Top 10 Best-Selling Albums of the 1990s
The 90s. A decade of scrunchies, Tamagotchis, and the relentless screech of dial-up internet. CDs were king, cassettes were barely hanging on, and the charts were a glorious mess. Britpop swaggered, grunge sulked, and pop was shamelessly loud. Fashion? Questionable. Music? Unforgettable. Here’s a rundown of 10 albums that defined the era. Dust off your Walkman.
1. Oasis - (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
Britpop’s crown jewel. Released in 1995, it’s all swagger, riffs, and simple lyrics that somehow felt profound. "Wonderwall" became unavoidable. "Don’t Look Back in Anger" was basically the national anthem. The Gallagher brothers were a mess, but this album? Untouchable.
2. Simply Red - Stars
Mick Hucknall gave us smooth, dad-friendly soul-pop. Stars was dinner party background music at its finest. Slick, mellow, and unmistakably 90s. "Something Got Me Started" might briefly wake you up, but otherwise, it’s all soft grooves and Hucknall’s fiery hair.
3. Spice Girls - Spice
If you didn’t know all the words to "Wannabe", were you even there? Girl power was more marketing genius than a movement, but it worked. Infectious hooks, pure fun, zero depth. The Spice Girls weren’t just pop stars; they were a cultural phenomenon.
4. The Corrs - Talk On Corners
Irish folk meets radio-friendly pop. Cue haunting violins, catchy choruses, and emotional ballads you didn’t ask for. This was slap bang in the middle of the slip dress and platform shoe era. Impossible to escape, even if you wanted to.
5. Alanis Morissette -Jagged Little Pill
The soundtrack to your angsty teenage bedroom. Raw, jagged, and brilliantly bitter. You Oughta Know screamed betrayal. Hand in My Pocket was peak introspection. Alanis didn’t just sing; she vented. And we all screamed along.
6. Robson Green & Jerome Flynn - Robson & Jerome
Before bellowing "You know nothing, Jon Snow", Jerome Flynn gave us … this. A karaoke compilation disguised as an album. It’s pure nostalgia and unapologetically cheesy. But does it deserve to be here? Probably not.
7. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
Yes, it’s a compilation. No, we don’t care. This was Madonna at her prime: "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", and everything in between. A pop masterclass from the undisputed Queen. If you didn’t own this, what were you even listening to?
8. The Verve - Urban Hymns
Moody, introspective, and distinctly British. Urban Hymns gave us "Bitter Sweet Symphony", the soundtrack to late 90s existentialism. Richard Ashcroft brooded, violins swelled, and Britpop got its tear-streaked swan song.
9. ABBA, - Greatest Hits
Another compilation, but come on, it’s ABBA. Somehow, these 70s icons became essential 90s party staples. Gold was unavoidable. Stick on Dancing Queen and watch everyone, reluctantly or not, get up to sing along.
10. Celine Dion - Falling Into You
The 90s diva. That Song was everywhere. Proms? Weddings? DIY disasters? "My Heart Will Go On" was inescapable. Celine belted it out while the rest of us endured it, whether we wanted to or not.
Recommended Listening: Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill
Of all the albums here, this one still cuts the deepest. Alanis captured the messiness of life with raw honesty. Start with You Oughta Know for some cathartic rage. Move on to Hand in My Pocket for reflective irony. End with Ironic (yes, we know, it’s not actually ironic) because no 90s playlist is complete without it. Turn it up. Have a scream. You’ve earned it.
