Original Album Sales – Comments
1972 Paul Simon – 3,150,000
1973 There Goes Rhymin’ Simon – 2,770,000
1975 Still Crazy After All These Years – 3,270,000
1980 One-Trick Pony – 1,430,000
1983 Hearts and Bones – 1,010,000
1986 Graceland – 14,570,000
1990 The Rhythm of the Saints – 5,170,000
1997 Songs from The Capeman – 640,000
2000 You’re the One – 870,000
2006 Surprise – 650,000
2011 So Beautiful or So What – 540,000
2016 Stranger to Stranger – 320,000
Selling 34,39 million units across 12 studio albums, Simon proved he was a force by himself. The best illustration is the African-sounding Graceland, a stunning comeback album which sold 14,57 million copies. The artist was already 45 when he dropped this record, defying ageism like no one else.
The Rhythm of the Saints managed to sell over 5 million thanks to the hype initiated by its predecessor. Songs from the Capeman completely killed the momentum though. After this release, Simon returned to patterns more in line with his age and career, selling steady numbers thanks to a solid fanbase but without impacting the general public.
S&G are well above Paul Simon in solo. Their sales are probably in the 120-140 million range, at the minimum ! We’ll see “Late in the evening”….
Honestly, quite underwhelming. And i doubt Simon and Garfunkel did any better.
Simon and Garfunkel did loads more! They were massive, biggest selling 60s artists after The Beatles I’d say!
Yep, looks like you were right.
Ok MJD. I didn’t pay attention to Santana because I thought you were only talking about solo artists and not about bands… And Cher neither. Seeing her face, I couldn’t imagine she was more old than 25 when she released Believe (lol)…
Oh please let’s have Simon and Garfunkel! 😊
Not bad
Never a big fan of simon………..but he has his place. Fav song is “kodachrome” and from
SandG “So long frank loyd wright”
I’m wondering what are the 2 most successful albums ever by an artist aged 45 or more ?… I’ve failed to find one. Eric Clapton’s Unplugged is a live album, so it can’be this one, I suppose… Very puzzling !
I’d say Pink Floyd – The Division bell.
Actually forget I said that..
Hi Winston!
Cher’s Believe is slightly ahead while the still unstudied Santana with Supernatural will be the #1 on that ‘old guns’ category 😉
I wonder if a Simon & Garfunkel article is coming next?
Hi Isaiah!
Yes, Simon & Garfunkel is coming tonight 😉
Thanks, thanks and thanks ! I was hoping this one since many months !