Eagles ‘Greatest Hits’ leap-frogs over ‘Thriller’ to become best selling album of all time in the US

The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 has been certified 38x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

That means sales and streams of the 1976 album have reached 38 million – making it the best selling album of all time in the United States.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982) was last updated in 2017 to 33x Platinum and now takes second position.

RIAA also announced that The Eagles’ Hotel California, released in 1977, is now 26x Platinum and that makes it the third best-selling album of all-time.

“We are grateful for our families, our management, our crew, the people at radio and, most of all, the loyal fans who have stuck with us through the ups and downs of 46 years. It’s been quite a ride,” Don Henley said in a statement.

However The Eagles’ dominance is for the US only, and it’s a totally different story for best selling album globally of all time.

According to Rankings, Thriller is by far the best seller worldwide, with 110 million sales.

It is a strong lead over the runner-up, AC/DC’s Back In Black (1980) with 49 million.

At third spot s Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon (1973) with 43 million and Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell (1977) with 43 million.

On a global basis, The Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 only ranks #5 with 42 million.

After that comes the Dirty Dancing soundtrack (1987) with 42 million, The Bodyguard soundtrack (1992) at 42 million, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (1977) with 40 million, Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1977) at 40 million and, rounding off the Top 10, Backstreet Boys’ Millennium (1999) with 40 million.