December 22, 2008

Which sold?

With all this Christmas music I'm posting, you may wonder what the 40 best-selling holiday albums of all time are, and who put them out?

Wonder no more.

All of the albums in this all-time top 40 have either sold 1.5 million copies, according to Nielsen/SoundScan, or have been certified double platinum by the RIAA, reflecting shipments of 2 million copies. The list includes a broad range of music. Pop and country are well represented, as you might expect, but there's also a smattering of R&B (Boyz II Men), jazz (The Vince Guaraldi Trio), jazz lite (Kenny G, Harry Connick Jr.) and classical crossover (Josh Groban, Charlotte Church).

Five artists have multiple entries in the top 40. Mannheim Steamroller has four, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has three, and Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers and Kenny G each have two.

The top ten albums?
  • Elvis -- Elvis' Christmas Album
  • Kenny G -- Miracles
  • Mannheim Steamroller -- A Fresh Aire Christmas
  • Mannheim Steamroller -- Christmas
  • Celine Dion -- These Are Special Times
  • Barbra Streisand -- A Christmas Album
  • Johnny Mathis -- Merry Christmas
  • Mariah Carey -- Merry Christmas
  • Josh Groban -- Noel
  • Various Artists -- A Very Special Christmas (1987)

I own the two Mannheim Steamroller albums and four others on the list.

Posted by Linkmeister at December 22, 2008 02:16 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I don't have any of 'em. Bummer.

Posted by: Karan at December 22, 2008 06:40 PM

You never caught the Mannheim Steamroller wave? I've got the other two they did plus the Vince Guaraldi Trio Charlie Brown Christmas album and the Carpenters one.

Posted by: Linkmeister at December 22, 2008 07:48 PM

I have all but one of your selections.

Great minds think alike

Posted by: pixelshim at December 23, 2008 02:02 AM

Nope...didn't go there and I can't remember why.

Posted by: Karan at December 23, 2008 09:17 AM

Christmas isn't Xmas without the KING! I also can't survive the season without Tony Bennett, either.

Posted by: cookie jill at December 23, 2008 01:51 PM

hmmmm,
I have the David Foster Christmas Album-love it.
And Liberace Christmas. That is wonderful....
That man could tickle the ivories...

Posted by: toxiclabrat at December 26, 2008 02:31 PM