Every medium has a shelf life. VHS videos are now consigned to history, while smart TVs threaten the DVDs they replaced. The same is true for music, where digital downloads are now the popular medium of choice.
Music has, however, defied the trend to a certain extent.
Vinyl refuses to go away, and consumers old and new continue to love records in this format.
1. “Thriller” — Michael Jackson
When Thriller was released in 1982, vinyl was the most popular format for music buyers. It’s now the best-selling album of all time, with 70 million copies registered worldwide, but collectors still look for the release in its original form. Michael Jackson’s landmark album is still popular, and a 40th-anniversary vinyl was produced in 2022.
2. “Hackney Diamonds” — The Rolling Stones
Veteran band The Rolling Stones released their latest album in 2023. It may not reach the heights of some of the best-selling releases on this list, but Hackney Diamonds was a landmark for Stones lovers and music collectors. The album was released in over 40 formats with additional tracks and colored vinyl. It’s a clear sign that vinyl is here to stay.
3. “The Dark Side of the Moon” — Pink Floyd
Many of us collected albums for the cover design. Often, they are impressive works of art that a digital download can never replicate. That’s the case with The Dark Side of the Moon, with its iconic cover showcasing refracted light and a stunning rainbow design. This Pink Floyd classic is also a brilliant album and another of the all-time best sellers.
4. “Rumours” — Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac’s most memorable release enjoyed a long run in the charts, claiming total sales of 40 million worldwide. Rumours is the story of the band’s relationships as they unraveled, and that emotion produces an incredible album. Like other albums, the vinyl LP was remastered due to huge global demand.
5. “Voyage” — Abba
The top-selling vinyl list from 2021 showcases many classic artists. Fleetwood Mac, Queen, and Oasis are there, but Voyage by Abba tops the tree. Interest in the band was rekindled due to their return in holographic form, leading to huge sales of this album.
6. “1989 (Taylors’ Version)” — Taylor Swift
It’s not just classic albums that are selling in significant numbers in vinyl. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) was released in October 2023 and sold over 1 million vinyl copies by the end of the year. Plus, there are different versions for Taylor Swift fans to collect.
7. “The Ballad of Darren” — Blur
Britpop veterans Blur exploded in the 1990s when CDs were the preferred medium for music. The fact that their 2023 release, The Ballad of Darren, is among the top 10 best-selling vinyls of 2023 is a testament to the enduring nature of the format. Vinyl has the potential to outlast all of its rivals, much like Blur.
8. “Bat out of Hell” — Meat Loaf
Both Bat Out of Hell and Rumours were released in 1977, and the two albums were rivals in the charts from that point. Meat Loaf sold marginally better, and his sad passing in 2022 boosted those sales. Remastered copies of Bat Out of Hell continue to prove the quality of the album, and vinyl in particular.
9. “Harry’s House” — Harry Styles
The 2022 list of best-selling albums places Harry Styles in second place, behind another Taylor Swift release. Harry’s House significantly contributed to total vinyl sales of 5.5 million copies worldwide. It was the biggest year for vinyl since 1990, proving that the format is back.
10. “Medicine at Midnight” — Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl and the gang reassembled across 2019 and 2020 to produce this masterpiece. Medicine at Midnight was one of the best-selling albums of 2021, and it’s another release where different purchase options helped boost those sales.
11. “Especially For You” — Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
The 2022 best-selling singles list contains more re-releases than its album counterpart. This spin-off from the soap opera Neighbours slots in at number nine, and “Especially For You” further proves that analog is here to stay.
12. “Abbey Road” — The Beatles
The biggest band of all time should have the final say. The Beatles albums were works of art in their track listings and album covers. I could have picked any of their albums, but Abbey Road continues to sell in significant numbers, and it features the iconic shot of the Fab Four on the pedestrian crossing.
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