Record sales can look like a final verdict, but they often turn out to be a first impression. Some albums arrive to shrugs, returned stock and bruised label egos, then slowly find the audience they were made for.
The three records below all started as commercial disappointments. Each one eventually earned Platinum certification from the RIAA, the body that tracks US sales and streaming equivalents.
Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique (1989)
Paul’s Boutique followed the huge success of Licensed to Ill, and Capitol Records expected another blockbuster. When it came out on July 25, 1989, the label was disappointed. Retailers reportedly shipped back half a million copies that same month, with no reorders filled. The album only reached number 14 on the Billboard album chart.
The record was dense, built almost entirely on samples, and far from the party rap fans had come to expect. It was certified gold in the US on September 22, 1989. The RIAA later certified it 2x Multi Platinum on January 27, 1999, roughly a decade after the original release.
Jeff Buckley, Grace (1994)
Grace was Jeff Buckley’s only finished studio album, and it didn’t connect with American listeners at first. It reached number 149 on the US Billboard 200, below Columbia’s expectations. It got little radio airplay, and by the time Buckley died in 1997 it had sold 175,000 copies.
The slow climb came later, helped by growing critical respect and strong sales abroad. By 2011 it had sold two million copies, and in 2016 it was certified platinum in the US. It also holds 8x Platinum in Australia and 3x Platinum in the UK.
Weezer, Pinkerton (1996)
Weezer’s second album had a tough job following a debut that went multi platinum. Pinkerton debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and failed to meet sales expectations. It received mixed reviews on release and was considered a commercial failure.
Its reputation recovered over the years, and sales crept up with it. The album was certified gold in 2001 and platinum in 2016. The platinum award came on September 16, 2016, just eight days before its 20th anniversary.
