WHO WE ARE: The music Australia loved

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Who We Are

Lists of top selling albums and most successful performers, prepared by David Dale using data from ARIA and last updated January 31, 2010.

The top selling albums of the CD era
1. Whispering Jack (John Farnham) 1986
2. Come On Over (Shania Twain) 1997
3. Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette) 1995
4. Innocent Eyes (Delta Goodrem) 2003
5. Music Box (Mariah Carey) 1993
6. Thriller (Michael Jackson) 1983
7. Savage Garden (Savage Garden) 1997
8. Falling Into You (Celine Dion) 1996
9. Recurring Dream (Crowded House) 1996
10. Abba Gold (Abba) 1992
11. Immaculate Collection (Madonna) 1990
12. Age of Reason (John Farnham) 1988
13. The Very Best of (The Eagles) 1994
14. Don't Ask (Tina Arena) 1994
15. Remasters (Led Zeppelin) 1990
16 I'm Not Dead (Pink) 2006
17 Funhouse (Pink) 2009
18. Soul Deep (Jimmy Barnes) 1991
19. Forgiven Not Forgotten (The Corrs) 1995
20. Come Away With Me (Norah Jones) 2002
21. The Sound of White (Missy Higgins) 2005
22 Yourself or Someone Like You (Matchbox 20) 1996
23 Forrest Gump (Soundtrack) 1994
24 Only By The Night (Kings of Leon) 2008
25 Get Born (Jet) 2007
To read and discuss the complete charts, go to The culture

26 Affirmation (Savage Garden)
27 Unplugged (Eric Clapton)
28. Back to Bedlam (James Blunt)
29 Don't Ask (Tina Arena)
30 Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams)
31 The Eminem Show (Eminem)
32 Live (Throwing Copper)
33 Dangerous (Michael Jackson)
34 Odyssey Number Five (Powderfinger)
35 Kick (INXS)
36 Volume One (The Traveling Wilburys)
37 Chain Reaction (John Farnham)
38 Michael Buble (Michael Buble)
39 Rise (Daryl Braithwaite)
40 Fever (Kylie Minogue)
41 Let Go (Avril Lavigne)
42 Greatest Hits Vol 2 (Queen)
43 Symbols (Led Zeppelin)
44 The Best of 1980-1990 (U2)
45 Fallen (Evanescence)
46 The Ultimate Collection (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
47 The Bodyguard (Soundtrack)
48 Jesus Christ Superstar (92 Australian cast)
49 Life For Rent (Dido)
50 Feeler (Pete Murray)
51 1 (The Beatles)
52 I Dreamed A Dream (Susan Boyle)
53 A Rush of Blood to the Head (Coldplay)
54 Live One Night Only (Bee Gees)
55 Dirty Dancing (Soundtrack)
56 Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson)
57 American Idiot (Green Day)
58 Songs About Jane (Maroon 5)
59 No Angel (Dido)
60 Vulture Street (Powderfinger)
61 Barricades and Brickwalls (Kasey Chambers)
62 Monkey Business (Black Eyed Peas)
63 Just As I Am (Guy Sebastian)
64 Future Sex/ Love Sounds (Justin Timberlake)
65 So Far So Good (Bryan Adams)
66 It's Time (Michael Buble)
67 Reach Out: The Motown Record (Human Nature)
Based on charts since 1988 from the Australian Record Industry Association

David Dale is the author of The Little Book of Australia -- A snapshot of who we are (Allen and Unwin). For daily updates on Australian attitudes, bookmark blogs.sunherald.com.au/whoweare.

The top selling singles since 2000
1 Angels Brought Me Here (Guy Sebastien)
2 The Prayer (Anthony Callea)
3 I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
4 Poker Face (Lady Gaga)
5 What About Me (Sannon Noll)
6 So What (P!nk)
7 Lose Yourself (Eminem)
8 Sexy BItch (David Guett/ Akon
9 Sex on Fire (Kings of Leon)
10 Love Story (Taylor Swift)

The all-time more than 500,000 sellers, according to ARIA accreditations
1. Whispering Jack (John Farnham) 24 platinum*
2. Bat Out of Hell (Meatloaf) 23p
3. Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits) 17p
4 Come On Over (Shania Twain) 15p
5 Thriller (Michael Jackson) 15p
6 Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette) 14p
7. Innocent Eyes (Delta Goodrem) 14p
8. Greatest Hits (Queen) 14p
9. Music Box Mariah Carey 13p
10. Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) 12p
11. Savage Garden (Savage Garden) 12p
12. Falling Into You (Celine Dion) 12p
13. Recurring Dream (Crowded House) 12p
14. Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) 12p
15. Abba Gold (Abba) 11p
16. Immaculate Collection (Madonna) 11p
17. Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) 11p
18. Age of Reason (John Farnham) 11p
19. The Very Best of (The Eagles) 11p
20. War of the Worlds (Jeff Wayne) 10p
21. Don't Ask (Tina Arena) 10p
22. Remasters (Led Zeppelin) 10p
23. I'm Not Dead (Pink) 10p
24. 1 (The Beatles) 10p
25. Funhouse (Pink) 10p
26. Come Away With Me (Norah Jones) 10p
27. The Sound of White (Missy Higgins) 9p
28. Soul Deep (Jimmy Barnes) 9p
29. Chisel (Cold Chisel) 9p
30. Greatest Hits (Fleetwood Mac) 9p
31. Greatest Hits (Bruce Springsteen) 9p
32. Dangerous (Michael Jackson) 9p
33. Led Zeppelin iv (Led Zeppelin) 9p
34 Fever (Kylie Minogue) 8p
35. Yourself or Someone Like You (Matchbox 20) 8p
36. Forgiven Not Forgotten (The Corrs) 8p
37. Get Born (Jet) 8p
38. Greatest Hits (Robbie Williams) 8p
39. Unplugged (Eric Clapton) 8p
40. Back to Bedlam (James Blunt) 8p
41. Best of 1980-1990 (U2) 8p
42. Californication (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) 8p
43. Symbols (Led Zeppelin) 8p
44. Odyssey Number Five (Powderfinger) 8p
45. The Eminem Show (Eminem) 8p
46. Metallica (Metallica) 8p
47. Greatest Hits Vol 2 (Queen) 8p
48. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (The Eagles) 8p
49. Only By The Night (Kings of Leon) 8p
50. History (Michael Jackson) 8p
51. I Dreamed A Dream (Susan Boyle) 8p
*A recording is awarded platinum status each time it sells 70,000 copies.

Music DVDs selling more than 100,000: Funhouse Tour Live in Australia (Pink) 23p; Live in Australia (Andre Rieu) 21p; Hell Freezes Over (The Eagles) 20p; #1s (Michael Jackson) 19p; Live from Wembley Arena (Pink) 14p; What We Did Last Summer (Robbie Williams) 12p; Delta (Delta Goodrem) 12p; LIve in Bucharest (Michael Jackson) 10p; Farewell Tour 1 (The Eagles) 10p; Pulse (Pink Floyd) 10p; Greatest Hits Live (Neil Diamond) 10p; Andre Rieu At Schonnbrun Vienna 9p; Live at the Albert (Robbie Williams) 9p; No 1s (Michael Jackson) 9p; Future Sex Live at Madison Square Garden (Justin Timberlake) 9p; Black and White (Roy Orbison) 8p; Family Jewels (AC/DC) 8p. With DVDs, platinum means 15,000 sales.

But not all record companies have supplied ARIA with sales information on all their performers, so the album list above is incomplete. It lacks obvious million sellers such as the early albums of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, Abba and Neil Diamond. Till we find out for sure, we must rely on estimates like this ...

The all-time most popular musicians with Australian record buyers
Based on each performer's total sales of vinyl and CD albums, using estimates from the Australian Record Industry Association and music researcher David Kent's Australian Chart Book.

Performer Biggest Year Topselling Album (not necessarily from the biggest year)
1 Elton John 1973 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
2 The Beatles 1968 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
3 Billy Joel 1976 Piano Man
4 Paul McCartney 1973 Band on the Run
5 Michael Jackson 1982 Thriller
6 Abba 1975 The Best of Abba
7 John Farnham 1986 Whispering Jack
8 Jimmy Barnes 1985 For The Working Class Man
9 Neil Diamond 1972 Hot August Night
10 Madonna 1990 The Immaculate Collection
11 Fleetwood Mac 1977 Rumours
12 The Rolling Stones 1971 Goat's Head Soup
13 Rod Stewart 1975 Atlantic Crossing
14 Dire Straits 1978 Brothers in Arms
15 Led Zeppelin 1973 Led Zeppelin II
16 Pink Floyd 1973 Dark Side of the Moon
17 Eurythmics 1985 Be Yourself Tonight
18 The Carpenters 1973 Now and Then
19 Celine Dion 1996 Falling Into You
20 Delta Goodrem 2003 Innocent Eyes
21 Savage Garden 1997 Savage Garden
22 Kylie Minogue 2001 Fever
23 Cat Stevens 1971 Teaser and the Firecat
24 Joe Cocker 1971 Cocker Happy
25 Mariah Carey 1994 Music Box
26 U2 1988 Rattle and Hum
27 INXS 1990 The Swing
28 Creedence Clearwater Revival 1970 Cosmo's Factory
29 Cold Chisel 1984 Twentieth Century
30 Midnight Oil 1983 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
31 Deep Purple 1970 Deep Purple in Rock
32 Elvis Presley 2003 30 #1 Hits
33 The Seekers 1968 The Best of the Seekers
34 Crowded House 1986 Crowded House
35 Leo Sayer 1974 Just a Boy
36 Eagles 1976 Hotel California
37 Meat Loaf 1978 Bat Out of Hell
38 Split Enz 1980 True Colours
39 Australian Crawl 1981 Sirocco
40 Bette Midler 1980 Beaches
41 Lionel Richie 1983 Can't Slow Down
42 Eminem 2002 The Eminem Show
43 David Bowie 1973 Let's Dance
44 Police 1979 Synchronicity
45 Skyhooks 1975 Living in the 70s
46 Bob Dylan 1976 Desire
47 AC/DC 1976 Back in Black
48 The Bee Gees 1999 Saturday Night Fever
49 Queen 1976 Greatest Hits Collection
50 Van Morrison 1974 Astral Weeks

COMMENTS

Hey Tribal Mind, thanks so much for the list...nice to see Fever at number 26 :)
Quick question, with the Platinum accreditations, how is it that all those albums are million sellers when some are only awarded 9 X Platiunum (well, not ONLY, but you know what i mean!)?

TM replies: You're right to pick me up on that. I was falling for the industry's loose terminology of using "million seller" when they just mean "big seller".

by pete on December 03, 2006 at 11:45 PM

So many albums I love to hate (but still own). I just hide them away and pull out me Basement Jaxx and Blur whenever I have visitors.

by Dean on February 17, 2007 at 12:28 PM

It seems that women may run this country.

by erin smith on February 20, 2007 at 11:32 AM

David Bowie's Let's Dance was released in 1983, not 1973.

by Samuel Andrews on April 16, 2007 at 06:30 PM

This list sounds very dubious. Lots of factual errors in there. Led Zeppelin II was released in 1969 not 1973. Back in Black was released in 1980 not 1976. I'm finding it difficult to believe some of the figures listed as a result.

Tribal Mind replies: The year listed next to each performer's name is not supposed to be the year when the best selling album was released. It is meant to be the biggest year in the career of the band or individual. The albums often sold well over a number of years.

by Gregory Adams on April 30, 2007 at 04:55 PM

Not bad, but I am still aggrieved at certain omissions. For example, RCA placed a full page ad in Billboard Magazine in 1977 stating the sales of Abba for 1976 in Australia.

The LP "Abba" was listed with 570,000 (it was released and at number one the previous year, rumours are 800,000), the LP "The Best of Abba" was listed with 1,010,000 and I have it on good authority that the LP "Arrival" shipped a million copies as well.

Why doesn't ARIA send one of their staff out on a fact finding mission, offering to go through the historical sales data at each record company, rather than waiting for young record company staff to give a damn? That would make sense to me.

This web page gives as much data as could be gathered to 1994 for Abba at any rate - http://www.zip.com.au/~callisto/austsales.html

by Trent on May 01, 2007 at 01:47 AM

Hey TM notice that Bruce Springsteen doesn't make the list. Yet I was sure as eggs that Born in the USA sold half a million copies over 1984-85, which with all his other stuff, should surely have put him close to the top 50?

Tribal Mind replies: Very likely, but his record company has not released the sales data.

by The watcher on May 08, 2007 at 12:32 PM

Interesting....."ABBA - The Best of" still remains the biggest selling album of all time in Aussie. Not to mention "Fernando"...biggest selling single.
Michael

by Micheal Arch on June 03, 2007 at 03:11 AM

I've read your lists.

I'm trying not to throw up at the revelation that the large majority of the music buying populations taste is up their ****.

by Marc on June 05, 2007 at 01:40 PM

OK, I think you need to clarify units SOLD vs. units SHIPPED. Platinum is based on sales based to retailers, rather than end customers. It is very misleading! If a retailer buys 50,000 units from a supplier, then 50,000 units goes towards the platinum accreditation. If 30,000 units are returned to the supplier, this is not discounted from the original total and the 50,000 units are still counted! And trust me, most albums sold in Aus are on sale or return, so the retailers can order as much as they want and can return if not sold. So the whole gold, platinum etc. accreditation in Australia is an absolute furphy and not to be trusted. ARIA needs to look at this to retain some credibility - as do journalists who get taken in by these figures.

by aaron on July 22, 2007 at 01:20 AM

might show I'm a dag but I don't think Bette Midler's Beaches album came out in 1980.... more like 1989 I think

by Derek on July 22, 2007 at 11:05 PM

Lists are just lists, and taste is either to be had or just misjudged! I noticed Michael Jackson's HIStory was listed..and who would owe up to owning that record (when Off The Wall)is the only one of his worth owning!

by Terry on August 24, 2007 at 09:50 PM

No idea where to start here, what a mess!
I feel quite queasy knowing that AC/DC didn't really feature at all in an Australian popular music list. And that the "Forest Gump Soundtrack" which was just CCR songs from memory and ABBA, beat artists like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. There must be a great deal of music labels Not releasing their sales figures (for some unknown reason)
What a trashy list, which looks like it was compiled by New Idea magazine! and hopefully not a true reflection of Australian tastes in music.

by Adz on September 03, 2007 at 10:03 AM

I am extremely surprised that Anthony Callea is not present anywhere on the list!!! Surely he has to be amongst the best!

by Vinayak Muralidharan on September 03, 2007 at 10:42 AM

those figures are a source of serious concern - unfortunately it seems like people aren't just listening to crap music like its a fad or anything...they just listen to crap as the only thing they know, and that is really sad. i hate the way that music has its "time", and that there seems to be no place for talented musicians, actors, writers etc...they always just choose the generic crap. because its the biggest market. end.

by Matt on September 03, 2007 at 12:47 PM

Just a note... number 17 of the first list should be album title "Throwing Copper" artist "Live", not the other way around.

by Cafcaf on September 03, 2007 at 12:49 PM

Concrete proof that this country should not be allowed to buy music. That list is downright appalling.

by daz on September 03, 2007 at 07:31 PM

what ! No Angels.

by Keven on September 04, 2007 at 04:32 AM

I'm curious as to where 'Music Box' by Mariah Carey is on the list of highest selling albums. I remember it selling 13 x platinum back in '94. Even if this number was dubious it would be a big enough seller to make the list.

Tribal Mind replies: That's an example of the kind of info that is not given out any more by ARIA or the record companies. If you go to ARIA's website, you will find Carey is not on their list of multi-platinum albums.

by Michael D on October 30, 2007 at 09:55 PM

Whoa, talk about a bunch of "if you don't like the message then shoot the messanger" - people, lighten up, it is just fun.

by Cranky Pants on November 04, 2007 at 04:47 PM

Jeez, Saline Whine at number 10. I reckon that the boganettes don't spend enough money on UDLs and fags

by TrapperBear on November 28, 2007 at 09:29 PM

I think you'll find that certain record companies no longer offer Sale or Return policies. When I left the industry in 1990, there was a huge shift away from that idea.

by cronk on December 03, 2007 at 05:00 PM

C'mon mate - if you're gonna write lists and throw in random years, at least get it right. Back in Black by AC/DC, for example, was released in 1980, yet you cite 1976. Your explanation in comments above still doesn't make sense - the album wasn't around in 1976, so are you saying 1976 was AC/DC's biggest year? So Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap has outsold Back in Black has it? Do your homework next time.

DD replies: The year in the list is an estimate of when the performer had the most success, which isn't necessarily when the performer's best known album came out. They might have had a lot of hit singles that year, or done a lot of concerts.

by Fred on December 10, 2007 at 11:45 AM

Terry I don't know what planet you're on, Thriller is still the all time best selling album worldwide and deserves to be up there. The remixed re-release with work from Akon, Will.I.Am and Kanye West will boost sales even further.
Gareth

by Gareth O' Neill on December 11, 2007 at 02:49 PM

Hey TM, a quick question...I am sure Fever by Kylie Minogue hit 8 X Platinum during it's chart run, yet it is not on your list of 500,000 sellers. Is this an oversight, or is my memory terrible?

Tribal Mind replies: An oversight, now corrected. Thanks for pointing it out.

by pete on December 29, 2007 at 11:28 AM

- Hey I like the photo of Peter Garrett with hair. Took me a moment to recognise him. Thankyou for the lists, so many great songs.

by LN on January 05, 2008 at 12:58 PM

If this list is a true reflection of Australia's musical tatse then it is obvious why you are so good at sport!! Clearly nothing else matters because this musical list is largely drivel and would just about past muster in a lift.

by Sean on January 05, 2008 at 07:45 PM

I was just cleaning out my CD collection yesterday and came across Affirmation by Savage Garden. It was one of a small pile that went in the bin.

by James on January 06, 2008 at 08:20 AM

Posted by: Gareth O' Neill on December 11
What do Michael Jackson and KMart have in common?
Boys pants half off.

by Attention KMart Shoppers on January 06, 2008 at 06:03 PM

Where is Mariah Carey's MUSIC BOX album from 1993/1994 on this list?
From memory it sold over 1 Million? Is this a case of Sony not certifying it to it's correct value?

Tribal Mind replies: ARIA does not have that information in its accreditations list. Possibly Carey changed record companies and her old company didn't want to provide the sales figures.

by Ben on January 08, 2008 at 07:32 AM

Woo! Both of Savage Garden's albums in the top 15!

by denbigh on February 06, 2008 at 08:42 AM

Savage Garden?? Twice? For God's sake Australia. I think it's long hard look in the mirror time...

by harry on March 02, 2008 at 09:38 PM

You're missing at least one in the list of those over 500,000 - Music Box - Mariah Carey - 12p from memory.

Tribal Mind replies: I'm sure you're right, but we don't have the figure from ARIA, which does not have the figure from the record company. There are many gaps in the list, for the same reason.

by pc on March 04, 2008 at 09:17 AM

where is britney spears?

Tribal Mind replies: In an institution, probably. Why do you ask?

by ;P on July 02, 2008 at 08:17 AM

evanescence is better than all of them and they deserve a good line.

by Amy.. on October 31, 2008 at 01:29 AM

No Nirvana?!
Kurt would surely plug himself again if he knew he was off a list such as this! :)
These pop-music types... they all say it doesn't matter to them "success and all", but not being on lists like this after having your album and music described as "seminal" or one of the "biggest selling albums of all time" must hurt their feelings a lot.
I hope none of the other artists who have been neglected in TM's list resort to Kurt's form of solace at being misunderstood and rejected...

Tribal Mind replies: Please remember that this is a list based purely on quantity, not quality. It's not the best material that has been produced in the past 20 years, but the material that sold the most, as measured by the Australian Record Industry Association. Best is always going to be a matter of pinion.

by Steve C on February 01, 2009 at 04:57 PM

Some comment on "shows people's lack of taste" etc but really it shows a combination of music quality together with wide-ranging appeal, which often conflict. So, for example, Led Zeppelin may score highly on music quality but would score lowly on wide-ranging appeal (eg. not many grannies, pre-teens or gays would be into it), whilst Delta probably has the reverse. What could be interesting is a combination of sales together with music quality (as perceived by the public and also received critical opinion) to come up with a definitive list of who the country rates.

by Eric um-Bist on February 22, 2009 at 12:10 PM

Given this list was started in 1987, shouldn't it now be the biggest selling albums of the last 22 years? I see that Whispering Jack is at number 1 despite being released in 1986, which suggests that the 1987 and 1988 sales have not been removed.

DD replies: It's a list of the best selling CDs since the CD replaced vinyl. Why would anyone want to remove the 87 and 88 sales?

by Rohan on May 01, 2009 at 02:21 PM

TM, I agree with you entirely. Why should they be removed? My point was that the headline was wrong, and I now see it has been changed.

by Rohan on June 03, 2009 at 09:48 AM

The list is obviously suspect, as many have pointed out.
But there is still some damned good stuff in there. John Farnham is a world-class vocalist. I would prefer Chain Reaction to Whispering Jack, but Whispering Jack lifted the bar for production in this country, and finally blew away the leftover Festival records standard, which was atrocious.
Savage Garden took it to another level again, and had Darren Hayes' beautiful voice, too.
Soul Deep was a travesty of an album from a great singer, but was well marketed.
Shania Twain had some great songs, and you can see Jeff Lang's production worked for Shania, as well as for AC/DC and Def Leppard.
I'd love to see him get a hold of John Farnham.
Jesus Christ Superstar is on the list, but the best ever musical cast production in Australia was Hair -- of all the cast productions of Hair throughout the world, the Australian one was the best by a country mile.

by Professor Rosseforp on July 06, 2009 at 09:30 PM

I first saw Michael perform live in July 2005, and I haven't stopped talking about that experience yet!! : lol: Over the years, I've had the good fortune to see him many times, Michael and his show improve with each new tour! Next weekend I'm gonna see him again since I can get cheap tickets so I can save some dollars to the next concert ...I'm so excited!!

Tribal Mind asks: Michael who?

by louise on December 09, 2009 at 03:36 AM

P!nk's Funhouse sold more than Kings of Leon's ONly by the night.

by nic on December 29, 2009 at 12:07 PM

How did Delta Goodrem feature so highly so often?!!! Both Savage Garden albums are fantastic shame Darren's solo material didn't get in there he's such a talent much overlooked.

by B Hames on December 29, 2009 at 04:44 PM

Apparently Susan Boyle did ridiculously well in her CD sales over the festive season. However, it did point to the age of her audience, a mere 1240 digital downloads, but over 165,000 in cd sales.

Tribal Mind remarks: She will be part of the weekly column's coverage on Friday of how Australians have entertained themselves over the break.

by Beckala on December 30, 2009 at 05:44 AM

Any list like this that does not contain the name "Anthony Callea", who still holds the record for the fastest and highest selling single of all time by an Australian artist in Oz, is just ridiculous.

Tribal Mind replies: The list is about album sales. It is not about singles and it is not about quality. I appreciate that you like Anthony Callea, but it seems your taste was not shared by enough Australians for his albums to make ARIA's all-time top selling list.

by Maverick on December 30, 2009 at 06:34 AM

I'm certain the BEST OF ABBA sold a staggering 1 millio copies in 1976 and Fernando was number 1 for 12 weeks ?
Why the omission ?

Tribal MInd replies: If you can give me a reliable source for that data, I will change the tables.

by geoff field on January 19, 2010 at 12:11 PM

Check with Channel NINE, also RCA records ( of whoever they are now ) will have info on Fernando and the Best of ABBA
There are many internet references to this as well - i thought you would have remembered COUNTDOWN stopped playing Fernando after 11 weeks at number 1 !!!
Sorry to bombard you David - I'm a great fans of yours - this may help http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_of_ABBA
If all else fails GLEN A BAKER will back me up on these facts.
Regards
Sue
BTW - the Best of ABBA sold a staggering one million copies in Australia in 1976 - FACT

by suzy Lubaman on January 20, 2010 at 11:23 AM

The Sun-Herald

Who We Are

WHO WE ARE: The music Australia loved

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