Monday, December 4, 2023

UK Albums: Biggest #1's in Chart History

UK Album Chart:

Biggest #1’s

This is a list of the #1 albums of all time according to the UK album charts. It includes all albums logging eight weeks or more at the top. For albums logging the same number of weeks at #1, they are listed in order of highest ranking according to Dave’s Music Database.

Check out other album lists based on charts and sales.

    115 weeks:

  1. South Pacific (soundtrack, 1958)

    70 weeks:

  2. The Sound of Music (soundtrack, 1965)

    48 weeks:

  3. Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) The King and I (soundtrack, 1956)

    33 weeks:

  4. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

    30 weeks:

  5. The Beatles Please Please Me (1963)

    27 weeks:

  6. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
  7. Various Artists The Greatest Showman (soundtrack, 2017)

    23 weeks:

  8. Adele 21 (2011)

    22 weeks:

  9. Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (1960)

    21 weeks:

  10. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964)
  11. The Beatles With the Beatles (1963)

    20 weeks:

  12. Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide) (2017)

    19 weeks:

  13. My Fair Lady (cast album, 1956)

    18 weeks:

  14. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
  15. Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
  16. Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 1961)

    17 weeks:

  17. Carpenters The Singles 1969-1973 (1973)

    15 weeks:

  18. Spice Girls Spice (1996)
  19. Phil Collins …But Seriously (1989)

    14 weeks:

  20. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
  21. Cliff Richard & the Shadows Summer Holiday (1963)

    13 weeks:

  22. West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961)
  23. Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta/various artists Grease (soundtrack, 1978)
  24. Ed Sheeran X (Multiply) (2014)
  25. Bob Dylan John Wesley Harding (1967)

    12 weeks:

  26. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (1984)
  27. The Verve Urban Hymns (1997)
  28. The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones (aka ‘England’s Newest Hitmakers’) (1964)
  29. Simply Red Stars (1991)
  30. Adam & the Ants Kings of the Wild Frontier (1980)
  31. Kids from Fame Kids from Fame (1982)

    11 weeks:

  32. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
  33. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
  34. Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992)
  35. Elton John Greatest Hits (1974)
  36. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993)
  37. Abba Greatest Hits (1976)
  38. The Beatles Beatles for Sale (1964)
  39. Pal Joey (soundtrack, 1957)
  40. various artists 20 All-Time Hits of the ‘50s (1999)

    10 weeks:

  41. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995)
  42. James Blunt Back to Bedlam (2004)
  43. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (1991)
  44. Abba Arrival (1976)
  45. Dido Life for Rent (2003)
  46. The Corrs Talk on Corners (1997)
  47. Emeli Sandé Our Version of Events (2012)
  48. The Beach Boys 20 Golden Greats (1976)
  49. The Rolling Stones No. 2 (aka ‘Now!’) (1965)
  50. Lewis Capaldi Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent (2019)

    9 weeks:

  51. The Beatles 1 (2000)
  52. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1990)
  53. The Beatles Help! (soundtrack, 1965)
  54. Barbra Streisand Love Songs (1982)
  55. Terence Trent D’Arby Introducing the Hardline… (1987)
  56. Travis The Man Who (1999)
  57. Abba Super Trouper (1980)
  58. Stylistics Best of (1975)
  59. George Mitchell Minstrels Black and White Minstrel Show (1961)
  60. Boyzone By Request (1999)

    8 weeks:

  61. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
  62. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
  63. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
  64. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
  65. Abba Gold: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1974-82, released 1992)
  66. George Harrison All Things Must Pass (1970)
  67. T-Rex Electric Warrior (1971)
  68. Sam Smith In the Lonely Hour (2014)
  69. The Rolling Stones Aftermath (1966)
  70. George Michael Ladies and Gentlemen: Best of (1998)
  71. Leona Lewis Spirit (2007)
  72. Take That Beautiful World (2006)
  73. George Mitchell Minstrels Another Black and White Minstrel Show (1961)
  74. Various Artists 20 Dynamic Hits (1972)
  75. Various Artists Now That’s What I Call Music 3 (1984)

Resources and Related Links:


First posted 5/23/2015; last updated 12/4/2023.

6 comments:

  1. Dave - There are several errors in this List. Rubber Soul, & The Beatles, (The White Album), should not be in the List at all. Neither spent 9 Weeks at No.1 in the UK. Both were actually 8 Week No.1's. Nor should ABBA Gold be in it, as that was an 8 Week No.1 also. And it did not get a 1993 release in the UK. It was a September 1992 release. You have spelt one ABBA Album as Super Trooper. It is actually Super Trouper. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water has not been regarded as a 41 Week No.1 in the UK for at least a Decade. From February 6th March 27th 1971 there was a Postal Strike that stopped the UK Album Charts being compiled. To fill that 8 Week gap, we used to simply repeat the Chart of 30th January 1971 for 8 Weeks. That gave the S & G Album 8 extra No.1 Weeks. 41 No.1 Weeks in Total. In 2004 or so, it was decided not to do that any longer. We started to use the Melody Maker Album Charts to fill that 8 Week gap. Those Charts had All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, at No.1 for all 8 Weeks. So that became a UK No.1 Album, & the S & G Album had 8 No.1 Weeks removed - giving it 33 No.1 Weeks - not 41. 21 by Adele, was a UK No.1 for 23 Weeks - not 22. Since your List was compiled, you only need to add 2 Albums to up-date it to May 2015. They are X by Ed Sheeran, (2014), which was a UK No.1 for 12 Weeks. And Our Version Of Events, by Emily Sandé, (2012), which was a UK No.1 for 10 Weeks.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I appreciate the updates and have integrated them.

      Delete
  2. Dave - You still need to add a No.1 Week to 21 by Adele. It definitely had 23 Weeks at No.1 & Not 22 Weeks. It did it in 7 'Runs' at No.1 - (2011) - 11 - 5 - 2 & - (2012) - 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 = 23 Weeks at No.1. There are 2 further Albums to add to your 8 Weeks at No.1 List. They are - Beautiful World - Take That, (2006), and In The Lonely Hour - Sam Smith, (2014).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I appreciate you keeping me on my toes. I have verified and made the changes. Thanks.

      Delete
  3. Dave -X by Ed Sheeran has now spent 13 Weeks at No.1 in the UK. It had its 13th No.1 Week a few Weeks ago.

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  4. Please, can I get a list of every artist/band who featured in the UK top 10 music singles chart from 1960 to the present day. Ideally produced as an Excel spreadsheet.

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