popularity, making it a defining release in the late 1980s.
42. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show / Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (Equivalent Album Sales: 37,170,000)
Neil Diamond’s Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, later re-released as Sweet Caroline (1969), gained significant acclaim thanks to its iconic title track. The album highlighted Diamond’s songwriting prowess and became a staple of his enduring career.
41. Arrival – ABBA (Equivalent Album Sales: 37,254,000)
ABBA’s Arrival (1976) featured some of the group’s most iconic hits, including “Dancing Queen” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” The album cemented their status as global pop superstars and became a key release in their discography.
40. Reckless – Bryan Adams (Equivalent Album Sales: 37,767,000)
Bryan Adams’ Reckless (1984) became a landmark album in rock, featuring hits like “Summer of ’69” and “Heaven.” The album’s widespread success propelled Adams to international stardom and remains one of the defining rock albums of the 1980s.
39. Hybrid Theory – Linkin Park (Equivalent Album Sales: 37,805,000)
Linkin Park’s debut album, Hybrid Theory (2000), revolutionized the nu-metal genre by blending heavy rock with rap and electronic elements. Hits like “In the End” and “Crawling” helped the album become one of the best-selling debuts in modern music history.
38. True Blue – Madonna (Equivalent Album Sales: 37,820,000)
Madonna’s True Blue (1986) showcased her versatility as an artist, with hits like “Papa Don’t Preach” and “Open Your Heart.” The album’s massive commercial success further established Madonna as one of the most influential pop stars of the decade.
37. Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution (Equivalent Album Sales: 38,414,000)
Purple Rain (1984) served as both a soundtrack to Prince’s film and a standalone masterpiece. Featuring classics like the title track and “When Doves Cry,” the album became one of the most celebrated works in pop and rock history, solidifying Prince’s legacy.
36. Synchronicity – The Police (Equivalent Album Sales: 38,801,000)
The Police’s Synchronicity (1983) became their most successful album, blending new wave and rock with global hits like “Every Breath You Take.” It marked the band’s creative peak and cemented their place in music history before their disbandment.
35. 1989 – Taylor Swift (Equivalent Album Sales: 39,531,000)
Taylor Swift’s 1989 (2014) marked her full transition from country to pop, with hits like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” The album’s success defined pop music in the mid-2010s and earned Swift multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.
34. Are You Experienced – Jimi Hendrix (Equivalent Album Sales: 39,718,000)
Jimi Hendrix’s debut album, Are You Experienced (1967), introduced his revolutionary guitar techniques and established him as a rock icon. Tracks like “Purple Haze” and “Hey Joe” cemented the album’s place as a cornerstone of psychedelic rock.
33. The Eminem Show – Eminem (Equivalent Album Sales: 39,756,000)
Released in 2002, The Eminem Show showcased Eminem’s lyrical brilliance and introspection, with hits like “Without Me” and “Cleanin’ Out My Closet.” The album became one of the best-selling hip-hop records of all time and reinforced his dominance in the genre.
