Is Michael Jackson totally deluded? 'Thriller' is not the biggest selling album of all-time. In fact, no-one knows what is.
There is no global account of best selling albums. I can only assume that Jackson's announcement this week is based on US sales. One thing for sure we know, is that 'Thriller' is not the biggest selling album of all-time in the USA.In the USA, the biggest selling album of all-time belongs to the Eagles for 'Their Greatest Hits', according to the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Eagles album has been certified 29 times platinum by RIAA. Jackson's 'Thriller', according to the Record Industry Association of America, has sold around 27 million making it 27 times platinum.
In a statement this week, Jackson said "To be able to say that Thriller still holds the record as the biggest selling album of all time is just mind-blowing. I have you, my fans throughout the world, to thank for this achievement."
The Eagles have increased their gap over Jackson in the last 17 years. According to Nielsen SoundScan, which have compiled music sales since 1991, 'Thriller', released in 1982, has sold 2.6 million in the SoundScan era; the Eagles 'Their Greatest Hits', released in 1975, has sold 5.2 million.
Sony-BMG this week released the 25th Anniversary Edition featuring the original album, the previously unreleased Thriller sessions song 'For All Time, plus new versions of Thriller songs featuring will.i.am, Akon, Fergie and Kanye West.
Jackson has promised more new music soon. "There is still much more to come for Michael Jackson," he said. "My passion for music has never stopped...It's my hope that Thriller continues to live on for each new generation to discover."
