09-15
Album sales around the world are almost impossible to verify. In the United States the numbers presented by the Recording Industry Association of America since the 1950s, although not foolproof, have been respected.
The RIAA started certifying records in the U.S. in 1958 by introducing its Gold Awards for sales of over 500,000. When the disco boom of the 1970s made million-sellers commonplace, the association introduced the Platinum Award for sales of one million. The first recipient was The Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, which was certified in 1976.
TOP ALL TIME ALBUMS SOLD IN THE U.S.
- Their Greatest Hits, 1971-1975, The Eagles, 1976 ..... 28,000,000 copies
- Thriller, Michael Jackson, 1982 ..... 26,000,000
- Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin, ..... 22,000,000
- Back in Black, AC/DC, 1980 ..... 19,000,000
Come on Over, Shania Twain, 1997 ..... 19,000,000
- Rumours, Fleetwood Mac, 1977 ..... 18,000,000
- The Bodyguard, Soundtrack, 1992 ..... 17,000,000
- Boston, Boston, 1976 ..... 16,000,000
Cracked Rear View, Hootie & the Blowfish, 1994 ..... 16,000,000
Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette, 1995 ..... 16,000,000
No Fences, Garth Brooks, 1990 ..... 16,000,000
Source: The Top 10 of Everything - 2004
09-04-2004 Ron
New bands pop around the world every day. In the 21st century three rock groups have enthused fans and critics, especially because of their songs' vigor: The Hives, with Veni Vidi Vicious and Tyrannosaurus Hives, The Strokes, with Room on Fire, and The Vines, with Highly Evolved and Winning Days.
However, the only exhilarating album, as if the vibrant and creative rock and roll days of the 1970s were back, is Highly Evolved. The other CDs include powerful stuff but, in my opinion, they're not diverse enough.
11-03 Ron
Back in April of 2002 I asked "Which are the greatest CDs ever released?" I didn't receive many responses then so here's the question of the month: if you were staying on an island for a long time what three CDs would you take with you?
My picks would be IV, Singles Collection, the London Years, and Legends. The first was released in 1971 by Led Zeppelin, my all-time favorite band because of the incredibly pleasing and diversified music it played. Singles Collection is a three-CD compilation of the Rolling Stones' most amazing songs. And the third is the quintessence of black music and rock and roll fusion, reggae sung by Bob Marley and performed by the Wailers.
10-13 Ron
I used to think that the Video Music Awards, presented by MTV on the first week in September, was the best award show on American TV. The host was cool, the presenters were hip, the songs played on stage were performed by very good bands, and the number of awards was fairly small.
Not any more.The VMA last month was the epitome of what MTV has become: unimaginative, boring, and tasteless. Presenters were annoying and told unamusing jokes to the audience, bands were subpar, categories were senseless, awards were commercially motivated (Justin Timberlake getting the nod thrice?!), and too much importance was given to rap, which is much more about lyrics than music.
Nonetheless, not all was disastrous. Chris Rock, the host, was funny, and Coldplay received the Best Group Video award. And its performance was the highlight of the night, along with Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguillera's "threesome".
Moving on to greener pastures, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are back as a singing duo, reunited for a 36-city tour. They were tremendous in the 1960s and 70s and were able to produce one of the greatest live concert CDs ever, Simon and Garfunkel, The Concert in Central Park, which was recorded on September 19, 1981.
09-29 Ron
Deep Purple played in Belo Horizonte on September 21 as part of their worldwide tour to promote Bananas, their first album in five years. I didn't go to the concert nor heard the last CD. But I can tell you that it's a good hard rock band.
The group was formed in 1968 remaining active until 1976. The most successful formation had Ian Gillan as the singer, Ritchie Blackmore as the guitarist, Jon Lord as the keyboard player, Ian Paice as the drummer, and John Glover as the bass player. In the 70s they produced their two most successful albums: Machine Head, in 1972, and Made in Japan, a recording of a live show in 1973. Another first-rate job is Deep Purple 30: Very Best Of , a 1998 compilation celebrating the band's 30th anniversary.
In 1984 the band regrouped and has played since with different formations. For the delight of "millions" of fans the 2003 world tour has brought Gillan, Paice, and Glover to Brazil, along with the newest members Don Airey (keyboard) and Steve Morse (guitar).
09-22 Ron
In my tireless quest to find a movie soundtrack worth having I discovered La Bamba, from the 1987 musical biography of Ritchie Valens. Five of the twelve good oldies are performed by Los Lobos, a fine Los Angeles band.
