Vinyl records have been making a big comeback. In fact, it is now the fastest-growing segment of the music industry. In recent years, vinyl record sales have seen a resurgence to the point where they’ve outpaced digital album sales by 20%. The best-selling albums on vinyl are timeless and filled with classics that will never go out of style. These 10 albums represent some of the most iconic albums in the history of recorded music.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
This masterpiece by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr is often regarded as one of the most influential albums in the history of recorded music. It has spent 27 weeks at number-one on the charts and was recently named the best album ever made by Rolling Stone magazine.
Purple Rain by Prince
This 1984 American musical drama film directed by Albert Magnoli starring Prince is his soundtrack for the film. Not only is it one of the best-selling albums of all time, but it also paved the way for many 80s rock bands like Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana. .
Thriller by Michael Jackson
This 1982 album was released by Epic Records on November 30th, 1982. It has sold over 65 million copies worldwide to date, making it one of the highest-selling albums of all time. It also holds the Guinness World Record for most successful entertainment event tour ever with gross earnings estimated at $4.6 billion dollars.
OK Computer by Radiohead
OK Computer was released on June 16th, 1997 and is regarded as one of Radiohead’s finest works to date. This breakthrough album brought them mass international recognition – especially in America.
Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Possibly the most iconic album in rock history, Pink Floyd’s 1973 release Dark Side of the Moon is an album that is widely agreed to be flawless. Originally released on March 1973, it quickly became one of the best-selling albums of all time. With the help of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason, this rock band has crafted a masterpiece that has gone on to sell over 45 million copies worldwide.
Abbey Road by The Beatles
The Beatles’ final studio album, Abbey Road, was released on September 26, 1969. It reached number one in the charts and has been cited as one of the most influential albums ever made.
Nevermind by Nirvana
The album that made grunge a household word, Nirvana’s breakthrough album was released in September 1991 and is still the eighth best-selling album in the history of recorded music.
Thriller by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller was the best-selling album of all time in the world. To date, it has sold over 109 million copies worldwide. It is one of the most iconic records in history and has had an enormous impact on pop culture.
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is one of the best-selling albums in vinyl history. Released in 1975, it’s the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. The album was ranked number 16 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
The Led Zeppelin IV album is the best-selling vinyl album of all time. The fourth studio album by English rock band Led Zeppelin, it was released in 1971 and includes such songs as “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Stairway to Heaven.”
Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys’ 11th studio album and their second masterpiece (following Revolver), is one of the most acclaimed albums of all time. It was released in May 1966 to universal acclaim, but it only peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200 because Capitol Records decided to focus more attention on The Beatles’ Revolver. Still, Pet Sounds has sold over 10 million copies since its release, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
- Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
- Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
- Thriller by Michael Jackson
- The Wall by Pink Floyd
- Led Zeppelin IV (Remastered) by Led Zeppelin
- Graceland by Paul Simon
- What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
- Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
- Tapestry by Carole King