Here is the list of the best selling albums in the U.S. for each year in the 1960s, based on RIAA certifications.
Best Selling Albums in 1960
MILES DAVIS – Sketches Of Spain : gold (2 million)
ELVIS PRESLEY – His Hand In Mine : platinum
ELVIS PRESLEY – G.I. Blues : platinum
KINGSTON TRIO – Sold Out : gold
FRANK SINATRA – Nice ‘N Easy : gold
RAY CONNIFF – Memories : gold
MITCH MILLER & THE GANG – Sentimental Sing Along : gold
THE PLATTERS – Encore Of Golden Hits : gold
MANTOVANI – Exodus : gold
BILLY VAUGHN – Theme From A Summer Place : gold
Best Selling Albums in 1961
WEST SIDE STORY (soundtrack) : 3x platinum
ELVIS PRESLEY – Blue Hawaii : 3x platinum
JOHNNY HORTON – Greatest Hits : platinum
FRANK SINATRA – All The Way : gold (1 million)
RAY CHARLES – Genius + Soul = Jazz : uncertified (1 million)
JOHN COLTRANE – My Favorite Things : uncertified (1 million)
FRANK SINATRA – Sinatra’s Swinging Session : uncertified (1 million)
HARRY BELAFONTE – Jump Up Calypso : gold
JOAN BAEZ – Volume 2 : gold
LAWRENCE WELK – Calcutta : gold
Best Selling Albums in 1962
RAY CHARLES – Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music : gold (3 million)
PETER, PAUL & MARY – Peter, Paul & Mary : 2x platinum
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – The Lonely Bull : gold (2 million)
RAY CHARLES – Greatest Hits : gold (2 million)
TONY BENNETT – I Left My Heart In San Francisco : platinum
NAT KING COLE – Ramblin’ Rose : platinum
RAY CONNIFF – We Wish You A Merry Christmas : platinum
RAY CHARLES – Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music, vol. 2 : gold (1 million)
THE BEACH BOYS – Surfin’ Safari : uncertified (1 million)
JOAN BAEZ – In Concert : gold
Best Selling Albums in 1963
NAT KING COLE – The Christmas Song : 6x platinum
ELVIS PRESLEY – Golden Records vol. 3 : platinum
FRANK SINATRA – The Sinatra Christmas Album : gold (1 million)
THE BEACH BOYS – Surfin’ USA : gold (1 million)
BOB DYLAN – The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan : platinum
THE BEACH BOYS – Little Deuce Coupe : platinum
THE BEACH BOYS – Surfer Girl : gold (1 million)
ANDY WILLIAMS – Christmas Album : platinum
PATSY CLINE – The Patsy Cline Story : platinum
HANK WILLIAMS – The Very Best Of : platinum
Best Selling Albums in 1964
THE BEATLES – Meet The Beatles ! : 5x platinum
THE BEATLES – Hard Day’s Night : 4x platinum
THE BEATLES – Beatles’ 65 : 3x platinum
THE BEATLES – Second Album : 2x platinum
THE BEATLES – Something New : 2x platinum
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (soundtrack) : 2x platinum
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – South Of The Border : gold (2 million)
THE BEACH BOYS – The Beach Boys In Concert : gold (2 million)
THE BEATLES – Beatles For Sale : platinum
SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. : platinum
Best Selling Albums in 1965
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (soundtrack) : gold (12 million)
THE BEATLES – Rubber Soul : 6x platinum (8 million)
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – Whipped Cream & Other Delights : gold (6 million)
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – Going Places : gold (at least 4 million)
VINCE GUARALDI – A Charlie Brown Christmas : 4x platinum
THE BEATLES – Help! : 3x platinum
JOHN COLTRANE – A Love Supreme : gold (2 million)
THE BEATLES – VI : platinum
BOB DYLAN – Highway 61 Revisited : platinum
THE ROLLING STONES – Out Of Our Heads : platinum
Best Selling Albums in 1966
THE BEATLES – Revolver : 5x platinum (6 million)
THE MONKEES – The Monkees : 5x platinum
SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme : 3x platinum (5 million)
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – What Now My Love : gold (4 million)
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (soundtrack) : gold (at least 3 million)
SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Sounds Of Silence : 3x platinum
BOB DYLAN – Blonde On Blonde : 2x platinum
THE ROLLING STONES – Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass) : 2x platinum
THE BEACH BOYS – Best Of The Beach Boys : 2x platinum
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – S.R.O. : gold (2 million)
Best Selling Albums in 1967
THE BEATLES – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band : 11x platinum (14 million)
PATSY CLINE – Greatest Hits : 10x platinum
THE BEATLES – Magical Mystery Tour : 6x platinum
BARBRA STREISAND – A Christmas Album : 5x platinum
BOB DYLAN – Greatest Hits : 5x platinum
THE MONKEES – More Of The Monkees : 5x platinum
JIMI HENDRIX – Are You Experienced ? : 5x platinum
THE DOORS – The Doors : 4x platinum
DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES – Greatest Hits : uncertified (3 million)
ELVIS PRESLEY – How Great Thou Art : 3x platinum
Best Selling Albums in 1968
THE BEATLES – The Beatles : 19x platinum (11 million)
IRON BUTTERFLY – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida : 4x platinum
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS – Blood, Sweat & Tears : 4x platinum
JOHNNY CASH – At Folsom Prison : 3x platinum
FRANK SINATRA – Greatest Hits : 2x platinum (3 million)
SIMON & GARFUNKEL – Bookends : 2x platinum (3 million)
THE DOORS – Waiting For The Sun : platinum (3 million)
JIMI HENDRIX – Electric Ladyland : 2x platinum
SIMON & GARFUNKEL – The Graduate (soundtrack) : 2x platinum
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY – Cheap Thrills : 2x platinum
Best Selling Albums in 1969
THE BEATLES – Abbey Road : 12x platinum (14 million)
LED ZEPPELIN – II : 12x platinum
LED ZEPPELIN – I : 8x platinum
CROSBY, STILLS & NASH – Crosby, Stills & Nash : 4x platinum
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – Green River : 3x platinum
JOHNNY CASH – At San Quentin : 3x platinum
THE WHO – Tommy : 2x platinum (3 million)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – Willy & The Poor Boys : 2x platinum (3 million)
THE ROLLING STONES – Let It Bleed : 2x platinum (3 million)
CHICAGO – Chicago Transit Authority : 2x platinum (3 million)