Eagles’ ‘Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975’ Becomes Bestselling Album in U.S. History

The Eagles have reached a historic milestone. Their 1976 compilation album, Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975, has officially sold more than 40 million units in the United States, making it the bestselling album of all time in the country.

The news comes from a new certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which tracks album sales and streaming equivalents across the U.S.

The RIAA also announced that the Eagles’ classic studio album Hotel California has been certified 28-times platinum, confirming its place as the third bestselling album in U.S. history.

The second bestselling album is Thriller by Michael Jackson, which was certified 34-times diamond in 2021.

How RIAA certifications work

RIAA certifications must be applied for by record labels and are verified through a third-party audit. While diamond status originally meant 10 million album sales, the system changed in 2013 to include streaming. Today, 1,500 album streams count as one album sale.

Celebrating 50 years

Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975 was released on Feb. 17, 1976, nearly 50 years ago. To mark the anniversary and the new certification, the band has released a crystal-clear, 180-gram vinyl edition of the album.

Founding member Don Henley reflected on the achievement in a statement to The Associated Press.

“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,” Henley said. “We are amazed and grateful.”

A record-breaking residency

The milestone arrives during a busy moment for the Eagles. On Friday, the band will begin the final 12 shows of their residency at Sphere in Las Vegas. The run will set a record as the longest residency at the high-tech venue.

According to a press release, Eagles – Live In Concert At Sphere has drawn more than 700,000 fans across 44 performances since launching on Sept. 20, 2024.

A lasting legacy

Formed in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, the Eagles became known for blending rock and country into a sound that defined the decade. Songs like “Hotel California” and “Take It Easy” became enduring classics.

The band split in 1980 and reunited in 1994, with Henley and Glenn Frey as the remaining original members. Frey died in 2016.

The Eagles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and honored at the Kennedy Center in 2016, cementing their place as one of the most successful and influential bands in American music history.