Eagles' 'Greatest Hits' Soars to Quadruple Diamond: The Enduring Legacy of a Classic

The Eagles are proving that some things truly do endure. Their first compilation album, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975), released in 1976, has officially been crowned the best-selling album of all time by the RIAA, achieving quadruple diamond status. This landmark certification signifies a staggering 40 million copies sold, a testament to the band's timeless appeal.

Trailing behind the Eagles is Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller (1982), holding steady with its 34x platinum certification from 2021. But the Eagles aren't content with just one spot at the top. Their album Hotel California has also reached an impressive 28x platinum status. The success of Greatest Hits capping things off in 1975, a year before Hotel California came out, making it so you need both if you’re a real Eagles fan.

For Don Henley, singer-songwriter for the Eagles, this quadruple diamond milestone is more than just a sales figure; it's a cultural triumph. "In an age, in a culture, where everything seems to become more ephemeral, by the day, it is gratifying to have been part of something that endures, even for 50 years," he stated to the Associated Press. "We are amazed and grateful."

The band is celebrating this achievement with a rerelease of Greatest Hits on clear, heavyweight vinyl. Eagle-eyed fans can also catch them during their ongoing residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The residency includes four dates this month, followed by four more in both February and March.

It's worth noting that the RIAA's criteria for diamond certification have evolved with the rise of streaming. Since 2013, certifications incorporate streaming equivalents from platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Approximately 1,500 streams of an album now equate to one album sale.

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