Music History

How Many of the Best-Selling Albums of All Time Do You Really Like?

BuzzFeed poses this interesting test.  Out of the 99 best-selling albums in the history of America, they want you to pick the ones you think are actually “good.”

Loaded situation, I know.  Just because an album sells a lot of copies, is it “good?”   Still, this is an interesting perceptual exercise that reveals something about the wider music market in general when compared to your own personal tastes.

Start the test here. For the record, I thought 32 of the 99 all-time bestsellers were “good.”

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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14 thoughts on “How Many of the Best-Selling Albums of All Time Do You Really Like?

  • 20 for me. It’s flawed because on principle I accept Greatest Hits albums.

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  • 61. Keep in mind I included it if I owned once in my lifetime or downloaded it.

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  • 32 as well for me… but I’ll bet not the same 32.

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  • Should I feel shame in selecting 44 out of 100?

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  • 22 for me. And I still don’t understand the fuss over “Thriller”.

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  • 50 for me and I don’t think there’s anything to be ashamed of. I’ve always had pretty diverse tastes.

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  • 43 for me. On a similar note, some iconic and influential albums are often thrown into the forgotten pile. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to “Bitches Brew” by Miles Davis all the way through

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  • 28 and I was surprised it was that high.

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