Top-selling British Album of the 1980s – Article

In the 1970s, the music industry saw the rise of blockbuster albums, nearly surpassing Hollywood as the most profitable entertainment sector. However, the 1980s still produced monumental albums that hold strong to this day. Michael Jackson’s Thriller remains the ultimate best-seller with a staggering 70 million copies sold, followed closely by AC/DC’s Back in Black at over 50 million units moved.

While rock music has historically revered albums, the emergence of punk and new wave music brought singles back into the spotlight, reminiscent of the influential era of rock ‘n’ roll. Nevertheless, albums continued to hold a vital position in the pop music sphere, with bands like Guns N’ Roses, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Journey achieving impressive sales figures above 20 million.

The launch of MTV in 1981 revolutionized music promotion, making music videos an essential marketing tool for albums. The best-selling albums of the era belonged to artists who were highly visible in the charts, in stark contrast to the more enigmatic Pink Floyd, whose record The Dark Side of the Moon was the top-selling British album of the 1970s.

The early 1980s witnessed the second British invasion of music, as UK acts aimed to conquer American audiences following in the footsteps of their musical idols. This musical influx brought bands like Duran Duran and Iron Maiden to American shores, achieving significant popularity alongside established acts like The Police and The Clash.

One band that stood out during this time commercially surpassed all others from the UK, becoming the emblem of MTV and the pinnacle of 1980s pop music. Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, released in 1985, dominated the music scene, spending several weeks at the top of the UK and Billboard charts. Transitioning from their folk-rock roots to a more polished sound, this album epitomized the extravagant and flashy aesthetic of the 1980s.

Brothers in Arms set records with its sales, becoming the first CD to sell over a million copies and the first album in the UK to achieve ten-times platinum status. Despite critical backlash towards singles like ‘Walk of Life’, the album’s massive success was fueled by its groundbreaking CGI video for ‘Money for Nothing’, which became a staple on MTV’s playlist.

While Dire Straits’ eponymous debut album from 1978 holds sentimental value for many fans, Brothers in Arms remains the defining work that solidified the band’s legacy. Its monumental success and lasting impact on music history make it a standout creation from the vibrant 1980s music scene.