Led Zep Lauded In May Certifications

The 1971 Swan Song album "Led Zeppelin IV" hit the 21 million mark in May sales certifications from the RIAA. The album now ranks fourth on the list of all-time bestsellers, behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (25 million), the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" (25 million), and Pink Floyd's "The Wall" (23 million). The English metal band's 1975 Swan Song opus "Physical Graffiti" reached certified sales of 15 million (and hit diamond status, having last been certified at 9 million in 1997), while Atlantic's "Led Zeppelin" (1969) arrived at 8 million and "Led Zeppelin III" (1970) at 6 million.

Barbra Streisand's "Classical Barbra" (Columbia, 1976) became the vocalist's 40th gold album. Streisand is only the second artist to receive 40 gold awards; Elvis Presley holds 62. This month, her 1967 release, "A Christmas Album," was also certified at the five million sales mark, making it the first holiday album by a vocalist to reach that plateau.