Congratulations are in order for the Eagles. The American rock band’s first compilation album, Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, has just surpassed Michael Jackson‘s Thriller as the best-selling album of all time. The comp, which collects nine singles and “Desperado,” is now 38-times platinum as certified by the Recording Industry Association of America — meaning it has sold a total of 38,000,000 albums worldwide and bested Thriller’s 33-times platinum certification.
This is not the first time the Eagles and the King of Pop have battled for the title. In fact, it’s been going on for years. The RIAA also reports that the Eagles’ Hotel California is now certified 26-times platinum, which places it right behind Thriller.
Documentarian Alison Ellwood, who directed the 2013 mini-series History Of The Eagles, is proud of the band she profiled. “I’m thrilled for them, no pun intended, that they’ve beaten Thriller out and hopefully more people will listen to the music as a result,” Ellwood says. “Those songs came to define moments in our lives. They evoke memories. That band had something very magical and the music captures it.”
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