Best Selling Albums of All Time

"It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You're paralyzed...
'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike
You know it's thriller, thriller night
You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight..." ~ Michael Jackson Thriller

Michael Jackson's Thriller has always been and shall forever be the most versatile and one of the best selling albums till date. Released in 1982, no one would've imagined it would ship 29 million copies worldwide. Listening to music is the highlight of my day. If I've a bad day, listening to the classic albums by Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, and Indian music helps me lift my spirits. Throughout history, music artists have created inspiring, appealing, and thought-provoking albums for people to admire. The albums which are mentioned in the article are gathered from different types of music genres. So keep that in mind while you go through the list.

Best Selling Albums ~ Before 1980s

'Old is Gold', that's what my grandmother always used to say. These blast from the past albums, that made a lot of mullah for whoever that was involved in making, selling, and marketing them, will surely make you get up and dance.

• The Sound of Music - Original Cast Recording
• Stevie Wonder - Songs in the Key of Life
• Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever
• Iron Butterfly - In-A-Dadda-Da-Vida
• The Beatles - White Album
• Pink Floyd - The Wall
• West Side Story Soundtrack
• AC/DC - Back in Black
• Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
• Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
• Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• Billy Joel - 52nd Street

Best Selling Albums ~ 1981 - 2000

The 80s saw wonders from Michael Jackson and Madonna, Gangster Rap was just introduced, and Hair/Glam Metal ruled the charts.

• Michael Jackson - Thriller
• Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
• Shania Twain - Come on Over
• Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
• Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
• Madonna - Like a Virgin
• Metallica - Metallica
• Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
• Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
• George Michael - Faith
• Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
• Santana - Supernatural

Best Selling Albums ~ Contemporary

These contemporary best selling albums so far are among the favorites. I bet these albums will make you want to sing as you go through the list.

• Taylor Swift - Fearless
• Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
• Eminem - The Eminem Show
• Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
• Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
• High School Musical Soundtrack
• 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin'
• Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind
• Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation 1814
• Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
• Usher - Confessions

Leonard Bernstein once quoted that, "music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable". Music can alter people's feelings, moods, and actions for the better. These were just few of the best selling albums which sold millions of copies around the world. There are hundreds of music artists who have made albums that topped the charts and are considered as best selling albums of all time.