History's Best Selling Music of 2014

Make way for the hits of 2014! This remarkable era stood as a testament to the turn-of-the-millennium pop explosion and the march of first-rate music. Crowd-pleasers such as Morning Phase shared the spotlight with mega-bestsellers Mandatory Fun and essential classics. Brought to you by top-notch makers from industry leaders like Beck and 'Weird Al' Yankovic, these trailblazing products dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike and earned a permanent place in cultural lore. Check out the complete rank-ordered ledger below to relive the finest releases of the year.

1. Morning Phase

   Released in 2014 by Beck, Capitol Records

   On February 21, 2014, musician Beck Hansen released his twelfth studio album, "Morning Phase," ending a six-year silence since 2008's "Modern Guilt." The album arrived with considerable anticipation, as it was widely billed as a spiritual and sonic companion piece to his critically adored 2002 masterpiece, "Sea Change." The date marked a significant return for the artist, offering a work of profound introspection and lush instrumentation that stood in stark contrast to the dominant musical trends of the time, immediately reasserting Beck's status as one of modern music's most versatile and vital artists.

2. Mandatory Fun

   Released in 2014 by 'Weird Al' Yankovic, RCA Records

   Released on July 15, 2014, 'Mandatory Fun' became a landmark album for musical satirist 'Weird Al' Yankovic and a case study in modern marketing. In an era of declining album sales, Yankovic executed a brilliant release strategy, premiering eight music videos over eight consecutive days across different popular web platforms. This 'viral' approach generated immense daily buzz and propelled the album to a historic debut. It landed at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, a first for the veteran artist in his career spanning over three decades. For a comedy album to achieve this feat—the first since 1963—was a monumental accomplishment, proving Yankovic's enduring relevance and his savvy adaptation to the internet age.