BEST-SELLING ALBUMS BY YEAR (USA)

''Billboard Magazine'' began publishing year-end lists for Album Sales in 1956.

Contents

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

1950s

★ The best-selling album of 1956 was ''Calypso'', by Harry Belafonte. [1]

★ The best-selling album of 1957 was ''My Fair Lady'', Original Cast recording. [2]

★ The best-selling album of 1958 was ''My Fair Lady'', Original Cast Recording. [3]

★ The best-selling album of 1959 was ''Music from Peter Gunn'', by Henry Mancini. [4]

1960s

★ The best-selling album of 1960 was ''The Sound of Music'', Original Cast Recording. [5]

★ The best-selling album of 1961 was ''Camelot'', Original Cast Recording. [6]

★ The best-selling album of 1962 was ''West Side Story Soundtrack''. [7]

★ The best-selling album of 1963 was ''West Side Story Soundtrack''. [8]

★ The best-selling album of 1964 was ''Hello, Dolly!'', Original Cast Recording. [9]

★ The best-selling album of 1965 was ''Mary Poppins Soundtrack''. [10]

★ The best-selling album of 1966 was ''Whipped Cream & Other Delights'', by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. [11]

★ The best-selling album of 1967 was ''More of The Monkees'' by The Monkees. [12]

★ The best-selling album of 1968 was ''Are You Experienced?'' by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. [13]

★ The best-selling album of 1969 was ''In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'' by Iron Butterfly. [14]

1970s

★ The best-selling album of 1970 was ''Bridge Over Troubled Water'', by Simon and Garfunkel. [15]

★ The best-selling album of 1971 was ''Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack''. [16]

★ The best-selling album of 1972 was ''Harvest'', by Neil Young. [17]

★ The best-selling album of 1973 was ''The World Is a Ghetto'', by War. [18]

★ The best-selling album of 1974 was ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'', by Elton John. [19]

★ The best-selling album of 1975 was ''Elton John's Greatest Hits''. [20]

★ The best-selling album of 1976 was ''Frampton Comes Alive'', by Peter Frampton. [21]

★ The best-selling album of 1977 was ''Rumours'', by Fleetwood Mac. [22]

★ The best-selling album of 1978 was the ''Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack''. [23]

★ The best-selling album of 1979 was ''52nd Street'', by Billy Joel. [24]

1980s

★ The best-selling album of 1980 was ''The Wall'', by Pink Floyd. [25]

★ The best-selling album of 1981 was ''Hi Infidelity'', by REO Speedwagon. [26]

★ The best-selling album of 1982 was ''Asia'', by Asia. [27]

★ The best-selling album of 1983 was ''Thriller'', by Michael Jackson. [28]

★ The best-selling album of 1984 was ''Thriller'', by Michael Jackson. [29]

★ The best-selling album of 1985 was ''Born in the U.S.A.'', by Bruce Springsteen . [30]

★ The best-selling album of 1986 was ''Whitney Houston'', by Whitney Houston. [31]

★ The best-selling album of 1987 was ''Slippery When Wet'', by Bon Jovi . [32]

★ The best-selling album of 1988 was ''Faith'', by George Michael. [33]

★ The best-selling album of 1989 was ''Don't Be Cruel '', by Bobby Brown . [34]

1990s

★ The best-selling album of 1990 was ''Rhythm Nation 1814'', by Janet Jackson. [35]

★ The best-selling album of 1991 was ''Mariah Carey'', by Mariah Carey. [36]

★ The best-selling album of 1992 was ''Ropin' the Wind'', by Garth Brooks. [37]

★ The best-selling album of 1993 was ''The Bodyguard Soundtrack''. [38]

★ The best-selling album of 1994 was ''The Sign'', by Ace of Base . [39]

★ The best-selling album of 1995 was ''Cracked Rear View'', by Hootie and the Blowfish. [40]

★ The best-selling album of 1996 was ''Jagged Little Pill'', by Alanis Morissette. [41]

★ The best-selling album of 1997 was ''Spice'', by Spice Girls. [42]

★ The best-selling album of 1998 was ''Titanic Soundtrack''. [43]

★ The best selling album of 1999 was ''Millennium'', by Backstreet Boys. [44]

2000s

★ The best-selling album of 2000 was ''No Strings Attached'', by
★ NSYNC. [45]

★ The best-selling album of 2001 was ''1'', by The Beatles. [46]

★ The best-selling album of 2002 was ''The Eminem Show'', by Eminem. [47]

★ The best-selling album of 2003 was ''Get Rich or Die Trying'', by 50 Cent. [48]

★ The best-selling album of 2004 was ''Confessions'', by Usher. [49]

★ The best-selling album of 2005 was ''The Emancipation of Mimi'', by Mariah Carey. [50]

★ The best-selling album of 2006 was ''High School Musical Soundtrack''.
[51]