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LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC And METALLICA Are Among Top-Selling Artists Of All Time
- Aug. 7, 2006
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LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA have released some of the top-selling albums in the United States of all time, according to the figures released by the Recording Industry Association of America ( RIAA). Here is a list of the all-time top selling albums (number in perenthesis indicates total U.S. sales in millions): THE EAGLES - "Eagles/Their Greatest Hits: 1971-75" (29) MICHAEL JACKSON - "Thriller" (27) LED ZEPPELIN - "Led Zeppelin IV" (23) PINK FLOYD - "The Wall" (23) AC/DC - "Back in Black" (21) BILLY JOEL - "Greatest Hits Vol. I & II" (21) GARTH BROOKS - "Double Live" (20) SHANIA TWAIN - "Come On Over" (20) THE BEATLES - "The Beatles" (19) FLEETWOOD MAC - "Rumours" (19) BOSTON - "Boston" (17) WHITNEY HOUSTON - "The Bodyguard" (soundtrack) (17) THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1967-70" (16) GARTH BROOKS - "No Fences" (16) THE EAGLES - "Hotel California" (16) HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH - "Cracked Rear View" (16) ELTON JOHN - "Greatest Hits" (16) LED ZEPPELIN - "Physical Graffiti" (16) ALANIS MORISSETTE - "Jagged Little Pill" (16) THE BEATLES - "The Beatles 1962-66" (15) BEE GEES - "Saturday Night Fever" (soundtrack) (15) GUNS N' ROSES - "Appetite for Destruction" (15) PINK FLOYD - "Dark Side of the Moon" (15) SANTANA - "Supernatural" (15) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - "Born in the U.S.A." (15) BACKSTREET BOYS - "Backstreet Boys" (14) GARTH BROOKS - "Ropin' the Wind" (14) JOURNEY - "Greatest Hits" (14) MEAT LOAF - "Bat Out of Hell" (14) METALLICA - "Metallica" (14) SIMON & GARFUNKEL - "Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits" (14) BRITNEY SPEARS - "... Baby One More Time" (14) The 20 top-selling artists in millions of albums/CDs (number in perenthesis indicates total U.S. sales in millions): 01. THE BEATLES (168.5) 02. ELVIS PRESLEY (118.5) 03. GARTH BROOKS (116) 04. LED ZEPPELIN (109.5) 05. EAGLES (91) 06. BILLY JOEL (79.5) 07. PINK FLOYD (73.5) 08. BARBRA STREISAND (71) 09. ELTON JOHN (69) 10. AC/DC (66) 11. THE ROLLING STONES (65.5) 12. AEROSMITH (65.5) 13. MADONNA (63) 14. GEORGE STRAIT (62.5) 15. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (62) 16. MARIAH CAREY (61.5) 17. MICHAEL JACKSON (60.5) 18. METALLICA (57) 19. VAN HALEN (56.5) 20. WHITNEY HOUSTON (54) (Thanks: DenverPost.com)
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COMMENT | ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:18:08 AM
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O'rly?
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COMMENT | Wow..
posted by : Sam Przyborowski
8/7/2006 5:19:45 AM
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..I'd never have realised that..
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COMMENT | ya rly!
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:21:11 AM
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ya rly!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:21:45 AM
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how the fuck did Shania fucking "cum all over my ass" Twain rate far higher than Metallica?
this is bullshit.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:25:06 AM
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i like how Metallica was mentioned and GNR were not-considering GNR scored higher than Hetfields' mob. HA HA HA.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:25:55 AM
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and no Iron Maiden
shame AC DC had to piss on the parade yet again
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COMMENT |
posted by : mmetallicaa
8/7/2006 5:26:21 AM
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Haha you don't see any Slayer, or Pantera, or Megadeth or whatever it is you Metallica-bashers listen to up there do you?
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COMMENT | would any metal band be proud............
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:36:48 AM
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of being on a list with hootie and the blowfish?????????
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:45:16 AM
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shania twain sells a shitload of albums because rednecks will listen to anything
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COMMENT | @i wish i played drums for akercocke
posted by : mmetallicaa
8/7/2006 6:00:40 AM
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Well if that list happens to be the list of the greatest selling bands in American history, I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Pink Floyd, GnR, AC/DC, LedZep, Metallica, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Aerosmith and Van Halen are all there. I wouldn't mind being in a list with them. Any 'metal' band who thinks its "untr00" to be on such a list is a fucking idiot.
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COMMENT |
posted by : mmetallicaa
8/7/2006 6:02:30 AM
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**are fucking idiots
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COMMENT |
posted by : Skanna
8/7/2006 6:02:58 AM
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Where is Cannibal Corpse?
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 6:08:47 AM
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Its actually quite amusing to see Metallica since they sit on top along with the likes of Shania Twain, Boston, Meat Loaf and Journey. I'm sure that mr. Hetfield is proud of his company.
Having said that - samples from their lullaby album sound damn good. I was skeptical at first, but its really sweet. Too bad that You won't have Metallica going on LullabyFest 2007 tour.
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COMMENT | not if......
posted by :
8/7/2006 6:29:09 AM
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it means having to sell out in order to achieve such 'esteemed' company, as metallica undoubtably did.
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COMMENT | Whoa...
posted by : petersteele
8/7/2006 6:41:50 AM
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METALLICASH have sold more than WHITNEY HOUSTON!
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COMMENT |
posted by : petersteele
8/7/2006 6:42:20 AM
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About 3 MILLION more!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 6:43:09 AM
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Honestly, most people on this list are a joke musically. Eagles ? Britney Spears ? Shania Twain ? Mariah Carey ? Meat Loaf ? Billy Joel ?
And who is George Strait, by the way ? I never even heard of him.
I do have respect for Pink Floyd, though.
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COMMENT | denmark
posted by : motley crue
8/7/2006 6:49:06 AM
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meatloaf kicks ass.....go to kissonline.com hahaha
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COMMENT | And who is George Strait?
posted by :
8/7/2006 7:01:06 AM
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good question. notice meektallica only sold loads when they sold out? is that really anything to be proud of?
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 7:12:03 AM
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I'm afraid that this list proves once again that artists who are commercially succesful don't neccesarily write good songs. What about bands like King Crimson, Godflesh or, say, Pixies ? The thing is, they are/were focused on music, not just commercial sales of albums, which guarantees that their music will age more gracefully than that of, say, Britney Spears or Shania Twain.
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COMMENT | they should
posted by :
8/7/2006 7:15:02 AM
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Have a list showing what each artist actually made from those album sales
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COMMENT | ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 7:55:07 AM
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Megadeth have sold 20 million albums worldwide, Slayer around 8-10 million, Maiden somewhere around 80 million. This above list is "America" only, Maiden are far more popular in Europe as a lot of trad metal is in general. It may surprise people to hear that Manowar have worldwide record sales of over 8 million...whereas in the States it`s probably somewhere around 800!
Metallica are one of the very few metal bands to have ever really cracked it commercially. TBA was, however, a deliberate attempt to go for sales. Bands like Slayer and Maiden have never done this...Megadeth have but it didn`t work.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:08:14 AM
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After all, this list comes from RIAA and there's no need to explain who they are or what they're doing.
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COMMENT | Sontaron, you're right Maiden never went for sales...that's why
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:26:17 AM
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they release a live or greatest hits album EVERY FRIGGIN YEAR!!!! You do realize if Metallica wanted to make a shitload of money they'd release a greatest hits album...God knows they have far more hits that Iron Maiden.....
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COMMENT | Waffen, ANY fan of any genre of music knows the Eagles, Santana and
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:28:37 AM
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Billy Joel were/are tremendous artists...just because you have a limited knowledge and appreciation of music is no reason to bash such talented people....
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COMMENT | !!!!
posted by : parlyboy
8/7/2006 8:29:12 AM
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AC/DC have sold more albums in the US than the Stones?!! I'm astonished!!
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COMMENT | george strait.....
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:36:13 AM
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its purely a guess, but he might have been in dire straits.......either that, or he was a session guitarist in dying fetus or something...........
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COMMENT | George Strait is a country singer, been around a long time---has a
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:42:05 AM
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tremendous voice.....man, does anybody on this board know anything about music???
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COMMENT | George Strait is a huge country star
posted by :
8/7/2006 8:48:58 AM
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He has been around for many years and still sells out 50,000+ seat stadiums.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 9:21:30 AM
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I guess that most people on this forum are not into country, so its probablty not the best place to discuss who George Strait is then. Although, I like the idea about him being in Dire Straits. Just imagine for a second Dire Straits going the route of Ramones with everyone in the band having names like Mark Strait, George Strait etc. etc.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 9:22:38 AM
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After all, there's a punk band called Queers, so it would have been Straights, most likely.
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COMMENT | COOL!
posted by : jilling_koke
8/7/2006 9:29:50 AM
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This site is awesome. People come here, dub themselves "Waffen SS"--for example--and write some openly racist comments. And what's best -- nobody minds or cares!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 9:35:30 AM
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It's not that anyone minds or cares its no one wants to dignify it with a response. there is a lot of hostile's towards women. Further more most of these groups are somewhat tollerable not that I would listen to STREISAND or anything but obviously somebody does. Good to see Hard Rock represented on this list well.
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COMMENT |
posted by : Tate + Dickinson = Lance King
8/7/2006 9:40:47 AM
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this list has been out for years
wheres def lep? i thuoght hysteria and pyromania sold like 15 mil each
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 10:03:20 AM
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At least there's no rap in that list. Too much country, though.
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COMMENT | See kids
posted by : JJJB
8/7/2006 10:28:27 AM
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that's how many people used to BUY music before it was
F R E E !!!
Music released in the last 10 yrs will never come close to those sales.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 10:32:13 AM
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Indeed.
For better or worse, mp3s have changed anything, including typical music distribution systems which are outdated anyway.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 10:34:28 AM
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And how could I forget Youtube ?
Its changing my musical perspective - its like mini-TV where You can watch what You want, not what Ted Turner wants you to see.
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COMMENT | bignewsday, YES, I think slayer, etc. want to be on the list. Who
posted by :
8/7/2006 10:54:34 AM
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wouldn't want to be on a list of highest selling...come on, that is something ALL artists dream of....
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COMMENT |
posted by : RiotAct666
8/7/2006 11:11:03 AM
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nice list
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COMMENT | ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 11:14:01 AM
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Re dmdcash and the Maiden statement...certainly in the UK Maiden have had *far* more hits than Metallica. Well over 30 top 40 singles, many of them top 10. Every Maiden studio album with Bruce has gone top 3 except for BNW which got to no.7.
And it`s not Maiden that release the hits albums, it`s the record company. They`ve only released 2 greatest hits album anyway ( plus one extra for the American market ).
I agree they release too many live albums though. Then again Metallica release a load of live stuff via their website and charge for it so it`s not much different. You pay if you want it either way.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 11:22:06 AM
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In my humble opinion, there are two ways of looking at this list - artistical and fan's way. I suppose that as an artist You would be glad to find out that you're making so much money by producing music that you love, no matter what fans/people in general say (after all, who cares about their audience these days ?). Another way of looking at it is fan's way - a desire to hear music that's done out of love for music, not a desire to sell more records to become famous (and risk loosing integrity like Metallica did with their recent records)
That's the way that I see at least.
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COMMENT |
posted by : smoothaswax
8/7/2006 12:03:06 PM
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Could you turn that shit off!! I've had a really bad day, and i HATE THE FUCKING EAGLES!
-Big Lebowski
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COMMENT | ALL OF YOU ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 12:09:04 PM
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that are naming bands like .. 'wheres cannibal corpse' .. or fuckin wheres this or wheres thats .. shut the fuck up! u know damn right cannibal corpse cannot be in that list ... and keep it that way ... i wont be proud of the band that i listen to be on list with fuckin shania ass muncher or some shit like that .... i hate posers naming bands to sound cool ..
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COMMENT | the list is wrong
posted by :
8/7/2006 12:41:47 PM
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this list is wrong...GN'R's Appetite sold over 20 million in the U.S...they need to get their facts straight..they are also wrong about the black album by Metallica...who the fuck made this list????
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COMMENT | the beatles top everyone of course.
posted by : hatetofeel
8/7/2006 12:57:34 PM
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and i dont mean in sales.
BEATLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by : stwla888
8/7/2006 1:16:44 PM
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Well if Slayer wrote pussy songs for a pussy album like Selloutica's Black Album, and be radio friendly they would sell a lot more albums too. But, they aren't and they don't. And they are happy about it.
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COMMENT | WOW....
posted by : Skeleton Of Society
8/7/2006 1:32:12 PM
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Garth Brooks has sold more albums than Led Zeppelin?!?! It's all a matter of personal taste, but that just seems VERY wrong to me.
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COMMENT |
posted by : jilling_koke
8/7/2006 1:34:00 PM
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COMMENT |
posted by : afterforever
8/7/2006 9:38:59 AM
You gotta understand what this site is and not take it seriously. This guy is probably trying to get a rise out of you. He starts with music and moves on to politics. Happens all the time on here. Also, the reason noone cares about the mexican bashing is because the majority of people here don't want mexicans in the country. I know I don't.
--------------
Thanks, I've been here before, I think I know pretty well "what this site is". I think I also know what it shouldn't be, what no virtual or real place should be.
If I don't take racism seriously I can just as well tolerate anything.
Who gives a shit if "this guy is probably trying to get a rise out of [me]"? Not me. I don't want to "re-educate" him. He's probably a lost cause. The problem is, nobody seems to give a fuck about racist comments.
And with your last sentence you disqualified yourself from any reasonable discussion.
Have a nice day.
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COMMENT | what about
posted by :
8/7/2006 1:36:03 PM
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DREAM THEATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT | GREATEST HITS?
posted by :
8/7/2006 1:38:34 PM
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I THINK GREATEST HITS PACKAGES SHOULD NOT QUALIFY!!!!
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COMMENT | ALSO
posted by :
8/7/2006 1:47:41 PM
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I think LIVE albums should not qualify on the list, because they are just like greatest hits anyway right?!
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COMMENT | METALLICA!!!
posted by :
8/7/2006 2:32:20 PM
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Right up there with Michaal Jackson, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Barbara Streisand, and Elton John where they belong...
http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/images/load/load36.jpg
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 2:34:33 PM
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YOu forgot Behemoth bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!! \m/ Behemoth! \m/
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 2:44:00 PM
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"if Metallica wanted to make a shitload of money they'd release a greatest hits album...God knows they have far more hits that Iron Maiden....."
You mean this (s)hits they play on the radio? If Metallica did a greatest hits of the songs played for the radio that would be a shit CD no one would buy.
http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/load29.jpg
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COMMENT |
posted by : ed
8/7/2006 2:58:50 PM
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There's no Nirvana on the list???????? Oh my!
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COMMENT | dtlover1
posted by : Pokey Man
8/7/2006 3:15:55 PM
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Dream Theater doesn't get enough mainstream radio play to have their albums go diamond. Platinum, maybe.
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COMMENT | FUCK YOU!
posted by :
8/7/2006 3:21:28 PM
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The ONLY reason pantera isnt on there is because no one appreciates kick ass guitar, bass, drums and vocals!!!!!!! Everyone is too in to what is cool to listen to, not what you WANT to listen to. Pantera should be up there, in the top 5 at LEAST. Pantera stayed strong throughout EVERY SINGLE MOTHER FUCKING album! Metallica got worse and worse...and I know people like bad music...Fuck metallica and St anger...that shit sucks!...Pantera deserves all teh credit in the world.
STRONGER THAN ALL
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COMMENT | Oh..Gee...
posted by :
8/7/2006 3:27:50 PM
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big long list of successful bands/artists...and no KISS to be found....
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/7/2006 3:29:16 PM
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Hey, "B"
"This list is bullshit. I can remember years ago on howard stern when bon jovi said he had sold 90 million. And on the movie some kind of monster didn't it say metallica sold more than 57 million. I dont know I could be wrong but it seems like a bullshit list to me. I remember hearing that the eagles greatest hits and michael jackson's thriller have sold so many copies that no one knew which one had the highest selling album of all time. Again this list has to be bullshit on so many levels."
Uhh...dude, these are just U.S Figures, thats why they are probably differant #'s than you have heard...
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COMMENT | oh yeah i forgot..to "ED"
posted by :
8/7/2006 3:30:07 PM
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FUCK NIRVANA. THEY WERE A BUNCH OF TALENTLESS MUSICIANS WHO GOT A BUILT IN AUDIENCE.
and thats all i have to say about that.
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COMMENT | ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 5:04:51 PM
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I always thought Pantera were the most over-rated band in metal. They certainly didn`t stay "strong" throughout all their albums as their first ones were glam. Once they did turn metal they got steadily worse.
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COMMENT | ...
posted by :
8/7/2006 6:01:28 PM
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Chris1, sure it was an opinion. I was just offering a different one to yours! I have no problem with people thinking Pantera were brilliant, I just can`t understand why!!
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COMMENT |
posted by : systemetallica you buth rule
8/7/2006 6:26:48 PM
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give me a fuckin break, get some decent bands on there, were the fuck are slayer. there should be system of a down up there even if they are fresh. why are metallica so fuckin low anyway. and were the fuck are iron maiden
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COMMENT |
posted by : platinum maze
8/7/2006 10:38:06 PM
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there's more idiots on this site every day.
Eagles, a joke musically? Go back to Rock School, little boy.
Dark Side of the Moon did not outsell The Wall. Please......
The Metallica and GNR numbers are right. Well, they're def not 20 mil at least.
"a desire to hear music that's done out of love for music, not a desire to sell more records to become famous (and risk loosing integrity like Metallica did with their recent records)"
Not true with this list. Some of these bands were either releasing their debut albums (Boston, Hootie, Alanis, Meatloaf, GNR) or releasing follow up's to HUGE albums that came right before the ones listed (ACDC, FMac, Metallica, Eagles).
The 2 soundtracks on there were also HUGE. As well as the 7 or so Greatest Hits on there. Let's put it this way, for every 1 of us music nuts, there's 50 people that really don't give a crap. Those 50 people own Journey's Greatest Hits and the SNF soundtrack. :)
That's how huge all these records are/were. And that's what some of you want Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, and Pantera to compete against?!?! Good luck bro.
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COMMENT | Dood...
posted by :
8/8/2006 9:05:47 AM
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pantera were not over rated...if anything they were underrated..im glad some people or person agrees with me..and pantera did stay STRONG they topped every album..unlike any other band out here now. For instance Shadows fall (whom i love but..) have released what..4 albums and on this newest one released 11 songs with 6 new ones and 5 remakes...how lame...yet im going to see them today. Far Beyond Driven was/is HUGE and it has every right to be on there. Its true talent..and this is all coming from a 14 year old girl :), doesnt that change your opinion on everything i said...well it shouldn't...ive listened to them my entire life..which isnt long, but most people have only listened to pantera for 10 years..ok im done going on and on about this.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
8/8/2006 10:27:19 PM
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Personally I think Pantera were the best band of the 90s. They survived every trend and got heavier after each album arguably until RTS. IMO THE BEATLES and LED ZEPPELIN own every other band on that list.
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