Today in 1991, Garth Brooks’ album, “Ropin’ The Wind,” was certified gold, platinum, double platinum, triple platinum AND quadruple platinum simultaneously.
It was the first album by a country singer to top both the Billboard Hot 200 and Top Country charts since Kenny Rogers did so just over a decade earlier. It enjoyed four runs at No. 1 between September 28, 1991 – April 3, 1992, spending a combined 18 weeks at the top, eventually being certified 14x Platinum by the RIAA in 1998. In the UK it reached the Top 50 pop albums list and went to No. 1 for several months on the country charts. It has gone on to sell 17 million copies worldwide.
The track “Shameless” is a cover of a Billy Joel song, previously recorded on Joel’s 1989 album Storm Front.
According to music review website Allmusic, Ropin’ the Wind is the first country album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.