Best-selling albums of 1970

According to the BSA Ranking, the best-selling album released in 1970 is BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by SIMON & GARFUNKEL, with over 13.1 million copies sold. The sales figures throughout this ranking include physical album sales as well as digital track downloads and audio and video streaming, converted into album-equivalent units using industry-standard formulas. For more information, see the certification criteria used in different countries.

★ Highlights:
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by SIMON & GARFUNKEL is the best-selling group album released in 1970.
The best-selling compilation album released in 1970 is SLY & THE FAMILY STONE'S GREATEST HITS by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, with over 5 million copies sold.
TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN by CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM) is the best-selling male solo album released in 1970, with over 3.81 million copies sold.
WOODSTOCK by WOODSTOCK SERIES leads both the live and soundtrack categories among albums released in 1970, with over 2.27 million copies sold.
The most successful debut album released in 1970 is MCCARTNEY by PAUL MCCARTNEY, with over 2.13 million copies sold.
GREATEST HITS by BARBRA STREISAND is the best-selling female solo album released in 1970, with over 2.03 million copies sold.

Please note that this ranking reflects the cumulative sales of albums released in 1970, from their original release to date. It does not represent the best-selling albums during the calendar year itself. For annual worldwide best-seller lists, see the IFPI Global Album Charts, published since 2001.

№	Album	Total Sales	BSA Ranking
1	BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER SIMON & GARFUNKEL 1970	13,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 1 18 112
2	LED ZEPPELIN III LED ZEPPELIN 1970	7,864,079	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 2 37 319
3	DEJA VU CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 1970	7,726,100	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 3 40 326
4	LET IT BE THE BEATLES 1970	5,957,058	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 4 57 530
5	ABRAXAS SANTANA 1970	5,826,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 5 58 548
6	SLY & THE FAMILY STONE'S GREATEST HITS SLY & THE FAMILY STONE 1970	5,001,802	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 6 82 720
7	PARANOID BLACK SABBATH 1970	4,693,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 7 90 780
8	HEY JUDE THE BEATLES 1970	4,317,030	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 8 96 882
9	COSMO'S FACTORY CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 1970	4,191,340	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 9 104 939
10	TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM) 1970	3,810,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 10 118 1,053
11	ALL THINGS MUST PASS GEORGE HARRISON 1970	3,669,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 11 123 1,086
12	MOONDANCE VAN MORRISON 1970	3,431,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 12 130 1,185
13	SWEET BABY JAMES JAMES TAYLOR 1970	3,060,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 13 168 1,444
14	PLASTIC ONO BAND JOHN LENNON 1970	2,629,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 14 192 1,706
15	AFTER THE GOLD RUSH NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE 1970	2,603,650	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 15 195 1,716
16	WOODSTOCK (SOUNDTRACK) WOODSTOCK SERIES 1970	2,275,830	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 16 221 2,005
17	MCCARTNEY PAUL MCCARTNEY 1970	2,134,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 17 239 2,242
18	LIVE AT LEEDS THE WHO 1970	2,126,430	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 18 243 2,250
19	LOVE STORY (SOUNDTRACK) FRANCIS LAI 1970	2,123,950	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 19 245 2,258
20	AMERICAN BEAUTY GRATEFUL DEAD 1970	2,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 20 260 2,390
21	LIVE ALBUM GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 1970	2,080,700	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 21 266 2,414
22	GOLD: RECORDED LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR NEIL DIAMOND 1970	2,060,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 22 276 2,462
23	GREATEST HITS BARBRA STREISAND 1970	2,035,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 23 289 2,556
24	CLOSER TO HOME GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 1970	2,025,460	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 24 292 2,568
25	CLOSE TO YOU CARPENTERS 1970	2,016,650	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 25 294 2,576
26	BAND OF GYPSYS JIMI HENDRIX 1970	2,007,300	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 26 297 2,588
27	THE BEST OF PETER, PAUL & MARY-(TEN)YEARS TOGETHER PETER, PAUL & MARY 1970	2,000,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 27 330 2,824
28	MORRISON HOTEL THE DOORS 1970	1,802,690	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 28 333 2,965
29	THAT'S THE WAY IT IS ELVIS PRESLEY 1970	1,386,760	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 29 382 3,604
30	CHICAGO II CHICAGO 1970	1,314,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 30 393 3,744
31	PENDULUM CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 1970	1,308,800	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 31 396 3,758
32	ROSE GARDEN LYNN ANDERSON 1970	1,280,870	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 32 404 3,832
33	BLACK SABBATH BLACK SABBATH 1970	1,205,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 33 425 4,028
34	GET YER YA YA'S OUT THE ROLLING STONES 1970	1,124,500	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 34 472 4,505
35	ATOM HEART MOTHER PINK FLOYD 1970	1,114,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 35 481 4,548
36	BITCHES BREW MILES DAVIS 1970	1,111,460	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 36 484 4,560
37	ON STAGE FEBRUARY 1970 ELVIS PRESLEY 1970	1,103,170	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 37 495 4,624
38	MONA BONE JAKON CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM) 1970	1,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 38 526 4,845
39	LADIES OF THE CANYON JONI MITCHELL 1970	1,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 39 527 4,846
40	A QUESTION OF BALANCE MOODY BLUES 1970	1,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 40 528 4,847
41	THE DOORS - 13 THE DOORS 1970	1,100,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 41 529 4,848
42	TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION ELTON JOHN 1970	1,084,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 42 538 4,911
43	THE YES ALBUM YES 1970	1,060,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 43 569 5,118
44	BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 3 BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 1970	1,035,370	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 44 603 5,458
45	ELTON JOHN ELTON JOHN 1970	1,030,730	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 45 606 5,480
46	ABC THE JACKSON 5 (THE JACKSONS) 1970	1,003,580	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 46 622 5,615
47	ALMOST IN LOVE ELVIS PRESLEY 1970	1,000,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 47 778 6,808
48	LET'S BE FRIENDS ELVIS PRESLEY 1970	1,000,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 48 779 6,809
49	GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP'S GREATEST HITS GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 1970	1,000,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 49 780 6,810
50	WORKINGMAN'S DEAD GRATEFUL DEAD 1970	1,000,000	Rank in 1970 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 50 781 6,811

1970 albums ranked by sales