Tuesday, August 21, 2018

After the Thriller is Gone*

News comes this morning that Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 has again regained the title of best selling album of all time, overtaking Michael Jackson's Thriller, which had previously de-throned it.

Many online opinionators were dismissive of the announcement, noting that the Eagles' release was a compilation of hits from their first four albums (which preceded their landmark Hotel California record), while Thriller was a single work. Dissention noted, the Eagles' Hotel California, their next release after Greatest Hits, and not a compilation, earned #3 status on the same list.

It's inevitable that many, this writer included, have internal biases relating to what artists and style of music they prefer.  However, the RIAA rankings are based on sales/downloads/streams, not on subjective factors. I was somewhat surprised that Rumours did not score above its #10 ranking, that The Wall was #6 instead of Dark Side of the Moon (not in the top 20), and that Lennon/McCartney's records were not in the top 10 (the White Album and The Beatles 1967-1970 ranked #12 and #18, respectively).  Incidentally, Zeppelin's IV was #5, and Physical Graffiti #20 (tied with Metallica), and piano men Joel and John each have a compilation in the top 20.

Framed inscribed CD covers on my wall...

My inscribed Frampton Comes Alive and Blue Sky Night Thunder did not make the top 20.  Pity.


* After the Thrill is Gone is a song from One of These Nights

1 comment:

el chupacabra said...

Eagles- another band I should like that I cannot get into too much. A lot of their non airplay stuff is real good but their iconic stuff is just not that great to me but it is played ad nauseum- wears me out.

Also, I dont understand Hotel California and feel like I am supposed to get it.