Best-Selling Album Of All Time

Michael Jackson's second solo album became a worldwide phenomenon that, in addition to softer songs like "Human Nature" and "Baby Be Mine", also included tracks featuring Michael Jackson's new, tougher style. The reason why the album would eventually become the world's best-selling album of all time was perhaps Michael Jackson's ability to create something that felt completely new. The 14-minute music video for the title song "Thriller", featuring lavish special effects and spectacular dance moves, was something the MTV audience had never seen before. When Michael Jackson made his first moonwalk to "Billie Jean" at a Motown TV special, he was watched by 47 million people.^[2]

The sales figures for Thriller skyrocketed and seven songs from the album reached the top 10 on the Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the US. Of the record's nine tracks, four of them are solely written by Michael Jackson - "Wanna Be Startin 'Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean". The album was produced by Quincy Jones and includes collaborations with Paul McCartney and Eddie Van Halen, among others.

Thriller is undoubtedly the best-selling album of all time worldwide, although the exact sales figure varies between sources. According to Guinness World Records, the album has sold over 66 million copies.^[1]

In Michael Jackson's country of birth however, the Eagles' compilation album Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) recently took the title as the all time best-selling album in the US. According to a 2018 recalculation by The Recording Industry Association of America, Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) has sold 38 million copies in the US, while Thriller is ranked second with 33 million copies.^[3]