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Best Selling Albums in the United States

Name the musical acts who have recorded an album that sold at least 10 million copies in the U.S.
Source: RIAA
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: February 26, 2024
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First submittedMay 16, 2012
Times taken63,334
Average score34.9%
Rating4.39
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#
Year
Album
Musical Act
38 m
1976
Their Greatest Hits
(1971–1975)
Eagles
34 m
1982
Thriller
Michael Jackson
26 m
1976
Hotel California
Eagles
25 m
1980
Back in Black
AC/DC
24 m
1971
___ ________ IV
Led Zeppelin
24 m
1968
(White Album)
The Beatles
23 m
1985
Greatest Hits Volume
I & II
Billy Joel
23 m
1998
Double Live
Garth Brooks
23 m
1979
The Wall
Pink Floyd
21 m
1977
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
21 m
1994
Cracked Rear View
Hootie and the
Blowfish
20 m
1997
Come On Over
Shania Twain
18 m
1990
No Fences
Garth Brooks
18 m
1987
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses
18 m
1988
Greatest Hits
Journey
18 m
1992
The Bodyguard
(Soundtrack)
Whitney Houston
17 m
1995
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
17 m
1976
______
Boston
17 m
1984
Born in the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
17 m
1974
Greatest Hits
Elton John
17 m
1973
1967–1970
The Beatles
16 m
1977
Saturday Night Fever
(Soundtrack)
Bee Gees
16 m
1975
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
16 m
1991
_________
Metallica
15 m
1984
Legend
Bob Marley
& the Wailers
15 m
1973
The Dark Side of
the Moon
Pink Floyd
15 m
1999
Supernatural
Santana
15 m
1978
Greatest Hits 1974–78
Steve Miller Band
15 m
1973
1962–1966
The Beatles
14 m
2011
21
Adele
14 m
1997
__________ ___
Backstreet Boys
14 m
1999
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
14 m
1971
Tapestry
Carole King
14 m
1991
Ropin' the Wind
Garth Brooks
14 m
1977
Bat Out of Hell
Meat Loaf
14 m
1972
Greatest Hits
Simon & Garfunkel
14 m
1987
Dirty Dancing
Soundtrack
14 m
2004
Confessions
Usher
14 m
1985
_______ _______
Whitney Houston
13 m
1999
Millennium
Backstreet Boys
13 m
1986
Live/1975–85
Bruce Springsteen
13 m
1998
Wide Open Spaces
Dixie Chicks
13 m
2003
Speakerboxxx /
The Love Below
Outkast
13 m
1991
Ten
Pearl Jam
13 m
1984
Purple Rain
Prince
12 m
1980
Greatest Hits
Aerosmith
12 m
1986
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
12 m
1994
II
Boyz II Men
12 m
1996
Falling into You
Celine Dion
12 m
1976
Chronicle, Vol. 1
Creedence
Clearwater Revival
12 m
1987
Hysteria
Def Leppard
12 m
2002
The _______ Show
Eminem
12 m
1995
Pieces of You
Jewel
12 m
1992
Breathless
Kenny G
12 m
1980
Greatest Hits
Kenny Rogers
12 m
1969
___ ________ II
Led Zeppelin
12 m
2000
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
12 m
1996
Yourself or
Someone Like You
Matchbox Twenty
12 m
2002
Come Away with Me
Norah Jones
12 m
1985
No Jacket Required
Phil Collins
12 m
1995
The Woman in Me
Shania Twain
12 m
1994
Forrest Gump
Soundtrack
12 m
1969
Abbey Road
The Beatles
12 m
1972
Hot Rocks 1964–1971
The Rolling Stones
12 m
1994
CrazySexyCool
TLC
#
Year
Album
Musical Act
12 m
1993
Greatest Hits
Tom Petty and the
Heartbreakers
11 m
2015
25
Adele
11 m
1977
The Stranger
Billy Joel
11 m
1999
Human Clay
Creed
11 m
1997
Let's Talk About Love
Celine Dion
11 m
1999
Fly
Dixie Chicks
11 m
1982
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Eagles
11 m
2000
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
11 m
1976
Greatest Hits
James Taylor
11 m
1998
Devil Without a Cause
Kid Rock
11 m
1973
Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin
11 m
1990
The Immaculate
Collection
Madonna
11 m
1995
Daydream
Mariah Carey
11 m
1987
Bad
Michael Jackson
11 m
2000
No Strings Attached
NSYNC
11 m
2002
Up!
Shania Twain
11 m
1997
Titanic
Soundtrack
11 m
2000
1
The Beatles
11 m
1967
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
11 m
1997
Life After Death
The Notorious
B.I.G.
10 m
1996
All Eyez on Me
2Pac
10 m
1998
Greatest Hits
2Pac
10 m
1986
Licensed to Ill
Beastie Boys
10 m
1994
Greatest Hits
Bob Seger
10 m
2000
Oops!... I Did It Again
Britney Spears
10 m
1983
Pyromania
Def Leppard
10 m
1976
Best of the _______
Doobie Brothers
10 m
1970
_____' Christmas Album
Elvis Presley
10 m
2005
Curtain Call
Eminem
10 m
1992
Unplugged
Eric Clapton
10 m
2003
Fallen
Evanescence
10 m
1989
_____ ______
Garth Brooks
10 m
1993
In Pieces
Garth Brooks
10 m
1997
Sevens
Garth Brooks
10 m
1992
The Chase
Garth Brooks
10 m
1994
The Hits
Garth Brooks
10 m
2007
The Ultimate Hits
Garth Brooks
10 m
1987
Faith
George Michael
10 m
1994
Dookie
Green Day
10 m
1981
Escape
Journey
10 m
1998
The Miseducation of
_______ ____
Lauryn Hill
10 m
1990
___ ________ Boxed Set
Led Zeppelin
10 m
1983
Can't Slow Down
Lionel Richie
10 m
1984
Like a Virgin
Madonna
10 m
1993
Music Box
Mariah Carey
10 m
1990
Please _______,
Don't Hurt 'Em
MC Hammer
10 m
2000
Country Grammar
Nelly
10 m
1998
_____
NSYNC
10 m
2005
All The Right Reasons
Nickleback
10 m
1991
Nevermind
Nirvana
10 m
1995
Tragic Kingdom
No Doubt
10 m
1967
Greatest Hits
Patsy Cline
10 m
1981
Hi Infidelity
REO Speedwagon
10 m
1994
The Lion King
Soundtrack
10 m
1995
Mellon Collie and the
Infinite Sadness
The Smashing
Pumpkins
10 m
1976
Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder
10 m
2008
Fearless
Taylor Swift
10 m
1985
The Best of ___ _____
The Doors
10 m
1987
The Joshua Tree
U2
10 m
1984
1984 (MCMLXXXIV)
Van Halen
10 m
1978
___ _____
Van Halen
10 m
2015
Hamilton
Soundtrack
10 m
1987
_______
Whitney Houston
10 m
1983
Eliminator
ZZ Top
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93 Comments
Foulfortune
+2
Level 29
May 18, 2012
fun quiz
theLAYTshow
+4
Level 37
May 18, 2012
I stopped the timer and tried to complete this quiz with no 'research' other than to peruse my own CD collection. After 2 hours I got 69 and now will forever hate Kid Rock, Patsy Cline and Kenny G
kalbahamut
+4
Level 81
Nov 18, 2014
You didn't already?
irish41
+5
Level 59
Nov 18, 2014
Who hates Patsy Cline?!
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Nov 20, 2014
I kinda do. Maybe because my dad loves her and so I got kind of sick of her in my childhood.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Nov 20, 2014
but still, Patsy aside, does anyone out there really need any encouragement to hate Kenny G and Kid Rock?
kinjapan
+8
Level 72
Mar 5, 2017
How you gonna lump Patsy Cline in with those two??
plattitude
+1
Level 94
May 20, 2019
Honestly, I don't think I know anything by Kid Rock, but Kenny G was my study music of choice through a lot of college math and statistics courses.
lilig48
+1
Level 20
May 21, 2012
this list makes me a little sad. mariah carey?? kenny g? KID ROCK!? seriously?? oh my.
HighFidelity
+3
Level 57
Jun 26, 2012
I'm sure I've said it somewhere else but irks me everytime I see the RIAA list of best selling albums... why oh why do they count a double album twice? Many of the double albums which have been credited for twice as many sales as they actually had run shorter than single albums in the current day. Doesn't mean this aint a good quiz of course!
relessness
+2
Level 46
Jan 3, 2013
Adele's 21 has sold 10 million according to Billboard.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Oct 10, 2014
This has been added
Ozchris
+4
Level 33
Jan 19, 2013
Who the heck is Garth Brooks? Must be country or gospel. Something American-only.
buck1017
+5
Level 78
Sep 28, 2013
A "modern day" country legend. And you can't really call country music "American Only" as one of it's biggest stars, Kieth Urban, is from Australia.
TheWombat
+2
Level 73
Nov 13, 2013
Might depend on your age Oz. Before I left Aus, in 1996, Garth Brooks was HUGE there (well, in the weird outback places where backpackers go missing he was huge). There was a 60 Minutes story on him and everything. He used to do this thing on stage where he and the guitarist would smash their guitars together. I've hated him on principle ever since...
Jacko77
+1
Level 32
May 19, 2014
Seriously?? I just turned 16 and I love Garth Brooks!
Jonathan
+1
Level 28
Nov 11, 2014
Have no idea who he is myself.
kalbahamut
+3
Level 81
Nov 18, 2014
He's pretty big. And before I left the United States I also ignorantly believed that country music was "American only"... but have since found it's pretty popular around the world, too. Not as much as pop or hip hop, but there is a following.
Yanni47
+2
Level 78
Aug 25, 2018
Did you know that country music has in part its roots in Africa and also Bavaria, Germany?
kalbahamut
+2
Level 81
Mar 21, 2019
I didn't
ander217
+6
Level 74
Mar 5, 2017
He's done several world tours. A great thing about him is as long as tickets are selling in one location he keeps adding performances until they are all sold out. He once played eleven concerts in one place to satisfy all his fans there. Once my daughter stood last in the autograph line after a spring-training baseball game, and instead of getting his autograph she asked if he would phone her mother who is a big fan. I answered the phone and knew immediately who it was. He was super nice, and we had a nice, short chat. He is all about the fans, and deserved his many wins for Entertainer of the Year. Watch some of his performances on Youtube. My favorites are The Dance, and Unanswered Prayers.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Oct 13, 2017
I used to like Unanswered Prayers. Now the song seems incredibly silly to me, like many of the things I used to believe in.
IsleAuHaulte
+1
Level 90
Jul 15, 2018
Having to hear country music is shared tragedy with other cultures? It would be nice to think of country-free nations.
Jeanolt
+1
Level 28
Apr 28, 2024
I live in latin america and have met the incredible amount of 0 people who listen to country and in consequence, have no idea who that guy is (me included)
Tyacke
+5
Level 60
Dec 23, 2020
I think he played for Tottenham.
FlickerP
+1
Level 74
Jan 21, 2022
Unfortunately that will pass over most people's heads
AlexThirkell
+2
Level 75
Feb 26, 2024
??? I know - literally never heard of Garth Brooks and he was like half the answers in this.
wkrpnyc
+1
Level 82
Feb 27, 2024
Fair number of big country music stars are Canadians. Another fair number are African.
jaikkhubb
+2
Level 68
May 10, 2013
I tried Boys to Men and it didn't take it. I put in Boys 2 Men and it did. I know they were kind of pretentious about how they spelled their name and all, but...
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Oct 10, 2014
My bad. Boys to Men will work now.
aliberti68
+1
Level 54
Aug 9, 2013
41/70 fun quiz, but tough!
TheWombat
+3
Level 73
Nov 13, 2013
It's a sad world in which Shania Twain records sell more than Rumours and where David Bowie doesn't even make the cut.
colorblindboy
+2
Level 44
Apr 28, 2022
8 years later after this comment and I am still sad Bowie isn't on here... RIP.
kittykris
+1
Level 48
May 31, 2014
Kind of shocked not to see Frampton or Bruce Springsteen on this list :(
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Oct 10, 2014
Springsteen is!
PapiBert
+2
Level 51
Nov 1, 2023
Really surprised that queen isn't on here, it's like the biggest band after beatles/stones. Although I only listen to kanye the goat myself.
sillie
+1
Level 76
Nov 3, 2014
Wow. Did better than I thought I would with 42% but I can't believe I missed Elvis!
richardlecoq
+1
Level 27
Nov 18, 2014
dark side of the moon has sold much more records than the wall...
richardlecoq
+1
Level 27
Nov 18, 2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Nov 18, 2014
The RIAA counts double albums as double, which explains the discrepancy.
loz1
+1
Level 44
Nov 18, 2014
Nobody buys albums anymore? I buy tons of the things.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Nov 18, 2014
You reduced my score by two by taking out the soundtrack artists... Hans Zimmer for the Lion King (some songs performed by Elton John) and James Horner for Titanic (one song performed by Celine Dion)... I used to be big into movie and game soundtracks...
HectorVortac
+1
Level 48
Jan 28, 2017
I first became familiar with Hans Zimmer through the Rain Man soundtrack.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Jan 28, 2017
I think that may have been my introduction to him, as well. Good one.
luxint
+2
Level 66
Nov 18, 2014
what a depressing list that makes
zimbabwe12
+2
Level 52
Nov 18, 2014
No "the who"???!
zimbabwe12
+5
Level 52
Nov 18, 2014
or queen?
kalbahamut
+2
Level 81
Nov 20, 2014
Who?
loganite
+1
Level 90
Nov 18, 2014
Fun quiz! The 1990 Madonna album should be "The Immaculate Collection," not just "The Immaculate."
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Nov 18, 2014
Fixed
JHAssassin
+1
Level 26
Nov 18, 2014
Wow I'm afraid that Shady has far more than 10 million in US
carmenrxn
+1
Level 21
Nov 19, 2014
For a contemporary artist like Adele to make this prestigious list is pretty remarkable. & her worldwide sales off "21" would put her up way higher too (~30million)

surprised to see Britney & Eminem make it! (& Brit twice!)

dkm1981
+1
Level 47
Nov 19, 2014
Great quiz but surely you could accept Led Zepplin as an answer? Its only one letter out and its not as if I meant someone else when I typed it.
camus
+3
Level 78
Nov 20, 2014
But then Ld Zeppelin, Le Zeppelin, Led Zppelin and so forth should also be accepted. You'd surely notice your little mistake and correct it easily.
dkm1981
+1
Level 47
Nov 22, 2014
I actually thought that was how to spell Zeppelin. So I thought I was correct. never thought to check it.
camus
+2
Level 78
Nov 23, 2014
That's bad luck, then. :( Sometimes I also don't even consider another spelling of a word although knowing the right answer. But how could the author of a quiz read the users' minds to know which odd false spellings they'd use?
SinginDiva721
+5
Level 69
Apr 9, 2015
No Bob Dylan? No Queen? No David Bowie? Wow.
Tramp
+1
Level 76
Mar 5, 2017
I was shocked by that too. I mean, they're HUGE names.
JWatson24
+1
Level 71
Jan 21, 2023
Same. Also shocked by no Marvin Gaye.
GlassMonkeyCode
+1
Level 68
Mar 8, 2024
I don't think Dylan's albums have mass pop appeal. Queen's singles are much more famous than their albums, which tend to be of mixed quality. I'm a huge Bowie fan and think that his albums are too nuanced for mass appeal. By the early 70s rock had split from pop, so the market for Bowie glam rock would be smaller.
snoofilo
+1
Level 44
Apr 11, 2015
felt like i had to be a psychic with all those vague greatest hits and best of's...
davemcarlson
+1
Level 55
Sep 17, 2015
Please accept GNR for Guns N Roses
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Sep 17, 2015
Okay
joeythelemur
+1
Level 83
Mar 2, 2017
1997 - Life After Death album is listed twice.
foxpenguin
+1
Level 69
Mar 6, 2017
+1 +1
joeythelemur
+1
Level 83
Mar 2, 2017
Looks like a copy/paste error too on the Doobie Brothers. The clue says "Best of --- -------" which is enough letters for Doobie. :-)
mightythor
+1
Level 66
Mar 5, 2017
I suspect the "In the US" part is responsible for many of the surprises left off the list.
celloninja
+1
Level 42
Mar 5, 2017
Got ZZ Top but not ACDC.

Arg.

loganite
+1
Level 90
Mar 6, 2017
Notorious B.I.G. is listed twice for "Life After Death"
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Mar 6, 2017
Whoops. I will fix it next time I update the quiz. For now, there's no point in correcting since it will force me to reset the stats.
Roxy7699
+2
Level 28
Mar 18, 2017
Let me take this further: nobody buys music anymore.
Carry
+1
Level 63
Jul 2, 2019
Not on CD.
luke0g
+1
Level 48
Feb 26, 2024
Idk everyone my age is obsessed with CD's. I burn em and buy em all the time.
Hugh2000
+1
Level 68
Sep 2, 2018
In the U.S.
Tomtrific
+2
Level 83
Jul 17, 2020
Wow, Frampton Comes Alive not on the list. I'm getting too old.
PhantomMaster
+1
Level 34
Sep 16, 2020
Eagles Greatest Hits has now beat Thriller. Needs an update.
frankdebruin
+1
Level 71
Jan 27, 2021
no queen ?!!
Hugh2000
+2
Level 68
Feb 7, 2021
This should be called "Best Selling Albums in the U.S." because its not all about America. No other country who operates a website internationally would do that.
elcampeador
+7
Level 79
Oct 29, 2021
I have an album recommendation for you - it's called the world's smallest violin.
Fergy586
+1
Level 77
Mar 14, 2022
Make a better website then
msellierose
+2
Level 21
Dec 30, 2021
I got AC/DC by just typing "ac". I guess the slash messed it up.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 70
Feb 9, 2023
32
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 70
Apr 10, 2023
Just saw Eagles in Baltimore a couple nights ago
Zych
+1
Level 67
May 2, 2023
im way too young for this... or i dont listen to enough pop/rock music
wittlane
+2
Level 75
Aug 2, 2023
Could you please accept "Chicks" for "Dixie Chicks"? They have removed Dixie from their name.
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Feb 26, 2024
Yes.
Algernon
+1
Level 73
Oct 6, 2023
Interesting quiz. It’s one of those where I know I will miss a few answers I should have got, will see a few answers I have never heard of, or would never have thought of and will have my head fried trying to think of who did that album.

As someone else said, I am surprised not to see Queen on the list, especially given the ehhh calibre of some of the others on here.

mpepperdine
+2
Level 75
Feb 27, 2024
I like Evanescence but I’m absolutely shocked they’re on here
wkrpnyc
+2
Level 82
Feb 27, 2024
Creative album title, "Greatest Hits". Hrmph!
piers111
+1
Level 71
Mar 8, 2024
Led Zeppelin IV is technically "Untitiled"
mooselikestoparty
+4
Level 61
Mar 8, 2024
Nickelback is misspelled. This is how I remind you.
mikeyheath92
+1
Level 49
Mar 8, 2024
"no-one buys albums any more"

The majority of album sales are in CD format. Try again.

JohnS43
+1
Level 66
Aug 11, 2024
"Hamilton" was an original cast album, not a soundtrack.

Nickelback is misspelled.

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