What was the first number one on the UK Albums Chart?
The first number one on the UK Albums Chart was Songs for Swingin' Lovers! by Frank Sinatra, for the week ending the 22nd of July 1956. That same date marks the first publication of the chart.
Questions about UK Albums Chart
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which album has spent the most weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart?
The soundtrack to the film South Pacific holds the record with a non-consecutive total of 115 weeks at number one. It had a consecutive run of 70 weeks from November 1958 to March 1960, with additional spells at the top in 1960 and 1961.
Who has the most number one albums on the UK Albums Chart?
Robbie Williams holds the record for the most number one albums with 16 as of January 2026, following the release of his thirteenth studio album Britpop. This surpassed the previous record of 15 set by the Beatles.
When did streaming start counting toward the UK Albums Chart?
Streaming data was incorporated into the Official Albums Chart from March 2015. The last number one based purely on sales was Smoke + Mirrors by Imagine Dragons, and the first chart-topper under the new methodology was In the Lonely Hour by Sam Smith on the 1st of March 2015.
What is the best-selling album in UK chart history?
Queen's Greatest Hits is the best-selling album in UK chart history, with over 7 million copies sold including downloads and equivalent streams as of July 2022. ABBA's Gold: Greatest Hits is second with over 6 million, and The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is third with over 5.4 million, though Sgt. Pepper remains the best-selling studio album.
Who is the youngest artist to top the UK Albums Chart?
Neil Reid is the youngest artist to top the UK Albums Chart, reaching number one with his debut album in 1972 at the age of 12. Billie Eilish holds the record for the youngest female artist, debuting at number one with When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? at the age of 17.