Top 10 Highest-Selling AC/DC Albums Until 2023
The 1973-formed AC/DC is considered one of the greatest rock bands in the history of rock. Rocking its fans with their unique sound described as rock and roll, they have a lot of extraordinary stuff that changed the rock music, alongside the artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Queen.
During its ongoing near-5-decade career, AC/DC has released 17 studio albums in total. Two years after its formation in 1975, the band has officially entered rock music with its debut release, High Voltage, which was only released in Australia at first. In the same year, they updated their discography with T.N.T., and achieved international success with it. In 1976, the band had released their debut album all over the world, which featured a different tracklist. Adding numerous achievements to its catalog to date, AC/DC has released its latest studio album, Power Up, in 2020.
However, thanks to its huge releases, AC/DC won 18 awards out of its 27 nominations. Receiving its first-ever nomination as themselves in 1982 on American Music Award’s Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group category, AC/DC won its first award in 1995 for Big Gun on ARPA Awards’ Most Played Australian Work Overseas category.
So, if you ask how many albums AC/DC has sold until 2023 or what is the highest-selling AC/DC album of all time, you are in the right place. As of 2023, AC/DC has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. In this article, we are going to look at the highest-selling AC/DC albums until 2023 and give a little information about them. Let’s start it.
Top 10 Highest-Selling AC/DC Albums Until 2023
10. Ballbreaker
Number of Sales: 5.7 Million
The list starts with AC/DC‘s thirteenth studio album, Ballbreaker. Consisting of 11 tracks in total, AC/DC released the album on September 26, 1995. The album was a follow-up to the twelfth, The Razors Edge.
At press time, the album has 4.16 million studio album sales. In total, the album has sold 5.7 million copies worldwide. The album is the tenth highest-selling AC/DC album of all time, as of March 2023.
9. Powerage
Number of Sales: 6.6 Million
Marking the debut release of the band’s bassist Cliff Williams who replaced the original Mark Evans, Powerage is the ninth highest-selling AC/DC album until 2023 with 6.6 million album sales.
Consisting of 9 songs in its all CD releases, Powerage is the fifth studio album of AC/DC. The album includes some of the band’s beloved songs such as Gone Shootin, Kicked in the Teeth, Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation, Down Payment Blues, Gimme A Bullet, and Riff Raff. Receiving 3x Platinum by ARIA and Platinum by RIAA, the album peaked at number 133 on Billboard’s US 200 chart.
8. Black Ice
Number of Sales: 7.8 Million
Black Ice is one of the band’s recent releases alongside the last two Power Up and Rock Or Bust. Being the band’s fifteenth studio album, AC/DC has released the album on October 20, 2008.
As some of you might know, AC/DC had struggled with bad luck during the recording process of the album. It was delayed after the bassist Cliff Williams sustained an injury. Furthermore, the band had decided to change its label from Elektra to Sony Music.
Back in the day, AC/DC had decided not to sell the album digitally, as they released the album in physical formats. At press time, over 7 million copies have been sold as studio album sales. To date, the number of sales of the album is 7.8 million, which means it is the eighth highest-selling AC/DC album until 2023.
7. AC/DC – Let There Be Rock
Number of Sales: 12.1 Million
Let There Be Rock is the fourth studio album of AC/DC released on March 21, 1977. Being the first album to reach double-digit sales figures, the album was the last album that featured Mark Evans on bass.
With the album, AC/DC brought a bunch of hit songs to the fans. Let There Be Rock, Dog Eat Dog, Whole Lotta Rosie, Problem Child, Go Down, and Overdose are some of those hit songs. If we forgot, please share with us!
The album was certified 7x Platinum in total. While 5x Platinum came from ARIA, 2x Platinum came from RIAA. In addition to those certifications, the album had peaked at number 154 on US Billboard 200 chart. It was also the number 19 on 1977’s Australian Albums Charts.
As of March 2023, Let There Be Rock has sold 12.1 million copies worldwide. The album marks the seventh highest-selling AC/DC album of all time.
6. For Those About To Rock We Salute You
Number of Sales: 12.2 Million
The sixth of the list is the band’s eighth studio release, named For Those About to Rock We Salute You, with the number of 12.2 million sales. The band has released the album on November 20, 1981, and followed the huge success they received with seventh Back in Black.
The album consists of 10 tracks and more than 40-min listening time in total. Written by Brian Johnson and Young Brothers, the album features the self-titled opening track For Those About to Rock (We Salute You), Let’s Get It Up, Put the Finger on You, and Breaking the Rules.
Peaking at number one on US Billboard 200 chart during 1981 and 1982, the album peaked at number three on the Australian Albums chart in the same years. At press time, the album was certified 12-time Platinum in total. While ARIA certified 5x Platinum the album, RIAA certified 4x Platinum, and SNEP, BVMI, and IFPI certified Platinum separately.
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Number of Sales: 13.4 Million
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is the third studio album of AC/DC. The album was originally released on September 20, 1976. In that year, AC/DC did not release the album in the United States. Five years after its release, AC/DC released the album in the US in 1981.
Featuring Ride On, Jailbreak, Rocker, Problem Child, There’s Gonna Be Some Rockin, and many more, the album has received 13x Platinum certifications in total. While Germany’s BVMI certified Platinum the album, ARIA and RIAA certified 6x Platinum separately.
However, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is the fifth highest-selling album of AC/DC, with 13.4 million sales.
4. AC/DC – High Voltage
Number of Sales: 14.3 Million
AC/DC‘s debut release, High Voltage, has sold 14.3 million copies as of 2023, which means it is the fourth of the list.
At first, the album was released only in Australia on February 17, 1975, except for the band’s 1976-year international release that includes a different track list. Receiving only 5x Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, the album consisted of 8 tracks in total.
3. The Razors Edge
Number of Sales: 18.8 Million
The Razors Edge is the 1990 release of the rock band AC/DC. The album marks the band’s twelfth studio album that was a follow-up to the Blow Up Your Video.
The album is considered one of the greatest AC/DC albums of all time. Including the band’s hit songs Thunderstruck, the self-titled The Razors Edge, Are You Ready, and Mistress for Christmas, the album has 18 songs in total, as you can see the full track listing:
- Thunderstruck
- Fire Your Guns
- Moneytalks
- The Razors Edge
- Mistress for Christmas
- Rock Your Heart Out
- Are You Ready
- Got You by the Balls
- Shot of Love
- Let’s Make It
- Goodbye & Good Riddance to Bad Luck
- If You Dare
At press time, The Razors Edge has been certified 23x Platinum in total. While 5x Platinum certifications came from ARIA, RIAA, and Music Canada, separately, IFPI and BVMI certified 2x Platinum the album. The album was also certified Platinum by IFPI Australia, RMNZ, and Finland’s Musiikkituottajat.
The album has sold over 18.8 million copies worldwide, and it is the third-highest selling AC/DC albums until 2023.
2. Highway To Hell
Number of Sales: 23.2 Million
Highway To Hell was one of those albums that helped AC/DC to reach its world success. Released on July 27, 1979, the album is the band’s sixth studio album that marks the last album featuring lead singer Bon Scott.
The album’s self-titled opening track Highway To Hell had attracted great attention from rock fans back in the day it was released. Peaking at number two on the French Album chart in 1979, the album was number eight on the UK Albums chart. US Billboard 200 chart numbered it 17 in the same year.
In total, the album received 17 Platinum certifications. While 7x Platinum came from RIAA, 5x Platinum came from ARIA. Music Canada certified it 2x Platinum while IFPI Switzerland, SNEP, and BPI certified Platinum.
However, Highway To Hell is the second highest-selling album of AC/DC, with 23.2 million sales in total.
1. AC/DC – Back In Black
Number of Sales: 60.6 Million
Okay, here is the greatest one. Back in Black is the highest-selling AC/DC album of all time, with 60.6 million sales as of 2023.
Marking the first album to feature the band’s current singer Brian Johnson after the death of the late singer Bon Scott, the album was released on July 25, 1980. Even though it has been more than 4 decades since the album’s release, Back in Black has been a huge inspiration for every musician.
In this album, AC/DC sang some of its hit tracks such as Hells Bells, Shoot To Thrill, You Shook Me All Night Long, What Do You Do For Money Honey, Have a Drink on Me, and Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.
Peaking at number one on IFOP and UK Albums charts in 1980, the album was at number four on US Billboard 200 chart. In 1981, the album had numbered one on the Kent Music Report in Australia and Canada Top Albums/CDs charts.
[source Chartmasters]
