Is rock and roll dead? Maybe…or perhaps it has evolved into something altogether incomparable to what it was in the 1960s. If popular albums can represent the voice of a generation, then taking a look at how musical tastes have evolved since the 60s reveals one striking trend: an ever-increasing diversity of voices.
24/7 Tempo has compiled the most popular album every year since 1960, revealing that the age of rock and roll may be over. From the rise of the Beatles, who released six of the most popular albums from 1964 to 1973, to the domination of stadium rock bands-Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, and Queen-throughout the ‘70s and early ‘80s, rock and roll had its heyday. Here are little known fascinating facts about the Beatles.
In 1982, Michael Jackson’s Thriller brought post-disco, pop, and funk into the mix of most popular albums. Then Bob Marley’s Legend added reggae to the charts in 1984. In 2003, hip-hop duo Outkast brought an eclectic mix of funk, jazz, and avant-soul to the mainstream with their 2003 album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.
Garth Brooks, who has released three of the most popular albums since 1960, brought country music to the forefront in 1989 with his self-titled album. Here are the 40 most popular country music albums of all time.
After decades of predominantly male voices, Whitney Houston’s soundtrack for “The Bodyguard” in 1992 marked the beginning of an era of distinguished female vocalists, followed by Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, and country crossover Shania Twain in the ‘90s, and Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Adele in the 2000s and 2010s. Pop musician Taylor Swift has released four of the most popular albums since 1960.
With the most recent popular albums being rap and electro-pop, it may be safe to say that rock and roll is aging out of the spotlight.
Click here to see the most popular album every year since 1960
To identify the most popular album the year you were born, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the albums with the highest certification in each given year going back to 1960 from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Artist information and release date were also from the RIAA.
1960: Carousel
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: June 15, 1960
> Certification: Platinum
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1961: West Side Story
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: Aug. 1, 1961
> Certification: 3X multi-platinum
1962: Peter, Paul & Mary
> Artist: Peter, Paul & Mary
> Release date: March 1, 1962
> Certification: 2X multi-platinum
1963: The Christmas Song
> Artist: Nat King Cole
> Release date: Sept. 1, 1963
> Certification: 6X multi-platinum
1964: Meet The Beatles!
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Jan. 20, 1964
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum
1965: Great Band Era
> Artist: Various
> Release date: Dec. 31, 1965
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum
1966: Revolver
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Aug. 8, 1966
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum
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1967: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: June 2, 1967
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
1968: The Beatles
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Nov. 25, 1968
> Certification: 24X multi-platinum
1969: Abbey Road
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Nov. 1, 1969
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
1970: Elvis’ Christmas Album
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Release date: Nov. 1, 1970
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
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1971: Led Zeppelin Iv
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Release date: Nov. 8, 1971
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum
1972: Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Release date: June 20, 1972
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum
1973: The Beatles 1967 – 1970
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: April 2, 1973
> Certification: 17X multi-platinum
1974: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Elton John
> Release date: Nov. 4, 1974
> Certification: 17X multi-platinum
1975: Physical Graffiti
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Release date: March 3, 1975
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum
1976: Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971 – 1975
> Artist: Eagles
> Release date: Feb. 1, 1976
> Certification: 38X multi-platinum
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1977: Rumours
> Artist: Fleetwood Mac
> Release date: Feb. 4, 1977
> Certification: 20X multi-platinum
1978: Greatest Hits 1974-1978
> Artist: Steve Miller Band
> Release date: Nov. 15, 1978
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum
1979: The Wall
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Release date: Nov. 28, 1979
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum
1980: Back In Black
> Artist: Ac/Dc
> Release date: July 21, 1980
> Certification: 25X multi-platinum
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1981: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Queen
> Release date: Oct. 1, 1981
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum
1982: Thriller
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Release date: Dec. 30, 1982
> Certification: 33X multi-platinum
1983: Pyromania
> Artist: Def Leppard
> Release date: Jan. 20, 1983
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
1984: Legend
> Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
> Release date: July 24, 1984
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum
1985: Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume Ii
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Release date: June 28, 1985
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum
1986: Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band Live 1975 – ’85
> Artist: Bruce Springsteen
> Release date: Nov. 7, 1986
> Certification: 13X multi-platinum
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1987: Appetite For Destruction
> Artist: Guns N’ Roses
> Release date: July 21, 1987
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum
1988: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Journey
> Release date: Nov. 11, 1988
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum
1989: Garth Brooks
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: April 12, 1989
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
1990: No Fences
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Aug. 27, 1990
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum
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1991: Metallica
> Artist: Metallica
> Release date: Aug. 2, 1991
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum
1992: The Bodyguard (Soundtrack)
> Artist: Whitney Houston
> Release date: Nov. 17, 1992
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum
1993: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
> Release date: Nov. 16, 1993
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
1994: Cracked Rear View
> Artist: Hootie & The Blowfish
> Release date: July 5, 1994
> Certification: 21X multi-platinum
1995: Jagged Little Pill
> Artist: Alanis Morissette
> Release date: June 13, 1995
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum
1996: Falling Into You
> Artist: Celine Dion
> Release date: March 2, 1996
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
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1997: Come On Over
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: Nov. 4, 1997
> Certification: 20X multi-platinum
1998: Double Live
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Nov. 17, 1998
> Certification: 21X multi-platinum
1999: Supernatural
> Artist: Santana
> Release date: June 15, 1999
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum
2000: Hybrid Theory
> Artist: Linkin Park
> Release date: Oct. 24, 2000
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum
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2001: Songs In A Minor
> Artist: Alicia Keys
> Release date: June 26, 2001
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum
2002: Up!
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: Nov. 19, 2002
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
2003: Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
> Artist: Outkast
> Release date: Sept. 23, 2003
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
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2004: Confessions
> Artist: Usher
> Release date: March 23, 2004
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
2005: All The Right Reasons
> Artist: Nickelback
> Release date: Oct. 4, 2005
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
2006: Taylor Swift
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 24, 2006
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum
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2007: The Ultimate Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Nov. 6, 2007
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
2008: Fearless
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Nov. 11, 2008
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum
2009: The Fame Monster
> Artist: Lady Gaga
> Release date: Nov. 23, 2009
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum
2010: Teenage Dream
> Artist: Katy Perry
> Release date: Aug. 24, 2010
> Certification: 8X multi-platinum
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2011: 21
> Artist: Adele
> Release date: Feb. 22, 2011
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum
2012: Red
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 22, 2012
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum
2013: Frozen
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: Nov. 25, 2013
> Certification: 4X multi-platinum
2014: 1989
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 27, 2014
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum
2015: 25
> Artist: Adele
> Release date: Nov. 20, 2015
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum
2016: Views
> Artist: Drake
> Release date: May 6, 2016
> Certification: 6X multi-platinum
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2017: ÷
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Release date: March 3, 2017
> Certification: 4X multi-platinum
2018: Beerbongs & Bentleys
> Artist: Post Malone
> Release date: April 27, 2018
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum
2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
> Artist: Billie Eilish
> Release date: March 29, 2019
> Certification: 3X multi-platinum
2020: My Turn
> Artist: Lil Baby
> Release date: Feb. 28, 2020
> Certification: 3X multi-platinum
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2021: Shiesty Season
> Artist: Pooh Shiesty
> Release date: Feb. 5, 2021
> Certification: Gold
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