Sales, schmales
Big-selling albums don’t always mean a Grammy win — or even a nomination
Michael Jackson’s Thriller was the biggest-selling album of all time, and it was richly rewarded by the Recording Academy, earning a then-unprecedented eight trophies, including album of the year in 1984.
Other bestselling albums have also been crowned with the top Grammy, including Santana’s Supernatural, Rumors by Fleetwood Mac and Adele’s 21.
But having a popular album doesn’t always guarantee a Grammy win for album of the year — sometimes, not even a nomination.
Here are top-selling albums of all time in the U.S. that don’t have an album-of-the-year Grammy.
Pink Floyd: The Wall is not only considered one of rock’s classics, it also boasts 23 million albums sold. It was nominated for 1980 album of the year but lost to Christopher Cross’s self-titled album.
AC/DC: Back in Black sold 22 million albums but wasn’t a Grammy nominee.
Shania Twain: Come on Over sold 20 million albums and won two Grammys. It was nominated for album of the year but lost to Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1999.
The Beatles: The legendary 1968 White Album, whose classics include Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, among others, didn’t receive a nomination for album of the year. It’s one of the Beatles’ bestselling albums, with 19 million copies sold.
However, the band had won best album for 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, so perhaps it was just too soon for Grammy voters.
Guns N Roses: The 1987 classic Appetite for Destruction didn’t have any Grammy nominations. It has sold 18 million albums.
Boston: Boston didn’t get a bestalbum nomination, but the band was nominated for best new artist. Boston, released in 1976, has sold 17 million copies.
Garth Brooks: No Fences also had no nominations; the 1990 album has sold 17 million copies.
The Eagles: Hotel California was nominated but lost to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours in 1978. It won two Grammys that year, including record of the year for the title track. The album has sold 16 million copies.
Hootie & the Blowfish: Cracked Rear View has sold 16 million since its 1994 release.
It netted the group best new artist and pop performance by a duo or group trophies (the latter for Let Her Cry), but the album wasn’t nominated for album of the year.