List of posthumous number ones on the UK Albums Chart
Encyclopedia
The UK Albums Chart
is a weekly record chart
based on sales of albums in the United Kingdom; since its inception in 1956, eighteen different albums by deceased artists have topped the chart. , the chart is based on Sunday to Saturday sales of both physical
and digital
albums. It is compiled by The Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the UK music industry, and each week's new number one is first announced on Sunday evenings on the The Radio 1 Chart Show
.
The first deceased artist to top the UK Albums Chart was Otis Redding
, who died in a plane crash on 10 December 1967. On 20 May 1968, Redding's sixth studio, The Dock of the Bay
was released in the UK—three weeks later, it reached number one.
The death of a musician can often result in an increase of sales of their albums. As UK chart commentator James Masterton
once remarked: "Death is very commercial." Following his death in 2009
, sales of albums by Michael Jackson
increased significantly worldwide. In the UK, his 2003 release Number Ones climbed 120 places to the top of the album chart; the following week, Jackson's 2005 compilation The Essential Michael Jackson
reached number one. The two albums spent a combined total of eight weeks at the top of the chart. Five of Jackson's records were featured in the top twenty biggest-selling albums of 2009's third quarter—sales of his albums during the year lifted Warner/Chappell Music
's share of the albums market to its highest level in nearly six years.
Like Jackson, British singer Amy Winehouse
received a significant increase in sales after her death in 2011 when sales of her albums increased 37 times. This resulted in her 2006 album, Back to Black
, topping the UK Albums Chart for three weeks and becoming, , the biggest-selling album of the 21st century in the UK.
The following albums were all explicitly credited (either wholly or partially) to deceased artists when they reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Albums featuring deceased artists who did not receive an explicit credit (e.g., as a member of a band or on a various artist compilation album or soundtrack) are not included.
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
is a weekly record chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
based on sales of albums in the United Kingdom; since its inception in 1956, eighteen different albums by deceased artists have topped the chart. , the chart is based on Sunday to Saturday sales of both physical
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and digital
Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
albums. It is compiled by The Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the UK music industry, and each week's new number one is first announced on Sunday evenings on the The Radio 1 Chart Show
The Radio 1 Chart Show
The Radio 1 Chart Show is a music radio programme broadcast by BBC Radio 1 on Sunday afternoons. It is Radio 1's long-running chart show and airs between 4:00pm and 7:00pm...
.
The first deceased artist to top the UK Albums Chart was Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
, who died in a plane crash on 10 December 1967. On 20 May 1968, Redding's sixth studio, The Dock of the Bay
The Dock of the Bay
-Chart positions:-External links:*...
was released in the UK—three weeks later, it reached number one.
The death of a musician can often result in an increase of sales of their albums. As UK chart commentator James Masterton
James Masterton
James Masterton is a headline columnist for the music website Yahoo! Launch. He writes a weekly column analysing new entries in the UK Singles Chart...
once remarked: "Death is very commercial." Following his death in 2009
Death of Michael Jackson
On June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
, sales of albums by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
increased significantly worldwide. In the UK, his 2003 release Number Ones climbed 120 places to the top of the album chart; the following week, Jackson's 2005 compilation The Essential Michael Jackson
The Essential Michael Jackson
-U.S. version:-Limited Edition 3.0 bonus disc:-Charts:-Year-end charts:-Certifications:-See also:* List of number-one albums of 2009 * List of number-one albums of 2009 * List of number-one albums from the 2000s...
reached number one. The two albums spent a combined total of eight weeks at the top of the chart. Five of Jackson's records were featured in the top twenty biggest-selling albums of 2009's third quarter—sales of his albums during the year lifted Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company, and a division of the Warner Music Group. The company traces its origins back to 1811 and the founding of Chappell & Company, a music publishing company and instrument shop on London’s Bond Street that, in 1929, began a rapid...
's share of the albums market to its highest level in nearly six years.
Like Jackson, British singer Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
received a significant increase in sales after her death in 2011 when sales of her albums increased 37 times. This resulted in her 2006 album, Back to Black
Back to Black
Back to Black is the second studio album by English recording artist Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. It is the last album released in her lifetime. The album incorporates 1960s soul music styles and modern R&B production, with subjective lyrics that concern...
, topping the UK Albums Chart for three weeks and becoming, , the biggest-selling album of the 21st century in the UK.
Number ones
| Artist | Album | Date of death | Reached number one (week ending) |
Weeks at number one |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stax Stax Records Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and... |
1 | ||||
| According to My Heart According to My Heart According to my Heart is the first of two number one albums in the UK for American singer Jim Reeves. It spent 4 weeks at the top of the chart in 1968... |
RCA International RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
4 | |||
| 40 Golden Greats 40 Golden Greats 40 Golden Greats is a greatest hits album by Jim Reeves. It was released in 1975 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, where it was a posthumous number one.-Track listing:#Distant Drums#Bimbo#Am I Losing You#Mexican Joe#The Blizzard... |
Arcade Arcade Records Arcade Records was a Dutch multimedia concern, which started off as a record label specialized in compilations.-History:The label itself was founded in 1972 by Herman Heinsbroek, who followed the example of its UK division. Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and... |
3 | |||
| Elvis Presley's 40 Greatest Hits Elvis Presley's 40 Greatest Hits Elvis Presley's 40 Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Elvis Presley. It was released in 1975 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart in 1977, after Presley's death... |
Arcade Arcade Records Arcade Records was a Dutch multimedia concern, which started off as a record label specialized in compilations.-History:The label itself was founded in 1972 by Herman Heinsbroek, who followed the example of its UK division. Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and... |
1 | |||
| 20 Golden Greats 20 Golden Greats 20 Golden Greats is a greatest hits album by American Buddy Holly & the Crickets first released in the United Kingdom by EMI on February 17, 1978. The songs on the UK release were licensed to EMI by MCA Records, who released the album in North America... Credited to Buddy Holly Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll... & The Crickets The Crickets The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957.... . |
EMI EMI Records EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide... |
3 | |||
| 20 Golden Greats 20 Golden Greats (Nat King Cole album) 20 Golden Greats is a greatest hits album by Nat King Cole. It was released by Capitol Records in 1978 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, where it was a posthumous number one.-Track listing:#Sweet Lorraine#Straighten Up And Fly Right... |
Capitol Capitol Records Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... |
3 | |||
| Double Fantasy Double Fantasy Double Fantasy is an album released by John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Though initially poorly received, the album is notable for its association with Lennon's murder three weeks after its release, whereupon it become a worldwide commercial success, and went on to win the 1981 Album... Credited to John Lennon John Lennon John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music... & Yoko Ono Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon... . |
Geffen Geffen Records Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:... |
2 | |||
| Parlophone Parlophone Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which... |
6 | ||||
| Arcade Arcade Records Arcade Records was a Dutch multimedia concern, which started off as a record label specialized in compilations.-History:The label itself was founded in 1972 by Herman Heinsbroek, who followed the example of its UK division. Seeing the huge success of their releases the company grew enormously and... |
3 | ||||
| Words of Love Words of Love (album) Words of Love is a compilation album by Buddy Holly & The Crickets. It was released by PolyGram in 1993 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, where it was a posthumous number one.-Track listing:#Words of Love#That'll Be the Day#Peggy Sue... |
PolyGram PolyGram PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:... |
1 | |||
| Songbird | Blix Street Blix Street Records Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,... /Hot |
2 | |||
| Imagine Imagine (Eva Cassidy album) Imagine is the third album by American singer Eva Cassidy. Released in 2002, six years after her death, it was her second UK no. 1 album.-Track listing:-Personnel:-Production:-Charts:Album-References:... |
Blix Street Blix Street Records Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,... /Hot |
1 | |||
| ELV1S | RCA RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
2 | |||
| American Tune American Tune (album) American Tune is an album by American singer Eva Cassidy, released in 2003, seven years after her death in 1996. . It was her third posthumous UK number one album.- Track listing :... |
Blix Street Blix Street Records Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,... /Hot |
2 | |||
| RCA RCA Records RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label... |
1 | ||||
| Number Ones | Epic Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |
1 | |||
| Epic Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A... |
7 | ||||
| Back to Black Back to Black Back to Black is the second studio album by English recording artist Amy Winehouse, released on 27 October 2006 by Island Records. It is the last album released in her lifetime. The album incorporates 1960s soul music styles and modern R&B production, with subjective lyrics that concern... |
Island Island Records Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group... |
3 |
See also
- List of artists by total number of UK number-one albums
- List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom
- List of number-one albums (UK)
- List of one-hit wonders on the UK Albums Chart
- List of posthumous number ones on the UK Singles Chart
External links
- Official UK Albums Top 100 at The Official Charts Company