The 50 best-selling albums ever - NME The 50 best-selling albums ever 9:54 am - Nov 12, 2010 0shares 0shares 1/50 Today we’re counting down the biggest albums of all time. Starting with, at number 50, Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’ (1984). Copies sold: 21 million. 2/50 49. Dido, ‘No Angel’ (1999). Copies sold: 21 million 3/50 48. Oasis, ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ (1995). Copies sold: 22 million 4/50 47. Spice Girls, ‘Spice’ (1996). Copies sold: 23 million 5/50 46. Ace of Base, ‘Happy Nation’ (1994). Copies sold: 23 million 6/50 45. Madonna, ‘True Blue’ (1986). Copies sold: 24 million 7/50 44.

Linkin Park, ‘Hybrid Theory’ (2000). Copies sold: 24 million 8/50 43. Backstreet Boys, ‘Black and Blue’ (2000). Copies sold: 24 million 9/50 42. Whitney Houston, ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985). Copies sold: 25 million 10/50 41. U2, ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987). Copies sold: 25 million 11/50 40. Simon and Garfunkel, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (1970). Copies sold: 25 million 12/50 39. Queen, ‘Greatest Hits’ (1981). Copies sold: 25 million 13/50 38. Mariah Carey, ‘Daydream’ (1995). Copies sold: 25 million 14/50 37. Iron Butterfly, ‘In-A-Gadda-da-Vida’ (1968).

Copies sold: 25 million 15/50 36. Carole King, ‘Tapestry’ (1971). Copies sold: 25 million 16/50 35. Britney Spears, ‘…Baby One More Time’ (1999). Copies sold: 25 million 17/50 34. Nirvana, ‘Nevermind’ (1991). Copies sold: 26 million 18/50 33. Santana, ‘Supernatural’ (1999). Copies sold: 27 million 19/50 32. Various Artists, ‘Grease’ (1978). Copies sold: 28 million 20/50 31. Guns N’ Roses, ‘Appetite For Destruction’ (1987). Copies sold: 28 million 21/50 30. Bon Jovi, ‘Slippery When Wet’ (1986). Copies sold: 28 million 22/50 29.

Backstreet Boys, ‘Backstreet’s Back’ (1997). Copies sold: 28 million 23/50 28. Abba, ‘Gold’ (1992). Copies sold: 28 million 24/50 27. Pink Floyd, ‘The Wall’ (1979). Copies sold: 30 million 25/50 26. Micheal Jackson, ‘Bad’ (1987). Copies sold: 30 million 26/50 25. Madonna, ‘The Immaculate Collection’ (1990). Copies sold: 30 million 27/50 24. James Horner, ‘Titanic’ (1997). Copies sold: 30 million 28/50 23. Dire Straits, ‘Brothers In Arms’ (1985). Copies sold: 30 million 29/50 22. Bruce Springsteen, ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ (1984).

Copies sold: 30 million 30/50 21. Bee Gees, ‘Spirits Having Flown’ (1979). Copies sold: 30 million 31/50 20. Elton John, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973). Copies sold: 31 million 32/50 19. Celine Dion, ‘Let’s Talk About Love’ (1997). Copies sold: 31 million 33/50 18. The Beatles, ‘1’ (2000). Copies sold: 31 million 34/50 17. Micheal Jackson, ‘Dangerous’ (1991). Copies sold: 32 million 35/50 16. Mariah Carey, ‘Music Box’ (1993). Copies sold: 32 million 36/50 15. Celine Dion, ‘Falling Into You’ (1996). Copies sold: 32 million 37/50 14.

The Beatles, ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1967). Copies sold: 32 million 38/50 13. Alanis Morissette, ‘Jagged Little Pill’ (1995). Copies sold: 33 million 39/50 12. Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971). Copies sold: 37 million 40/50 11. Shania Twain, ‘Come On Over’ (1997). Copies sold: 39 million 41/50 10. Fleetwood Mac, ‘Rumours’ (1977). Copies sold: 40 million 42/50 9. Bee Gees/Various Artists, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (1977). Copies sold: 40 million 43/50 8. Backstreet Boys, ‘Millennium’ (1999). Copies sold: 40 million 44/50 7. Various Artists, ‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987).

Copies sold: 42 million 45/50 6. Eagles, ‘Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)’ (1976). Copies sold: 42 million 46/50 5. Meat Loaf, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ (1977). Copies sold: 43 million 47/50 4. Whitney Houston/Various Artists, ‘The Bodyguard’ (1992). Copies sold: 44 million 48/50 3. Pink Floyd, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973). Copies sold: 45 million 49/50 2. AC/DC, ‘Back In Black’ (1980). Copies sold: 49 million 50/50 Top 20 Greatest Selling Albums in Music History Top 10 20.

Celine Dion - Let’s Talk About Love Worldwide Sales - 31 Million Copies + Let’s Talk About Love is the 5th English-language album by Celine Dion and was released on November 18, 1997. The most successful single from the album was Titanic’s theme My Heart Will Go On, which reached the #1 spot all over the world. 20 million units of Let’s Talk About Love were sold in its first four months of release, including over 10 million in Europe. The song made Celine Dion the only female recording artist to have two albums with more than 31 million copies sold. Worldwide Sales - 31 Million Copies + 1 is a compilation album released by The Beatles on November 13, 2000. The album features virtually every #1 British and American hit single by the band released from 1962 to 1970. The record includes 27 Beatles songs. It broke numerous sales records. The album sold 3.6 million units in its first week of release, reaching #1 in over 35 countries. It became the fastest-selling album of all time and the highest-selling of this decade.

It made The Beatles the first and only band to have the best-selling album of two separate decades (1960’s with Sgt. Pepper). In the UK, 1 became the bands 17th #1 album. 18. Michael Jackson - Dangerous Worldwide Sales - 32 Million Copies + Dangerous is Michael Jackson’s 4th solo album and it was released on November 26, 1991. It became the second of Michael’s records to debut at #1. Dangerous has sold 25 million units in Europe and other areas of the world, while only 7 million in the U.S. It was the first album ever to spawn eight consecutive UK Top 20 hits. The album was produced by Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, and Bill Bottrell. It spawned a worldwide concert tour, The Dangerous Tour. Dangerous sold very well in both Asia and South America, which were two emerging and growing recording markets. It features hit singles Remember the Time, Heal the World, and Black or White. 17. Mariah Carey - Music Box Worldwide Sales - 32 Million Copies + Music Box is the third studio album released by Mariah Carey.

It consists of ballads co- written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. The record spawned numerous hit singles, with Dreamlover becoming extremely successful in America and Without You topping charts in the UK and several European countries. In the albums best week it sold 505,000 copies worldwide. It helped propel Mariah Carey onto the international music scene, where she remains today. 16. Celine Dion - Falling Into You Worldwide Sales - 32 Million Copies + Falling Into You is Celine Dion’s 4th English album and twenty-first in total, as Celine originally released French language records. It was released on March 8, 1996. The record gradually achieved major international success. In 1997, it became one of three albums to remain in the Top 10 on the U.S. charts for an entire year. The record combined many musical elements, including orchestral frills, African chanting, and instruments like the violin, Spanish guitar, trombone, the cavaquinho, saxophone, and numerous string arrangements. Falling Into You won Album of the Year at the 1997 Grammy Awards.

It included numerous hit singles, including Because You Loved Me, Falling Into You, and It’s All Coming Back to Me Now. 15. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Worldwide Sales - 32 Million Copies + Sgt. Pepper’s is the 8th studio album by The Beatles. It was released on June 1, 1967. The record was an instant success and extremely influential in the emerging psychedelic rock age of music. It incorporates elements of music hall, rock, western classical, and traditional Indian music. The album spent 27 weeks on top of the UK charts, 15 weeks at #1 in the U.S. and topped Australian charts for 30 weeks. Almost all of the songs on the record are written and composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, although Ringo and Harrison both provide lead vocals on the album. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the most creative and unique albums in history. It spawned the Beatles classic hits With a Little Help from My Friends, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and A Day in the Life. 14.

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill Worldwide Sales - 33 Million Copies + Jagged Little Pill was the third studio album released by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette. It was a break-through album and spent twelve non-consecutive weeks at number one in the U.S. In 1996, Jagged Little Pill became the best- selling album of the year and had five hit singles, You Oughta Know, Ironic, You Learn, Hand in My Pocket, and Head over Feet. It was the second-best- selling album of the 1990’s. The record was extremely popular in Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Portugal, Sweden, and many other areas of the world. 13. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV Worldwide Sales - 37 Million Copies + Led Zeppelin IV is the fourth studio album by English rock band Led Zeppelin and was released on November 8, 1971. It has no official title printed on the album, but is generally referred to as Led Zeppelin IV. The record became one of the greatest classic rock collections of all time.

It contained eight tracks and included many hit singles, incuding Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Misty Mountain Hop, Going to California, and When the Levee Breaks. The fourth album has sold over 23 million units in the U.S. alone. It stayed on the UK charts for 62 weeks. 12. Shania Twain - Come on Over Worldwide Sales - 39 Million Copies + Come on Over is the 3rd studio album by country singer Shania Twain. It was released on November 4, 1997. Come on Over is the best-selling country music album of all time. Twelve singles were released from the album and eleven were top five country hits in Canada. The album was extremely successful all over the world, especially the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. It included hit singles Man! I Feel Like a Woman, You’re Still the One, and From This Moment On. Come on Over went on to become the biggest selling album ever by a female artist and the biggest record of the 1990’s. 11.

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Worldwide Sales - 40 Million Copies + Rumours is the 11th album by British and American rock band Fleetwood Mac. It was released on February 4, 1977 and was the second album recorded with the newly formatted group, featuring lead vocalist Stevie Nicks. Rumours went on to win the Grammy for Record of the Year. The album features numerous hit singles, including Dreams, The Chain, and Don’t Stop. 10. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack - Bee Gees Worldwide Sales - 40 Million Copies + The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was released in November of 1977. The record helped to revive the phenomenon of disco in the U.S. and started a national trend. It is composed and performed primarily by The Bee Gees and features numerous hit singles, including Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, and How Deep is Your Love. The record went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack has become the third highest selling soundtrack of all time. 9. Backstreet Boys - Millennium Worldwide Sales - 40 Million Copies + Millennium is the second studio album by The Backstreet Boys.

It was released on May 18, 1999 and was the group’s first record to be released in both the U.S. and internationally at the same time. The album holds the U.S. record for yearly shipments, selling 11 million units in 1999. It spawned four hit singles, including I Want it That Way, Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, and Larger Than Life. Millennium set records for the most albums sold in its debut week and also most records sold internationally in one week with 2.2 million. It was certified platinum in over 45 different countries. 8. Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Phantom of the Opera Worldwide Sales - 40 Million Copies + The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. The music was composed by Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. The musical focuses on a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious and disfigured musical mastermind, known as The Phantom of the Opera.

The show opened in London's West End in 1986. It is the second longest running musical in England’s West End and the longest-running Broadway musical. According to sales numbers The Phantom of the Opera is the most successful entertainment project in history, amassing an incredible $5 billion dollars worldwide. 7. The Bodyguard Soundtrack - Whitney Houston Worldwide Sales - 42 Million Copies + The Bodyguard soundtrack was released on November 17, 1992 and featured six songs from Whitney Houston, as well as tracks from various recording artists. Whitney Houston’s cover of I Will Always Love You was an instant #1 single. Some other artists featured on the record include Kenny G, Lisa Stransfield, and Joe Cocker. It became the first album to sell more than a million copies in a single week. It also received the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Worldwide Sales - 42 Million Copies + The Dirty Dancing soundtrack was released on August 21, 1987. The album had many hit singles including Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen, Be My Baby by The Ronettes, and The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.

It spent 18 weeks on the top of U.S. charts and inspired a follow-up album entitled More Dirty Dancing. The album still re-enters the Irish charts on occasion. It has spent over 230 weeks in the Top 30 in Ireland. 5. Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) Worldwide Sales - 42 Million Copies + Their Greatest Hits is the fifth album by the rock band the Eagles. It includes a compilation of singles and was released February 17, 1976. The years in the album's title, 1971 to 1975, refer to the existence of the band itself, not the release dates of the tracks. It includes ten classic hits, including Take it Easy, Lyin’ Eyes, Already Gone, Desperado, and Peaceful Easy Feeling. The Eagles music greatly influenced the genre of country-rock and paved the way for numerous bands in the 1970’s. Their Greatest Hits has sold 29 million copies in the United States, making it the best-selling album of all time in the U.S. 4.

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon Worldwide Sales - 43 Million Copies + The Dark Side of the Moon is the 6th studio album by English rock group Pink Floyd. It was released in March of 1973. The record was an instant success and spawned the singles, Money and Time. The refracting prism cover art is one of the most recognizable in rock music history. Pink Floyd used some of the most advanced recording techniques of the time, including multitrack recording and tape loops. Analogue synthesizers were also given prominence in many tracks. Founding member Syd Barrett had left the band in 1968, but is credited as the author of the entire album's lyrics. 3. Meat Loaf - Bat out of Hell Worldwide Sales - 43 Million Copies + Bat out of Hell is the 2nd studio album released by Meat Loaf. It was dropped on October 21, 1977. The main writer on the records production was Jim Steinman. It was developed from a musical, Neverland, which was a sci-fi update of Peter Pan, which Steinman wrote for a workshop performed at the Kennedy Center Music Theatre Lab in 1977.

Response to the album was slow. Australia and England were the first to gain an enthusiastic response after some popular music video were releases. Ultimately, the record stayed on the United Kingdom charts for 474 weeks. It continues to sell around 200,000 units each year. The original release only had seven tracks on it, including classics Bat out of Hell, All Revved Up with No Place to Go, and Two out of Three Ain’t Bad. 2. AC/DC - Back in Black Worldwide Sales - 49 Million Copies + Back in Black is the 7th studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was released on July 25, 1980. Back in Black was the first AC/DC album recorded without former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died at the age of 33. It is the best-selling album ever released by a band and has sold 22 million units in the U.S. alone. The album includes some of the group’s biggest hits including Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, and the title track Back in Black. According to lead guitarist Angus Young the album's all-black cover was a sign of mourning for Scott.

This record is widely considered the best hard rock album ever created. Worldwide Sales - 110 Million Copies + Thriller was Michael’s sixth studio album and was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records. The production budget for the record was $750,000 and Jackson wrote four of the tracks on the album. At its peak, the album was selling a million copies a week worldwide. Seven of the album's nine songs were released as singles, and all reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984. With Michael Jackson’s death this year Thriller has sold millions more copies around the world. Mariah Carey | American singer | Britannica.com American singer Mariah Carey, (born March 27, 1970, Huntington , New York , U.S.), American pop singer, noted for her remarkable vocal range. She was one of the most successful female performers of the 1990s. Mariah Carey, 2006. AP Carey, whose mother was a vocal coach and former opera singer, began performing as a child.

After graduating (1987) from high school in Greenlawn, New York, she moved to New York City to pursue a singing career. She made a demo tape that led Tommy Mottola, an executive at Columbia Records, to sign her in 1988; the couple married in 1993. Her debut album, Mariah Carey (1990), showcased her incredible vocal range and blended several musical genres , including gospel , pop, and rhythm and blues (R&B). It was a huge success, and in 1991 Carey won Grammy Awards for best new artist and best female pop vocalist. That same year the title track from her follow-up album, Emotions, became her fifth consecutive chart-topping single. Subsequent hit albums include Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), both of which sold some 10 million copies in the United States , as well as the holiday-themed Merry Christmas (1994). All the recordings were accompanied by music videos that helped make Carey a fixture on the cable network MTV . Despite such success, Carey grew tired of the sweet and wholesome image that her label had developed for her.

After announcing her separation from Mottola in 1997 (they divorced in 1998), she released Butterfly (1997), which reflected her new independence. The album was heavily influenced by hip-hop and rap , and the related music videos revealed a more sexual Carey. The single “ Heartbreaker ” (featuring Jay-Z ) topped the charts in 1999, making Carey the only artist to hit number one on the Billboard singles chart in each year of the 1990s. The achievement underscored her status as one of the best-selling vocalists in the world that decade. In 2001 Carey signed an $80 million contract with Virgin Records that made her the highest-paid recording artist. Her career quickly took a downturn, however, as she suffered a breakdown and was hospitalized following erratic behaviour. She starred in Glitter (2001), but both the semiautobiographical film and its accompanying album fared poorly. In 2002 Virgin terminated its contract with Carey. Later that year she signed with Island/Def Jam, but her first album for the label, Charmbracelet (2002), was a disappointment.

However, her follow-up, The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), was a critical and commercial success, becoming the top-selling album of the year in the United States, with more than six million copies sold. It also earned three Grammy Awards, including best contemporary R&B album. “ Touch My Body, ” from E=MC2 (2008), became Carey’s 18th number one song on the Billboard singles chart, moving her past Elvis Presley on the all-time list and leaving her just two short of the Beatles ’ record. Her later recordings include Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009) and a second Christmas album (2010). Mariah Carey, 2001. The rise, fall, and resurgence of Mariah Carey The rise, fall, and resurgence of Mariah Carey Nicki Swift @NickiSwiftCeleb Mariah Carey is on the short list of talented singers who can call herself a "diva" and get away it. But the journey to the top hasn't been easy. It's been a wild ride for Mariah Carey, full of highs and lows only rivaled by the ones she hits with her vocal cords.

Mariah Carey's Cinderella Story Begins Getty Images In 1988, Carey began singing backup vocals for Brenda K. Starr and tagged along with her to an industry party, where she handed over her demo tape to Tommy Mottola. Mottola signed her to Columbia Records, but under one condition, per the New York Post: she had to ditch her boyfriend. At the time, Mottola was married with kids. Gross. Mariah Begins Her Domination Mariah Carey's self-titled debut album hit shelves in June 1990. Initial sales were slow, but after her performance of "Vision of Love" at the 1991 Grammys, it went on to sell 15 million copies, making it the best selling album in the United States that year. It also earned Carey her first Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Vision of Love." Carey released follow-up album, Emotions, in 1991, garnering critical praise for its more mature songwriting. However, it sold only 8 million copies—almost half of what Mariah Carey did.

When rumors swirled that she was nothing more than a studio creation incapable of singing her signature octaves live, Carey agreed to perform on MTV Unplugged, in March 1992. It was such a success that the special aired three times as many as any other on the network, and her EP from the episode went triple-platinum. Mariah Opens Up Her Music Box...And Gets Married Getty Images Mariah Carey released Music Box in August 1993, going for a more commercially-viable pop angle than Emotions. It worked: Music Box sold 32 million copies and became one of the highest-selling albums of all time. During the recording of Music Box, Carey and Tommy Mottola took their relationship from purely professional to publicly personal, and the couple tied the knot in 1993. Mariah Carey Becomes The Queen Of Christmas Following the success of Music Box, Carey released Merry Christmas on Nov. 1, 1994, dropping the single "All I Want for Christmas Is You" the same day. It went on to be the best-selling holiday album ever.

Mariah Embraces Her Hip-Hop Side...And Alienates Grammy Voters (And Her Husband) Getty Images In October 1995, Mariah Carey released Daydream, which combined the pop stylings of Music Box with more modern hip-hop influences. The album sold 25 million copies and garnered six Grammy nods. With Daydream came Carey's quest for greater creative control over her career. Tommy Mottola admits in his memoir that he wanted the chanteuse to continue recording ballads, while Carey wanted to expand her horizons. One track in particular that the couple fought over tooth and nail was "Fantasy," which Mottola hated and Carey loved. Looks like Carey was smart to stick to her guns, because it went multiplatinum. Mariah Carey Bursts From Tommy Mottola's Controlling Cocoon Getty Images In 1996, Vanity Fair covered Mariah Carey's husband and manager, Tommy Mottola, and it would serve her well: Mottola admitted to keeping her cloistered in their mansion with bodyguards assigned to her at all times, even on trips to the restroom.

Once the world was clued into the "private hell" she would later describe, Carey finally got the courage to leave Mottola. In 1997, Carey released Butterfly amidst her separation from Mottola. With it, she had more creative control of her music and sexier new image, and it worked, moving 5 million copies and earning three Grammy nominations. Rainbow Unleashes A Storm Getty Images Mariah Carey released Rainbow in 1999, which would be the final album on her contract with Sony and Columbia Records. Rainbow had the highest first-week numbers of her career, but also launched a very public feud between the singer and her label: Columbia refused to promote the album. Carey, frustrated with the lack of support from her label, took to her own website to explain her side of the story to fans. While the album went triple-platinum, it was still the lowest-selling album of Carey's career up to that point. Mariah Breaks Down With A Glitter Bomb Getty Images In April 2001, Carey signed a new record deal with EMI Music for a reported $100 million, with the Glitter soundtrack to be her first album on the contract.

During the whirlwind of recording and promotion for the Glitter movie and soundtrack, Carey and her longtime boyfriend, Luis Miguel, split in July 2001. Unfortunately, Carey's professional life wasn't going well either, with both the Glitter film and album flopping hard in September 2001. The breakup, combined with her career troubles, led Carey into a downward spiral. The singer began leaving strange voice messages on her website, made an infamous appearance on MTV's Total Request Live, and was checked into a hospital for exhaustion. The highly publicized debacle ended in January 2002 when EMI bought Carey out of her contract for $50 million. Carey Comes Back In A Big Way Getty Images After her meltdown, Carey took time off to write Charmbracelet, released in December 2002. Though it received mixed reviews, the album still went platinum. In April 2005, Mariah Carey released her true commercially and critically successful comeback record, The Emancipation Of Mimi. Her single "We Belong Together" was dubbed "song of the decade" by Billboard. The album sold 12 million copies and nabbed three Grammy nods.

The success kept coming: in April 2008, E=MC² sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide. Carey followed up the success of E=MC² with Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel in September 2009, selling 2 million copies worldwide. Carey's personal life was booming, too: she married Nick Cannon in April 2008 and became a mom to "Dem Babies," twins Moroccan and Monroe, in April 2011. Mariah Carey Joins American Idol, Drama Ensues Getty Images Mariah Carey joined season 12 of American Idol with Nicki Minaj…and it was a nightmare. Carey and Minaj feuded constantly, and some of their bickering was caught on camera and sent to TMZ before the season premiere in January 2013. Carey later insinuated that the feud was manufactured by Idol producers, telling an Australian radio station, "That was the worst experience of my life…Let's just say, I don't think they had any intentions of us having a good experience through that show.

Pitting two females against each other wasn't cool." The Elusive Chanteuse Emerges Getty Images In May 2014, Carey released her 14th studio album, Me. I Am Mariah…The Elusive Chanteuse, her final project for her Def Jam contract. It was lowest commercially performing album of Carey's career, selling about 130,000 copies. But it was critically acclaimed as one of the most honest records of Carey's two decades in the business. Carey's personal life was also heartbreaking: in summer 2014, Carey and Cannon announced their separation and impending divorce. Carey Looks Toward Infinity Getty Images In spring 2015, Carey released "Infinity," a new single from a greatest hits compilation called Number 1 to Infinity. She launched a Las Vegas residency of her greatest hits. It was such a smash that her run was extended through February 2016. Carey also nabbed a holiday residency at New York's Beacon Theatre. Carey's personal life also took a turn for the better: as of this writing, she's dating billionaire James Packer and seems happier than ever, making her journey a Daydream come to life.

Recommended The Worst Grammy Snubs Of All Time: 9 Best-Selling Albums That Never Won A Grammy Award The Worst Grammy Snubs Of All Time: 9 Best-Selling Albums That Never Won A Grammy Award 02/11/16 AT 12:31 PM Close On Feb. 15, during the 2016 Grammy Awards , many recording artists will be rewarded for the work they’ve done over the past year. However, not all albums can receive honors, and some of the most commercially successful records of all time have come up short throughout the years. From Nirvana’s “Nevermind” to the Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” here are nine of the biggest albums that never took home a Grammy Award. 1. AC/DC — “Back in Black” When lead singer Bon Scott died in 1980, it looked like AC/DC would call it quits as a band. However, pushed forward, added singer Brian Johnson and that same year released “Back in Black,” which brought them to new heights of success.

Despite receiving no Grammy Awards, “Back in Black” has been certified 22 times platinum in the U.S.; it’s the highest-selling hard rock album of all time, with over 50 million copies worldwide. The album contains the hits “Hells Bells,” “You Shook Me All Night Long” and the title song. AC/DC’s “Back in Black” has sold over 50 million copies worldwide, but the album never won a Grammy. Pictured: AC/DC performs at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Nov. 3, 2015. Photo: Getty Images 2. Pink Floyd — “The Dark Side of the Moon” “The Dark Side of the Moon,” released in 1973, is one of the most influential albums of all time and was Pink Floyd’s commercial breakthrough. One hit song on the album is “Money,” and the record went on to make lots of it, selling more than 45 millions copies around the world. “The Dark Side of the Moon” is meant to be played all the way through as the band made it about the different stages of life.

It contains several tracks that are still fan favorites, like “Time,” “Us and Them” and “Brain Damage.” 3. Meat Loaf — “Bat Out of Hell” “Bat Out of Hell” has sold over 43 million albums worldwide and has been hailed as one of the greatest records of all time. However, the 1977 release won no Grammys. But like the singer says, “two out of three ain’t bad.” The album contains four monster singles: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” “Bat Out of Hell,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.” “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” has become a staple at karaoke nights all over the world. 4. Led Zeppelin — “Led Zeppelin IV” It’s hard to believe “Led Zeppelin IV” never took home a Grammy. The 1971 album features arguably the greatest song in rock ’n’ roll history, “Stairway to Heaven,” and includes some of the best material the legendary band ever created.

The diverse track list includes “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “Going to California” and “When the Levee Breaks.” The album went on to sell over 37 million copies around the globe and it ranks near the top of many lists of greatest rock albums. 5. Mariah Carey — “Music Box” Mariah Carey has taken home five Grammy Awards and been nominated 34 times. However, her highly successful 1993 album “Music Box” never brought the singer one of the golden awards. “Music Box” is her highest-selling record, with over 32 million copies sold around the world. The ballad “Hero” remains one of Carey’s best singles, and “Dreamlover” was also a big hit. 6. The Beatles — “Abbey Road” Each Beatles album has something special to offer, but one of the most popular records the band put out was 1969’s “Abbey Road.” In 1968, the band received a Grammy for album of the year for “Sgt.

Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” In 1970, “Abbey Road” was up for the award but lost to Blood, Sweat & Tears’ self-titled album. “Abbey Road” has an iconic LP cover and features “Come Together,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something” and the classic album-closing medley (“You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Carry That Weight,” et al.). The record has sold over 30 million copies around the world and remains one of the best-selling albums in the Beatles catalog. 7. Bruce Springsteen — “Born in the U.S.A.” The Boss has had a long and successful career and many hit albums. His biggest commercial success came with 1984’s “Born in the U.S.A.” Although the record did not win, it was nominated in 1985 for album of the year, and the hit “Dancing in the Dark” received a record of the year nomination (Lionel Richie’s “Can’t Slow Down” and Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It” took those categories).

“Born in the U.S.A.” had seven top 10 hits, including the title track, “Glory Days” and “My Hometown.” The album has sold over 30 million copies, the most of any Springsteen album. 8. Nirvana — “Nevermind” Nirvana changed music with 1991’s “Nevermind.” It received a Grammy nomination for best alternative music album in 1992 but lost out to R.E.M.’s “Out of Time.” The hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was up for best rock song and best hard rock performance in 1993 but did not win; Eric Clapton’s acoustic version of his 20-year-old “Layla” and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Give It Away” won in those categories. Although “Nevermind” didn’t get Grammy accolades, it went on to inspire a movement in rock music and continues to influence hundreds of bands to this day. Related Stories Will Drake Perform At 2016 Grammy Awards? 9.

Pink Floyd — “The Wall” Despite being one of the most unique rock albums ever made and selling over 30 million copies around the world, Pink Floyd’s rock opera “The Wall” never earned a Grammy. The double album features several of the band’s biggest songs, including “Comfortably Numb,” “Run Like Hell,” “Hey You” and the band’s only No.1 single, “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II).” The 1979 record was turned into a movie in 1982. Comments Music Box August 31, 1993 Music Box is the third studio album by American recording artist Mariah Carey. It was released by Columbia Records on August 31, 1993, in North America. The album comprises ballads primarily co-written by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, with whom she had previously worked on Emotions (1991), and a few urban dance tracks. During the course of the album's development, Carey wanted to broaden her audience, choosing a more pop/R&B oriented sound. During this time frame, they experimented with different organs and other musical instruments, leading the album's sound away from her more contemporary previous efforts.

Two unused tracks from the album sessions were released as B-sides: "Do You Think of Me" and "Everything Fades Away". In order to successfully take the album in a new direction, Carey and Afanasieff sought out new and innovative producers, as well as some from Carey's previous releases. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds first began working with Carey on Music Box, where he helped produce some of the album's softer and more melodious tracks, as well as being part of the songwriting process. Additional writers and producers were Robert Clivillés and David Cole (a pair also known as C+C Music Factory) and Daryl Simmons. While the album featured a range of different talented music producers, the bulk of the songwriting was done by Carey and her writing partner, Walter Afanasieff. In future projects, they would continue writing material for Carey's albums, until her 1999 release Rainbow, where he is absent from the writing credits. Four singles were released from the album. The first three, "Dreamlover", "Hero" and "Without You", became worldwide chart-topping singles, the latter becoming Carey's highest charting international single of her career.

"Without You" became Carey's first number-one single in most European markets and reached the top three in the United States. To promote Music Box, Carey embarked on the short but successful Music Box Tour which traveled to select cities in North America. Carey was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Dreamlover" at the 1994 Grammy Awards and received the same nomination for "Hero" at the 1995 Grammy Awards. After its release, Music Box received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album faced criticism regarding Carey's more mellow and lazy tone in comparison to her previous work. Despite some unfavorable reviews, the album became a commercial success, topping the Billboard 200 and becoming Carey's first number-one album in Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it diamond, for shipments of ten million copies across the United States. Music Box remains Carey's highest seller with 32 million copies sold worldwide and is one of the best-selling albums of all time. With Carey in the captain's chair, having more control than she had on any other album, she took the album in a new direction, alongside Afanasieff.

For Carey's third studio effort, she enrolled the help of a range of songwriters, as well as record producers. Aside from Afanasieff, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, a man who would collaborate with Carey often in the near future, also took part in the project. Babyface, who helped produce much of the album, also co-wrote a track with Carey titled "Never Forget You", a song that was released as a B-side to "Without You" exclusively in the United States. The album, which consisted mostly of slower ballads (with the exception of "Dreamlover" and "Now That I Know"), contained collaborations with some carry-on producers and writers from Emotions. Of these were Clivillés & Cole (of C+C Music Factory), who co-wrote the track "Now That I Know", a danceable pop ballad, which used similar formulas and synthesizers from tracks on Emotions. Another writer–producer that worked on the album was David Hall, who with Carey wrote the U.S. single "Dreamlover". During the album's recording, Carey worked with several different musicians and producers, aside from Walter Afanasieff, the only hold over from her debut.

On the album's first track "Dreamlover", Carey worked with Dave Hall throughout the song's entire production. In order to help with some of the song's arrangements, Mottola enrolled the help of Walter Afanasieff, who took on the completed track and transformed it into a more commercial hit. Emotions contained influences from mostly 1950s, 1960s and 1970s balladry and gospel, as well as her continued work of R&B and soul. The album, while praised by some as more mature and raw, failed to reach the critical or commercial heights of her debut effort, while selling far less and failed to introduce Carey into a different market. Following these events, Columbia decided to try to market Carey in a similar fashion to her debut, only having her produce a more commercial and radio-friendly album. Their plans were to tone down Carey's vocals, and soften the album's production, leaving a more contemporary pop/R&B record. Agreeing to the change, Carey and Afanasieff began writing and recording material for her third studio effort, Music Box. One of the noticeable differences from Music Box and Carey's previous albums was its sound.

The album was described by Afanasieff as a softer and more pop-oriented album, "filling the songs with air", and allowing far more space in the overall sound. Another noticeable change was in the album's production. When Mariah Carey was released, critics took notice of its "overly produced" and "studio perfect" quality, where in comparison, Emotions maintained a "raw, live sound." Music Box however, fell in between the two, a decision made by Carey during the album's production. She would layer each track with live backing vocals, so not to sound too overly produced, but still kept the inclusion of musical synthesizers. According to Marc Shapiro, Music Box reflected signs of Carey's vocal maturity, as well as representing an album she was truly proud of. The album's first single "Dreamlover" was described as a "slight piece of pop fluff," representing a more commercial side to Carey than the "more ambitious," "Vision of Love". Critics believed the song's chart performance was due to its summer release, as people were still looking for a "not-too-heavy" and more diverse sound.

The song's composition was described as "mid tempo and mildly dance-able," with Carey's voice being called "perpetually happy," like a "little-girl voice." Music Box entered the US Billboard 200 at number two, with 174,000 copies sold. In its fifteenth week after release, the album topped the chart and enjoyed its highest sales week in December, selling 295,000 copies in its first week atop, 395,000 the following week and peaking with 505,000 copies sold in year's final week. It stayed at the top for eight non-consecutive weeks. It remained in the top ten for thirty-one weeks and on the Billboard 200 for 128 weeks (more than two years, longer than any other of her albums), re-entering the chart three times. The album also reached number one on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Music Box was the second-best selling album in the United States in 1994, only behind Ace of Base's The Sign.

In the United States, Music Box became Carey's best-selling album at the time, being certified diamond by the RIAA, denoting shipments of ten million copies. As of October 2013, the album has sold 7,277,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen Soundcan. The album became a success in Canada, peaking at number two on the charts and being certified seven-times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). Music Box became Carey's best-seller in Europe, topping the charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In Germany, it became her highest-charting album, spending eighty weeks on the German Albums Chart, eleven of which were spent at number one. Germany's sales of the album were also very impressive, with a certification of double-platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), for shipments of one million copies. In Australia, the album was certified twelve-times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 840,000 copies. The album finished at number one on the (ARIA) 1994 End of Year Chart.

In the United Kingdom, Music Box remains Carey's highest seller, topping the UK Singles Chart and being certified five-times platinum. It became a million-selling album in France, receiving a diamond certification and topping the French Album Charts. Sales in France have been estimated at 1,418,100. In Brazil, "Music Box" remains one of the best-selling albums by an international artist, selling o 800,000 copies. "Music Box" finished number twenty-three on the all time album chart in the Netherlands, where it was certified six-times platinum. In Asia, Music Box became one of the best-selling albums of 1994, selling 2,200,000 copies in Japan alone. The album's sales continued to skyrocket in Asia, topping sales of 600,000 in South Korea and 320,000 copies in Taiwan as of 1994. In Singapore and Hong Kong, sales reached 110,000 and 80,000 copies respectively. Music Box has sold 32 million copies worldwide, and is one of the best-selling albums of all time.

"Dreamlover" was released as the album's first single on July 27, 1993. The single debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and due to its massive airplay, the song reached the top of the Hot 100, staying there for eight weeks. Dreamlover topped the charts in Canada, and reached the top-ten in many other countries. The song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of one million copies, as well as receiving a gold certification in Australia and New Zealand. The music video for "Dreamlover" featured "summer scenery," with scenes of Carey swimming in a pool by a waterfall, lying in a bed of sunflowers, as well as singing in front of hip-hop dancers The video tried to capture, a "home video" feel, adding to the song's subtle and airy nature, something that only helped the song dominate the charts "Hero" served as the album's second single, and was released on October 19, 1993. Music critics praised the song, calling it her most directly inspirational song since "Make It Happen".

The song topped the charts in the United States and the top-five in many other major music markets. The music video for "Hero," featured footage from Carey's concert at Proctor's Theatre, as was done for Carey's following music video for "Without You." "Without You", the album's third single, became the biggest international hit of Carey's career. "Without You" reached number three in the United States, but experienced its real success throughout Europe. The song became Carey's first number one chart topper in France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, propelling the sales of Music Box throughout the world. Carey brought the song renewed popularity, through her highly successful adaptation. It became one of the "fifty most-played songs of the year" and even outsold Harry Nilsson's version, receiving many awards and recognition. "Anytime You Need a Friend", the album's final single, experienced success on the charts, reaching the top-ten in many countries, as well as peaking at number twelve in the United States. It became the second single in Music Box to perform better throughout Europe than in the U.S. In order to promote the album, Carey embarked on her first-headlining tour.

Originally, Carey had not planned to tour due to stage fright, a feat she followed during her previous album releases. However, after the continued success of Music Box and persuasion from Tommy Mottola, Carey agreed to tour, supporting her current and previous albums. As Carey was not physically or emotionally ready for an extensive tour, six shows were dated, each with many days in between, in order to give Carey's voice time to rest. An extra performance, taking place at Proctor's Theatre was planned, where Carey would film the one-hour special, Here Is Mariah Carey, to be released during the Christmas season. When the tickets went on sales, the shows did not sell-out instantly; but were selling at a healthy pace. On the opening night of Carey's tour, she sang at the Miami Arena. The show was only about two-thirds full, something that worried Carey's management, as it was the tour's opening night. However, Carey did not seem to mind, and began the show with high spirits. The first show in Miami received scathing reviews, with critics "ripping her opening-night performance to shreds." The following shows were more favorable to Carey, not only were her succeeding shows sold-out, they also won rave-reviews.

Regarding Carey's show in New York, The New York Times wrote the following remarks regarding Carey's voice and performance on the tour: "Beyond any doubt, Ms. Carey's voice is no studio concoction. Her range extends from a rich, husky alto to dog-whistle high notes; she can linger over sensual turns, growl with playful confidence, syncopate like a scat singer. Although rock concerts aren't known for precise intonation, she sang with startlingly exact pitch." Aside from touring for the first time in her career, Carey visited various American and European television programs, where she performed different singles from the album. In late 1993, Carey appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show, where she performed both "Dreamlover" and "Hero." Other performances Carey staged during 1993 included, "Hero" on The Jay Leno Show and "Dreamlover" on her first visit to Top of the Pops. Throughout 1994, Carey continued the album's promotion, performing "Without You" on a second visit to "Top of the Pops," as well as visiting France, Germany, Japan, Spain and Sweden.

In the midst of her "Music Box Tour," Carey had already begun working with Walter Afanasieff on her holiday album Merry Christmas, which was to be released during the Christmas season of the following year. Additionally, Carey and Affanasieff reportedly already began experimenting with different ideas and musical components for her 1995 studio album, Daydream. - Mariah Carey Community The Best Selling Albums Of All Time | Celebrity Net Worth The Best Selling Albums Of All Time By Brian Warner on February 10, 2013 on Jan 17, 2017 What are the best selling albums of all time? The 55th annual Grammy awards airs tonight so we thought it would be appropriate to take a look back at the most successful musical compositions in history. Not surprisingly, the majority of the albums on this list have had a solid 20-30 years to rack up millions of sales and rise in the ranks, but a handful are from the last decade alone. Amazingly, one female artist was able to crack the the top 40 on this list with an album that was released a little more than one year ago. Can you guess who that artist is?

A few truly classic artists like Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Whitney Houston and Madonna managed make the list multiple times and I bet you'll be surprised by more than one album that you never would have guessed sold tens of millions of copies (Meat Loaf???). While you're browsing the list, keep this fact in mind: The average artist earns $2 off every album sold. Obviously some artists will have slightly better or worse per-album deals, but $2 is a pretty safe number for the average major label act of the last 30 years. When you multiply $2 by the the sales figures below, you really start to understand how successful musicians make so much freaking money. Take #12 on the list, Alanis Morissette's 1995 album "Jagged Little Pill" which sold 33 million copies. That means Alanis potentially earned as much as $66 million off that one album alone. And that doesn't include her radio royalties, touring, merchandise, endorsements and licensing revenues!

So without further delay, scroll down to see the best selling albums of all time… Best Selling Albums of all Time The Best Selling Albums Of All Time: #1: Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982) 65 million #2: AC/DC: Back in Black (1980) 50 million #3: Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 50 million #4: Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard (1992) 45 million #5: Michael Jackson: Bad (1987) 45 million #6: Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell (1977) 43 million #7: Eagles: Their Greatest Hits (1976) 42 million #8: Bee Gees: Saturday Night Fever (1977) 40 million #9: Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977) 40 million #10: Shania Twain: Come On Over (1997) 40 million Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 37 million Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (

1995) 33 million Michael Jackson: Dangerous (1991) 32 million The Beatles: Sgt.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 32 million Céline Dion: Falling into You (1996) 32 million Mariah Carey: Music Box (1993) 32 million Dirty Dancing: Soundtrack (1987) 32 million The Beatles: 1 (2000) 31 million Céline Dion: Let's Talk About Love (1997) 31 million The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969) 30 million Britney Spears: …Baby One More Time (1999) 30 million Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A.

(1984) 30 million Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms (1985) 30 million Guns N' Roses: Appetite for Destruction (1987) 30 million Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968) 30 million Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture (1997) 30 million Madonna: The Immaculate Collection (1990) 30 million Metallica: Metallica (1991) 30 million Nirvana: Nevermind (1991) 30 million Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979) 30 million Santana: Supernatural (1999) 30 million ABBA: ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits (1992) 28 million Backstreet Boys: Backstreet's Back (1997) 28 million Backstreet Boys: Millennium (1999) 28 million Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet (1986) 28 million Spice Girls: Spice (1996) 28 million Grease Soundtrack: (1978)

 28 million Norah Jones: Come Away with Me (2002) 26 million Adele: 21 (2011) 25 million Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984) 25 million Carole King: Tapestry (1971) 25 million George Michael: Faith (1987) 25 million Journey: Greatest Hits (1988) 25 million Madonna: True Blue (1986) 25 million Mariah Carey: Daydream (1995) 25 million Queen: Greatest Hits (1981) 25 million Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge over Troubled Water (1970) 25 million U2: The Joshua Tree (1987) 25 million Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston (1985) 25 million Whitney Houston: Whitney (1987) 25 million Kenny Rogers: Greatest Hits (1980) 24 million Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory (2000) 24 million

 Ace of Base: The Sign (1993) 23 million TLC: CrazySexyCool (1994) 23 million Oasis: (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

(1995) 22 million Bon Jovi: Cross Road (1994) 21 million Madonna: Like a Virgin (1984) 21 million Andrea Bocelli: Romanza (1997) 20 million Barbra Streisand: Guilty (1980) 20 million Blondie: Parallel Lines (1978) 20 million Boston: Boston (1976) 20 million Britney Spears: Oops!… I Did It Again (2000) 20 million Def Leppard: Hysteria (1987) 20 million Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 20 million Eric Clapton: Unplugged (1992) 20 million Lionel Richie: Can't Slow Down (1983) 20 million Michael Jackson: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995) 20 million Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (1979) 20 million Phil Collins: No Jacket Required (1985) 20 million Prince & The Revolution:

 Purple Rain (1984) 20 million Shania Twain: The Woman in Me (1995) 20 million Supertramp: Breakfast in America (1979) 20 million Tina Turner: Private Dancer (1984) 20 million Usher: Confessions (2004) 20 million Share on Facebook Brian Warner Prior to launching Celebrity Net Worth, Brian spent seven years as the Managing Editor of one of the largest entertainment portals on the internet.

Before that, Brian attended Georgetown University where he double majored in finance and marketing. A native of Northern California, Brian currently resides in Los Angeles. Follow him on Google+ . Did we make a mistake? Submit a correction suggestion and help us fix it!

Question: Who made the 1993 album 'Music Box' which sold 32 million copies?
Answer: MARIAH CAREY