I don’t think Greatest Hits compilations should count. The Beatles, Elvis, Elton John, etc. all have numerous Greatest Hits albums splitting up the sales. When I think of best selling albums, I think Thriller, Saturday Night Fever, Frampton Comes Alive, Led Zeppelin IV, and even Hotel California.
this actually happened like 10 years ago....
agreed
Hotel California is number III
Eagles are two of top three spots
However....
Let me really piss you off.....modern artists like Rihanna and Eminem and Ariana Grande are measure equally for downloads as album sales were 30-50 years ago
Which is bullshit since a 7 dollar album in 1971 would be 44 dollars today
Do these hood rats and suburban wannabes spend 44 bucks for 6-8 songs
No they or their parents or auntie pay 9 bucks a month to Apple or Napster is how
Comparing modern sales to actual album sales is ridiculous
On Eagles......Frey and Henley ....both libs...both stingy
I'm surprised they are even still selling as you can cherry-pick whatever songs you want individually these days - or just stream them. With digital formats, you can make the "greatest hits" of any artist whatever you want it to be.
I have playlists of most of my favorite artists and they in no way mirror any official "greatest hits" compilations put out by the record companies. And why should they? Everybody's "greatest hits" compilation is subject to their own preference.
A more pure way of determining best selling recordings is to count the number of times a particular song or album is downloaded (purchased) or streamed (rented) in addition to any sales of physical media (which I believe is on the verge of being immaterial).
I like Elton John’s yellow brick road. A lot of pop hits on that one.