Best-selling albums of 1971

According to the BSA Ranking, the best-selling album released in 1971 is LED ZEPPELIN IV by LED ZEPPELIN, with over 30.7 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:
LED ZEPPELIN IV by LED ZEPPELIN is the best-selling group album released in 1971.
TAPESTRY by CAROLE KING is the best-selling female solo album released in 1971, with over 15.3 million copies sold.
The best-selling compilation album released in 1971 is HOT ROCKS 1964-1971 by THE ROLLING STONES, with over 6.91 million copies sold.
BOB DYLAN'S GREATEST HITS VOLUME II by BOB DYLAN is the best-selling male solo album released in 1971, with over 5.2 million copies sold.
The best-selling live album released in 1971 is FOUR WAY STREET by CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG, with over 4.38 million copies sold.
SHAFT by ISAAC HAYES is the best-selling soundtrack album released in 1971, with over 1 million copies sold.

Please note that this ranking reflects the cumulative sales of albums released in 1971, 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	LED ZEPPELIN IV LED ZEPPELIN 1971	30,754,901	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 1 5 9
2	TAPESTRY CAROLE KING 1971	15,377,200	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 2 14 71
3	HOT ROCKS 1964-1971 THE ROLLING STONES 1971	6,917,540	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 3 47 392
4	BOB DYLAN'S GREATEST HITS VOLUME II BOB DYLAN 1971	5,202,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 4 75 663
5	L.A. WOMAN THE DOORS 1971	4,956,209	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 5 84 735
6	PEARL JANIS JOPLIN 1971	4,611,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 6 92 798
7	FOUR WAY STREET CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 1971	4,383,800	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 7 95 865
8	CARPENTERS CARPENTERS 1971	4,311,140	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 8 99 886
9	TEASER & THE FIRECAT CAT STEVENS (YUSUF ISLAM) 1971	3,760,530	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 9 121 1,065
10	STICKY FINGERS THE ROLLING STONES 1971	3,552,520	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 10 127 1,132
11	AQUALUNG JETHRO TULL 1971	3,375,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 11 134 1,209
12	WHO'S NEXT THE WHO 1971	3,327,640	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 12 136 1,230
13	MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER ELTON JOHN 1971	3,092,210	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 13 165 1,419
14	THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS ELVIS PRESLEY 1971	3,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 14 177 1,551
15	YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE ELVIS PRESLEY 1971	3,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 15 178 1,552
16	MEDDLE PINK FLOYD 1971	2,638,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 16 191 1,703
17	FRAGILE YES 1971	2,300,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 17 216 1,979
18	IMAGINE JOHN LENNON 1971	2,296,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 18 217 1,983
19	MASTER OF REALITY BLACK SABBATH 1971	2,280,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 19 219 2,000
20	AMERICAN PIE DON MCLEAN 1971	2,140,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 20 238 2,230
21	SANTANA III SANTANA 1971	2,070,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 21 269 2,436
22	MUSIC CAROLE KING 1971	2,025,480	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 22 291 2,567
23	WELCOME TO MY WORLD EDDY ARNOLD 1971	2,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 23 328 2,822
24	MUD SLIDE SLIM & THE BLUE HORIZON JAMES TAYLOR 1971	2,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 24 329 2,823
25	BLUE JONI MITCHELL 1971	1,635,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 25 349 3,165
26	E PLURIBUS FUNK GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 1971	1,521,800	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 26 363 3,357
27	GLEN CAMPBELL'S GREATEST HITS GLEN CAMPBELL 1971	1,507,500	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 27 365 3,376
28	RAM PAUL MCCARTNEY 1971	1,207,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 28 422 4,023
29	AMERICA AMERICA 1971	1,144,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 29 464 4,426
30	EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY ROD STEWART 1971	1,102,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 30 496 4,628
31	I GOT LUCKY ELVIS PRESLEY 1971	1,100,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 31 524 4,843
32	SEPARATE WAYS ELVIS PRESLEY 1971	1,100,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 32 525 4,844
33	CHICAGO III CHICAGO 1971	1,093,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 33 531 4,873
34	LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL CHICAGO 1971	1,080,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 34 540 4,937
35	THERE'S A RIOT GOIN' ON SLY & THE FAMILY STONE 1971	1,070,219	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 35 546 4,979
36	AT FILLMORE EAST ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND 1971	1,060,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 36 568 5,117
37	SURVIVAL GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 1971	1,050,830	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 37 572 5,155
38	A SPACE IN TIME TEN YEARS AFTER 1971	1,050,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 38 600 5,390
39	B. S. & T. 4 BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 1971	1,018,170	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 39 610 5,529
40	THE CRY OF LOVE JIMI HENDRIX 1971	1,001,960	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 40 624 5,622
41	KILLER ALICE COOPER 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 41 763 6,793
42	LOVE IT TO DEATH ALICE COOPER 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 42 764 6,794
43	LOVE STORY ANDY WILLIAMS 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 43 765 6,795
44	STONEY END BARBRA STREISAND 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 44 766 6,796
45	SHAFT (SOUNDTRACK) ISAAC HAYES 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 45 767 6,797
46	POEMS, PRAYERS & PROMISES JOHN DENVER 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 46 768 6,798
47	KENNY ROGERS & THE FIRST EDITION GREATEST HITS KENNY ROGERS & THE FIRST EDITION 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 47 769 6,799
48	SITTIN' IN LOGGINS & MESSINA 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 48 770 6,800
49	A PARTRIDGE FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARD PARTRIDGE FAMILY 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 49 771 6,801
50	SOUND MAGAZINE PARTRIDGE FAMILY 1971	1,000,000	Rank in 1971 Rank in 1970s Overall rank 50 772 6,802

1971 albums ranked by sales