Little by little, David Bowie continued to amass various good hits, some other moderate ones. Fame, from 1975, was the artist true breakthrough song in the US by climbing all the way to #1 while he never made the top 10 before that one. Ironically, it peaked at a low #17 in the UK. Young Americans singles have noteworthy sales very precisely because young Americans cherished them.
Dropping consistently one album per year the British star moved more than 10 million units of singles from 1973 to 1979.
As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 3 ratio between one album and one physical single.
Pin Ups (1973) – 330,000 equivalent albums
Sorrow – 1,100,000
Diamond Dogs (1974) – 420,000 equivalent albums
Diamond Dogs – 400,000
Rebel Rebel – 900,000
Remaining Singles – 100,000
Young Americans (1975) – 945,000 equivalent albums
Young Americans – 700,000
Fame – 2,050,000
John, I’m Only Dancing (Again) – 400,000
Station to Station (1976) – 615,000 equivalent albums
Golden Years – 1,500,000
TVC 15 – 250,000
Wild Is The Wind – 250,000
Remaining Singles – 50,000
Low (1977) – 390,000 equivalent albums
Sound And Vision – 1,200,000
Remaining Singles – 100,000
Heroes (1977) – 135,000 equivalent albums
Beauty And The Beast – 100,000
Heroes – 350,000
Lodger (1979) – 225,000 equivalent albums
D.J. – 250,000
Boys Keep Swinging – 450,000
Remaining Singles – 50,000
A two-three solidly sold albums, and a lot of average ones, is quite surprising to me. Although David’s final CSPC figure is relatively large, it is mostly due to his long career, imo.
Hi Matrix!
In absolute terms, Bowie indeed had a lot of “average” sellers, but getting multi-million sellers over 30 years is likely more difficult than selling 20+ million with one album 😉
You have a point, MJD. Bowie’s career was long and pretty consistent. But still, David’s average CSPC percentage per album is 4.38 milion. 118.5 milion CSPC : 27 albums = 4.38milion (Orphan album excluded).
If we take for example Guns N’ Roses, their average CSPC percentage per album is huge 19.6 milion! 117.7 milion CSPC : 6 albums = 19.6 milion. (Orphan album excluded).
But not to be confused, I like David Bowie. I really do, It’s just, I personally thought his CSPC number was a little higher. : )
Both are impressive. Yet 27 multi-million sellers is more amazing and hard to get than 6 albums where 3 best seller albums on the peak of their fame are responsible for 82% of their sales in a 5 years period of release. In fact their 4 albums from their peak of fame represent 92% of their total CSPC points and 7 years release span. David Bowie 3 best sellers represent just 34% of his sales and are from a period over 13 years span with many other albums in between. His 4 best sellers would increase that span a bit… Read more »
Is there CSPC life on Mars? Yes, 125m in total.
David sales are at 175M records with all formats. Very impressive
He is at number 30 on Eas, 125m Total.
But Let’s dance has not sold over 15 million copies with republication?
I would love to see Jethto Tull popularity analysis
Hi – thanks for a very comprehensively researched article.One question what about the sales of Under Pressure on Queen albums – Greatest hits and Platinum Collection?? Regards
Hi Speed of Life!
Those sales will be counted and assigned to Queen 😉
David’s total is quite good, amazing considering he doesn’t have a hugely successful album but surpassed those who have one (Britney, Guns and Roses etc.) He is definitely up there among the most successful artists in history, despite going against the typical music industry rules and being highly risky and innovative. Anyway, i don’t know if you know this, but January 16 would mark Aaliyah’s 38th Birthday! I hope you would do a CSPC analysis on her as it would be quite fitting. I don’t expect her to have a huge result, but as an R&B artist who only released… Read more »
Bowie did well for the kind of act he was.
I really like this series. Can you do wholr popularity analyses for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Little Mix, Janet Jackson, Radiohead and Queen?
Thanks =)
What about CSPC for Leonard Cohen, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam?
Great articel! I know the legend because Barbra covered her classic Life on mars. I still waiting for articels abou France Sales and CSPC for Barbra