Did you know that Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the first album to be certified RIAA 30x Multi-Platinum for sales in the United States alone?
It remains the biggest album of all time, exceeding 100 million sales worldwide. Take THAT! Adele. Give her time.
Listening to it now only confirms my obsession with this period of Michael Jackson’s career. It was such a huge soundtrack to our childhood, along with Kiss and Boney M and Creedence Clearwater Revival. I can’t even tell you how many times my little brother watched The Making of Thriller documentary. We lived and breathed this album, re-enacting each of his music videos in the loungeroom. Hearing it again takes me back to happy childhood times.
At his best, Michael Jackson was such a style icon, whether you liked all his leather or not, he took risks, and mostly won. That glove, those socks and the red leather jacket. Supreme.
“RIAA has awarded Gold and Platinum records on behalf of the music business for nearly 60 years, but this is the first time an artist has crossed the 30X multi-Platinum plateau,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, RIAA.
“We are honoured to celebrate the unique status of Thriller in Gold and Platinum history. What an exceptional achievement and testament to Thriller’s enduring spot in our hearts and musical history.”
Michael Jackson’s Thriller was released in November 1982 and was produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. It won a record setting 8 Grammy awards, more than any album ever. It was the first album in history to spend each of its first 80 weeks in the album chart’s Top 10; an achievement only reached by one other album in the last 30 years since it’s release.
The Garb Wire 