FAQ
What is the best selling album of all time?
Michael Jackson Thriller, with estimated worldwide sales above 65 million copies. The Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971 to 1975 is its closest certified competitor in the United States.
Which album do critics rank number one most often?
Rolling Stone 2020 list of the 500 greatest albums put Marvin Gaye Whats Going On at the top. Earlier editions led with Sgt. Pepper. Beatles and Dylan albums dominate most top tens.
What does it mean when an album goes platinum?
In the United States the RIAA certifies gold at 500,000 units, platinum at 1,000,000 and diamond at 10,000,000. The platinum award was introduced in 1976. Most countries run similar programs.
What was the first concept album?
It is debated. Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours of 1955 unified songs around one mood, while Sgt. Pepper in 1967 popularized the album as a complete artistic statement with matching artwork.
Which album has spent the most weeks on the Billboard 200?
Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon, with more than 900 total weeks including a consecutive run of over 700 weeks that ended in 1988.
Why do so many classic albums come from the 1970s?
Studio technology matured, FM radio played long album tracks, and the post Beatles industry gave artists budgets and freedom. The largest record buying generation in history was in its twenties.