# How many of the RIAA best selling albums do you own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652 "2005-08-26T00:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/41 "2005-08-26T05:26:16Z")
I don’t just not only a single one of those albums, I went out and bought a copy of each one and then made a bonfire of all of them! Ha! Okay, at one time or another I owned 18 of them. Random coincidence: the batteries in my radio died just as Michael Hutchence sang “disappear” a second time ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/42 "2005-08-26T05:26:33Z")
Thirty-seven. Considering how little music I have, it’s quite a surprise. I believe I still listen to only about seven or eight of them, if that. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/43 "2005-08-26T05:30:40Z")
Of our 800-or-so albums and cds, 67 are on that list. We still have all of them, too, even the ones we don’t particularly like, because Mr. Legend and I are constitutionally incapable of getting rid of any books or music. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/44 "2005-08-26T06:08:34Z")
Out of the thousands of CDs and thousands more LPs in my collection, I have only 19 of these, mostly Beatles. A few others I had in the past but don’t currently own (the first three Zeps, CSNY’s _Déjà Vu_ and Sly & the Family Stone’s _Greatest Hits_…although I do have the Sly _Anthology_ CD, which probably includes everything that’s on the _Hits_ LP plus much more). By the way, the list includes both _Led Zeppelin_ and _Led Zeppelin I_. Aren’t those the same album? ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/45 "2005-08-26T06:14:52Z")
Right now, two. The Wall and Sgt Pepper, both on vinyl. I’ve owned others (Alanis Morrisette and Pearl Jam leap out at me, as do the Beatles, but I couldn’t tell you where they are now). ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/46 "2005-08-26T08:10:41Z")
Five total. Four are from the same band. And I listen to alot of music. Apparently just not bands that sell well. Slee ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/47 "2005-08-26T09:08:35Z")
53, mostly Beatles and Led Zeppelin and U2, although quite a few are owned by my wife who has an insatiable pop fetish. I bet I have more, I inherited a stack of 80s vinyl upstairs and I know for a fact that all of the 80s Genesis and Phil Collins stuff is in there, as well as Boston and Foreigner and Journey. Like many of you, I have around 1300 CDs. I have probably fewer than 10 greatest hits CDs (off the top of my head, a B.B. King one, an Albert Collins Rhino 2 disc set, Isaac Hayes, Jackson 5, War, James Brown, Elvis Presley, Howlin’ Wolf). That dooms any serious music fan from owning more than a fair share of those albums. I know I have gradually sold most of my greatest hits albums bought when younger and more naieve as I have acquired the full albums… ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/48 "2005-08-26T11:21:01Z")
Three, and one of those is ACDC’s Back in Black, on vinyl. ---
**Author:** ![SlyFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@SlyFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlyFrog)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/49 "2005-08-26T12:06:37Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I get the feeling that because it’s the RIAA’s list, folks are being a bit uppity. 🙂 You think? I’m pretty sure it’s because everyone is eclectic and slightly edgy with their taste in music, unpredictable and liking real music that isn’t the mainstream stuff the man feeds us from his big Madison Avenue thought machine. Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/50 "2005-08-26T12:41:38Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > You think? I’m pretty sure it’s because everyone is eclectic and slightly edgy with their taste in music I don’t think I could ever be called “edgy.” I’m wholeheartedly pedestrian. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/51 "2005-08-26T12:42:30Z")
4 Queen - Greatest Hits Pink Floyd - The Wall Metallica - Metallica Alanis Morisette - Jagged Little Pill ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/52 "2005-08-26T12:47:22Z")
I have 37. I laughed at the inclusion of at least twice as many. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/53 "2005-08-26T12:48:22Z")
> [@SlyFrog](#): > > You think? I’m pretty sure it’s because everyone is eclectic and slightly edgy with their taste in music, unpredictable and liking real music that isn’t the mainstream stuff the man feeds us from his big Madison Avenue thought machine. Yeah! One person’s “edgy” is another person’s utter crap. My opinion, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/54 "2005-08-26T12:52:41Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > By the way, the list includes both _Led Zeppelin_ and _Led Zeppelin I_. Aren’t those the same album? “Led Zeppelin IV” never had an official title. Just “Led Zeppelin”. It was called “IV” because, duh, it was their fourth release. Kinda like Peter Gabriel’s first 3-4 albums. They were all called “Peter Gabriel”. He wanted to issue albums like a magaazine. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/55 "2005-08-26T13:14:46Z")
Yoo hoo! Rock snobs! Here’s fresh meat for ya! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gaucho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@gaucho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaucho)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/56 "2005-08-26T13:22:33Z")
1- Sly & The Family Stone’s Greatest Hits And I have no idea how that found its way into that steaming pile of crap. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/57 "2005-08-26T13:28:47Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Yoo hoo! Rock snobs! Here’s fresh meat for ya! 🙂 They’re already here. I used to hate things that were popular just because they were popular. Then I grew up. I used to crap in people’s threads (a loooooonnnggggg time ago) when the subject was not to my taste. Then I grew up some more. Let the kiddies play. If this is all it takes to make them happy, well, it’s no skin off my nose. I’m intelligent enough to know a poll thread from an opinion thread and mature enough not to post an opinion where one wasn’t asked. ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/58 "2005-08-26T14:10:02Z")
None, and I have between 400-500 CDs (counting both albums and singles) in my collection. I think I used to have one or both of the Enya albums in my CD rack years ago. They might have been someone elses though. I guess I am just not that in touch with what the American public likes in music. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/59 "2005-08-26T14:19:08Z")
I have 14. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652/60 "2005-08-26T14:34:40Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > “Led Zeppelin IV” never had an official title. Just “Led Zeppelin”. It was called “IV” because, duh, it was their fourth release. I wasn’t referring to that one. The list includes the first four Zeppelin albums, all with Roman numerals, _and_ includes a fifth album just listed as _Led Zeppelin_. To me _Led Zeppelin_ should refer to the first album, but I’m guessing that here it’s supposed to be the first LZ box set (which I thought was called “Box Set,” but that may be just an informal title, like “Runes,” “Zoso” or “IV” for the fourth). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-of-the-riaa-best-selling-albums-do-you-own/318652.md?page=4)