List of albums which have spent the most weeks on the UK Albums Chart

The following is a list of all albums that have spent at least 150 weeks on the UK Albums Chart as published by the Official Charts Company (OCC). The chart comprises a top 100 from August 1981 to 1988 and since 1994, a top 75 before this (and from 1988 to 1994) from 1978 and various lengths before this from July 1956. Re-releases – such as remasters, re-issues, deluxe versions or anniversary editions – are treated together unless the re-released version differs significantly from the original (for example, it has been re-recorded or remixed). This list does not include compilation albums by various artists, which have been excluded from the UK Albums Chart since 1989. Soundtracks are still included if they are an original cast performance or if all tracks are performed by the same artist.[1]

Queen were the first British group to have an album chart for more than 1000 weeks with their album Greatest Hits.
ABBA were the first act to have a singular album chart for more than 1000 weeks with their album ABBA Gold.
Taylor Swift is the only artist to have five studio albums chart for over 150 weeks, with 1989 (352 weeks), the longest charting studio album by an international female artist on the UK Charts, Lover (227 weeks), Folklore (196 weeks), Reputation (162 weeks) and Evermore (155 weeks).

The top three are all compilation albums, headed by Queen's Greatest Hits which has spent 1406 weeks in the top 100, ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, with 1153 weeks on the chart, followed by Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers with 1131 weeks. The most weeks for a studio album is 1042 for Rumours by Fleetwood Mac which charted every year from its release in 1977 until 1989 and in fifteen different years since then.

Amy Winehouse's 2006 album Back to Black has the most weeks for a post-2000 release, charting for 552 weeks to date, though this total includes 55 weeks for the deluxe edition and 1 week for the box set that includes Back to Black and Winehouse's debut album Frank. The original soundtrack of South Pacific has the most weeks at number 1, with 115.[2] The most weeks by an album not reaching number 1 is 574 for Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and the most weeks by an album not reaching the top 10 is 343 for Singles by Maroon 5.

Six acts have multiple albums achieving 300 weeks on chart: Fleetwood Mac, Oasis, Ed Sheeran, Simon & Garfunkel, Arctic Monkeys and Adele. Of these, Oasis is the only act to have three albums pass the 300-week threshold, all of which subsequently passed the 400-week threshold, and the 500-week threshold, making them the first act with multiple studio albums achieving 500 weeks on the chart. They remain the only act with three albums having reached this milestone, and in 2023 became the first act to have multiple albums achieve 500 weeks. Sheeran would become the second act to have two studio albums achieve 400 weeks on the chart in 2022.

Taylor Swift is the artist to have the most studio albums pass the 150-week threshold, with five of her albums reaching this feat so far.

The numbers shown are up to the chart for the week ending 2 May 2024.

(*) indicates that the album is in the top 100 for the current week ending.

400 or more weeks

The late Amy Winehouse has the longest charting album by a female artist, as well as a studio album released in the 21st century with her 2006 album Back to Black (552 weeks).
Fleetwood Mac have the longest charting studio album with Rumours (1042 weeks). Additionally, their albums The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac (2002) and 50 Years – Don't Stop (2018) have spent 364 weeks and 284 weeks on the chart, respectively.
Oasis have three albums which have charted for over 500 weeks on the UK charts: (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (642 weeks),Time Flies... 1994–2009 (555 weeks) and Definitely Maybe (538 weeks), respectively.
Ed Sheeran has four albums which have spent over 150 weeks on the UK charts. These being + (444 weeks), x (439 weeks) ÷ (373 weeks) and No. 6 Collaborations Project (159 weeks), respectively
Adele has charted for over 200 weeks with her albums 21 (412 weeks), 25 (335 weeks) and 19 (224 weeks), respectively.
TitleArtistYear first
entered chart
PeakWeeksRef
Greatest HitsQueen198111406*[nb 1] [3]
Gold: Greatest HitsABBA199211153*[nb 2] [7]
LegendBob Marley and the Wailers198411131*[8]
RumoursFleetwood Mac197711042*[9]
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis19951642*[10]
Curtain Call: The HitsEminem20051615*[11]
Number OnesMichael Jackson20031587[12]
The Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd19732574*[13]
Time Flies... 1994–2009Oasis20101555*[10]
AMArctic Monkeys20131554*[14]
Back to BlackAmy Winehouse20061552*[nb 3] [15]
Definitely MaybeOasis19941538*[10]
Bat Out of HellMeat Loaf19783530[nb 4] [19]
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm NotArctic Monkeys20061493*[14]
Greatest Hits IIQueen19911481[nb 5] [3]
Greatest HitsFoo Fighters20094481[20]
In the Lonely HourSam Smith20141458[21]
1The Beatles20001444[22]
+Ed Sheeran20111444[23]
NevermindNirvana19915442[24]
xEd Sheeran20141439[23]
21Adele20111412[25]
Greatest HitsGuns N' Roses20041407*[26]
Greatest HitsRed Hot Chili Peppers20034405*[27]

200 to 399 weeks

The late Whitney Houston has the longest charting greatest hits album by a female artist on the UK charts with The Ultimate Collection (388 weeks).
Madonna features twice on this list with The Immaculate Collection (363 weeks) and Like a Virgin (154 weeks), respectively.
The late Michael Jackson has five albums that have charted for over 150 weeks: Number Ones (587 weeks), Thriller (287 weeks), Off the Wall (225 weeks), Bad (187 weeks) and The Essential Michael Jackson (151 weeks).
Lady Gaga charted for 293 weeks with her debut album The Fame.
Lana Del Rey has charted for 247 weeks with her album Born to Die.
TitleArtistYear first
entered chart
PeakWeeksRef
The Ultimate CollectionWhitney Houston20073388[nb 6] [28]
Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie)David Bowie20165388*[29]
The Sound of MusicOriginal Soundtrack19651376[30]
÷Ed Sheeran20171373*[23]
The Immaculate CollectionMadonna19901363[31]
The Very Best of Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac20026363[9]
Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest HitsSimon & Garfunkel19722354[32]
Dua LipaDua Lipa20173353*[33]
Twenty FiveGeorge Michael20061352*[34]
1989Taylor Swift20141352*[35]
SinglesMaroon 5201528343*[36]
Doo-Wops & HooligansBruno Mars20101338*[37]
DiamondsElton John20172337*[nb 7] [38]
Direct HitsThe Killers20135336[39]
25Adele20151335[25]
Bridge over Troubled WaterSimon & Garfunkel19701330[32]
Teenage DreamKaty Perry20101326*[40]
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the WorldsJeff Wayne19785319[41]
The Platinum CollectionQueen20002317[42]
South PacificOriginal Soundtrack19581315[43]
Face ValuePhil Collins19811300[44] [nb 8]
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandThe Beatles19671295[22] [nb 9]
Tracy ChapmanTracy Chapman19881292[45]
The FameLady Gaga20091293*[46]
Tubular BellsMike Oldfield19731288[47]
ThrillerMichael Jackson19821287[nb 10] [12]
Appetite for DestructionGuns N' Roses19875286[26]
50 Years - Don't StopFleetwood Mac20185284*[48]
The Definitive CollectionStevie Wonder200211282[49]
I Cry When I LaughJess Glynne20151278[50]
Brothers in ArmsDire Straits19851271[51]
Greatest Hits... So Far!!!P!nk20105267[52]
Greatest Hits: God's Favorite BandGreen Day201722259*[53]
Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish ExtentLewis Capaldi20191258*[54]
Hot FussThe Killers20041256[39]
Making MoviesDire Straits19804252[51]
Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy JoelBilly Joel20047249*[55]
Born to DieLana Del Rey20121247*[56]
Automatic for the PeopleR.E.M.19921245[57]
My Way: The Best of Frank SinatraFrank Sinatra19977244[58]
The SinglesPhil Collins20162242*[44]
ELV1S: 30 #1 HitsElvis Presley20021238*[59]
Don't Smile at MeBillie Eilish201812236[60]
1962–1966The Beatles19733230*[nb 11] [22]
Fine LineHarry Styles20192228*[61]
LoverTaylor Swift20191227*[35]
Off the WallMichael Jackson19793225[12]
19Adele20081223[25]
Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette19951222[62]
Good Girl Gone BadRihanna20071220*[63]
1967-1970The Beatles19732219*[nb 12] [22]
Never Forget – The Ultimate CollectionTake That20052218[64]
Sigh No MoreMumford & Sons20092218[65]
The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses19895215[66]
Out of TimeR.E.M.19911214[57]
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?Billie Eilish20191213*[67]
No Jacket RequiredPhil Collins19851208[nb 13] [44]
Greatest HitsBon Jovi20102207[68]
All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light OrchestraElectric Light Orchestra20051206[69]
Under a Blood Red SkyU219832204[70]
The BendsRadiohead19954204[71]
The King and IOriginal Soundtrack19561203[72]
Future NostalgiaDua Lipa20201203[33]
The Joshua TreeU219871201[70]
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie19725201[nb 14] [29]
Love over GoldDire Straits19821200[51]

150 to 199 weeks

The late Tina Turner appears twice on this list with Simply the Best (183 weeks) and Private Dancer (150 weeks).
Little Mix have the longest charting album by a girl group with Glory Days (173 weeks).
TitleArtistYear first
entered chart
PeakWeeksRef
LungsFlorence and the Machine20091196[73]
FolkloreTaylor Swift20201196*[35]
?XXXTentacion20183196[74]
ParachutesColdplay20001193[75]
The Best of UB40 – Volume OneUB4019873192[nb 15] [76]
Get Rich or Die Tryin'50 Cent20032191*[77]
Staying at Tamara'sGeorge Ezra20181189[78]
Simply the BestTina Turner19912183[79]
BadMichael Jackson19871180[12]
Crazy LoveMichael Bublé20091180[80]
Wanted on VoyageGeorge Ezra20141180[78]
The 1975The 197520131179*[81]
The Very Best of the EaglesEagles19943179[nb 16] [82]
These StreetsPaolo Nutini20063177[83]
White LadderDavid Gray20001176[84]
Hello, I Must Be Going!Phil Collins19822176[44]
West Side StoryOriginal Soundtrack19621175[85]
Ocean DriveLighthouse Family19953175[86]
The Best of Van MorrisonVan Morrison19904174[87]
Glory DaysLittle Mix20161173[88]
CalifornicationRed Hot Chili Peppers19995169[89]
StoneyPost Malone201610169[90]
Oklahoma!Original Soundtrack19561168[91]
Decade in the Sun: Best of StereophonicsStereophonics20082168[92]
The HighlightsThe Weeknd20212168*[93]
StarboyThe Weeknd20165167*[93]
Only by the NightKings of Leon20081165[94]
Talk on CornersThe Corrs19971164[95]
PsychodramaDave20191164[96]
Alchemy – Dire Straits LiveDire Straits19843164[51]
GracelandPaul Simon19861163[97]
Urban HymnsThe Verve19971162[98]
Come On OverShania Twain19981162[99]
Best of BowieDavid Bowie20021162[29]
ReputationTaylor Swift20171162*[35]
Word Gets AroundStereophonics19976162[92]
Goodbye & Good RiddanceJuice WRLD201823162[100]
StarsSimply Red19911161[101]
No.6 Collaborations ProjectEd Sheeran20191159[23]
My Fair LadyOriginal Broadway Cast19581156[102]
SongbirdEva Cassidy19981156[103]
Cross Road – The Best of Bon JoviBon Jovi19941155[68]
EvermoreTaylor Swift20201155*[35]
The Buddy Holly StoryBuddy Holly19592155[104]
Can't Slow DownLionel Richie19831154[105]
Like a VirginMadonna19841154[nb 17] [31]
Hunky DoryDavid Bowie19713154[nb 14] [29]
SourOlivia Rodrigo20211153*[106]
Come Away with MeNorah Jones20021152[107]
The BalconyCatfish and the Bottlemen201410152*[108]
The Essential Michael JacksonMichael Jackson20051151*[12]
Eyes OpenSnow Patrol20061151[109]
Best of The Beach BoysThe Beach Boys19662151[110]
Manilow MagicBarry Manilow19793151[111]
Get to KnowBecky Hill201920151[112]
A Rush of Blood to the HeadColdplay20021150[75]
Private DancerTina Turner19842150[79]
The 50 Greatest HitsElvis Presley20002150[59]
Call Me IrresponsibleMichael Bublé20072150[80]
Best Of50 Cent201831150*[77]

Artists with the most entries

The following artists have 2 or more albums charting on the UK Album Charts for more than 150 weeks

ArtistNumber onesAlbums
Michael Jackson5
List
Taylor Swift
List
David Bowie4
Dire Straits
List
Ed Sheeran
List
Phil Collins
List
The Beatles
List
Adele3
List
    1. 21 (412 weeks)
    2. 25 (335 weeks)
    3. 19 (223 weeks)
Fleetwood Mac
List
Oasis
Queen
List
Arctic Monkeys2
Billie Eilish
Bon Jovi
Coldplay
List
Dua Lipa
List
Elvis Presley
List
George Ezra
List
Guns 'N Roses
List
Madonna
List
Michael Bublé
List
R.E.M
List
Red Hot Chili Peppers
List
Stereophonics
Simon & Garfunkel
The Killers
List
The Weeknd
List
Tina Turner
List
U2
List
50 Cent
List

See also

Notes

Books

  • British Albums Chart: All Time Top 1000 by Michael Churchill. Published by Lulu.com, 2013.

References