I kept my own Top Ten Albums chart for twenty years, from November 1983 to December 2003. Over this period 142 albums hit #1. However unlike with my Top Ten Singles chart, I never kept statistics about my albums. I would track artists and their multiple hit singles but never did the same for the albums. There were understandably far more singles that appeared on my chart than albums, so maybe I didn’t feel I needed to manage their performance. I have finally started to tabulate statistics about my most successful album artists and compile other fun statistics about the charts.
Just as with artists who achieved at least five top ten hits, I have assembled an “honour roll” of artists who have accumulated at least five top ten albums. In this list I will include the names of all the albums ranked in chronological order when they first appeared on my chart and their eventual peak positions. Here are the record holders:
Number of Top Ten Albums–Artist
Album title Peak Position (weeks at #1)
16–Paul McCartney
Say Say Say 1 (1) with Michael Jackson [EP][a]
Pipes of Peace 1 (11)
Give My Regards to Broad Street 1 (16)
Press to Play 1 (6)
All the Best! 2
Flowers in the Dirt 1 (18)
Tripping the Live Fantastic 3
Unplugged The Official Bootleg 8
Снова б CCCP The Russian Album 5
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio 7
Off the Ground 1 (19)
Paul is Live 2
Flaming Pie 1 (4)
Band on the Run 5
Wingspan Hits and History 1 (5)
“Driving Rain” 1 (5)
12–The Beatles
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 9
The Beatles/1967-1970 1 (3)
The Beatles/1962-1966 2
‘Live at the BBC’ 1 (7)
The Beatles Anthology 1 1 (12)
The Beatles Anthology 2 1 (10)
The Beatles Anthology 3 1 (10)
The Beatles 5
Yellow Submarine Songtrack 4
1 1 (8)
Abbey Road 10
Let it Be… Naked 1 (3)
12–Duran Duran
Duran Duran 3 [b]
Seven and the Ragged Tiger 3
Union of the Snake 10 [EP][a]
Arena 4
Notorious 1 (9)
Big Thing 1 (3)
Decade 6
Liberty 1 (1)
Duran Duran 2 [c]
Thank You 1 (7)
Medazzaland 3
Strange Behaviour 6
12–Prince
1999 7 [d]
Purple Rain 1 (10)
Around the World in a Day 4
Parade 4
Sign ‘O’ the Times 3
Lovesexy 1 (1)
Batman 3
Graffiti Bridge 3
Diamonds and Pearls 1 (4)
6
The Hits 1 4
The Hits 2 5
11–Madonna
True Blue 1 (10)
Like a Prayer 1 (18)
I’m Breathless 1 (7)
The Immaculate Collection 1 (7)
Erotica 1 (10)
Bedtime Stories 1 (3)
Something to Remember 2
ray of light 1 (30)
“Music” 1 (8)
GHV2 Greatest Hits Volume 2 3
American Life 1 (7)
11–Pet Shop Boys
Please 7
Actually 5
Introspective 2
Behaviour. 2
Discography 4
Very 1 (25)
Disco 2 2
Alternative 1 (5)
Bilingual 1 (4)
Nightlife 1 (3)
Release 1 (2)
10–Yoko Ono
Heart Play -unfinished dialogue- with John Lennon 3
Milk and Honey with John Lennon 1 (26)
Walking on Thin Ice 5
Rising 2
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band 9
Approximately Infinite Universe 7
Feeling the Space 10
Fly 3
Blueprint for a Sunrise 2
Unfinished Music No. 2: Live With The Lions with John Lennon 7 [e]
8–Pointer Sisters
Break Out 2
Contact 2
Hot Together 1 (9)
Serious Slammin’ 1 (9)
Right Rhythm 1 (12)
Only Sisters Can Do That 1 (12)
Fire–The Very Best of the Pointer Sisters 1 (15)
Legendary Pointer Sisters 6
8–R.E.M.
Document 7
Green 4
Out of Time 1 (16)
Automatic for the People 1 (5)
Monster 1 (3)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi 1 (3)
Reveal 2
In Time The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 2
8–Värttinä
Kokko 2
Vihma 1 (29)
Aitara 1 (3)
Oi dai 1 (3)
Seleniko 1 (19)
Ilmatar 1 (26)
6.12. 1 (11)
iki 1 (11)
7–U2
Wide Awake in America 9
The Joshua Tree 1 (4)
Rattle and Hum 1 (3)
Achtung Baby 1 (10)
Zooropa 1 (2)
Pop 4
The Best of 1980-1990 The B-Sides 1980-1990 1 (3)
6–The Cult
Love 1 (3)
Live at the Lyceum–London–20th May 1984 6
Electric 4
Sonic Temple 2
Ceremony 3
Pure Cult 8
6–George Harrison
Cloud Nine 1 (21)
Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989 4
Live in Japan 9
All Things Must Pass 1 (5)
The Best of George Harrison 2 [f]
Brainwashed 1 (5)
6–Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak 7
Heart Shaped World 4
San Francisco Days 1 (9)
Forever Blue 1 (3)
Baja Sessions 3
Speak of the Devil 3
6–Janet Jackson
Control 2
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 1 (6)
janet. 1 (3)
Design of a Decade 1986/1996 1 (5)
The Velvet Rope 1 (14)
All for You 1 (6)
6–John Lennon
Heart Play -unfinished dialogue- with Yoko Ono 3
Milk and Honey with Yoko Ono 1 (26)
Borrowed Time 2 [EP][a]
John Lennon Live in New York City 1 (6)
John Lennon Anthology 5
Unfinished Music No. 2: Live With The Lions with Yoko Ono 7 [e]
6–Simple Minds
Once Upon a Time 1 (16)
Live in the City of Light 1 (11)
Street Fighting Years 1 (3)
Real Life 1 (8)
Glittering Prize 5
Good News from the Next World 1 (6)
6–Bruce Springsteen
Live/1975-85 1 (3)
Tunnel of Love 1 (7)
Lucky Town 2
Human Touch 3
Greatest Hits 9
The Rising 3
5–Rosemary Clooney
White Christmas 2
Songs from White Christmas and Other Yuletide Favorites 4
Do You Miss New York? 1 (3)
Love 4
The Last Concert 4
5–Hedningarna
Karelia Visa 1 (6)
Kaksi! 6
Hippjokk 6
Trä 5
1989-2003 5
5–Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston 2
Whitney 2
I’m Your Baby Tonight 2
My Love is Your Love 2
The Greatest Hits 3
5–Michael Jackson
Thriller 1 (2) [g]
Say Say Say 1 (1) with Paul McCartney [EP][a]
Bad 1 (8)
Dangerous 1 (15)
HIStory Past, Present and Future Book 1 1 (4)
5–The Northern Pikes
Big Blue Sky 3
Secrets of the Alibi 3
Snow in June 2
Neptune 9
hits and assorted secrets 1984-1993 1 (1)
5–Oasis
(What’s the Story) Morning Glory? 1 (3)
Be Here Now 1 (3)
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants 1 (2)
Familiar to Millions 5
Heathen Chemistry 1 (2)
5–LeAnn Rimes
Blue 1 (15)
Unchained Melody/The Early Years 2
You Light Up My Life Inspirational Songs 2
Sittin’ on Top of the World 3
Greatest Hits 2
5–Sting
The Dream of the Blue Turtles 3
…Nothing Like the Sun 5
The Soul Cages 3
Ten Summoner’s Tales 2
Fields of Gold The Best of Sting 1984-1994 7
5–Ultra Bra
Sinä päivänä kun synnyin 1 (26)
Kalifornia 1 (1)
Vesireittejä 1 (4)
Kroketti 1 (11)
Vapaaherran elämää 1 (2)
Whitney Houston and Sting have had the most top ten albums (5) without hitting #1. Sting is also the runner-up to have the most top ten hits (8) without a #1 song.
Number of #1 Albums–Artist
9–Madonna
9–Paul McCartney
7–The Beatles
7–Värttinä
5–Janet Jackson
5–Michael Jackson
5–Pet Shop Boys
5–Pointer Sisters
5–Simple Minds
5–U2
5–Ultra Bra
4–Duran Duran
4–Oasis
4–R.E.M.
3–The B-52’s
3–George Harrison
3–M People
3–Prince
Runs at #1
Every album that hit #1 is listed below, ranked in order of number of weeks spent at the top.
Weeks at #1 Album title–Artist
30 ray of light–Madonna
29 Vihma–Värttinä
26 Milk and Honey–John Lennon and Yoko Ono
26 Ilmatar–Värttinä
26 Sinä päivänä kun synnyin–Ultra Bra
25 Very–Pet Shop Boys
21 Cloud Nine–George Harrison
19 Off the Ground–Paul McCartney
19 Seleniko–Värttinä
18 Like a Prayer–Madonna
18 Flowers in the Dirt–Paul McCartney
18 Evita–Soundtrack
16 Give My Regards to Broad Street–Paul McCartney
16 Once Upon a Time–Simple Minds
16 Volume One–Traveling Wilburys
16 Out of Time–R.E.M.
15 Valotte–Julian Lennon
15 Dangerous–Michael Jackson
15 Fire–The Very Best of the Pointer Sisters–Pointer Sisters
15 Blue–LeAnn Rimes
14 Cosmic Thing–The B-52’s
14 X–INXS
14 The Velvet Rope–Janet
14 emo–sari kaasinen
12 Songs from the Big Chair–Tears For Fears
12 Right Rhythm–The Pointer Sisters
12 Only Sisters Can Do That–Pointer Sisters
12 Zero Patience A Musical About AIDS–Soundtrack
12 The Beatles Anthology 1–The Beatles
11 Pipes of Peace–Paul McCartney
11 Live in the City of Light–Simple Minds
11 6.12.–Värttinä
11 Kroketti–Ultra Bra
11 iki–Värttinä
10 Purple Rain–Prince and the Revolution
10 True Blue–Madonna
10 Achtung Baby–U2
10 Good Stuff–The B-52’s
10 Erotica–Madonna
10 The Beatles Anthology 2–The Beatles
10 The Beatles Anthology 3–The Beatles
9 Notorious–Duran Duran
9 Hot Together–Pointer Sisters
9 Serious Slammin’–Pointer Sisters
9 Adrenalize–Def Leppard
9 San Francisco Days–Chris Isaak
9 the best of m people–m people
8 Bad–Michael Jackson
8 Faith–George Michael
8 Real Life–Simple Minds
8 Bizarre Fruit–M People
8 “Music”–Madonna
8 1–The Beatles
7 The Secret Value of Daydreaming–Julian Lennon
7 Tunnel of Love–Bruce Springsteen
7 I’m Breathless–Madonna
7 The Immaculate Collection–Madonna
7 ‘Live at the BBC’–The Beatles
7 Thank You–Duran Duran
7 American Life–Madonna
6 John Lennon Live in New York City–John Lennon
6 Press to Play–Paul McCartney
6 Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814–Janet Jackson
6 Even Cowgirls Get the Blues–k.d. lang
6 Good News from the Next World–Simple Minds
6 Jagged Little Pill–Alanis Morissette
6 Karelia Visa–Hedningarna
6 All for You–Janet Jackson
6 Onnelliset kohtaa–Scandinavian Music Group
5 The Power Station–The Power Station
5 So–Peter Gabriel
5 Waking Up the Neighbours–Bryan Adams
5 Automatic for the People–R.E.M.
5 Alternative–Pet Shop Boys
5 Design of a Decade 1986/1996–Janet Jackson
5 Wingspan Hits and History–Paul McCartney
5 “Driving Rain”–Paul McCartney
5 All Things Must Pass–George Harrison
5 Elv1s 30 #1 Hits–Elvis Presley
5 Brainwashed–George Harrison
4 Reckless–Bryan Adams
4 Heart–Heart
4 The Joshua Tree–U2
4 Hysteria–Def Leppard
4 Diamonds and Pearls–Prince And The N.P.G.
4 Nevermind–Nirvana
4 HIStory Past, Present and Future Book 1–Michael Jackson
4 Bilingual–Pet Shop Boys
4 Flaming Pie–Paul McCartney
4 fresco–m people
4 Vesireittejä–Ultra Bra
4 Elvis 2nd to None–Elvis Presley
3 Victory–Jacksons
3 Love–The Cult
3 Live/1975-85–Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
3 Whenever You Need Somebody–Rick Astley
3 Rattle and Hum–U2
3 Big Thing–Duranduran
3 Street Fighting Years–Simple Minds
3 janet.–Janet Jackson
3 The Beatles/1967-1970–The Beatles
3 Bedtime Stories–Madonna
3 Monster–R.E.M.
3 Forever Blue–Chris Isaak
3 New Adventures in Hi-Fi–R.E.M.
3 (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?–Oasis
3 Be Here Now–Oasis
3 The Best of 1980-1990 The B-Sides 1980-1990–U2
3 Nightlife–Pet Shop Boys
3 Aitara–Värttinä
3 Oi dai–Värttinä
3 Do You Miss New York?–Rosemary Clooney
3 Let it Be… Naked–The Beatles
2 Thriller–Michael Jackson [g]
2 Voices Carry–’til tuesday
2 Affection–Lisa Stansfield
2 Zooropa–U2
2 Endless Summer Donna Summer’s Greatest Hits–Donna Summer
2 Jackpot! The Las Vegas Story–Various Artists
2 Time Capsule Songs for a Future Generation–The B-52’s
2 Live & More Encore!–Donna Summer
2 Standing on the Shoulder of Giants–Oasis
2 Release–Pet Shop Boys
2 Heathen Chemistry–Oasis
2 Vapaaherran elämää–Ultra Bra
1 Say Say Say–Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson [EP][a]
1 Slippery When Wet–Bon Jovi
1 Lovesexy–Prince
1 Forever Your Girl–Paula Abdul
1 Liberty–Duran Duran
1 Vol. 3–Traveling Wilburys
1 Gonna Make You Sweat–c + c music factory
1 Republic–New Order
1 Hits–Joni Mitchell
1 Diana Princess of Wales Tribute–Various Artists
1 Joko Joulun alkaa saa–Sari ja Mari Kaasinen
1 hits and assorted secrets 1984-1993–the northern pikes
1 Before the Storm–Darude
1 Kalifornia–Ultra Bra
1 Nousukausi–Soundtrack
1 Now That’s What I Call Christmas 2! The Signature Collection–Various Artists
1 Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas–Ella Fitzgerald
Longest Chart Runs within the Top Ten
Albums that were in my top ten for a year or more.
Weeks on Chart Album title–Artist
137 janet.–Janet Jackson
133 Kokko–värttinä
128 Vihma–Värttinä
115 Seleniko–Värttinä
111 Ilmatar–Värttinä
94 Sinä päivänä kun synnyin–Ultra Bra
85 The Velvet Rope–Janet
84 Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814–Janet Jackson
81 Oi dai–Värttinä
80 ray of light–Madonna
79 Aitara–Värttinä
78 Break Out–Pointer Sisters
74 Evita–Soundtrack
73 Very–Pet Shop Boys
72 Bad–Michael Jackson
70 Pipes of Peace–Paul McCartney
69 Jagged Little Pill–Alanis Morissette
69 Vesireittejä–Ultra Bra
68 Achtung Baby–U2
67 Erotica–Madonna
67 Supermodel of the World–RuPaul
67 Karelia Visa–Hedningarna
65 Bizarre Fruit–M People
65 Like a Prayer–Madonna
64 Kalifornia–Ultra Bra
60 Out of Time–R.E.M.
60 “Music”–Madonna
59 She’s So Unusual–Cyndi Lauper
58 Bedtime Stories–Madonna
57 Monster–R.E.M.
57 Faith–George Michael
56 Elegant Slumming–M People
55 Good Stuff–The B-52’s
55 emo–sari kaasinen
55 Kroketti–Ultra Bra
54 6.12.–Värttinä
54 Vapaaherran elämää–Ultra Bra
54 Milk and Honey–John Lennon and Yoko Ono
53 Republic–New Order
52 Thriller–Michael Jackson [g]
One Week in the Top Ten
As the above list attests, albums have longer chart runs than singles especially if they are fuelled by a string of hit singles. An album that charted for a single week was rare since my qualification criteria depended a great deal on how prolific it was as a hitmaker. Twenty years of album charts however did produce the following one-week-only appearances. Note that the first such examples were 12″ singles, a format I disqualified after the first ten months of compiling charts.
Album title–Artist (Peak Position) / Date of Chart Appearance
The Safety Dance–Men Without Hats (10) / 19 November 1983 [EP][a]
Uh-Huh–John Cougar Mellencamp (10) / 17 December 1983
Union of the Snake–Duran Duran (10) / 7 January 1984 [EP][a]
The Icicle Works–The Icicle Works (10) / 7 July 1984 [h]
Everlasting–Natalie Cole (10) / 4 June 1988
Unplugged The Official Bootleg–Paul McCartney (8) / 25 May 1991
Spice–Spice Girls (10) / 23 August 1997
Feeling the Space–Yoko Ono with Plastic Ono Band (10) / 30 August 1997
The Beatles–The Beatles (5) / 28 November 1998
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie–Alanis Morissette (10) / 30 January 1999
Abbey Road–The Beatles (10) / 8 December 2001
it’s Christmas!–Quartette (7) / 29 December 2001
Over twenty years relatively few soundtracks entered my top ten, when compared to the dominance soundtracks had on the Billboard Top 200 Albums. Soundtracks which contain music by exclusively one artist (such as Prince, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, U2, k. d. lang, the Beatles, Donna Summer and Madonna) are listed under the artist. The following soundtracks all made my top ten, and are listed in chronological order of their appearance:
Flashdance 6 [i]
Footloose 3
Beverly Hills Cop 9 [j]
The Breakfast Club 8 [j]
A View to a Kill 7 [j]
Miami Vice 5 [TV][k]
Pretty in Pink 2
Top Gun 8
Who’s That Girl 6
Do the Right Thing 2
Twin Peaks 2
Wild at Heart 5
New Jack City 6
The Bodyguard 6
Zero Patience A Musical About AIDS 1 (12)
Melrose Place 4 [TV][k]
Evita 1 (18)
Titanic 3
Nousukausi 1 (1) [l]
Various Artists albums are collections of songs aside from soundtracks. I have excluded the We Are the World album as it was credited to USA for Africa.
Various Artists
Album title Peak Position (weeks at #1)
Every Man Has a Woman 5
Diana Princess of Wales The BBC recording of the Funeral Service 7
Jackpot! The Last Vegas Story 1 (2)
Diana Princess of Wales Tribute 1 (1)
Nordic Roots 2 7
Kansanmusiikkia ennen ja nyt Folk Music Experience 5
Nordic Roots 3 4
Now That’s What I Call Christmas! 3
Now That’s What I Call Christmas 2! The Signature Collection 1 (1)
Same Title But Different Album
Sometimes different albums which happened to have the exact same title appeared in my top ten. The titles below are not listed in any specific order:
Album title–Artists to chart that title listed in chronological order
Duran Duran–Duran Duran / Duran Duran [c]
Duets–Frank Sinatra / Elton John
Love–The Cult / Rosemary Clooney
One More Time–Nancy Sinatra / Real McCoy
The Greatest Hits–INXS / Cher / Whitney Houston
Greatest Hits–Fleetwood Mac / Eurythmics / Bruce Springsteen / Take That / Spandau Ballet / LeAnn Rimes
almost the same title:
Rising (by Yoko Ono/IMA) / The Rising (by Bruce Springsteen)
Greatest Hits Collections
Album title–Artist Peak Position (weeks at #1)
Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II–Billy Joel 6
Standing In A Beach The Singles–The Cure 3 [m]
Every Breath You Take The Singles–The Police 3
All the Best!–Paul McCartney 2
Boots: Nancy Sinatra’s All-Time Hits–Nancy Sinatra 5
Greatest Hits–Fleetwood Mac 4
The Greatest Hits Collection–Bananarama 5
Best of Dark Horse 1976-1989–George Harrison 4
Decade–Duran Duran 6
The Immaculate Collection–Madonna 1 (7)
Greatest Hits–Eurythmics 4
Discography–Pet Shop Boys 4
The Best of Abba–Abba 5
Walking on Thin Ice–Yoko Ono 5
Glittering Prize–Simple Minds 5
Pure Cult–The Cult 8
The Hits 1–Prince 4
The Hits 2–Prince 5
The Beatles/1967-1970–The Beatles 1 (3)
The Beatles/1962-1966–The Beatles 2
So Far So Good–Bryan Adams 5
Fields of Gold The Best of Sting 1984-1994–Sting 7
The Best of New Order–New Order 6
The Greatest Hits–INXS 5
Collectible Spoons–Spoons 5
Endless Summer Donna Summer’s Greatest Hits–Donna Summer 1 (2)
Greatest Hits–Bruce Springsteen 9
The Hit Years–Nancy Sinatra 10
HIStory Past, Present and Future Book 1–Michael Jackson 1 (4) [n]
Those Were the Days–Mary Hopkin 6
Design of a Decade 1986/1996–Janet Jackson 1 (5)
Vault Def Leppard Greatest Hits 19 80 – 19 95–Def Leppard 3
Actual Miles Henley’s Greatest Hits–Don Henley 7
Fire–The Very Best of the Pointer Sisters–Pointer Sisters 1 (15)
Hits Unlimited–2 Unlimited 3
Greatest Hits–Take That 2
Hits–Joni Mitchell 1 (1)
Collection–Men Without Hats 4
Anniversary: 20 Years of Hits The First Lady of Country Music–Tammy Wynette 3
My Way The Best of Frank Sinatra–Frank Sinatra 5
Time Capsule Songs for a Future Generation–The B-52’s 1 (2)
The Best of 1980-1990 The B-Sides 1980-1990–U2 1 (3)
Ladies & Gentlemen The Best of George Michael–George Michael 4
the best of m people–m people 1 (9)
Greatest Hits–Spandau Ballet 7
The Greatest Hits–Cher 3
hits and assorted secrets 1984-1993–the northern pikes 1 (1)
The Greatest Hits–Whitney Houston 3
1–The Beatles 1 (8)
J’ai vécu bien des années–Angèle Arsenault 8
Wingspan Hits and History–Paul McCartney 1 (5)
GHV2 Greatest Hits Volume 2–Madonna 3
The Best of George Harrison–George Harrison 2 [f]
Sinä päivänä kun synnyin–Ultra Bra 1 (26)
Anything Anytime Anywhere Singles 1979-2002–Bruce Cockburn 4
Legendary Pointer Sisters–Pointer Sisters 6
Elv1s 30 #1 Hits–Elvis Presley 1 (5)
Forty Licks–Rolling Stones 2
In Time The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003–R.E.M. 2
Greatest Hits–LeAnn Rimes 2
1989-2003–Hedningarna 5
Live Albums
Album title–Artist Peak Position (weeks at #1)
Arena–Duran Duran 4
Wide Awake in America–U2 9 [o]
John Lennon Live in New York City–John Lennon 1 (6)
Live at the Lyceum–London–20th May 1984–The Cult 6
Live/1975-85–Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band 1 (3)
Live in the City of Light–Simple Minds 1 (11)
Rattle and Hum–U2 1 (3)
Tripping the Live Fantastic–Paul McCartney 3
Unplugged The Official Bootleg–Paul McCartney 8
Live in Japan–George Harrison with Eric Clapton and Band 9
Unplugged–Eric Clapton 4
Paul is Live–Paul McCartney 2
Eartha Kitt in Person at the Plaza–Eartha Kitt 3
‘Live at the BBC’–The Beatles 1 (7)
Diana Princess of Wales The BBC Recording of the Funeral Service–Various Artists 7
Live & More Encore!–Donna Summer 1 (2)
Familiar to Millions–Oasis 5
6.12.–Värttinä 1 (11)
Unfinished Music No. 2: Live With The Lions–John Lennon/Yoko Ono 7 [e][p]
The Last Concert–Rosemary Clooney 4
Foreign Language Albums
The first album to appear in my top ten where the majority of songs were sung in a language other than English was “El Mundo” by Mitsou. This French album entered my chart on 24 February 1990. The Finnish invasion started on 3 May 1997, with the entry of Kokko, at that time Värttinä’s latest album.
Language
Album title–Artist Peak Position (weeks at #1)
French
“El Mundo”–Mitsou 5
J’ai vécu bien des années–Angèle Arsenault 8
Finnish
Kokko–värttinä 2
Vihma–Värttinä 1 (29)
Joko Joulun alkaa saa–Sari ja Mari Kaasinen 1 (1)
Aitara–Värttinä 1 (3)
Karelia Visa–Hedningarna 1 (6)
Oi dai–Värttinä 1 (3)
emo–sari kaasinen 1 (14)
Tsihi Tsihi–Sirmakka 2
Seleniko–Värttinä 1 (19)
Ilmatar–Värttinä 1 (26)
Kansanmusiikkia ennen ja nyt Folk Music Experience–Various Artists 5
6.12.–Värttinä 1 (11)
Kaksi!–Hedningarna 6
Musta–Sanna Kurki-Suonio 9
Sinä päivanä kun synnyin–Ultra Bra 1 (26)
Kalifornia–Ultra Bra 1 (1)
Vesireittejä–Ultra Bra 1 (4)
Kroketti–Ultra Bra 1 (11)
Vapaaherran elämää–Ultra Bra 1 (2)
Trä–Hedningarna 5
iki–Varttina 1 (11)
Onnelliset kohtaa–Scandinavian Music Group 1 (6)
Rakkaus viiltää–Kerkko Koskinen 2
reissunainen–sari kaasinen & otawa 4
Nousukausi–Soundtrack 1 (1)
1989-2003–Hedningarna 5
Sarin Joulu–Sari Kaasinen & Otawa 2
Tunturi Sami
Channel Nordica–Waltari + Angelit 7
The New Voice of North–Girls of Angeli 8
Georgian
Georgian Voices–The Rustavi Choir 5
Icelandic
Ágætis byrjun–Sigur Rós 4
Swedish
Vengeance–Garmarna 2
Trä–Hedningarna 5
Various languages
Nordic Roots 2–Various Artists 7
Nordic Roots 3–Various Artists 4
During the weeks leading up to Christmas my albums chart would be overrun with Christmas albums. I would listen to nothing else from mid-November on. I often told myself that any artist who released a non-seasonal album in December would have to wait until January before I finally listened to it. However, my chart wasn’t always this way. I didn’t chart my first top ten Christmas album until 1997, when only one album appeared. Since then the number of Christmas album appearances increased. Six such albums appeared in my top ten in a single week in 2000 (for three weeks) in 2002 (for two weeks) and a record seven Christmas albums in my top ten for a single week in 2003 (occupying the top seven positions).
Year: Number of Christmas Albums that Charted in My Top Ten
1997: 1
1998: 3
1999: 4
2000: 7
2001: 5
2002: 6
2003 7
Christmas Albums that Charted in My Top Ten
Album title–Artist Peak Position (weeks at #1)
White Christmas–Rosemary Clooney 2
Joko Joulun alkaa saa–Sari ja Mari Kaasinen 1 (1)
Songs from White Christmas and Other Yuletide Favorites–Rosemary Clooney 4
Christmas Kantele–Eija Kankaanranta & Mervi Yli-Vainio 2
Greatest Christmas Songs–Julie Andrews 6
Christmas with Julie Andrews–Julie Andrews 3
Ray Conniff’s Christmas Album–Ray Conniff 8
Christmas Carolling–Ray Conniff 4
Now That’s What I Call Christmas!–Various Artists 3
it’s Christmas!–Quartette 7
Christmas with the Rat Pack–Frank Sinatra Dean Martin Sammy Davis, Jr. 6
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas–Ella Fitzgerald 1 (1)
I See a Star–Quartette 7
Now That’s What I Call Christmas 2! The Signature Collection 1 (1)
Sarin Joulu–Sari Kaasinen & Otawa 2
Christmas–Ella Fitzgerald 6
Shortest Album Titles
Album title–Artist
1–The Beatles
X–INXS
–Prince And The New Power Generation
()–Sigur Rós
EP–Clickhaze
17–Chicago
So–Peter Gabriel
Us–Peter Gabriel
Bad–Michael Jackson
emo–sari kaasinen
Fly–Yoko Ono with Plastic Ono Band
iki–Värttinä
Pop–U2
Ten–Pearl Jam
Trä–Hedningarna
Up!–Shania Twain
Free–Rick Astley
Hits–Joni Mitchell
Kick–INXS
Love–The Cult
Love–Rosemary Clooney
1999–Prince
True–Spandau Ballet
Wish–The Cure
[a] [EP] = A 12″ single. In the first months of my albums chart I would rank 12″ maxi-singles or 12″ extended plays in with my full-length long-playing albums. In a sense I was ranking discs based on their size, as opposed to their content.
[b] My chart started after Duran Duran (the reissue) had been in release for six months.
[c] A different album, which was also self-titled. Thank goodness my album chart debuted after the release of all four of Peter Gabriel’s self-titled albums.
[d] My chart started after 1999 had been in release for 53 weeks.
[e] My chart recorded the albums exactly as their titles were rendered on their labels, not on their LP sleeves or CD or cassette booklets. In many cases there were inconsistencies between packaging and labelling or between different audio formats. In some cases there were mistakes, such as with this title, whose error-free title is actually called Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions.
[f] The first half of the album contains songs by the Beatles that were written and sung by George Harrison.
[g] My chart started after Thriller had been in release for eleven months.
[h] The Icicle Works made no other appearance within the Top Ten before or since The Icicle Works. Their entire history over twenty years of charts was confined to one solitary week.
[i] My chart started after Flashdance had been in release for seven months.
[j] For the week ending 6 July 1984 three soundtracks were in my top ten concurrently: The Breakfast Club was #8, Beverly Hills Cop was #9 and A View to a Kill had just entered the chart at #10. At no other time in twenty years of charts have three soundtracks been in my top ten during the same week.
[k] [TV] = A soundtrack from a TV series.
[l] The only soundtrack from a Finnish film to chart.
[m] My chart recorded the albums exactly as their titles were rendered on their labels, not on their LP sleeves or CD or cassette booklets. In many cases there were inconsistencies between packaging and labelling or between different audio formats. In some cases there were mistakes, such as with this title, whose error-free title is actually called Standing On A Beach The Singles for the enhanced cassette edition, which is the version I charted.
[n] Only the first half of this compilation comprises greatest hits.
[o] Only the first side of this mini-album is live.
[p] Only the first side of this album is live.
The Record Holders:
Most Weeks at #1 (30) for ray of light by Madonna
Most Weeks in Top Ten (137) for janet. by Janet Jackson
The Icicle Works is the only artist in twenty years of the Top Ten Albums charts whose entire history is confined to one solitary week; The Icicle Works entered the chart at #10 on 7 July 1984.