2021 was another great year for collecting vinyl. The Discogs Community purchased over 12,000,000 records throughout the year!
The top 50 best-selling records of 2021 prove once again that the Community has very eclectic taste. The list includes everything from the Cro-Mags to Cat Stevens. However, classic reissues and limited Record Store Day releases weren’t the only records being snatched up in large quantities.
Tracy Chapman has become a staple of the monthly best-selling roundups, so it’s in no way surprising that she would wind up on the top 50 best-selling records of 2021. Long out of print, used copies of this 1988 pressing of her self-titled album continue to sell well on Discogs.
Live recordings of legendary acts like The Police, The Grateful Dead, and Tears For Fears ended up on this year’s list. Ariana Grande and Twenty One Pilots also landed on the list with limited-edition live records.
New albums released in 2021 appeared a few times throughout the top 50. The latest output from Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Måneskin were both among the best-selling titles of 2021.
In the end, reissues did reign supreme with artists like Pink Floyd, MF Doom, My Bloody Valentine, and The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) all claiming some of the top spots.
About the data: In order to prepare this list in time for a year-end review, the best-selling data reflects January 1, 2021, through November 30, 2021.
Best-Selling Records in 2021
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No. 50. The Doors – Morrison Hotel Sessions (2021)
2xLP, Comp, Ltd, Num, 180
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No. 49. Black Country, New Road – For The First Time (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, Whi
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No. 48. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Dallas Taylor & Greg Reeves – Déjà Vu (Alternates) (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, 180
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No. 47. The Police – Live! Vol. 1 Boston 1979 (2021)
2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM, Blu
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No. 46. Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman (1988)
LP, Album, Mat
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No. 44. The Mars Volta – De-Loused In The Comatorium (2021)
2xLP, Album, Club, RE, RM, Gol
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No. 43. Pearl Jam – MTV Unplugged (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, RP
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No. 42. Tears For Fears – Live At Massey Hall Toronto, Canada / 1985 (2021)
2xLP, Album
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No. 41. Ariana Grande – K Bye For Now (Swt Live) (2021)
3xLP, Album, Ltd
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No. 40. The Police – Live! Vol. 2 Atlanta 1983 (2021)
2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM, Red
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No. 39. Cro-Mags – The Age Of Quarrel (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red
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No. 38. t.A.T.u. – 200 KM/H In The Wrong Lane (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Cok
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No. 37. Godspeed You Black Emperor! – G_d’s Pee At State’s End! (2021)
LP, 180 + 10″, EP + Album
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No. 36. Miles Davis – Champions (Rare Miles From The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions) (2021)
LP, Comp, Ltd, Yel
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No. 35. Twenty One Pilots – Location Sessions (2021)
12″, EP, Ltd, Gre
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No. 34. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager (2010)
2xLP, Album
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No. 33. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.d City (2012)
2xLP, Album, Dlx
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No. 32. The Grateful Dead – Olympia Theatre, Paris, France (5/3/72) (2021)
5xLP, 180 + LP, S/Sided, Etch, 180 + Box, Album, L
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No. 31. Radiohead – Kid A (2016)
2xLP, Album, RE
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No. 30. The Cure – Wild Mood Swings (2021)
2xLP, Album, Pic, RE, RM, 25t
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No. 29. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher (2020)
LP, Album
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No. 28. Burial + Four Tet + Thom Yorke – Her Revolution / His Rope (2020)
12″, W/Lbl
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No. 27. Cat Stevens – The Songs From The Original Movie: Harold And Maude (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, Ora
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No. 26. Amy Winehouse – Remixes (2021)
LP, Yel + LP, Blu + Comp, Ltd
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No. 25. Portishead – Dummy (2008)
LP, Album, RE, 180
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No. 24. Daft Punk – Homework (2019)
2xLP, Album, RE
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No. 23. Radiohead – In Rainbows (2017)
LP, Album, RE
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No. 22. Ryo Fukui – Scenery (2018)
LP, Album, RE, Hal
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No. 21. Steely Dan – Everything Must Go (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, RE, 180
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No. 20. Lady Gaga – Chromatica (2021)
LP, Album, Dlx, RE, Yel
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No. 19. SZA – Ctrl (2017)
2xLP, Album, Gre
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No. 18. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2016)
3xLP, Album, Ltd, RE
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No. 17. Buena Vista Social Club – Buena Vista Social Club (2015)
2xLP, Album, RE, Gat
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No. 16. Elton John – Regimental Sgt. Zippo (2021)
LP, Album, Mono, Ltd
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No. 15. Sault – Untitled (Black Is) (2020)
2xLP, Album
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No. 14. The Sisters Of Mercy – BBC Sessions 1982-1984 (2021)
LP, 180 + LP, S/Sided, 180 + Comp, Ltd, Gre
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No. 13. Måneskin – Teatro D’Ira – Vol.I (2021)
LP, Album, Ora
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No. 12. Justice – † (2007)
2xLP, Album, Gat
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No. 11. Nujabes – Modal Soul (2020)
2xLP, Album, RE
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No. 10. Dee Gees / Foo Fighters – Hail Satin (2021)
LP, Album, Ltd, 150
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No. 9. Sophie – Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides (2018)
LP, Album, Red
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No. 8. Sault – Untitled (Rise) (2020)
2xLP, Album
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No. 7. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon (2016)
LP, Album, RE, RM, Gat
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No. 6. MF Doom And Madlib – Madvillain – Madvillainy (2021)
2xLP, Album, RE
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No. 5. MF Doom – MM..Food (2020)
LP, Gre + LP, Pin + Album, RE, RP
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No. 4. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (2013)
2xLP, Album, 180
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No. 3. Linkin Park – Meteora (2021)
2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, RP, Blu
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No. 2. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless (2021)
LP, Album, Dlx, RE, RP, Gat
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No. 1. The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince) – The Truth (2021)
LP, Album, RE
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