Best Selling Albums in the 1960s: Listed Each Year
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)