There were a number of years where it was a battle between Michael Jackson and The Eagles as to who had the album with the most sales in the United States.  The two artists vacillated back and forth around the 28 and 29 million mark until The Eagles edges out for the lead…and has been slowly climbing ever since.

The RIAA – Recording Industry Association of America – has just certified that “The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1976” as the best selling album in the United States with a whopping 40 MILLION albums sold! That’s FOUR time Diamond!

The RIAA only tracks music sold in the U.S.; which mean the number is a good bit higher when the numbers from around the world are combined.

But that wasn’t the only good news coming from the RIAA…The Eagles album “Hotel California“ has been certified 28 times platinum – that’ 28 million copies sold; making it the third most album sold in the U.S. 

Sandwiched between The Eagles is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at 34 million.

When the RIAA first began tracking album and song sales, it was strictly the number of physical copies sold; however, in 2013 to accommodate the digital age, the RIAA began adding digital downloads and streaming.  Today, 1,500 streams of a song equals one song sale; as does 1,500 streams of a single album equals one album sale.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Kennedy Center Honors band released their Greatest Hits album on February 17, 1976 – 50 years ago.

In celebration of the news from the RIAA and the 50th anniversary of the release, The Eagles are releasing a crystal clear vinyl edition of the album on February 13 that will be available only at Eagles.com.

Eagles singer and drumer Don Henley spoke on the album’s news saying, “in an age, in a culture, where everything seems to become more ephemeral, by the day, it is gratifying to have been part of something that endures, even for fifty years,  We are amazed and grateful.”

Having added a few more shows to their current residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, The Eagles are about to set the record for the “longest running residency” at the iconic venue.

Eagles– Live in Concert at Sphere
Friday, January 23
Saturday, January 24
Friday, January 30
Saturday, January 31
Friday, February 20
Saturday, February 21
Friday, February 27
Saturday, February 28
Friday, March 20
Saturday, March 21
Friday, March 27
Saturday, March 28