Top album
This top album ranking is taking into account all formats according to our original CSPC concept. It means we take streaming into account, as well as compilations which are linked to the studio albums they cover.
For example, let’s take the claim Dark side of the moon has been ranking among charts for ~740 weeks between 1973 and 1988. It’s true but it’s only one part of the story. Many studio albums would remain longer in charts if they weren’t replaced by subsequent compilations. Because of this, although compilations are often overlooked, checking both sides gives a better idea of a studio album’s intrinsic success. This is reflected in this top.
Remember to use the searching, filtering, and sorting options to make the most out of the ranking, like top sellers per year or per decade!
Please keep in mind that some artists are missing, because their analysis has not been done yet. Here is the complete list of covered artists.
Top albums – Equivalent album sales (EAS)
| # | g# | Cover | Album | Studio album (EAS) | Other LPs (EAS) | Physical singles (units sold) | Digital singles (units sold) | Streams | Daily streams | Total EAS | Gender | Language | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Thriller  Michael Jackson |
65,800,000 | 40,504,000 | 17,430,000 | 28,100,000 | 5,639,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,060LD: 3,070 | 121,378,000 | Solo - Male | English | Pop | 1,982 | |
| 2 |  |
Hotel California Eagles |
30,050,000 | 37,108,000 | 5,790,000 | 8,620,000 | 2,508,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 980LD: 1,190 | 72,696,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,976 | |
| 3 |  |
Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees & Various Artists |
34,800,000 | 24,813,000 | 16,900,000 | 8,220,000 | 3,390,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,290LD: 2,210 | 70,281,000 | Various | English | Pop | 1,977 | |
| 4 |  |
Bad Michael Jackson |
33,600,000 | 22,287,000 | 13,160,000 | 16,010,000 | 3,441,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,230LD: 1,570 | 65,678,000 | Solo - Male | English | Pop | 1,987 | |
| 5 |  |
Rumours Fleetwood Mac |
35,500,000 | 21,113,000 | 5,900,000 | 15,000,000 | 4,926,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,550LD: 3,640 | 65,559,000 | Group - Mixed | English | Rock | 1,977 | |
| 6 |  |
Back in Black AC/DC |
35,810,000 | 19,149,000 | 1,843,000 | 13,830,000 | 4,368,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,770LD: 2,450 | 61,956,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,980 | |
| 7 |  |
Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin |
36,800,000 | 18,296,000 | 1,000,000 | 8,860,000 | 2,167,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 930LD: 1,010 | 58,892,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,971 | |
| 8 |  |
Nevermind Nirvana |
27,750,000 | 21,026,000 | 3,590,000 | 13,800,000 | 6,964,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,550LD: 4,160 | 58,887,000 | Group - Male | English | Alternative | 1,991 | |
| 9 |  |
The Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd |
43,300,000 | 11,027,000 | 940,000 | 5,300,000 | 2,821,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,030LD: 1,740 | 58,225,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,973 | |
| 10 |  |
The Bodyguard Whitney Houston |
41,100,000 | 6,727,000 | 13,580,000 | 10,500,000 | 1,983,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 700LD: 1,070 | 55,422,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,992 | |
| 11 |  |
Grease Various Artists |
38,100,000 | 5,605,000 | 24,400,000 | 5,930,000 | 1,862,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 970LD: 1,010 | 53,838,000 | Various | English | Pop | 1,978 | |
| 12 |  |
The Wall Pink Floyd |
31,300,000 | 15,459,000 | 6,075,000 | 8,000,000 | 3,799,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,390LD: 2,130 | 53,581,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,979 | |
| 13 |  |
Slippery When Wet Bon Jovi |
23,600,000 | 22,492,000 | 4,400,000 | 14,800,000 | 3,257,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,700LD: 2,120 | 52,889,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,986 | |
| 14 |  |
21 Adele |
30,380,000 | 2,851,000 | 110,000 | 59,220,000 | 9,570,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 5,150LD: 6,610 | 51,699,000 | Solo - Female | English | Soul/Motown R&B | 2,011 | |
| 15 |  |
Appetite For Destruction Guns N' Roses |
30,770,000 | 10,822,000 | 2,800,000 | 20,680,000 | 5,475,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,080LD: 3,100 | 51,009,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,987 | |
| 16 |  |
The Joshua Tree U2 |
26,800,000 | 17,389,000 | 3,864,000 | 12,300,000 | 2,395,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,070LD: 1,400 | 49,744,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,987 | |
| 17 |  |
Metallica Metallica |
30,790,000 | 8,707,000 | 6,446,000 | 16,670,000 | 5,459,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,270LD: 3,240 | 49,401,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,991 | |
| 18 |  |
Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen |
29,300,000 | 13,852,000 | 9,360,000 | 7,100,000 | 2,241,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 810LD: 1,260 | 49,266,000 | Solo - Male | English | Rock | 1,984 | |
| 19 |  |
Brothers in Arms Dire Straits |
30,850,000 | 12,534,000 | 3,950,000 | 5,080,000 | 1,976,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 750LD: 1,130 | 47,304,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,985 | |
| 20 |  |
Let's Talk About Love Céline Dion |
29,800,000 | 12,117,000 | 12,350,000 | 5,520,000 | 1,114,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 490LD: 530 | 47,036,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,997 | |
| 21 |  |
Dangerous Michael Jackson |
29,550,000 | 11,404,000 | 10,000,000 | 6,910,000 | 1,887,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 680LD: 1,020 | 46,914,000 | Solo - Male | English | Pop | 1,991 | |
| 22 |  |
Come On Over Shania Twain |
33,500,000 | 7,644,000 | 9,450,000 | 6,000,000 | 1,805,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 960LD: 990 | 46,738,000 | Solo - Female | English | Country | 1,997 | |
| 23 |  |
Bridge over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel |
19,580,000 | 21,072,000 | 10,840,000 | 6,020,000 | 1,413,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 530LD: 560 | 46,220,000 | Group - Male | English | Folk | 1,970 | |
| 24 |  |
Abbey Road The Beatles |
26,700,000 | 14,315,000 | 4,050,000 | 4,880,000 | 3,086,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,420LD: 1,780 | 46,017,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,969 | |
| 25 |  |
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs Derek and the Dominos |
6,040,000 | 34,523,000 | 2,455,000 | 4,040,000 | 1,101,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 470LD: 500 | 43,040,000 | Group | English | Rock | 1,970 | |
| 26 |  |
A Night at the Opera Queen |
11,400,000 | 23,095,000 | 7,453,000 | 11,420,000 | 4,538,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,730LD: 1,970 | 42,982,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,975 | |
| 27 |  |
Falling Into You Céline Dion |
28,100,000 | 10,643,000 | 6,850,000 | 5,800,000 | 1,136,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 580LD: 610 | 42,864,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,996 | |
| 28 |  |
Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette |
33,570,000 | 5,830,000 | 2,300,000 | 6,640,000 | 1,489,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 540LD: 770 | 42,575,000 | Solo - Female | English | Alternative | 1,995 | |
| 29 |  |
Abraxas Santana |
11,870,000 | 27,235,000 | 2,754,000 | 3,050,000 | 600,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 260LD: 260 | 40,992,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,970 | |
| 30 |  |
Like A Virgin Madonna |
21,250,000 | 14,381,000 | 11,250,000 | 3,490,000 | 744,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 260LD: 370 | 40,273,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,984 | |
| 31 |  |
The Doors The Doors |
13,810,000 | 23,154,000 | 3,201,000 | 3,650,000 | 1,440,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 560LD: 710 | 39,913,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,967 | |
| 32 |  |
Are You Experienced Jimi Hendrix Experience |
9,215,000 | 27,802,000 | 2,270,000 | 5,240,000 | 1,094,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 410LD: 450 | 39,583,000 | Solo - Male | English | Rock | 1,967 | |
| 33 |  |
The Fame / The Fame Monster Lady Gaga |
15,745,000 | 4,141,000 | 1,180,000 | 79,360,000 | 7,269,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 3,680LD: 5,350 | 39,548,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 2,008 | |
| 34 |  |
Purple Rain Prince and the Revolutions |
23,030,000 | 9,220,000 | 10,527,000 | 10,510,000 | 1,203,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 490LD: 510 | 38,219,000 | Solo - Male | English | Soul/Motown R&B | 1,984 | |
| 35 |  |
Synchronicity The Police |
15,050,000 | 18,037,000 | 6,329,000 | 4,680,000 | 2,390,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,180LD: 1,930 | 38,099,000 | Group - Male | English | Alternative | 1,983 | |
| 36 |  |
The Eminem Show Eminem |
23,020,000 | 2,770,000 | 3,300,000 | 20,500,000 | 8,009,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 4,450LD: 6,920 | 37,864,000 | Solo - Male | English | Hip-hop/R&B | 2,002 | |
| 37 |  |
True Blue Madonna |
22,550,000 | 9,925,000 | 12,170,000 | 2,810,000 | 993,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 390LD: 650 | 37,540,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,986 | |
| 38 |  |
Reckless Bryan Adams |
12,300,000 | 19,604,000 | 5,000,000 | 7,500,000 | 2,508,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 1,100LD: 1,620 | 37,139,000 | Solo - Male | English | Rock | 1,984 | |
| 39 |  |
Arrival ABBA |
10,800,000 | 20,077,000 | 11,050,000 | 4,850,000 | 1,777,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 290LD: 1,320 | 36,697,000 | Group - Mixed | English | Pop | 1,976 | |
| 40 |  |
Titanic James Horner |
28,510,000 | 3,850,000 | 6,910,000 | 5,020,000 | 1,221,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 450LD: 540 | 36,407,000 | Solo - Male | English | Classical | 1,997 | |
| 41 |  |
Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing |
29,970,000 | 2,907,000 | 4,250,000 | 3,750,000 | 1,565,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 600LD: 880 | 36,280,000 | Various | English | Pop | 1,987 | |
| 42 |  |
Elvis' Christmas Album Elvis Presley |
3,850,000 | 30,548,000 | 1,830,000 | 2,430,000 | 917,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 360LD: 3,200 | 36,229,000 | Solo - Male | English | Seasonal | 1,957 | |
| 43 |  |
Hybrid Theory Linkin Park |
20,800,000 | 6,762,000 | 1,390,000 | 14,600,000 | 5,887,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,150LD: 4,330 | 36,056,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 2,000 | |
| 44 |  |
Bat Out of Hell Meat Loaf |
27,410,000 | 6,709,000 | 2,900,000 | 2,240,000 | 589,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 240LD: 230 | 35,914,000 | Solo - Male | English | Rock | 1,977 | |
| 45 |  |
Machine Head Deep Purple |
9,045,000 | 24,224,000 | 2,202,000 | 3,670,000 | 939,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 400LD: 410 | 35,586,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,972 | |
| 46 |  |
The Marshall Mathers LP Eminem |
23,340,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,825,000 | 13,020,000 | 5,050,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 2,930LD: 4,560 | 34,939,000 | Solo - Male | English | Hip-hop/R&B | 2,000 | |
| 47 |  |
Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin |
21,900,000 | 9,937,000 | 2,500,000 | 6,490,000 | 1,346,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 540LD: 550 | 34,907,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,969 | |
| 48 |  |
Music Box Mariah Carey |
26,100,000 | 5,550,000 | 6,470,000 | 3,000,000 | 690,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 250LD: 360 | 34,731,000 | Solo - Female | English | Pop | 1,993 | |
| 49 |  |
Help! The Beatles |
9,850,000 | 19,465,000 | 11,150,000 | 2,730,000 | 1,509,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 680LD: 840 | 34,578,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,965 | |
| 50 |  |
Escape Journey |
11,850,000 | 17,135,000 | 2,560,000 | 16,340,000 | 2,256,000 (11/30/23) | Av.: 900LD: 1,090 | 34,524,000 | Group - Male | English | Rock | 1,981 | |
| Album | Gender | Language | Genre | Year |
How it works
The table above shows the best-selling albums ever using the following ratios:
- Studio album: sales of the original album (ratio 1/1)
- Other LPs: sales of compilations generated thanks to the album (ratio 1/1)
- Physical singles: sales of physical singles from the album (added to CSPC total with a ratio 3/10 for 2-tracks, 5/10 for EPs and Maxis)
- Digital singles: sales of digital singles from the album (ratio 1.5/10 for CSPC total)
- Streaming: EAS of all the album tracks (ratio 1/1500 for Audio stream and 1/6750 for Video stream)
Sales figures reflect the value as collected at the time of the artist’s respective articles while streams are updated daily. Albums from unstudied artists which gained significant streams are listed but miss the sales component.
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