The Top 10 Highest-Selling Van Halen Albums Of All Time
There are numerous great rock bands in the huge rock community, no doubt. Even though certain artists and fans have been defending the rumor that rock is dead, Van Halen is one of those bands that carry the genre.
Beginning its career in 1973, Van Halen was a California-based rock band formed by the Van Halen brothers Eddie Van Halen and Alex Van Halen. From the band’s first gig to the last one, they were known for their energetic live shows, as they were credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene.
As some of you might know, the band had consisted of David Lee Roth on vocals, Eddie Van Halen on guitars, Alex Van Halen on drums, and Michael Anthony on bass from early days until 1985. During that period, the band released six studio albums. While the band’s debut studio album was 1978’s self-titled effort, the sixth album was 1984-released 1984. The band’s first six albums have been certified 2x Diamond and 31x Platinum in total so far.
In 1985, the band’s David Lee Roth had parted ways with the band, replacing The Red Rocker, known as Sammy Hagar. With Hagar, Van Halen had released four studio albums, 1986’s 5150, 1988’s OU812, 1991’s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and 1995’s Balance. At press time, all four albums have been certified 25x Platinum in total.
In 1996, Sammy Hagar had left the band, as David Lee Roth joined the band. The original four had recorded new tracks for the band’s first greatest hits album, named Best Of – Volume 1. In the same year, the band replaced David Lee Roth with Gary Cherone, who performed only in the band’s eleventh effort, Van Halen III.
From 2003 to 2005, the band reunited with Sammy Hagar but did not release any studio albums during that period. The band’s latest studio album, A Different Kind of Truth, was released by the band’s original lead vocalist, David Lee Roth, who reunited with them from 2007 to 2020.
How many albums Van Halen has sold until 2023? What is Van Halen‘s most sold album? At press time, Van Halen‘s honors include 56x Platinum, 2x Diamond, and many more Gold and Silver certifications. As of 2023, Van Halen has over 80 million studio album sales worldwide. Also, the band’s awards include Rock Hall induction, American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, and an MTV Video Music Awards.
The Top 10 Highest-Selling Van Halen Albums Of All Time
10. Fair Warning
Number of Sales: 4.1 Million
The fourth studio album of Van Halen, Fair Warning, was released on April 29, 1981, and is considered as the band’s slowest-selling album of the David Lee Roth-era with commercially disappointing sales.
Consisting of 13 tracks in total, the album includes hit songs such as Mean Street, Dirty Movies, Unchained, So This Is Love?, One Foot Out the Door, and One Foot Out the Door. At press time, RIAA certified 2x Platinum and Music Canada certified Platinum the album. The album had peaked at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart.
As of 2023, Fair Warning sold over 4.1 million copies worldwide. The album is the band’s tenth highest-selling studio album of all time.
9. Van Halen – Balance
Number of Sales: 4.9 Million
Balance was the tenth studio album of the rock band Van Halen. The band released the album on January 24, 1995. It was the band’s latest album with the band’s former singer Sammy Hagar.
The album’s all songs have been written by the band’s Sammy Hagar-era lineup. Including Amsterdam, Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do), Aftershock, Take Me Back (Deja Vu), Feelin’, Big Fat Money, and The Seventh Seal, the album had peaked number one on the US Billboard 200 chart.
At press time, RIAA and Music Canada certified the album 3x Platinum. In addition to those, RIAJ of Japan certified the album Platinum due to 200,000 shipments figures.
Balance is the band’s ninth highest-selling studio album of all time, with over 4.9 million studio album sales.
8. Van Halen – For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Number of Sales: 4.95 Million
The eighth album of the list, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, was Van Halen‘s ninth studio album released in 1991. The album is the third studio album featuring Sammy Hagar.
As the tenth studio album, the ninth Unlawful Carnal‘s all material is written by the band’s entire lineup. The band’s late guitarist Eddie Van Halen had performed an electric drill in the band’s opening track, Poundcake.
Consisted of 11 tracks in total, the album has a 52-min listening time. The album has also peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, just like the tenth. It seems that the band’s Sammy Hagar-era was full of successes.
The album was certified by 3x Platinum by RIAA and Platinum by Music Canada. In 1991, the album won Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance category.
So, how many copies For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge sold until 2023? The number of sales of the album is over 4.95 million as of 2023, which means it is the eighth highest-selling studio album of Van Halen.
7. Women and Children First
Number of Sales: 5.4 Million
Women and Children First the band’s third studio album released on March 26, 1980, via Warmer Bros. The album marked the first album to not feature any cover songs.
In total, the album consisted of 9 tracks. Certifying by 3x Platinum by RIAA, the album was also certified 2x Platinum by MC. It also has two different Gold certifications from different industries.
In this album, David Lee Roth had played acoustic guitar for the band’s classic Could This Be Magic?, which also featured Nicolette Larson on backing vocals. The album also includes the band’s classic songs such as And the Cradle Will Rock…, Everybody Wants Some!!, Fools, Loss Of Control, and In a Simple Rhyme.
As of 2023, the seventh highest-selling album of the band, Women and Children First, sold over 5.4 million copies around the world.
6. Diver Down
Number of Sales: 5.7 Million
Diver Down was Van Halen‘s 1982-released fifth studio album, which sold four million copies in the United States.
Certified 4x Platinum by RIAA and Platinum by Music Canada, the album consisted of 12 tracks in total, including the instrumental versions. Peaked at number three on US Billboard 200 chart, the album’s single, (Oh) Pretty Woman, peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Van Halen‘s some beloved songs, Where Have All the Good Times Gone!, Secrets, Hang ‘Em High, Little Guitars, and Dancing in the Street, are in the band’s Diver Down album.
As of 2023, Van Halen‘s Diver Down sold more than 5.7 million copies worldwide. According to ChartMasters, this album is the band’s tenth highest-selling album of all time.
5. OU812
Number of Sales: 5.8 Million
OU812 is the fifth highest-selling Van Halen album of all time, which was released in 1988. The album marked the second feature to the former singer Sammy Hagar.
The album consisted of 10 tracks in its original release. Featuring songs like Cabo Wabo, Mine All Mine, When It’s Love, Feels So Good, Source of Infection, and Black and Blue, the album received 4x Platinum by RIAA.
The band’s beloved songs When It’s Love and Black and Blue had peaked at number one on 1988’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart separately. The album also reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart in 1988.
Van Halen had made a concert tour to support the album. The OU812 tour had begun in early August 1988 in Moscow and finished in Tokyo, Japan.
4. Van Halen II
Number of Sales: 7.25 Million
Van Halen II was the second studio album of Van Halen. The album was released in 1979, via Warner Bros.
Certifying 5x Platinum by RIAA and 2x Platinum by MC, the band released Dance the Night Away, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Light Up The Sky, Outta Love Again, and Beautiful Girls in this album.
The album’s recording process took place at Sunset Studio. Starting to record the album on December 10, 1978, the band had finished the recording session within a week, December 16.
As of 2023, the number of studio album sales of Van Halen II is over 7.25 million, which means it’s the fourth highest-selling Van Halen album of all time.
3. 5150
Number of Sales: 8.8 Million
5150 was the seventh studio album of the Van Halen. The band released the album on March 24, 1986, under the leadership of Sammy Hagar. As some of you might know, the album was the first album that featured Hagar on vocals.
The album hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Also, the album’s heartwarming single Why Can’t This Be Love made at number one on Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
RIAA certified the album 6x Platinum while Music Canada certifying 3x Platinum and ARIA certifying 2x Platinum. Consisting of 9 tracks in total, the album has more than 43-min listening time.
Van Halen‘s 5150 has more than 8.8 studio album sales worldwide. This means the album is the third highest-selling Van Halen album of all time.
2. 1984
Number of Sales: 15.5 Million
Van Halen released its 1984-named studio album in early 1984. It was the last studio album featured David Lee Roth until his reunion in 1996.
The album consisted of 9 tracks in total. Every one of the song’s of the album are written by the original members of the band, except for I’ll Wait, which featured Michael McDonald.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album number 81 on the list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s. The album also peaked number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album’s one of the hit songs, Jump, was the band’s only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album’s certifications included 7x Platinum in total. It also included a Diamond certification by RIAA.
As of 2023, Van Halen‘s 5150 reached over 15.5 million studio album sales. The album is the second highest-selling Van Halen album of all time.
1. Van Halen
Number of Sales: 15.6 Million
The self-titled Van Halen was album released in early 1978. Even though it was the debut album of the band, the album helped the rockers to gain international fame.
The album has a couple of greatest songs. According to fans, the instrumental Eruption is considered one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. It has popularized two-handed tapping. It also includes the band’s unique pieces such as Runnin’ with the Devil, You Really Got Me, On Fire, Little Dreamer, Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love, and I’m the One.
The self-titled album sold more than 10 million in the United States. Thanks to that huge success, the album was received a Diamond certification by RIAA. It also received 4x Platinum by MC and Platinum by Netherlands’ NVPI.
Van Halen’s self-titled studio album is the highest-selling album of all time, with 15.6 million sales.
