List of UK top-ten albums in 1990

The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1][2][3] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 1990, as well as albums which peaked in 1989 and 1991 but were in the top 10 in 1990. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

One-hundred and nineteen albums were in the top ten this year. Fourteen albums from 1989 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, or re-entered during the year, while I'm Your Baby Tonight by Whitney Houston and The Singles Collection 1984/1990 by Jimmy Somerville were both released in 1990 but did not reach their peak until 1991. Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul, Hangin' Tough by New Kids on the Block, Journeyman by Eric Clapton, Labour of Love II by UB40 and Sleeping with the Past by Elton John were the albums from 1989 to reach their peak in 1990. Eleven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1990. Alannah Miles, Betty Boo, The Charlatans and The Sundays were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 1990.

The 1989 Christmas number-one album, ...But Seriously by Phil Collins, remained at number-one for the first 3 weeks of 1990. The first new number-one album of the year was Colour by The Christians. Overall, seventeen different albums peaked at number-one in 1990, with Luciano Pavarotti (2) having the most albums hit that position.

Background

Multiple entries

One-hundred and nineteen albums charted in the top 10 in 1990, with one-hundred and three albums reaching their peak this year.

Eleven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1990.

Top-ten albums

Key
SymbolMeaning
Album peaked in 1989 but still in chart in 1990.
Album released in 1990 but peaked in 1991.
(#)Year-end top ten album position and rank
EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the song reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
Weeks
in
top
10
SingleArtistPeakPeak
reached
(week ending)
Weeks
at
peak
Albums in 1989
18 February 198917The Raw & the CookedFine Young Cannibals118 February 19891
1 April 198912Like a PrayerMadonna11 April 19892
15 April 19896Forever Your GirlPaula Abdul312 May 19901
22 April 198917Club Classics Vol. OneSoul II Soul115 July 19891
13 May 198929Ten Good ReasonsJason Donovan120 May 19894
23 September 198917Sleeping with the PastElton John128 July 19905
30 September 198918Foreign AffairTina Turner130 September 19891
21 October 198916Enjoy YourselfKylie Minogue121 October 19891
11 November 198920The Road to HellChris Rea111 November 19893
7Holding Back the RiverWet Wet Wet211 November 19891
18 November 19899JourneymanEric Clapton217 February 19902
25 November 198911The Best of Rod StewartRod Stewart325 November 19891
2 December 198942...But SeriouslyPhil Collins12 December 198915
16AffectionLisa Stansfield22 December 19892
9 December 19897Jive Bunny: The AlbumJive Bunny29 December 19895
9Hangin' ToughNew Kids on the Block220 January 19901
12Labour of Love IIUB40319 May 19901
Albums in 1990
27 January 19903ColourThe Christians127 January 19901
1Reading, Writing and ArithmeticThe Sundays427 January 19901
1The Love SongsDionne Warwick627 January 19901
3 February 19904The Very Best of Cat StevensCat Stevens43 February 19901
10 February 19901A Bit of What You FancyThe Quireboys210 February 19901
2The Sweet KeeperTanita Tikaram310 February 19901
1Vigil in a Wilderness of MirrorsFish510 February 19901
6Pump Up the JamTechnotronic210 March 19901
17 February 19901Carved in SandThe Mission717 February 19901
4Heart of StoneCher724 February 19902
1The Language of LifeEverything But the Girl1017 January 19901
24 February 19901Miss SaigonOriginal London Cast424 February 19901
1Waking HoursDel Amitri624 February 19901
1Running Free/Sanctuary (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden1024 February 19901
3 March 19901Women in Uniform/Twilight Zone (The First Ten Years)103 March 19901
10 March 19901Purgatory/Maiden Japan (The First Ten Years)510 March 19901
1The House of LoveThe House of Love810 March 19901
17 March 19902Missing...Presumed Having a Good TimeThe Notting Hillbillies217 March 19901
1Run to the Hills/The Number of the Beast (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden317 March 19901
10Vivaldi: The Four SeasonsNigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra324 March 19901
23Soul ProviderMichael Bolton48 September 19901
24 March 19904I Do Not Want What I Haven't GotSinéad O'Connor124 March 19901
6ChangesbowieDavid Bowie131 March 19901
1Flight of Icarus/The Trooper (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden724 March 19901
14The Essential PavarottiLuciano Pavarotti123 June 19904
31 March 19903ViolatorDepeche Mode231 March 19901
13Only Yesterday – Richard & Karen Carpenter's Greatest HitsThe Carpenters17 April 19907
2Cosmic ThingThe B-52s87 April 19901
7 April 19903The Best of Van MorrisonVan Morrison47 April 19902
1Running Free/Run to the Hills (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden97 April 19901
14 April 19904BrigadeHeart314 April 19901
1Wasted Years/Stranger in a Strange Land (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden914 April 19901
21 April 19906Behind the MaskFleetwood Mac121 April 19901
3AbsolutelyABC721 April 19901
1Can I Play with Madness/The Evil That Men Do (The First Ten Years)Iron Maiden1021 April 19901
28 April 19905Alannah MylesAlannah Myles328 April 19901
1Fear of a Black PlanetPublic Enemy428 April 19901
1Days of Open HandSuzanne Vega728 April 19901
5 May 19903LifeInspiral Carpets25 May 19901
2Everybody KnowsSonia75 May 19901
12 May 19902A Pocketful of DreamsBig Fun719 May 19901
26 May 19905Through a Big Country: Greatest HitsBig Country226 May 19901
2 June 19907Vol. II: 1990 – A New DecadeSoul II Soul12 June 19903
8I'm Breathless: Music from and Inspired by the Film "Dick Tracy"Madonna22 June 19902
1Passion and WarfareSteve Vai82 June 19901
9 June 19907Between the LinesJason Donovan29 June 19902
5Natural History: The Very Best of Talk TalkTalk Talk316 June 19901
16 June 19901Other VoicesPaul Young416 June 19901
1HomeHothouse Flowers516 June 19901
23 June 199010Summer DreamsThe Beach Boys223 June 19901
8Greatest HitsThe Bangles423 June 19901
30 June 199012Step by StepNew Kids on the Block130 June 19901
4Wilson PhillipsWilson Phillips77 July 19901
7 July 19907Hot Rocks 1964-1971The Rolling Stones314 July 19901
14 July 19901CompositionsAnita Baker714 July 19901
21 July 19903Flesh and BloodPoison321 July 19901
1Goodnight L.A.Magnum921 July 19901
4 August 19904Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'EmMC Hammer811 August 19902
11 August 19902Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2Craig McLachlan & Check 1-21011 August 19902
18 August 19902LovegodThe Soup Dragons718 August 19901
25 August 19904Young Guns II: Blaze of GloryJon Bon Jovi225 August 19901
2BossanovaPixies325 August 19901
1 September 19902Graffiti BridgePrince11 September 19901
22Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in ConcertJosé Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti18 September 19905
1LibertyDuran Duran81 September 19901
5Look SharpRoxette415 September 19901
8 September 19901Jordan: The ComebackPrefab Sprout78 September 19901
15 September 199019Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1George Michael115 September 19901
3Mariah CareyMariah Carey615 September 19901
2Stepping Out: The Very Best of Joe JacksonJoe Jackson715 September 19901
22 September 19904Ooh Las VegasDeacon Blue322 September 19902
4BoomaniaBetty Boo422 September 19902
29 September 19902Room to RoamThe Waterboys529 September 19901
1Heaven or Las VegasCocteau Twins729 September 19901
6 October 19903XINXS26 October 19901
1The Razors EdgeAC/DC46 October 19901
1Rust in PeaceMegadeth86 October 19901
13 October 19902No Prayer for the DyingIron Maiden213 October 19901
5ReflectionThe Shadows527 October 19901
1Doctor Adamski's Musical PharmacyAdamski813 October 19901
20 October 19902Some FriendlyThe Charlatans120 October 19901
9Rocking All Over the YearsStatus Quo220 October 19902
1EnlightenmentVan Morrison520 October 19901
27 October 199010The Rhythm of the SaintsPaul Simon127 October 19902
1RecyclerZZ Top827 October 19901
1Bona DragMorrissey927 October 19901
2Led Zeppelin RemastersLed Zeppelin1027 October 19902
3 November 19902BehaviourPet Shop Boys23 November 19901
2Cornerstones: 1967–1970Jimi Hendrix53 November 19901
1New Kids on the BlockNew Kids on the Block63 November 19901
2Trip on This: The RemixesTechnotronic710 November 19901
10 November 199020The Very Best of Elton JohnElton John110 November 19902
3ChokeThe Beautiful South210 November 19901
17 November 199012Serious Hits... Live!Phil Collins217 November 19901
1Pills 'n' Thrills and BellyachesHappy Mondays417 November 19901
10I'm Your Baby TonightWhitney Houston419 January 19911
1Mixed UpThe Cure817 November 19901
8From a Distance: The EventCliff Richard329 December 19901
24 November 199027The Immaculate CollectionMadonna124 November 19909
9The Singles Collection 1984/1990Jimmy Somerville45 January 19911
1Rhythm of LoveKylie Minogue924 November 19901
1 December 19904The Very Best of the Bee GeesBee Gees88 December 19902

Entries by artist

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1990, including albums that reached their peak in 1989. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1990 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksAlbums
9Iron Maiden10Can I Play with Madness/The Evil That Men Do (The First Ten Years), Flight of Icarus/The Trooper (The First Ten Years), No Prayer for the Dying, Purgatory/Maiden Japan (The First Ten Years), Run to the Hills/The Number of the Beast (The First Ten Years), Running Free/Run to the Hills (The First Ten Years), Running Free/Sanctuary (The First Ten Years), Wasted Years/Stranger in a Strange Land (The First Ten Years), Women in Uniform/Twilight Zone (The First Ten Years)

Notes

See also

References

General

  • "Six decades of singles charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2017.

Specific

External links