Best-selling albums of 1981

According to the BSA Ranking, the best-selling album released in 1981 is GREATEST HITS I by QUEEN, with over 22.4 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:
GREATEST HITS I by QUEEN leads both the compilation and group categories among albums released in 1981.
With over 10.6 million copies sold, FACE VALUE by PHIL COLLINS ranks first across the debut, male solo and studio categories among 1981 releases.
Memories / Love Songs by BARBRA STREISAND is the best-selling female solo album released in 1981, with over 6.95 million copies sold.
The best-selling live album released in 1981 is NINE TONIGHT by BOB SEGER, with over 4.1 million copies sold.
CHARIOTS OF FIRE by VANGELIS is the best-selling soundtrack album released in 1981, with over 1.88 million copies sold.

Please note that this ranking reflects the cumulative sales of albums released in 1981, 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	GREATEST HITS I QUEEN 1981	22,459,936	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 1 7 27
2	FACE VALUE PHIL COLLINS 1981	10,687,605	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 2 34 173
3	BUSINESS AS USUAL MEN AT WORK 1981	7,479,803	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 3 64 341
4	4 FOREIGNER 1981	7,166,120	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 4 69 369
5	Memories / Love Songs BARBRA STREISAND 1981	6,951,211	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 5 75 388
6	FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK (WE SALUTE YOU) AC/DC 1981	5,726,750	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 6 110 565
7	MOVING PICTURES RUSH 1981	5,500,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 7 120 607
8	TATTOO YOU THE ROLLING STONES 1981	4,922,460	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 8 140 737
9	GET LUCKY LOVERBOY 1981	4,300,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 9 169 890
10	BELLA DONNA STEVIE NICKS 1981	4,207,500	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 10 175 925
11	FEELS SO RIGHT ALABAMA 1981	4,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 11 189 979
12	NINE TONIGHT BOB SEGER 1981	4,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 12 190 980
13	GREATEST HITS (AND SOME THAT WILL BE) WILLIE NELSON 1981	4,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 13 191 981
14	GHOST IN THE MACHINE THE POLICE 1981	3,820,316	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 14 203 1,051
15	SONGS IN THE ATTIC BILLY JOEL 1981	3,286,290	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 15 226 1,252
16	DIARY OF A MADMAN OZZY OSBOURNE 1981	3,160,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 16 242 1,339
17	PARADISE THEATER STYX 1981	3,160,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 17 243 1,340
18	DON'T SAY NO BILLY SQUIER 1981	3,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 18 258 1,407
19	PHYSICAL OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 1981	2,913,310	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 19 284 1,583
20	THE BEST OF BLONDIE BLONDIE 1981	2,695,299	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 20 304 1,673
21	STARS ON LONG PLAY STARS ON 45 1981	2,565,640	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 21 313 1,736
22	ABACAB GENESIS 1981	2,456,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 22 326 1,835
23	PRECIOUS TIME PAT BENATAR 1981	2,337,860	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 23 348 1,939
24	CHRISTMAS WISHES ANNE MURRAY 1981	2,300,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 24 355 1,975
25	A COLLECTION OF GREAT DANCE SONGS PINK FLOYD 1981	2,263,752	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 25 361 2,025
26	JANE FONDA'S WORKOUT RECORD JANE FONDA 1981	2,207,500	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 26 368 2,094
27	THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL COLLECTION SIMON & GARFUNKEL 1981	2,199,327	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 27 377 2,146
28	FAIR WARNING VAN HALEN 1981	2,108,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 28 398 2,292
29	HIGH 'N' DRY DEF LEPPARD 1981	2,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 29 418 2,373
30	FANCY FREE OAK RIDGE BOYS 1981	2,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 30 419 2,374
31	SHAKE IT UP THE CARS 1981	2,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 31 420 2,375
32	BEAUTY AND THE BEAT THE GO-GO’S 1981	2,100,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 32 421 2,376
33	THE INNOCENT AGE DAN FOGELBERG 1981	2,050,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 33 443 2,524
34	ROBERTO CARLOS 1981 ROBERTO CARLOS 1981	2,030,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 34 447 2,563
35	CAPTURED JOURNEY 1981	2,003,320	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 35 449 2,592
36	NEVER TOO MUCH LUTHER VANDROSS 1981	2,000,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 36 473 2,787
37	GREAT GONZOS!: THE BEST OF TED NUGENT TED NUGENT 1981	2,000,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 37 474 2,788
38	CHARIOTS OF FIRE (SOUNDTRACK) VANGELIS 1981	1,886,546	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 38 486 2,898
39	HOOKED ON CLASSICS ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 1981	1,850,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 39 490 2,924
40	REFLECTIONS AKIRA TERAO (寺尾聰) 1981	1,646,340	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 40 528 3,153
41	ПОЖЕЛАНИЕ ВАХТАНГ КИКАБИДЗЕ (VAKHTANG KIKABIDZE) 1981	1,604,780	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 41 540 3,204
42	A LONG VACATION EIICHI OHTAKI (大滝詠一) 1981	1,600,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 42 546 3,261
43	DURAN DURAN DURAN DURAN 1981	1,592,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 43 549 3,271
44	DARE HUMAN LEAGUE 1981	1,586,806	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 44 551 3,275
45	MISTAKEN IDENTITY KIM CARNES 1981	1,558,060	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 45 568 3,311
46	RAISE! EARTH, WIND & FIRE 1981	1,516,610	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 46 581 3,363
47	ВОКРУГ ЛЮБВИ ЗДРАВСТВУЙ, ПЕСНЯ (ZDRAVSTVIY, PESNYA) 1981	1,483,900	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 47 596 3,450
48	PERHAPS LOVE PLACIDO DOMINGO 1981	1,450,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 48 604 3,497
49	OCTOBER U2 1981	1,450,000	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 49 605 3,498
50	THE DUDE QUINCY JONES 1981	1,439,010	Rank in 1981 Rank in 1980s Overall rank 50 611 3,514

1981 albums ranked by sales