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]
The top three are all compilation albums, headed by
Queen's Greatest Hits which has spent 1405 weeks in the top 100,
ABBAGold: Greatest Hits, with 1152 weeks on the chart, followed by Legend by
Bob Marley and the Wailers with 1130 weeks. The most weeks for a studio album is 1041 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 551 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 573 for Dark Side of the Moon by
Pink Floyd and the most weeks by an album not reaching the top 10 is 342 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 and
Michael Jackson are the only artists to have the most albums pass the 150-week threshold, with five of their albums reaching this feat so far.
The numbers shown are up to the chart for the week ending 25 April 2024.
(*) indicates that the album is in the top 100 for the current week ending.
^Including 6 weeks for 2014's 40th Anniversary Edition box set which includes Gold, More ABBA Gold and The Golden B-sides. Please also note that the Official Chart Company recognised the original Gold – Greatest Hits as being the first album to spend over 1000 weeks on the Top 100 Albums chart in July 2021[4][5][6]
^Including 55 weeks for the deluxe edition and 1 week for the box set with Frank and Back to Black
^The album reached its peak position in January 2022, after the death of Meat Loaf at the age of 74.[16][17] In the 45 years which followed the original release of the album in 1977, the highest peak position for Bat Out of Hell had been number 9, a position achieved in 1981 and 2013. It originally debuted at number 60 in 1978 and lasted a week on the chart, but would go on to peak at number 11 by the end of the 1970s. As per The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums lists of Top 75 records, the album has spent 456 weeks in the Top 75 as of 3 February 2022.[18]
^The album reached its peak position in June 2023, following Elton John's headline performance at
Glastonbury Festival 2023
^includes 22 weeks as part of the Platinum Collection + 1 week as part of the Take a Look at Me boxed set + 1 week as part of the Take a Look at Me Now – Complete boxed set.
^includes 1 week as part of The Beatles in Mono boxed set + 1 week as part of The Beatles in Stereo boxed set
^Including 27 weeks for the 25th anniversary edition reissue, Thriller 25
^Including 5 weeks for box set with 1962–1966 and 1967–1970
^Including 5 weeks for box set with 1962–1966 and 1967–1970
^Includes 10 weeks as part of the Take a Look at Me Now... The Complete Studio Collection box set and 22 weeks as part of The Platinum Collection box set