History's Best Selling Music of 1993

Revisiting 1993 presents a grand parade of music history, marked by radical 90s attitude and millennium anticipation and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Duran Duran, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and Undertow took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Duran Duran and The Cranberries 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. Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)

   Released in 1993 by Duran Duran, Capitol Records, Parlophone

   On February 11, 1993, a band largely considered a relic of the 1980s new wave scene staged one of music's most remarkable comebacks. Duran Duran, whose commercial fortunes had dwindled in the face of grunge and alternative rock, released their second self-titled album. Quickly dubbed "The Wedding Album" due to its cover art featuring the wedding photos of the band members' parents, the record was a bold reintroduction. It arrived at a time when many had written the band off, but its lead single, "Ordinary World," had already signaled a dramatic shift, re-establishing the group not as pop idols, but as mature, sophisticated songwriters for a new decade.

2. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?

   Released in 1993 by The Cranberries, Island Records

   Released on March 1, 1993, The Cranberries' debut album, "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?", marked the arrival of a distinctive new voice in alternative rock. While not an instant chart-topper, its release began a slow-burn journey to global stardom. The album's initial reception was modest, but relentless touring, particularly in the United States, and the eventual high rotation of the music video for "Linger" on MTV, created a groundswell of support. This date represents the crucial first step that transformed the small band from Limerick, Ireland, into an international phenomenon, defining a softer, more melodic side of the 1990s music scene.

3. Undertow

   Released in 1993 by Tool, Zoo Entertainment

   Released on April 6, 1993, Tool's debut studio album, "Undertow," emerged from the depths of the Los Angeles music scene into a world dominated by Seattle's grunge movement. While contemporaries were exploring angst through flannel and distorted power chords, Tool offered something different: a heavier, more complex, and psychologically darker alternative. The album didn't explode onto the charts but instead began a slow, ominous creep into the consciousness of rock fans. Its release marked the arrival of a band that defied easy categorization, laying the groundwork for a new wave of alternative metal that valued musicianship, lyrical depth, and a challenging artistic vision over commercial trends.

4. Get a Grip

   Released in 1993 by Aerosmith, Geffen Records

   Released on April 20, 1993, Aerosmith's eleventh studio album, "Get a Grip," marked a pivotal moment in the band's history. It solidified their massive late-80s comeback, transforming them from established rock legends into mainstream multimedia superstars for a new generation. The album arrived when grunge music was dominating the charts, yet Aerosmith's polished, high-energy brand of hard rock proved not just resilient but overwhelmingly popular. It dominated radio airwaves and, most notably, MTV with a trilogy of iconic music videos, defining the aesthetic and sound of mainstream rock in the early 1990s and becoming the band's most successful album to date.

5. janet.

   Released in 1993 by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Virgin Records

   May 18, 1993, marked a pivotal moment in pop music with the release of Janet Jackson's fifth studio album, 'janet.'. This album was a declaration of independence and artistic control, released under her groundbreaking multi-million dollar contract with Virgin Records. It was her first album where she insisted on using only her first name, symbolizing a break from her famous family's shadow and asserting her own identity. The release was a major cultural event, solidifying her status as a global superstar and a sex symbol, while also pushing the boundaries of R&B, pop, and new jack swing with its fusion of sounds and overtly sensual themes.

6. Promises and Lies

   Released in 1993 by UB40, DEP International, Virgin Records

   On July 12, 1993, British reggae group UB40 released their tenth studio album, "Promises and Lies." This date marked a pivotal moment in the band's career, catapulting them to new heights of global stardom. The album arrived at a time when reggae and dancehall influences were permeating pop charts worldwide. Building on their established success with cover versions, UB40 delivered an album that perfectly captured the musical zeitgeist. Its lead single, a cover of Elvis Presley's "(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You," had already been a massive hit after being featured in the film "Sliver," setting the stage for the album to become an instant commercial behemoth upon its release.

7. Black Sunday

   Released in 1993 by Cypress Hill, Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records

   On July 20, 1993, the landscape of hip-hop was seismically altered with the release of Cypress Hill's second album, "Black Sunday." Arriving amidst the golden age of the genre, the album immediately stood out, not just for its sound but for its unapologetic pro-marijuana stance and its fusion of West Coast gangsta rap with a psychedelic, funk-infused haze. The album's release was a major event, catapulting the group from underground favorites to mainstream superstars and proving that a hardcore, unconventional hip-hop act could dominate the charts on their own terms, even having two albums in the top 10 simultaneously.

8. A Blueprint of the World

   Released in 1993 by Enchant, Magna Carta Records

   On August 8, 1993, the progressive metal scene was introduced to a new and compelling voice with the release of "A Blueprint of the World," the debut album by the American band Enchant. Arriving at a time when the genre was flourishing in the wake of pioneers like Dream Theater, Enchant's first offering was a bold statement. Produced by Steve Rothery of Marillion, the album immediately garnered attention for its intricate musicianship, melodic sensibilities, and thoughtful lyrics. This date marked the formal entry of a band that would become a respected and enduring name within progressive rock and metal circles, laying the foundation for a career spanning several decades.

9. Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell

   Released in 1993 by Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, MCA Records

   On September 14, 1993, the music world witnessed one of the most improbable and spectacular comebacks in rock history. Sixteen years after the monumental success of "Bat Out of Hell," Meat Loaf and songwriter Jim Steinman reunited to unleash its sequel, "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell." The original album was a slow-burn success that had become a cultural touchstone. A sequel was long-rumored but seemed impossible due to years of legal disputes and creative differences between the two men. Its release was a major event, a gamble on recapturing a unique operatic rock magic in a music landscape now dominated by grunge and alternative. The album's arrival answered the question of whether lightning could strike twice, and the answer was a deafening, Wagnerian yes.

10. Vs.

    Released in 1993 by Pearl Jam, Epic Records

    On October 12, 1993, at the absolute zenith of the grunge movement, Pearl Jam unleashed their second studio album, "Vs.". Following the monumental, multi-platinum success of their debut "Ten," expectations were impossibly high. Instead of pandering to the mainstream, the band turned inward, crafting a rawer, more aggressive, and defiant record. The public's hunger for new material was so immense that "Vs." shattered sales records, selling an unprecedented 950,378 copies in its first five days of release in the U.S. alone. This explosive debut cemented Pearl Jam's status not just as rock stars, but as the unwilling titans of a generation-defining musical era.