The Eagles have officially dethroned Michael Jackson and hold the title of best-selling album of all time.
Following the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) recently recalculation of sales of the Eagles’ Greatest Hits 1971-1975, the collection has been certified as 38x platinum, pushing the 33x platinum Thriller – who held the title for more than thirty years – to second place.
Greatest Hits 1971-1975 was initially released in February 1976 and has since surpassed 38 million copies sold. The band also holds the No. 3 spot with the album Hotel California, also released in 1976.
“We are grateful for our families, our management, our crew, the people at radio and, most of all, the loyal fans who have stuck with us through the ups and downs of 46 years. It’s been quite a ride,” Eagles’ Don Henley said in a statement.
Chairman and CEO of the RIAA Cary Sherman said in a statement: “Congratulations to the Eagles, who now claim the jaw-dropping feat of writing and recording two of the top three albums in music history. Both of these transcendent albums have impressively stood the test of time, only gaining more currency and popularity as the years have passed, much like the Eagles themselves.”
The Eagles’ have sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, won six Grammys and were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
