Billboard - All 88 Diamond-Certified Albums Ranked From Worst to Best

[bootsy]

I'm not very good at finding these lists but this one caught my eye. This one may be a stretch but I figured I would try anyway.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/ ... iaa-ranked

88. Kenny G, Breathless (1992, 12x Platinum)
87. Creed, Human Clay (1999, 11x Platinum)
86. Garth Brooks, Sevens (1997, 10x Platinum)
85. Various Artists, Titanic Soundtrack (1997, 11x Platinum)
84. Matchbox 20, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996, 12x Platinum)
83. Celine Dion, Let’s Talk About Love (1997, 10x Platinum)
82. Santana, Supernatural (1999, 15x Platinum)
81. Britney Spears. …Baby One More Time (1999, 14x Platinum)
80. Hammer, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990, 10x Platinum)
79. *NSYNC, ‘N Sync (1998, 10x Platinum)
78. Elvis Presley, Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957, 10x Platinum)
77. Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys (1997, 14x Platinum)
76. Various Artists, Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987, 11x Platinum)
75. Celine Dion, Falling Into You (1996, 11x Platinum)
74. OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003, 11x Platinum)
73. Garth Brooks, Ropin’ the Wind (1991, 14x Platinum)
72. Backstreet Boys, Millennium (1999, 13x Platinum)
71. Jewel, Pieces of You (1997, 12x Platinum)
70. Shania Twain, Up! (2002, 11x Platinum)
69. Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet (1986, 12x Platinum)
68. Hootie and the Blowfish, Cracked Rear View (1994, 16x Platinum)
67. Boyz II Men, II (1994, 12x Platinum)
66. Mariah Carey, Daydream (1995, 10x Platinum)
65. Kid Rock, Devil Without a Cause (1999, 11x Platinum)
64. Various Artists, The Lion King Soundtrack (10x Platinum, 1994)
63. Def Leppard, Pyromania (1983, 10x Platinum)
62. Britney Spears, Oops!... I Did It Again (2000, 10x Platinum)
61. Lionel Richie, Can’t Slow Down (1983, 10x Platinum)
60. Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces (1998, 12x Platinum)
59. *NSYNC, No Strings Attached (2000, 11x Platinum)
58. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me (2002, 10x Platinum)
57. Phil Collins, No Jacket Required (1985, 12x Platinum)
56. Mariah Carey, Music Box (1993, 10x Platinum)
55. Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory (2000, 10x Platinum)
54. Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell (1977, 14x Platinum)
53. ZZ Top, Eliminator (1983, 10x Platinum)
52. Adele, 25 (2015, 10x Platinum)
51. Various Artists, The Bodyguard Soundtrack (1992, 17x Platinum)
50. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (I) (1969, 10x Platinum)
49. Nelly, Country Grammar (2000, 10x Platinum)
48. Usher, Confessions (2004, 10x Platinum)
47. Garth Brooks, Garth Brooks (1989, 10x Platinum)
46. Billy Joel, The Stranger (1977, 10x Platinum)
45. Pearl Jam, Ten (1991, 13x Platinum)
44. Shania Twain, The Woman In Me (1994, 12x Platinum)
43. Eagles, Hotel California (1976, 16x Platinum)
42. Dixie Chicks, Fly (1999, 10x Platinum)
41. No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom (10x Platinum, 1996)
40. Eminem, The Eminem Show (10x Platinum, 2002)
39. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston (1985, 13x Platinum)
38. Def Leppard, Hysteria (1987, 12x Platinum)
37. Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti (1975, 16x Platinum)
36. Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill (1995, 16x Platinum)
35. Boston, Boston (1976, 17x Platinum)
34. Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995, 10x Platinum)
33. AC/DC, Back in Black (1980, 22x Platinum)
32. George Michael, Faith (1987, 10x Platinum)
31. Garth Brooks, No Fences (1990, 17x Platinum)
30. Van Halen, 1984 (1984, 10x Platinum)
29. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon (1972, 15x Platinum)
28. Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy (1973, 11x Platinum)
27. 2Pac, All Eyez on Me (1996, 10x Platinum)
26. U2, The Joshua Tree (1987, 10x Platinum)
25. Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (1988, 18x Platinum)
24. Carole King, Tapestry (1971, 10x Platinum)
23. Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. (1984, 15x Platinum)
22. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977, 20x Platinum)
21. Green Day, Dookie (1994, 10x Platinum)
20. Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (1986, 10x Platinum)
19. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II (1969, 12x Platinum)
18. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 11x Platinum)
17. Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death (1997, 10x Platinum)
16. Shania Twain, Come On Over (1997, 20x Platinum)
15. Metallica, Metallica (The Black Album) (1991, 16x Platinum)
14. Pink Floyd, The Wall (23x Platinum, 1979)
13. Adele, 21 (2011, 14x Platinum)
12. Van Halen, Van Halen (1978, 10x Platinum)
11. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (1976, 10x Platinum)
10. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000, 10x Platinum)
9. Madonna, Like a Virgin (1984, 10x Platinum)
8. The Beatles, The Beatles (The White Album) (1968, 19x Platinum)
7. TLC, CrazySexyCool (1995, 11x Platinum)
6. Various Artists, Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977, 15x Platinum)
5. Nirvana, Nevermind (1991, 10x Platinum)
4. Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982, 32x Platinum)
3. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV (1971, 23x Platinum)
2. The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969, 12x Platinum)
1. Prince, Purple Rain (1984, 13x Platinum)

[Henrik]

Despite the we's, based on the low places of Dark Side and Sgt Pepper, I think this is a single critics' list. Could still be eligible though. I need to think about it.

[Daniel]

While I like the idea of a ranked list of the Diamond albums, there are quite a few head-scratchers.

Based on which albums have more than 10 placements' difference between Billboard's rank and where they would rank using AcclaimedMusic's list, Sgt. Pepper, Dark Side of the Moon, Joshua Tree, Rumours, Appetite for Destruction, Tapestry, Back in Black, Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin I, Hotel California, Ten, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Bat Out of Hell, The Stranger, Eliminator, Slippery When Wet, Pyromania, Come Away with Me, Ropin' the Wind, Supernatural and Elvis' Christmas Album are all ranked too low, while Fly, The Woman in Me, Garth Brooks, No Fences, Come On Over, All Eyez on Me, Life After Death, Like a Virgin, 21, CrazySexyCool, Van Halen (1978), Marshall Mathers LP and Saturday Night Fever, are all ranked too high.

Here is how the Diamond albums would be sorted, if we went by their Acclaimed Music all time rank. I kept Billboard's rank intact to show the contrast:

01 | 5. Nirvana, Nevermind (1991, 10x Platinum) – #3
02 | 18. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 11x Platinum) – #5
03 | 8. The Beatles, The Beatles (The White Album) (1968, 19x Platinum) – #13
04 | 2. The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969, 12x Platinum) – #19
05 | 29. Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon (1972, 15x Platinum) – #21
06 | 4. Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982, 32x Platinum) – #25
07 | 3. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV (1971, 23x Platinum) – #28
08 | 26. U2, The Joshua Tree (1987, 10x Platinum) – #39
09 | 1. Prince, Purple Rain (1984, 13x Platinum) – #44
10 | 11. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (1976, 10x Platinum) – #46
11 | 22. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977, 20x Platinum) – #55
12 | 25. Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (1988, 18x Platinum) – #61
13 | 24. Carole King, Tapestry (1971, 10x Platinum) – #71
14 | 19. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II (1969, 12x Platinum) – #74
15 | 33. AC/DC, Back in Black (1980, 22x Platinum) – #97
16 | 37. Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti (1975, 16x Platinum) – #106
17 | 50. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin (I) (1969, 10x Platinum) – #115
18 | 43. Eagles, Hotel California (1976, 16x Platinum) – #117
19 | 45. Pearl Jam, Ten (1991, 13x Platinum) – #138
20 | 14. Pink Floyd, The Wall (23x Platinum, 1979) – #145
21 | 23. Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. (1984, 15x Platinum) – #150
22 | 6. Various Artists, Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977, 15x Platinum) – #169
23 | 10. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000, 10x Platinum) – #180
24 | 20. Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (1986, 10x Platinum) – #183
25 | 15. Metallica, Metallica (The Black Album) (1991, 16x Platinum) – #216
26 | 12. Van Halen, Van Halen (1978, 10x Platinum) – #240
27 | 34. Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995, 10x Platinum) – #265
28 | 74. OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003, 11x Platinum) – #282
29 | 21. Green Day, Dookie (1994, 10x Platinum) – #307
30 | 36. Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill (1995, 16x Platinum) – #420
31 | 54. Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell (1977, 14x Platinum) – #497
32 | 28. Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy (1973, 11x Platinum) – #511
33 | 7. TLC, CrazySexyCool (1995, 11x Platinum) – #557
34 | 46. Billy Joel, The Stranger (1977, 10x Platinum) – #559
35 | 35. Boston, Boston (1976, 17x Platinum) – #609
36 | 32. George Michael, Faith (1987, 10x Platinum) – #658
37 | 13. Adele, 21 (2011, 14x Platinum) – #662
38 | 30. Van Halen, 1984 (1984, 10x Platinum) – #717
39 | 9. Madonna, Like a Virgin (1984, 10x Platinum) – #849
40 | 38. Def Leppard, Hysteria (1987, 12x Platinum) – #963
41 | 53. ZZ Top, Eliminator (1983, 10x Platinum) – #980
42 | 17. Notorious B.I.G., Life After Death (1997, 10x Platinum) – #982
43 | 27. 2Pac, All Eyez on Me (1996, 10x Platinum) – #1012
44 | 69. Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet (1986, 12x Platinum) – #1079
45 | 63. Def Leppard, Pyromania (1983, 10x Platinum) – #1119
46 | 58. Norah Jones, Come Away With Me (2002, 10x Platinum) – #1240
47 | 40. Eminem, The Eminem Show (10x Platinum, 2002) – #1532
48 | 41. No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom (10x Platinum, 1996) – #1595
49 | 39. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston (1985, 13x Platinum) – #1720
50 | 16. Shania Twain, Come On Over (1997, 20x Platinum) – #2327
51 | 61. Lionel Richie, Can’t Slow Down (1983, 10x Platinum) – #2580

51–62 | 31. Garth Brooks, No Fences (1990, 17x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 48. Usher, Confessions (2004, 10x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 49. Nelly, Country Grammar (2000, 10x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 51. Various Artists, The Bodyguard Soundtrack (1992, 17x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 55. Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory (2000, 10x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 65. Kid Rock, Devil Without a Cause (1999, 11x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 68. Hootie and the Blowfish, Cracked Rear View (1994, 16x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 73. Garth Brooks, Ropin’ the Wind (1991, 14x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 78. Elvis Presley, Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957, 10x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER
51–62 | 82. Santana, Supernatural (1999, 15x Platinum) – BUBBLING UNDER


N/A | 52. Adele, 25 (2015, 10x Platinum) – N/A

64-88 | 42. Dixie Chicks, Fly (1999, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 44. Shania Twain, The Woman In Me (1994, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 47. Garth Brooks, Garth Brooks (1989, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 56. Mariah Carey, Music Box (1993, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 57. Phil Collins, No Jacket Required (1985, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 59. *NSYNC, No Strings Attached (2000, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 60. Dixie Chicks, Wide Open Spaces (1998, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 62. Britney Spears, Oops!... I Did It Again (2000, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 64. Various Artists, The Lion King Soundtrack (10x Platinum, 1994) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 66. Mariah Carey, Daydream (1995, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 67. Boyz II Men, II (1994, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 70. Shania Twain, Up! (2002, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 71. Jewel, Pieces of You (1997, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 72. Backstreet Boys, Millennium (1999, 13x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 75. Celine Dion, Falling Into You (1996, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 76. Various Artists, Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 77. Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys (1997, 14x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 79. *NSYNC, ‘N Sync (1998, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 80. Hammer, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 81. Britney Spears. …Baby One More Time (1999, 14x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 83. Celine Dion, Let’s Talk About Love (1997, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 84. Matchbox 20, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 85. Various Artists, Titanic Soundtrack (1997, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 88. Kenny G, Breathless (1992, 12x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 87. Creed, Human Clay (1999, 11x Platinum) – UNLISTED
64-88 | 86. Garth Brooks, Sevens (1997, 10x Platinum) – UNLISTED

[Nick]

24 of the 88 diamond albums appear in the AM top 200, while 26 don't even appear bubbling under. I wonder what this says, if anything, about the tastes of the masses?

[Dexter]

It doesn't. You see the majority of those albums marked red above are from the 90s where CDs are at their most accessible and cheap and piracy was just a minor itch for record companies. Vinyls (pre-mid80s) are expensive in comparison and remember SoundScan, used in late 1991, changed the way Billboard counted album sales.Well, if there's one thing I observed, having grew-up in the 90s is MTVs influence among prepubescents and teens who appear to be the biggest purchasers of CDs. Then, the internet (piracy), youtube and streaming in particular changed the game.

[JR]

Just a note- SoundScan started tracking sales in March 1991, and Billboard started using it for he albums chart in May of that year (the Hot 100's methodology changed in late 1991, to incorporate SoundScan and BDS info).

Daniel- most lists don't order albums based on how they'd rank on AM, so why should this one be different?

[prosecutorgodot]

It doesn't. You see the majority of those albums marked red above are from the 90s where CDs are at their most accessible and cheap and piracy was just a minor itch for record companies. Vinyls (pre-mid80s) are expensive in comparison and remember SoundScan, used in late 1991, changed the way Billboard counted album sales.Well, if there's one thing I observed, having grew-up in the 90s is MTVs influence among prepubescents and teens who appear to be the biggest purchasers of CDs. Then, the internet (piracy), youtube and streaming in particular changed the game.

Spot on, Dexter!

[Jonathon]

24 of the 88 diamond albums appear in the AM top 200, while 26 don't even appear bubbling under. I wonder what this says, if anything, about the tastes of the masses?

It actually says very little. Some great albums sell a lot, some don't. I think it's worth noting that most of the top 100 albums are certified by the RIAA in some capacity, and that large clusters of uncertified albums are rare.

It'd be interesting to figure out the sales of all of the albums on the site, unfortunately, sales for non-hit records are harder to come by.

[StevieFan13]

The list was updated slightly - 2 albums went diamond and joined the ranks:
89) Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
40) Michael Jackson - Bad

All albums behind the two are bumped down a spot, the rest stay the same.