RIAA Top 100 albums of the 80's

estranged4life · #1 12-18-2006, 02:28 PM

According to the RIAA, here is a list of the top 100 selling albums of the 80's in America.

(Note, Compilation and Greatest Hits albums were not included on this list)

1. Michael Jackson- "Thriller" (29,300,000)
2. AC/DC - "Back in Black" (19,100,000)
3. Bruce Springsteen - "Born In the U.S.A." (15,900,000)
4. Guns and Roses - "Appetite For Distruction" (15,600,000)
5. Whitney Houston - "Whitney Houston" (14,200,000)
6. Phil Collins - "No Jacket Required" (13,800,000)
7. Prince - "Purple Rain" (13,600,000)
8. Bruce Springsteen - "Live/1975-85" (13,100,000)
9. Dire Straits - "Brothers In Arms" (12,900,000)
10. Def Leppard - "Hysteria" (12,600,000)
11. "Dirty Dancing Original Soundtrack" (12,500,000)
12. Bon Jovi - "Slippery When Wet" (12,100,000)
13. Michael Jackson - "Bad" (11,900,000)
14. U2 - "The Joshua Tree" (11,800,000)
15. George Michael - "Faith" (11,200,000)
16. Madonna - "Like a Virgin" (10,900,000)
17. Lionel Richie - "Can't Slow Down" (10,900,000)
18. Whitney Houston - "Whitney" (10,800,000)
19. Van Halen - "1984" (10,100,000)
20. "Top Gun Original Soundtrack" (9,600,000)
21. Madonna - "True Blue" (9,100,000)
22. "Footloose Original Soundtrack" (9,100,000)
23. Def Leppard - "Pyromania" (9,100,000)
24. REO Speedwagon - "Hi Infidelity" (9,100,000)
25. Garth Brooks - "Garth Brooks" (9,000,000)
26. Beastie Boys - "Licensed to Ill" (9,000,000)
27. Journey - "Escape" (9,000,000)
28. ZZ Top - "Eliminator" (8,900,000)
29. The Police - "Synchronicity" (8,300,000)
30. New Kids On the Block - "Hang Tough" (8,100,000)
31. Billy Joel - "An Innocent Man" (7,900,000)
32. Bon Jovi - "New Jersey" (7,600,000)
33. Bobby Brown - "Don't Be Cruel" (7,600,000)
34. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl" (7,300,000)
35. Tracy Chapman - "Tracy Chapman" (7,200,000)
36. Genesis - "Invisible Touch" (7,200,000)
37. The Eagles - "Eagles Live" (7,100,000)
38. Aerosmith - "Pump" (7,100,000)
39. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (7,100,000)
40. Huey Lewis and the News - "Sports" (7,100,000)
41. Billy Joel - "Glass Houses" (7,000,000)
42. INXS - "Kick" (6,900,000)
43. Paul Simon - "Graceland" (6,500,000)
44. Phil Collins - "Face Value" (6,500,000)
45. Phil Collins - "But Seriously" (6,400,000)
46. Janet Jackson - "Rhythm Nation 1814" (6,300,000)
47. Whitesnake - "Whitesnake" (6,300,000)
48. U2 - "Rattle and Hum" (6,200,000)
49. Metallica - "Master of Puppets" (6,100,000)
50. Chicago - "Chicago 17" (6,100,000)
51. Cyndi Lauper - "She's So Unusual" (6,000,000)
52. Foreigner - "4" (6,000,000)
53. Quiet Riot - "Metal Health" (6,000,000)
54. Journey - "Frontiers" (6,000,000)
55. "The Big Chill Original Soundtrack" (6,000,000)
56. Peter Gabriel - "So" (5,900,000)
57. Tears For Fears - "Songs From the Big Chair" (5,800,000)
58. Anita Baker - "Rapture" (5,400,000)
59. Janet Jackson - "Control" (5,300,000)
60. ZZ Top - "Afterburner" (5,300,000)
61. Madonna - "Madonna" (5,300,000)
62. Men At Work - "Business As Usual" (5,300,000)
63. Neil Diamond - "The Jazz Singer" (5,300,000)
64. Christopher Cross - "Christopher Cross" (5,300,000)
65. Madonna - "Like A Prayer" (5,200,000)
66. Enya - "Watermark" (5,200,000)
67. Sade - "Diamond Life" (5,200,000)
68. Wham - "Make It Big" (5,100,000)
69. Don Henley - "The End Of The Innocence" (5,100,000)
70. Tom Petty - "Full Moon Fever" (5,100,000)
71. Milli Vanilli - "Girl You Know It's True" (5,100,000)
72. Guns and Roses - "G N' R Lies" (5,100,000)
73. Aerosmith - "Permanent Vacation" (5,100,000)
74. Fleetwood Mac - "Tango in the Night" (5,100,000)
75. Heart - "Heart" (5,100,000)
76. "Flashdance Original Soundtrack" (5,100,000)
77. Bruce Springsteen - "The River" (5,100,000)
78. Bonnie Ratt - "Nick of Time" (5,000,000)
79. AC/DC - "Who Made You" (5,000,000)
80. John Cougar Mellencamp - "Scarecrow" (5,000,000)
81. John Cougar Mellencamp - "American Fool" (5,000,000)
82. Alabama - "Mountain Music" (5,000,000)
83. Barbara Streisand - "Memories" (5,000,000)
84. Bob Seger - "Against the Wind" (5,000,000)
85. Bryan Adams - "Reckless" (4,900,000)
86. Tina Turner - "Private Dancer" (4,900,000)
87. Culture Club - "Colour By Numbers" (4,900,000)
88. Lionel Richie - "Dancing On The Ceiling" (4,700,000)
89. Sade - "Promise" (4,600,000)
90. Lionel Richie - "Lionel Richie" (4,300,000)
91. Poison - "Open Up and Say...Ahhh" (4,100,000)
92. Tiffany - "Tiffany" (4,100,000)
93. Boston - "Third Stage" (4,100,000)
94. Van Halen - "5150" (4,100,000)
95. "Miami Vice Original Soundtrack" (4,100,000)
96. Prince - "1999" (4,100,000)
97. Asia - "Asia" (4,100,000)
98. AC/DC - "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" (4,100,000)
99. Rolling Stones - "Tattoo You" (4,100,000)
100. Ozzy Osbourne - "Blizzard Of Ozz" (4,000,000)

DrummerDeanna · #2 12-18-2006, 02:30 PM

@ #30. Sad that's higher than Tango

Rickypt · #3 12-18-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

@ #30. Sad that's higher than Tango

Even sadder is #71.

My, there is a truckload of crapola on that list.

danax6 · #4 12-18-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

1. Michael Jackson- "Thriller" (29,300,000)
3. Bruce Springsteen - "Born In the U.S.A." (15,900,000)
4. Guns and Roses - "Appetite For Distruction" (15,600,000)
5. Whitney Houston - "Whitney Houston" (14,200,000)
7. Prince - "Purple Rain" (13,600,000)
9. Dire Straits - "Brothers In Arms" (12,900,000)
11. "Dirty Dancing Original Soundtrack" (12,500,000)
14. U2 - "The Joshua Tree" (11,800,000)
16. Madonna - "Like a Virgin" (10,900,000)
29. The Police - "Synchronicity" (8,300,000)
31. Billy Joel - "An Innocent Man" (7,900,000)
35. Tracy Chapman - "Tracy Chapman" (7,200,000)
43. Paul Simon - "Graceland" (6,500,000)
48. U2 - "Rattle and Hum" (6,200,000)
65. Madonna - "Like A Prayer" (5,200,000)
66. Enya - "Watermark" (5,200,000)
74. Fleetwood Mac - "Tango in the Night" (5,100,000)
75. Heart - "Heart" (5,100,000)
83. Barbara Streisand - "Memories" (5,000,000)
85. Bryan Adams - "Reckless" (4,900,000)
86. Tina Turner - "Private Dancer" (4,900,000)
99. Rolling Stones - "Tattoo You" (4,100,000)

And these are the ones I actually own. The Dirty Dancing soundtrack sold 12.5 million copies? Yikes.

DrummerDeanna · #5 12-18-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Even sadder is #71.

My, there is a truckload of crapola on that list.

I didn't see that one...that is even worse...dear God WHY!?!

skcin · #6 12-18-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estranged4life

1. Michael Jackson- "Thriller" (29,300,000)
2. AC/DC - "Back in Black" (19,100,000)
4. Guns and Roses - "Appetite For Distruction" (15,600,000)
10. Def Leppard - "Hysteria" (12,600,000)
12. Bon Jovi - "Slippery When Wet" (12,100,000)18. Whitney Houston - "Whitney" (10,800,000)
19. Van Halen - "1984" (10,100,000)
21. Madonna - "True Blue" (9,100,000)
32. Bon Jovi - "New Jersey" (7,600,000)
38. Aerosmith - "Pump" (7,100,000)
39. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (7,100,000)
47. Whitesnake - "Whitesnake" (6,300,000)
49. Metallica - "Master of Puppets" (6,100,000)
51. Cyndi Lauper - "She's So Unusual" (6,000,000)
53. Quiet Riot - "Metal Health" (6,000,000)
59. Janet Jackson - "Control" (5,300,000)
68. Wham - "Make It Big" (5,100,000)
72. Guns and Roses - "G N' R Lies" (5,100,000)
73. Aerosmith - "Permanent Vacation" (5,100,000)
74. Fleetwood Mac - "Tango in the Night" (5,100,000)
75. Heart - "Heart" (5,100,000)
87. Culture Club - "Colour By Numbers" (4,900,000)
91. Poison - "Open Up and Say...Ahhh" (4,100,000)
92. Tiffany - "Tiffany" (4,100,000)
93. Boston - "Third Stage" (4,100,000)

I had all of the above on some point & time in my life. Now I only have the bolded ones.

estranged4life · #7 12-18-2006, 04:15 PM

1. Michael Jackson- "Thriller" (29,300,000)
2. AC/DC - "Back in Black" (19,100,000)
3. Bruce Springsteen - "Born In the U.S.A." (15,900,000)
4. Guns and Roses - "Appetite For Distruction" (15,600,000)
8. Bruce Springsteen - "Live/1975-85" (13,100,000)
9. Dire Straits - "Brothers In Arms" (12,900,000)
10. Def Leppard - "Hysteria" (12,600,000)
12. Bon Jovi - "Slippery When Wet" (12,100,000)
14. U2 - "The Joshua Tree" (11,800,000)
19. Van Halen - "1984" (10,100,000)
23. Def Leppard - "Pyromania" (9,100,000)
27. Journey - "Escape" (9,000,000)
28. ZZ Top - "Eliminator" (8,900,000)
29. The Police - "Synchronicity" (8,300,000)
32. Bon Jovi - "New Jersey" (7,600,000)
34. Paula Abdul - "Forever Your Girl" (7,300,000)
37. The Eagles - "Eagles Live" (7,100,000)
38. Aerosmith - "Pump" (7,100,000)
39. Metallica - "...And Justice For All" (7,100,000)
47. Whitesnake - "Whitesnake" (6,300,000)
48. U2 - "Rattle and Hum" (6,200,000)
49. Metallica - "Master of Puppets" (6,100,000)
53. Quiet Riot - "Metal Health" (6,000,000)
54. Journey - "Frontiers" (6,000,000)
60. ZZ Top - "Afterburner" (5,300,000)
70. Tom Petty - "Full Moon Fever" (5,100,000)
72. Guns and Roses - "G N' R Lies" (5,100,000)
73. Aerosmith - "Permanent Vacation" (5,100,000)
74. Fleetwood Mac - "Tango in the Night" (5,100,000)
75. Heart - "Heart" (5,100,000)
91. Poison - "Open Up and Say...Ahhh" (4,100,000)
93. Boston - "Third Stage" (4,100,000)
94. Van Halen - "5150" (4,100,000)
99. Rolling Stones - "Tattoo You" (4,100,000)
100. Ozzy Osbourne - "Blizzard Of Ozz" (4,000,000)

PsychCat · #8 12-18-2006, 04:58 PM

I didn't think they could even find 100 semi-worthy albums from the '80's.
Looks like I was right....

The ones I would still listen to 20+ years later (track skipping allowed):

9. Dire Straits - "Brothers In Arms" (12,900,000)
14. U2 - "The Joshua Tree" (11,800,000)
25. Garth Brooks - "Garth Brooks" (9,000,000)
26. Beastie Boys - "Licensed to Ill" (9,000,000)
27. Journey - "Escape" (9,000,000)
29. The Police - "Synchronicity" (8,300,000)
31. Billy Joel - "An Innocent Man" (7,900,000)
36. Genesis - "Invisible Touch" (7,200,000)
37. The Eagles - "Eagles Live" (7,100,000)
41. Billy Joel - "Glass Houses" (7,000,000)
42. INXS - "Kick" (6,900,000)
51. Cyndi Lauper - "She's So Unusual" (6,000,000)
54. Journey - "Frontiers" (6,000,000)
55. "The Big Chill Original Soundtrack" (6,000,000)
56. Peter Gabriel - "So" (5,900,000)
57. Tears For Fears - "Songs From the Big Chair" (5,800,000)
59. Janet Jackson - "Control" (5,300,000)
66. Enya - "Watermark" (5,200,000)
67. Sade - "Diamond Life" (5,200,000)
69. Don Henley - "The End Of The Innocence" (5,100,000)
70. Tom Petty - "Full Moon Fever" (5,100,000)
74. Fleetwood Mac - "Tango in the Night" (5,100,000)
75. Heart - "Heart" (5,100,000)
78. Bonnie Ratt - "Nick of Time" (5,000,000)
86. Tina Turner - "Private Dancer" (4,900,000)
89. Sade - "Promise" (4,600,000)

goldustsongbird · #9 12-18-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

I had all of the above on some point & time in my life. Now I only have the bolded ones.

You owned a Tiffany album?

michelle2677 · #10 12-18-2006, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

@ #30. Sad that's higher than Tango

I had this one!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by danax6

The Dirty Dancing soundtrack sold 12.5 million copies? Yikes.

and this one....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Even sadder is #71.

My, there is a truckload of crapola on that list.

I didn't have this one...but I wanted it...

DrummerDeanna · #11 12-18-2006, 07:13 PM

^^

Oh I had it too...I didn't mention that? Nope..guess I didn't...

A minor omission...I did have it...and had a NKOTB night shirt, t-shirt, sweater, buttons, posters....I never got the dolls

I didn't have the Dirty Dancing soundtrack but my best friend did - we'd listen to it while playing Barbies...and boyhowdy could our barbies dirty dance

michelle2677 · #12 12-18-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

^^

Oh I had it too...I didn't mention that? Nope..guess I didn't...

A minor omission...I did have it...and had a NKOTB night shirt, t-shirt, sweater, buttons, posters....I never got the dolls

I didn't have the Dirty Dancing soundtrack but my best friend did - we'd listen to it while playing Barbies...and boyhowdy could our barbies dirty dance

ditto to everything you just said...

except I had DD soundtrack....

I wanted to go to NKOTB concert but I was too young and no one else wanted to go with me!!

I still have hanging tough and please, don't go girl on my iPod. I bust it out every once in awhile when I'm feeling nostalgic...

and when I'm REALLY in the mood...I do the "the dance"...

DrummerDeanna · #13 12-18-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelle2677

ditto to everything you just said...

except I had DD soundtrack....

I wanted to go to NKOTB concert but I was too young and no one else wanted to go with me!!

I still have hanging tough and please, don't go girl on my iPod. I bust it out every once in awhile when I'm feeling nostalgic...

and when I'm REALLY in the mood...I do the "the dance"...

"the dance" wow..you're hard core

NKOTB was my first concert..my sister and brother in law took me and STILL rag on me about it to this day - I guess they took me so that they could in turn make fun of me for the rest of my life about it

I don't even remember the concert, I do remember being at the restaurant beforehand and a big tour bus passed by and every girl under age 15 in the joint went NUTS (myself included)

So who was your favorite New Kid??

lol...man and you have some of their songs in iPod...I haven't even attempted to download their songs..I should just for sh*ts and giggles

michelle2677 · #14 12-18-2006, 07:24 PM

^^ yeah, I do it just to crack myself up..

oh...let's see. Probably donnie because he was the "bad boy"

that seems to be the type I always fall for...

michelle2677 · #15 12-18-2006, 07:26 PM