Perusing the Top Selling Albums of All-Time List

So I ran across this list the other day and thought I’d share it with you. I also wondered to myself how many of the bands listed I’d seen live. It may not be interesting to you, but what the hell, it’s my site. It’s not to late to turn back, by the way. Click off and go back to Facebook, man.

Anyway, let’s get to it . . .

20. Greatest Hits – Elton John

Hey, I like Elton John a lot. Favorite songs? “Levon” and “Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)”. As is often the case, I like his earlier stuff much better than his 80’s material. Can’t say I’m a big fan of stuff like “I’m Still Standing”, but whatever. I saw Elton during his Yellow Brick Road tour back in the mid-70s and it was outstanding. Boom. 1 for 1.

19. Hotel California – The Eagles

I’m a fan of The Eagles, even though my boy The Dude from The Big Lebowski hated them.  I’ve seen The Eagles a couple times too, most notably on the Hotel California tour itself. It was before the Who tragedy, and it was General Admission so of course we were front row. Good times. 2 for 2.

18. Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin

I’m sort of surprised that this album is one of their top selling ones to be honest. Yep, I’ve seen Zep too, and was nearly killed getting in. It was a few months before 11-people were killed at the aforementioned Who concert, and after the Zeppelin show I’d predicted something terrible was going to happen. They only opened 4-doors for 12,000 people, and it was first come first serve for getting your seats. Bad combo right there. Anyway, I was nearly crushed by the throng of people pushing to get in and had a flask ripped off my neck as I rushed past a security guard. Wild night. On a related note, I’m 3 for 3.

17. Metallica – Metallica

Damn it. 3 for 4. I’ve never seen Metallica. This is a pretty good album, and it includes “Enter Sandman” and “Wherever I May Roam” which are good tunes. Most of my metal friends don’t like it because they think it’s too soft. Most metal folks think anything with a melody is soft. True story.

16. Cracked Rear View – Hootie and the Blowfish

This is actually a great pop album with hooks for days. Love it. And yes, I was ahead of the Hootie phenomenon. I read a short blurb on them in Rolling Stone and snatched up some tickets when I heard they were going to be at The Newport in Columbus. We were right up front of the small venue, and they were outstanding. As I recall they were on Letterman a few days later and subsequently went through the roof. Just a couple months after performing at The Newport in front of a few hundred people they were selling out 15,000 seat arenas. Annnnnd, I’m 4 out of 5.

15. No Fences – Garth Brooks

Damn it. Just as I was starting to get cocky. I’ve never seen Garth Brooks, and although I enjoy some of his stuff I’ve never been a huge fan. They say he’s great live though, and I’ve no reason to doubt it. Oh, and 4 out of 6.

14. Boston – Boston

I have never seen Boston. 4 for 7. This is a GREAT album though. Every single song is a classic. “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Rock & Roll Band,” and “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” were all spectacular. Brad Delp’s vocals were amazing and Tom Scholz was a great guitarist and producer. Good stuff.

Note: Sadly, Brad Delp took his own life back in 2007. Depression sucks.

13. The Bodyguard – Whitney Houston

What? A movie soundtrack at #13? That’s weird. And wasn’t the biggest song on this album a cover of a Dolly Parton song? Oh, and I just checked. I recognize three of the 13 songs on the album and all are covers. Stunned that it’s this high. I’ve never seen Whitney Houston. 4 for 8. I’m in a slump.

12. The Beatles 1967-1970 – The Beatles

Well, der. I’m just shocked that a double album with all the hits of The Beatles during their last 4-years isn’t higher. Pure gold. And 4 for freaking 9. Does it count that I’ve seen Paul 9-times?

11. Appetite for Destruction – Guns n’ Roses

“Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” sure, what’s not to like? Guns n’ Roses best album for sure. Favorite song? “Sweet Child”, hands down. Great opening guitar riff. And damn it! 4 for 10. Down to 40%.

10. The Beatles – The Beatles

Always and forever to be known as “The White Album,” this is my second favorite Beatles album, behind Abbey Road. It’s sort of a disjointed mishmash of songs, and this is because the boys were fighting so much they barely collaborated on anything. Thankfully they corrected this on Abbey Road, their last album. 4 for 11. I’m dyin’ here.

9. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac

Listen, I like this album, I really do. But the massive success it attained does surprise me a bit. I mean, the album has some good, catchy songs but nothing on the album was groundbreaking, correct? Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar work is amazing, but enough to put this album at 9? 4 for 12.

8. Come on Over – Shania Twain

Seriously? 4 for 13. But Shania Twain at #8? All-time? I mean, she’s a cutie and whatnot but Good Lord almighty that’s not Top 10 material, man. On a related note, I just realized that Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” has outsold every Beatle album ever recorded. The world is a confusing place.

7. Double Live – Garth Brooks

4 for 14. I’m dying a slow death over here. Again, I do not get the Garth hysteria and never have. Do I like some of his music? Sure. But to me he’s a tinny-voiced Average Joe of a singer. Sorry kids. Shoot me Garth fans.

6. Back in Black – AC/DC

Woot! 5 for 15 and I’m back in it. I took my son to see AC/DC when he was 19 because I’ve tried to take him to see all the big boys. So far that includes Paul McCartney, Green Day, The Eels, REM, AC/DC and others. Damn I’m a great dad. You’re welcome, Kip.

5. Greatest Hits Volume I & II – Billy Joel

I’ve never seen Billy Joel in concert but I met him in an airport once and he was a total jackass. Did he write some great songs? Yes he did. Am I surprised his greatest hits rank this high? I am. Oh, and 5 for 16.

4. The Wall – Pink Floyd

The Wall is one of my five favorite albums of all-time, so I can’t argue with the people who bought it and gave it this #4 ranking. It’s actually pretty amazing since it only had a couple “hits”, with “Another Brick in the Wall” and “Comfortably Numb”. On a related note, Pink Floyd without Roger Waters is a shell of its former self. And yes, I’ve seen them live and they were spectacular. 6 for 17.

3. IV – Led Zeppelin

No we’re talkin’. Just an amazing album, which I suspect is this high in sales because of one song – “Stairway to Heaven.” However, the album had other great tunes like “Black Dog”, “Rock and Roll”, “The Battle of Evermore”, and my personal fave, “Going to California”. And yes, as I mentioned before I saw Zep at Riverfront Coliseum a few months before The Who tragedy and almost suffered the same fate as those 11 unlucky souls. General Admission seating was a terrible idea, man. 7 for 18.

2. Thriller – Michael Jackson

It may or may not surprise you to to learn that I was a big MJ fan, and this album deserves to be where it is in all-time sales. Have I seen him live? I have not. 7 for 19.

1. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 – Eagles

Like I said, I saw The Eagles at the peak of their existence during the legendary “Hotel California” tour and they were ungodly. You know, if you were into that California Soft Rock sorta thing, which I was at the time.

And hey, I was 8 for 20 baby. That’s 40% which is pretty good, right?