Special Report

This Is the Most Popular Album Every Year Since 1960

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

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.

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1960: Carousel
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: June 15, 1960
> Certification: Platinum

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Courtesy of United Artists

1961: West Side Story
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: Aug. 1, 1961
> Certification: 3X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1962: Peter, Paul & Mary
> Artist: Peter, Paul & Mary
> Release date: March 1, 1962
> Certification: 2X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1963: The Christmas Song
> Artist: Nat King Cole
> Release date: Sept. 1, 1963
> Certification: 6X multi-platinum

Keystone / Getty Images

1964: Meet The Beatles!
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Jan. 20, 1964
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum

William P. Gottlieb / Wikimedia Commons

1965: Great Band Era
> Artist: Various
> Release date: Dec. 31, 1965
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum

Central Press / Getty Images

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

John Pratt / Getty Images

1968: The Beatles
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Nov. 25, 1968
> Certification: 24X multi-platinum

BIPS / Getty Images

1969: Abbey Road
> Artist: The Beatles
> Release date: Nov. 1, 1969
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1970: Elvis’ Christmas Album
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Release date: Nov. 1, 1970
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1971: Led Zeppelin Iv
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Release date: Nov. 8, 1971
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

1972: Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits
> Artist: Simon & Garfunkel
> Release date: June 20, 1972
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

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

Evening Standard / Getty Images

1975: Physical Graffiti
> Artist: Led Zeppelin
> Release date: March 3, 1975
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1976: Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971 – 1975
> Artist: Eagles
> Release date: Feb. 1, 1976
> Certification: 38X multi-platinum

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1977: Rumours
> Artist: Fleetwood Mac
> Release date: Feb. 4, 1977
> Certification: 20X multi-platinum

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

1978: Greatest Hits 1974-1978
> Artist: Steve Miller Band
> Release date: Nov. 15, 1978
> Certification: 14X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1979: The Wall
> Artist: Pink Floyd
> Release date: Nov. 28, 1979
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum

Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images

1980: Back In Black
> Artist: Ac/Dc
> Release date: July 21, 1980
> Certification: 25X multi-platinum

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Express Newspapers / Getty Images

1981: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Queen
> Release date: Oct. 1, 1981
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum

Phil Walter / Getty Images

1982: Thriller
> Artist: Michael Jackson
> Release date: Dec. 30, 1982
> Certification: 33X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1983: Pyromania
> Artist: Def Leppard
> Release date: Jan. 20, 1983
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1984: Legend
> Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
> Release date: July 24, 1984
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum

Brad Barket / Getty Images

1985: Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume Ii
> Artist: Billy Joel
> Release date: June 28, 1985
> Certification: 23X multi-platinum

Jamie Squire / Getty Images

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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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

1987: Appetite For Destruction
> Artist: Guns N’ Roses
> Release date: July 21, 1987
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

1988: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Journey
> Release date: Nov. 11, 1988
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum

Sterling Munksgard / Shutterstock.com

1989: Garth Brooks
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: April 12, 1989
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Rick Diamond / Getty Images

1990: No Fences
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Aug. 27, 1990
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

1991: Metallica
> Artist: Metallica
> Release date: Aug. 2, 1991
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

1992: The Bodyguard (Soundtrack)
> Artist: Whitney Houston
> Release date: Nov. 17, 1992
> Certification: 18X multi-platinum

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1993: Greatest Hits
> Artist: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
> Release date: Nov. 16, 1993
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum

Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images

1994: Cracked Rear View
> Artist: Hootie & The Blowfish
> Release date: July 5, 1994
> Certification: 21X multi-platinum

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1995: Jagged Little Pill
> Artist: Alanis Morissette
> Release date: June 13, 1995
> Certification: 16X multi-platinum

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

1996: Falling Into You
> Artist: Celine Dion
> Release date: March 2, 1996
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum

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Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

1997: Come On Over
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: Nov. 4, 1997
> Certification: 20X multi-platinum

Rick Diamond / Getty Images

1998: Double Live
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Nov. 17, 1998
> Certification: 21X multi-platinum

Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

1999: Supernatural
> Artist: Santana
> Release date: June 15, 1999
> Certification: 15X multi-platinum

Junko Kimura / Getty Images

2000: Hybrid Theory
> Artist: Linkin Park
> Release date: Oct. 24, 2000
> Certification: 12X multi-platinum

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2001: Songs In A Minor
> Artist: Alicia Keys
> Release date: June 26, 2001
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum

Christopher Polk / Getty Images

2002: Up!
> Artist: Shania Twain
> Release date: Nov. 19, 2002
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum

Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

2003: Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
> Artist: Outkast
> Release date: Sept. 23, 2003
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

2004: Confessions
> Artist: Usher
> Release date: March 23, 2004
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Buda Mendes / Getty Images

2005: All The Right Reasons
> Artist: Nickelback
> Release date: Oct. 4, 2005
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Dwight McCann / Wikimedia Commons

2006: Taylor Swift
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 24, 2006
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum

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Ethan Miller / Getty Images

2007: The Ultimate Hits
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Release date: Nov. 6, 2007
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

2008: Fearless
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Nov. 11, 2008
> Certification: 10X multi-platinum

Matt Cowan / Getty Images

2009: The Fame Monster
> Artist: Lady Gaga
> Release date: Nov. 23, 2009
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum

Rich Fury / Getty Images

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

Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images

2012: Red
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 22, 2012
> Certification: 7X multi-platinum

Courtesy of B&H Film Distribution

2013: Frozen
> Artist: Soundtrack
> Release date: Nov. 25, 2013
> Certification: 4X multi-platinum

Rich Fury / Getty Images

2014: 1989
> Artist: Taylor Swift
> Release date: Oct. 27, 2014
> Certification: 9X multi-platinum

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2015: 25
> Artist: Adele
> Release date: Nov. 20, 2015
> Certification: 11X multi-platinum

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

2016: Views
> Artist: Drake
> Release date: May 6, 2016
> Certification: 6X multi-platinum

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Ethan Miller / Getty Images

2017: ÷
> Artist: Ed Sheeran
> Release date: March 3, 2017
> Certification: 4X multi-platinum

Tabatha Fireman / Getty Images

2018: Beerbongs & Bentleys
> Artist: Post Malone
> Release date: April 27, 2018
> Certification: 5X multi-platinum

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
> Artist: Billie Eilish
> Release date: March 29, 2019
> Certification: 3X multi-platinum

Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images

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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