46 Years Ago, Legendary Rock Group Released Their Best-Selling Studio Album in the US

When it comes to rock music, there are a few groups that appear as if they have a legacy that puts them in a whole other stratosphere. U2, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, and of course, The Beatles, are rock bands that have extensive catalogs with massive album sales and Billboard accomplishments to boot. Another band that also resides among the greats is the one and only Queen.

Queen is a personal favorite of mine, and has several bangers that I love to hear, whether it's on a long drive or in the midst of a workout. And today, June 30, the group celebrates a milestone. Today, the group released a studio album that went on to become their best-selling studio album in the US. So what is it?

Queen's ‘The Game' Was Released on June 30, 1980

Serving as their eighth studio album, Queen's The Game was released on June 30, 1990. It was a bit nuanced as it blended their rock background with elements from pop and funk. The album was spearheaded by songs like "Save Me," "Play the Game," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and one of my favorite Queen songs, "Another One Bites the Dust." The latter two both topped the Billboard Hot 100.

Additionally, The Game accomplished a first for Queen, in that it earned the group its first and only chart-topping studio album on the US Billboard 200. The album also went on to sell 4,613,577 copies, quite remarkable.

Is ‘The Game' Queen's Best Album?

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Queens's best album is their 1981 Greatest Hits I album. On the sales front, it's their best-selling project with roughly 25 million copies sold. Plus, since the group has a lot of music recordings, I tend to appreciate being able to focus on the classics without digging through the entire bodies of work.

But hey, I took the cheap route in terms of the overall best Queen album. However, perhaps you're brave enough to share your choice if you feel differently. By the way, isn't it remarkable that Grammy's never celebrated the group with a competitive award for any of their work, though they did receive nominations.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 3:00 AM.