Best-selling albums by year (USA)

"Billboard Magazine" began publishing year-end lists for Album Sales in 1956.

1950s

*The best-selling album of 1956 was "Calypso", by Harry Belafonte. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1956]
*The best-selling album of 1957 was "My Fair Lady", Original Cast recording. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1957]
*The best-selling album of 1958 was "My Fair Lady", Original Cast Recording. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1958]
*The best-selling album of 1959 was "Music from Peter Gunn", by Henry Mancini. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1959]

1960s

*The best-selling album of 1960 was "The Sound of Music", Original Cast Recording. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1960]
*The best-selling album of 1961 was "Camelot", Original Cast Recording. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1961]
*The best-selling album of 1962 was "West Side Story Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1962]
*The best-selling album of 1963 was "West Side Story Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1963]
*The best-selling album of 1964 was "Hello, Dolly!", Original Cast Recording. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1964]
*The best-selling album of 1965 was "Mary Poppins Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1965]
*The best-selling album of 1966 was "Whipped Cream & Other Delights", by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1966]
*The best-selling album of 1967 was "More of The Monkees" by The Monkees. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1967]
*The best-selling album of 1968 was "Are You Experienced?" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1968]
*The best-selling album of 1969 was "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1969]

1970s

*The best-selling album of 1970 was "Bridge Over Troubled Water", by Simon and Garfunkel. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1970]
*The best-selling album of 1971 was "Jesus Christ Superstar Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1971]
*The best-selling album of 1972 was "Harvest", by Neil Young. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1972]
*The best-selling album of 1973 was "The World Is a Ghetto", by War. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1973]
*The best-selling album of 1974 was "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", by Elton John. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1974]
*The best-selling album of 1975 was "Elton John's Greatest Hits". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1975]
*The best-selling album of 1976 was "Frampton Comes Alive", by Peter Frampton. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1976]
*The best-selling album of 1977 was "Rumours", by Fleetwood Mac. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1977]
*The best-selling album of 1978 was the "Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1978]
*The best-selling album of 1979 was "52nd Street", by Billy Joel. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1979]

1980s

*The best-selling album of 1980 was "The Wall", by Pink Floyd. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1980]
*The best-selling album of 1981 was "Hi Infidelity", by REO Speedwagon. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1981]
*The best-selling album of 1982 was "Asia", by Asia. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1982]
*The best-selling album of 1983 was "Thriller", by Michael Jackson. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1983]
*The best-selling album of 1984 was "Thriller", by Michael Jackson. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1984]
*The best-selling album of 1985 was "Born in the U.S.A.", by Bruce Springsteen . [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1985]
*The best-selling album of 1986 was "Whitney Houston", by Whitney Houston. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1986]
*The best-selling album of 1987 was "Slippery When Wet", by Bon Jovi . [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1987]
*The best-selling album of 1988 was "Faith", by George Michael. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1988]
*The best-selling album of 1989 was "Don't Be Cruel ", by Bobby Brown . [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1989]

1990s

*The best-selling album of 1990 was "Rhythm Nation 1814", by Janet Jackson. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1990]
*The best-selling album of 1991 was "Mariah Carey", by Mariah Carey. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1991]
*The best-selling album of 1992 was "Ropin' the Wind", by Garth Brooks. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1992]
*The best-selling album of 1993 was "The Bodyguard Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1993]
*The best-selling album of 1994 was "The Sign", by Ace of Base . [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1994]
*The best-selling album of 1995 was "Cracked Rear View", by Hootie and the Blowfish. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1995]
*The best-selling album of 1996 was "Jagged Little Pill", by Alanis Morissette. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1996]
*The best-selling album of 1997 was "Spice", by Spice Girls. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1997]
*The best-selling album of 1998 was "Titanic Soundtrack". [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1998]
*The best selling album of 1999 was "Millennium", by Backstreet Boys. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=1999]

2000s

*The best-selling album of 2000 was "No Strings Attached", by *NSYNC. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=2000]
*The best-selling album of 2001 was "1", by The Beatles. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=2001]
*The best-selling album of 2002 was "The Eminem Show", by Eminem. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=2002]
*The best-selling album of 2003 was "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", by 50 Cent. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=2003]
*The best-selling album of 2004 was "Confessions", by Usher. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/yearend_chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums&year=2004]
*The best-selling album of 2005 was "The Emancipation of Mimi", by Mariah Carey. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1519469/20051229/carey_mariah.jhtml]
*The best-selling album of 2006 was "High School Musical Soundtrack". [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=9f8be72f-7185-4429-85d5-c96e6537244d]
*The best-selling album of 2007 was "Noel", by Josh Groban

References