What’s the highest selling album that was never issued on CD?

Anyone know?

 

Maybe: The Beatles Rock 'n' Roll Music compilation double-LP from 1976? I presume it sold a few million copies.

 

The Life Of Pablo?

 

I assumed that the OP was looking for an album that was issued originally in the past, had large sales, and then has never been reissued on CD; rather than an album (like Life Of Pablo) whose primary form of sales is due to streaming (without being sold in any physical format).

 

The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl? I recall that was never released on CD...but then, I understand why. Not exactly a top notch recording sound wise. I assume it sold many copies nonetheless.

 

I think a CD came out recently.

 

Yes, when the Ron Howard documentary film came out, there was a soundtrack CD that had a few bonus tracks compared to the original Live At The Hollywood Bowl LP from 1977. So I would consider that one reissued on CD, although in a slightly reworked form and with new cover art.

 

The US Duran Duran Rio with the K-mixes has to be up there in sales.
I was quite disappointed when I got the CD in the 90's with all the 'edits'

 

This is a great question.

 

A Collection of Beatles Oldies ...big vinyl seller in the sixties

 

Yes, that is what I was looking for. But the streaming-only answer is also interesting.

 

I had a similar reaction! The US version is the “real” version to me just because it’s what I knew.

 

Maybe some type of compilation album that had too many different artists on it, making it too hard to reissue. For example, the Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea double album with McCartney, The Who, the Clash, Queen, the Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Rockpile, etc., has never been reissued on CD. But I do not think it sold more copies than the Beatles' Rock n Roll Music album (mentioned above).

 

Until relatively recently, with the release of "The Capitol Albums" boxes, and even more recently, "The US Albums" CD's, it might have been something like "Meet The Beatles!" or "Rubber Soul" (at least from a US perspective). I think both have attained multiple multi-platinum status and yet had never been "officially released" here in the States. Or elsewhere either, to the best of my knowledge.

The US "A Hard Day's Night" would be another four million plus seller that only recently has seen an official release.

 

Pretenders Extended Play, if it counts.

 

How many copies did "Buckingham Nicks" sell? Although it didn't fly off the shelves upon release, it saw a reissue in the late 70's when Fleetwood Mac were one of the biggest-selling bands on the planet, and it seems to have been in the Billboard charts for "midline" reissue albums at one point.

Never issued on (legitimate) CD, and, since they'd both have to agree to it at this point and something tells me that the two principals aren't feeling in a particularly collaborative mood of late, likely not forthcoming.

 

The Shining soundtrack.

 

Perhaps one of those seventies K-Tel compilations?

 

Moby Grape albums, have they ever been released.

 

What about the Beatles’ Hey Jude comp?

 

Hey Jude and Hollywood Bowl were both released. Yeah its true that Beatles oldies and rock and roll collections were not released per se but every track is available and in print.

Concert for Kampuchea and possibly the MUSE "No Nukes" concerts might be the best choice here. Buckingham Nicks was a good pick also.

 

Hmm. Has there been a CD of The First Family?

 

• I have No Nukes on CD. It never came out on DVD or Blu Ray, however I still have my LD of it

 

A few.

 

Yes they were out, but even original LPs were not big sellers.

Sundazed issuded many of the first few but had to stop issuing them after yet another legal challenged by the infamous wanker Mathew Katz.