As you know, I have a bit of a history of searching for quite obscure bands’ records and of walking the highways and byways of rock.
But that said I came across a list of the 10 best selling albums and was surprised to find I had nine of them. So I’m not all about the Third Ear Band and Sir Lord Baltimore.
Top of the list is of course is Thriller which has 51.3 million documented sales and claims 70 million in total. I have it. Basically it’s Toto with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. The one I don’t have is The Bodyguard soundtrack (why would you?) That’s third on the list, claiming 45 million. The top ten is as follows;
Michael Jackson - Thriller
AC/DC - Back in Black
Whitney Houston / Various artists - The Bodyguard
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon
Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)
Eagles - Hotel California
Shania Twain - Come On Over
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell
Bee Gees / Various artists - Saturday Night Fever
My two favourites, Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd are flawless records. And this is what I wanted to say about the records and big sellers in general, there’s no surprise they’re popular because on the nine not one of them has a weak track or tracks. I mean, you can’t pick a bit out of DSOTM to dislike, can you? And that I think is the key to big sellers. Consistency. Admittedly some aren’t big sellers which are consistent. Steely Dan, Little Feat and the Doobie Brothers have all produced records without a duff track. In fact I don’t think the Dan recorded anything that isn’t perfect. So it's not infallible but it is required of every big seller. Easier on a Greatest Hits album, harder of new and original music of course. And the music has to become ubiquitous and be played outside of rock radio. Just the other night I heard the PA in Belgrade immediately after the England football match played ACDC from Back In Black. It’s like they escape into the world and exist in a different context. And of all those, possibly over familiar records, I still love ‘The Last Resort’ from Hotel California. Perhaps there is hope for mankind after all.
