History's Best Selling Music of 1997

Revisiting 1997 presents a grand parade of music history, marked by radical 90s attitude and millennium anticipation and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Flaming Pie, The Colour and the Shape, and OK Computer took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that flew off store shelves and cemented lifelong fandoms. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Flaming Pie

   Released in 1997 by Paul McCartney, Capitol Records, Parlophone

   Released on May 5, 1997, Paul McCartney's "Flaming Pie" was more than just another album; it was a triumphant return to form. The date marks the release of a work heavily inspired by his involvement in "The Beatles Anthology" project, which had him revisiting his legendary past. This period of reflection reignited his creative spark, leading to a collection of songs that felt both classic and refreshingly direct. The album's release was met with significant anticipation, as fans and critics were eager to hear how McCartney would channel the energy of his Beatles legacy into new material. It arrived as a statement piece, a reminder of his enduring genius as a songwriter and musician in the late 20th century.

2. The Colour and the Shape

   Released in 1997 by Foo Fighters, Roswell Records, Capitol Records

   Released on May 20, 1997, 'The Colour and the Shape' marked a critical turning point for Foo Fighters. Following a debut album that was essentially a Dave Grohl solo project, this sophomore effort was the true introduction of Foo Fighters as a full-fledged band. The album's release came at a time when alternative rock was navigating its post-grunge identity, and Grohl, still widely known as the drummer for Nirvana, was under immense pressure to prove his new project had substance and longevity. 'The Colour and the Shape' answered those questions decisively, delivering a polished, powerful, and emotionally resonant collection of songs that would define the band's sound for decades to come and solidify their place in the rock pantheon.

3. OK Computer

   Released in 1997 by Radiohead, Parlophone, Capitol Records

   On May 21, 1997, the landscape of alternative rock and popular music was irrevocably altered with the UK release of Radiohead's third studio album, "OK Computer." Arriving at the tail end of the Britpop era, the album was a stark departure from the prevailing musical trends. It eschewed anthemic, jingoistic rock for a paranoid, melancholic, and deeply layered exploration of modern anxieties, including consumerism, social alienation, and the encroaching influence of technology. Its release on this date marked the moment a critically respected band transformed into generational spokespeople, delivering a prescient and complex masterpiece that would only grow in stature over time.

4. The Velvet Rope

   Released in 1997 by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Virgin Records

   On October 7, 1997, Janet Jackson released her sixth studio album, "The Velvet Rope," a work that profoundly redefined her artistry and pushed the boundaries of mainstream R&B and pop. The album arrived after a period of intense personal struggle for Jackson, including a long-term battle with depression, which she bravely decided to confront in her music. This release date marked a pivotal moment, as Jackson shed the more guarded persona of her previous work to present a raw, vulnerable, and thematically complex masterpiece that explored intimacy, sexuality, mental health, and social issues with unprecedented candor. It was a bold artistic statement that challenged listeners and solidified her status as a fearless musical innovator.

5. Welcome to Our World

   Released in 1997 by Timbaland, Magoo, Blackground Records

   On December 23, 1997, as the year drew to a close, the hip-hop world received a blast from the future with the release of Timbaland & Magoo's debut album, "Welcome to Our World." This release came at a pivotal moment in music, where producer Timbaland was already a hot commodity for his groundbreaking work with artists like Ginuwine and Aaliyah. This album, however, was his formal introduction as a lead artist. Dropping just before Christmas, the album was perfectly timed to become a staple of holiday parties and a key soundtrack for ringing in the new year, solidifying the arrival of a new, eccentric, and wildly inventive sound that would soon dominate the airwaves.