Best selling albums (certifications) by countries

[Bespin 8,475]

I did some research and find the certifications of JW's albums in Canada and USA.

Do you know what are the best selling albums of John Williams for other countries?

Canada (certifications are booked since 1977)

Original Sound Track - Star Wars

2 x Platinum (200,000 units)

November 1, 1978

The Empire Strikes Back

Gold (50,000 units)

August 1, 1980

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Platinum (100,000 units)

May 31, 1999

Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone

Gold (50,000 units)

December 14, 2001

Source: http://musiccanada.com

 

 

USA

STAR WARS (1979, 20th Century)

Platinum (1,000,000 units)

August 17, 1977

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (SOUNDTRACK)

Gold (500,000 units)

January 09, 1978

STAR WARS - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (SOUNDTRACK)

Gold (500,000 units)

June 23, 1980

E.T. - THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (SOUNDTRACK)

Gold (500,000 units)

October 26, 1982

STAR WARS (1979, Buena Vista)

2 x Platinum (2,000,000 units)

March 25, 1994

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980, Buena Vista)

Platinum (1,000,000 units)

March 25, 1994

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981, Buena Vista)

Gold (500,000 units)

March 25, 1994

JURASSIC PARK (SOUNDTRACK)

Gold (500,000 units)

March 31, 1994

SCHINDLER'S LIST (SOUNDTRACK)

Gold (500,000 units)

July 14, 1995

STAR WARS TRILOGY (1993, Arista)

Gold (500,000 units)

December 03, 1996

STAR WARS - A NEW HOPE (1997, RCA Victor)

Gold (500,000 units)

December 04, 1997

STAR WARS EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE

Platinum (1,000,000 units)

June 02, 1999

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (1971, United Artist)

Platinum (1,000,000 units)

September 19, 2001

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

Gold (500,000 units)

November 28, 2001

STAR WARS EPISODE 2: ATTACK OF THE CLONES

Gold (500,000 units)

May 23, 2002

Source: http://www.riaa.com
 

[Naïve Old Fart 9,493]

Thanks for that.

I'm surprised that "Superman" is nowhere to be seen.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

"STAR WARS (1979, Buena Vista)

2 x Platinum (2,000,000 units)

March 25, 1994"

Almost prophetic.

[Jay 37,281]

Ha!

[Bespin 8,475]

We are not talking about "certifications", but these are the current Top 10 albums and tracks of John Williams on iTunes (U.S.).

Does that surprise you?

Top 10 - Albums

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

3. Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

4. Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5. Jurassic Park (20th Anniversary)

6. Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

7. Encore!: Best of the Boston Pops

8. Memoirs of a Geisha (iTunes Session) - EP

9. Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

10. Fiddler on the Roof (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Top 10 - Tracks

1. The Imperial March from Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

2. Star Wars: Main Title from Great Composers: John Williams

3. Duel of the Fates from Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

4. Cantina Band from Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5. Main Theme (From "Superman") from The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music (Box Set)

6. Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

7. Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner from Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

8. Carol of the Bells from Home Alone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [25th Anniversary Edition]

9. The Throne Room / End Title from Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

10. The Hologram / Binary Sunset from Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

[Jay 37,281]

"tracks", not "songs"!!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,782]

Dark Vador's theem iz a gr8 song

[Bespin 8,475]

With a track in my heart... la la la

[Sandor 796]

It kind of reaffirms the statements I've made in another thread that the Harry Potter music -especially Hedwig's Theme- is just as iconic as Jaws, Star Wars or Superman to a younger generation...

[Bespin 8,475]

Here's the new iTunes Top 10 of John Williams (U.S.).

 

Undeniable breaktrough of TFA!

 

Top 10 Albums

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

4. Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5. Jurassic Park (20th Anniversary)

6. Star Wars The Ultimate Digital Collection

7. Memoirs of a Geisha (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

8. Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

9. Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

10. Encore!: Best of the Boston Pops

 

Top 10 Tracks

1. Main Title and Attack on Jakku Village from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

2. The Imperial March from Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

3. The Jedi Steps and Finale from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

4. Cantina Band from Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

5. Star Wars: Main Title from Great Composers: John Williams

6. Rey's Theme from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

7. Duel of the Fates from Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

8. The Scavenger from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

9. Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

10. Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

That's very impressive.

[Bespin 8,475]

From the help of our Great National Library in Quebec, we have access to a very interresting archive called the "Reconstitued Billboard"... To make a long story short... very few film score albums over the years have been commercial successes... we know some of the exceptions... Anyway, it's fun to remember them...

 

Here, the history is talking!

 

I think our Billboards in Quebec were not very different from the US ones, they only added a local and European flavour to them.

 

Let's see what we have... by artist... the best sales with the years of their entry on the billboards...

 

• David Arnold, etc. - Godzilla (The Album) (1998)
• Burt Bacharach - Casino Royale (1967)
• Burt Bacharach - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid (1970)
• John Barry - Goldfinger (1965)
• John Barry - Thunderball (1966)
• John Barry - A View to a Kill (1985)
• John Barry - Out of Africa (1985)
• Elmer Bernstein, etc. - Ghostbusters (1984)
• Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story (stereo, 1961)
• Carter Burwell, etc. - Twilight The Score (2009)
• Carter Burwell, etc. - Twilight The Eclipse (2010)
• Carter Burwell, etc. - Twilight: Breaking the Dawn Part I (2011)
• Carter Burwell, etc. - Twilight: Breaking the Dawn Part II (2012)
• Jacques Crevier, etc - Après Ski (1971)
• Alexandre Desplat, etc - The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
• Patrick Doyle - Nouvelle-France (2004)
• Danny Elfman, etc. - Mission Impossible (1996)
• Danny Elfman, etc. - Men in Black - The Album (1997)
• Danny Elfman, etc - Spider-Man (2002)
• Danny Elfman, etc - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• Don Davis, etc - The Matrix Reloaded (Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture) (2003)
• Ernest Gold - Exodus (1961, 1962)
• Elliot Goldenthal - Frida (2003)
• Elliot Goldenthal, etc - Batman & Robin (1997)
• Marvin Hamlisch - The Sting (1974)
• Isaac Hayes - Shaft (1972)
• James Horner - Titanic (1997)
• James Horner - Back to Titanic (1998)
• James Horner - Avatar (2010)
• James Newton Howard, etc. - My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
• Maurice Jarre - Ghost (1990)
• Maurice Jarre, etc. - Mad Max beyond thunderdome (1985)
• Michael Kamen - Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991)
• Michael Kamen - Don Juan de Marco (1995)
• Wojciech Kilar, etc - The Pianist (2003)
• Francis Lai - Love Story (1971)
• Francis Lai - Bilitis (1977)
• Francis Lai - À nous deux (1979)
• Henry Mancini - Peter Gunn (1959)
• Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn (1959)
• Henry Mancini - Mr Lucky (1960)
• Henry Mancini - Breakfast at Tiffany's (1962)
• Henry Mancini - Uniquely (1963)
• Henry Mancini - Charade (1963)
• Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther (1964)
• Giorgio Moroder - Midnight express (1979)
• Giorgio Moroder - E=mc2 (1979)
• Giorgio Moroder, etc. - American Gigolo (1980)
• Ennio Morricone - Once Upon a Time in the West (the original LP, 1971, 1973, 1975) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/1159562-Ennio-Morricone-Il-Était-Une-Fois-Dans-LOuest
• Ennio Morricone - Giu la testa (1973) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/4633907-Ennio-Morricone-Duck-You-Sucker-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack
• Ennio Morricone - Les meilleures bandes sonores (1973) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/8818028-Ennio-Morricone-Les-Meilleures-Bandes-Sonores-De-Ses-Films
• Ennio Morricone - Mon nom est Personne (1974) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/1159536-Ennio-Morricone-Mon-Nom-Est-Personne-Bande-Originale-Du-Film
• Ennio Morricone - Un génie, deux associés, une cloche (1976) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/2455791-Ennio-Morricone-Un-Génie-Deux-Associés-Une-Cloche-Bande-Originale-Du-Film
• Ennio Morricone - The Mission (1987) 
• Alfred Newman - Flower Drum Song (1962) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/10560933-Rodgers-Hammerstein-Flower-Drum-Song
• Thomas Newman, etc - The Lost Boys (1987)
• Alex North - Cleopatra (1963)
• Nicola Piovani - Life is Beautiful (1999)
• Trevor Rabin, etc. - Armageddon (The Album) (1998)
• A R Rahman, etc. - Slumdog Millionaire (2009)
• Rodgers & Hammerstein - The King and I (1956, 1958)
• Rodgers & Hammerstein - South Pacific (1958)
• Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Sound of Music (1959, 1965, 1969)
• Nino Rota - Romeo and Juliet (1969)
• Alan Silvestri, etc - Back to the future (1985)
• Alan Silvestri, etc. - Forrest Gump (The Soundtrack) (1994)
• Marc Shaiman, etc - Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• Richard M. Sherman - Mary Poppins (1965)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: The Two Towers (2002)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: Return of the King (2003)
• Howard Shore - Twilight Eclipse (2010)
• Howard Shore - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• Howard Shore, etc - Philadelphia (1994)
• Jule Styne, etc. - Funny Girl (1968)
• Dimitri Tiomkin - The Alamo (1960) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/8413343-Dimitri-Tiomkin-The-Alamo-In-Todd-AO-An-Original-Sound-Track-Recording
• Vangelis - Chariots of Fire (1982)
• Vangelis - 1492 Conquest of Paradise (1993)
• John Williams - Fiddler on the Roof (1972)
• John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978)
• John Williams - Schindler's List (1994)
• John Williams - Star Wars SE (1997)
• John Williams - The Empire Strikes Back SE (1997)
• John Williams - Return of the Jedi SE (1997)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode I (1999)
• John Williams - Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone (2001)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode II (2002)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode III (2005)
• Gabriel Yared - The English Patient (1997)
• Victor Young - Around the world in 80 days (1957)
• Hans Zimmer, etc - The Lion King (1994)
• Hans Zimmer, etc - Music From And Inspired By M:I-2 (2000)
• Hans Zimmer - Pearl Harbour (2001)
• Hans Zimmer, Bryan Adams - Spirit: L'étalon des plaines (2002) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/7400459-Bryan-Adams-Hans-Zimmer-Spirit-LEtalon-Des-Plaines-Bande-Originale-Du-Film-Chansons-Bryan-Adams-Musi
• Hans Zimmer - Pirates of the Caribbean: At world's end (2007)
• Hans Zimmer - The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Hans Zimmer - The Man of Steel (2013)

 

WELL, THAT'S IT!

[Bayesian 1,359]

2 hours ago, Bespin said:

From the help of our Great National Library in Quebec, we have access to a very interresting archive called the "Reconstitued Billboard"... To make a long story short... very few film score albums over the years have been commercial successes... we know some of the exceptions... Anyway, it's fun to remember them...

 

Here, the history is talking!

 

I think our Billboards in Quebec were not very different from the US ones, they only added a local and European flavour to them.

 

Let's see what we have... by artist... the best sales with the years of their entry on the billboards...

 

• Burt Bacharach - Casino Royale (1967)
• Burt Bacharach - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid (1970)
• John Barry - Goldfinger (1965)
• John Barry - Thunderball (1966)
• John Barry - A View to a Kill (1985)
• John Barry - Out of Africa (1985)
• Carter Burwell - Twilight The Score (2009)
• Jacques Crevier, etc - Après Ski (1971)
• Patrick Doyle - Nouvelle-France (2004)
• Danny Elfman, etc - Spider-Man (2002)
• Danny Elfman, etc - Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• Ernest Gold - Exodus (1961, 1962)
• Elliot Goldenthal - Frida (2003)
• Elliot Goldenthal, etc - Batman & Robin (1997)
• Marvin Hamlisch - The Sting (1974)
• Isaac Hayes - Shaft (1972)
• James Horner - Titanic (1997)
• James Horner - Back to Titanic (1998)
• James Horner - Avatar (2010)
• Maurice Jarre - Ghost (1990)
• Maurice Jarre, etc. - Mad Max beyond thunderdome (1985)
• Michael Kamen - Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991)
• Michael Kamen - Don Juan de Marco (1995)
• Wojciech Kilar, etc - The Pianist (2003)
• Francis Lai - Love Story (1971)
• Francis Lai - Bilitis (1977)
• Francis Lai - À nous deux (1979)
• Henry Mancini - Peter Gunn (1959)
• Henry Mancini - More Music from Peter Gunn (1959)
• Henry Mancini - Mr Lucky (1960)
• Henry Mancini - Breakfast at Tiffany's (1962)
• Henry Mancini - Uniquely (1963)
• Henry Mancini - Charade (1963)
• Henry Mancini - The Pink Panther (1964)
• Giorgio Moroder - Midnight express (1979)
• Giorgio Moroder - E=mc2 (1979)
• Giorgio Moroder, etc. - American Gigolo (1980)
• Ennio Morricone - Once Upon a Time in the West (the original LP, 1971, 1973, 1975) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/1159562-Ennio-Morricone-Il-Était-Une-Fois-Dans-LOuest
• Ennio Morricone - Giu la testa (1973) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/4633907-Ennio-Morricone-Duck-You-Sucker-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack
• Ennio Morricone - Les meilleures bandes sonores (1973) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/8818028-Ennio-Morricone-Les-Meilleures-Bandes-Sonores-De-Ses-Films
• Ennio Morricone - Mon nom est Personne (1974) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/1159536-Ennio-Morricone-Mon-Nom-Est-Personne-Bande-Originale-Du-Film
• Ennio Morricone - Un génie, deux associés, une cloche (1976) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/2455791-Ennio-Morricone-Un-Génie-Deux-Associés-Une-Cloche-Bande-Originale-Du-Film
• Ennio Morricone - The Mission (1987) 
• Alfred Newman - Flower Drum Song (1962) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/10560933-Rodgers-Hammerstein-Flower-Drum-Song
• Alex North - Cleopatra (1963)
• Nicola Piovani - Life is Beautiful (1999)
• Nino Rota - Romeo and Juliet (1969)
• Alan Silvestri, etc - Back to the future (1985)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: The Two Towers (2002)
• Howard Shore - LOTR: Return of the King (2003)
• Howard Shore - Twilight Eclipse (2010)
• Howard Shore - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• Jule Styne, etc. - Funny Girl (1968)
• Dimitri Tiomkin - The Alamo (1960) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/8413343-Dimitri-Tiomkin-The-Alamo-In-Todd-AO-An-Original-Sound-Track-Recording
• Vangelis - Chariots of Fire (1982)
• Vangelis - 1492 Conquest of Paradise (1993)
• John Williams - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978)
• John Williams - Schindler's List (1994)
• John Williams - Star Wars SE (1997)
• John Williams - The Empire Strikes Back SE (1997)
• John Williams - Return of the Jedi SE (1997)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode I (1999)
• John Williams - Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone (2001)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode II (2002)
• John Williams - Star Wars Episode III (2005)
• Gabriel Yared - The English Patient (1997)
• Victor Young - Around the world in 80 days (1957)
• Hans Zimmer, etc - The Lion King (1994)
• Hans Zimmer - Pearl Harbour (2001)
• Hans Zimmer, Bryan Adams - Spirit: L'étalon des plaines (2002) https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/7400459-Bryan-Adams-Hans-Zimmer-Spirit-LEtalon-Des-Plaines-Bande-Originale-Du-Film-Chansons-Bryan-Adams-Musi
• Hans Zimmer - Pirates of the Caribbean. At world's end (2007)
• Hans Zimmer - The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Hans Zimmer - The Man of Steel (2013)

 

WELL, THAT'S IT!

Interesting list; thank you for researching this, Bespin! Any chance you'd be willing to update each entry in this list with the number of copies sold? I don't know how that number is calculated (is it the number sold in the calendar year the album was released? the number sold to date?), but I'm definitely curious.

[Bespin 8,475]

56 minutes ago, Bayesian said:

Interesting list; thank you for researching this, Bespin! Any chance you'd be willing to update each entry in this list with the number of copies sold? I don't know how that number is calculated (is it the number sold in the calendar year the album was released? the number sold to date?), but I'm definitely curious.

 

It's just a Billboard, we have 1) The entry date, 2) The best position obtained and 3) The number of weeks it stayed in the Billboards.

 

For those who don't know the Canada well... there is two provinces in Canada who are more important than the others, by the population number and well, culturally speaking.. Québec and Ontario (well it's the origin of Canada, before it was actually the Canada).

 

Anyway, this source of info is very valuable (for me, at least!) And like I said, our Billboards is a nice mix of American/European and local flavours, it's unique in the world... and well... we often felt for the same things the Americans and Europeans felt for... These stats allows us to realize the international influence of many cultural currents (from the 50s to 2014-15 or so I think)

 

The selling number is obtained by the certifications (I think I posted them in the previous posts).

 

Here's the link: http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Albums/Albums-Compilation_ventes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf