We all have a favourite album or song that left it's mark on us. Whether we play it on our way to work, in the shower, or even during our down time, music is a huge part of our daily lives.
For many of us, we now rely on streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube to listen to our favourite tunes, compared to the more traditional CD format, or even a cassette (if you're old enough to remember what that is). In fact, in March 2021, global music industry body the IFPI published its latest Global Music Report, which revealed that at the end of 2020 there were 443 million users of paid streaming subscriptions worldwide.
However, vinyl record sales are on the rise. Recent sales figures have shown that many music lovers are pulling back from the world of streaming and online music videos, opting for a different kind of listening experience. In 2020, vinyl records outsold CDs for the first time in decades - and while you might think it’s a nostalgic, more mature demographic behind the renaissance of records, surveys show it’s actually millennial consumers.
As Scott Hagen recently shared, when speaking to The Manual: "We just did a survey of more than 400 people, people between 18 and 70 years old, and asked them if they had a vinyl record player in the home, and more than 55 per cent said yes. But what was really interesting, is of those people who had a record player, more than 70 per cent said they had used it, had listened to a record within the last month.”
“But even more compelling for me,” Hagen added, “was that with the younger people 18 to 29, more than 60 per cent had a record player. And others were planning to get one.”
So, in honour of Record Store Day (yes, it's a real day), I've taken a look back at the 15 best-selling vinyl records of all time, including a range of titles from artists such as Elvis, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac.
What is Record Store Day?
Record Store Day is the one day of the year when more than 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture. Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops and cities host artist performances and events to mark the occasion.
Thousands more shops celebrate the day around the globe in what’s become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar. Although there’s only one Record Store Day a year, many stores also work throughout the year to celebrate independent record stores by spotlighting exclusive releases, events and special news.
Here is a look at the 15 best-selling vinyl records of all time:
15. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel - 13.2 million vinyl records sold
14. The Wall - Pink Floyd - 15 million vinyl records sold
13. Elvis' Christmas Album - Elvis Presley - 15.8 million vinyl records sold
12. Abbey Road - The Beatles - 16.2 million vinyl records sold
11. Hotel California - Eagles - 16.5 million vinyl records sold
10. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles - 18.2 million vinyl records sold
9. Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture - Various Artists - 19 million vinyl records sold
8. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin - 19.5 million vinyl records sold
7. Saturday Night Fever - Bee Gees / Various Artists - 20.2 million vinyl records sold
6. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac - 20.2 million vinyl records sold
5. Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) - Eagles - 21.6 million vinyl records sold
4. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd - 23.7 million vinyl records sold
3. Back in Black - AC/DC - 24.5 million vinyl records sold
2. Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf - 25.3 million vinyl records sold
1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - 27 million vinyl records sold
*Data collected from Phonotribe
Do you have a favourite record? Let us know in the comments below.
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