| Wednesday 2 February 1994 |
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Albums chart course to blockbuster sales
Blockbuster albums are back in style, judging by the January sales certifications by the Recording Industry Assn. of America. Seven albums sold more than 2 million units in the last five months of 1993, indicating that record buyers have abandoned conservative, recession-driven purchasing habits and are likely to increase the number of titles with multiplatinum sales, which waned in the early '90s.
The RIAA's January certs saw Pearl Jam's Epic disc "Vs." certified for sales of 5 million units, with Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Doggystyle" on Death Row/Interscope registering 3 million sold. Carving out sales of 2 million units over the last five months were Frank Sinatra with "Duets" on Capitol; Michael Bolton, "The One Thing" on Columbia; Bryan Adams, "So Far So Good" on A&M; Mariah Carey, "Music Box" on Columbia; and Garth Brooks, "In Pieces" on Liberty.
Aerosmith's "Get a Grip" on Geffen Records was also a 1993 success story, and is now certified for selling 3 million units since its release April 20, 1993. Kenny G's Arista album "Breathless" was certified at 6 million units; Sade's "Love Deluxe" at 3 million for Epic; Meat Loaf's original "Bat Out of Hell" now at 9 million units for Epic; and Anita Baker's "Rapture" at 5 million for Elektra.
Also setting new marks were the original cast album for "The Phantom of the Opera", now at 3 million Polydor units; Shai's "If I Ever Fall in Love", 2 million for Gasoline Alley; Michael Bolton's "Soul Provider", 5 million units for Columbia; and the twin RCA soundtracks "Dirty Dancing" and "More Dirty Dancing", 11 million and 4 million, respectively. (excerpt from Variety)
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