This is a complete list of the Melody Maker number-one albums from 1958 to 1988.[1]
8 November South Pacific (Soundtrack) 89
23 July Elvis Is Back (Elvis Presley) 6
3 September South Pacific (Soundtrack) 17
31 December G.I Blues (Elvis Presley) 29
22 July South Pacific (Soundtrack) 10
30 September The Shadows (Shadows) 6
11 November South Pacific (Soundtrack) 1
18 November Something For Everybody (Elvis Presley) 2
2 December The Shadows (Shadows) 1
9 December Something For Everybody (Elvis Presley) 1
16 December South Pacific (Soundtrack) 1
23 December Blue Hawaii (Elvis Presley) 4
20 January The Young Ones (Cliff Richard) 5
24 February Blue Hawaii (Elvis Presley) 1
3 March The Young Ones (Cliff Richard) 1
10 March Blue Hawaii (Elvis Presley) 15
23 June West Side Story (Soundtrack) 7
11 August Pot Luck (Elvis Presley) 3
1 September West Side Story (Soundtrack) 9
3 November Out of The Shadows (Shadows) 4
1 December West Side Story (Soundtrack) 2
15 December On Stage With the Black and White Minstrels (George Mitchell Minstrels) 4
12 January Out of The Shadows (Shadows) 2
26 January West Side Story (Soundtrack) 1
2 February Summer Holiday (Cliff Richard) 13
4 May Please Please Me (Beatles) 30
30 November With The Beatles (Beatles) 22
2 May Rolling Stones No1 (Rolling Stones) 11
18 July A Hard Day's Night (Beatles) 21
12 December Beatles For Sale (Beatles) 9
13 February Rolling Stones No2 (Rolling Stones) 10
24 April Beatles For Sale (Beatles) 6
5 June The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan) 1
12 June Bringing It All back Home (Bob Dylan) 1
19 June The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 8
14 August Help (Beatles) 9
16 October Out of Our Heads (Rolling Stones) 1
23 October Help (Beatles) 6
27 November The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 2
11 December Rubber Soul (Beatles) 13
12 March The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 7
30 April Aftermath (Rolling Stones) 9
2 July The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 6
13 August Revolver (Beatles) 9
15 October The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 16
4 February Meet The Monkees (Monkees) 7
25 March The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 4
22 April More of The Monkees (Monkees) 2
6 May The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 4
3 June Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Beatles) 22
4 November The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 11
20 January Val Doonican Rocks-But Gently (Val Doonican) 2
3 February The Sound of Music (Soundtrack) 4
2 March Diana Ross & Supremes Greatest Hits 2
16 March John Wesley Harding (Bob Dylan) 10
25 May This Is Soul (Various) 7
13 July Ogdens Nut Gone Flake (Small Faces) 5
17 August Delilah (Tom Jones) 1
24 August Bookends (Simon & Garfunkel) 5
28 September Hollies Greatest Hits (Hollies) 6
9 November Live At The Talk Of The Town (Seekers)1
16 November Hollies Greatest Hits (Hollies) 3
7 December The Beatles (Beatles) 11
22 February Diana Ross & Supremes, Join The Temptations 5
29 March Goodbye (Cream) 4
26 April Best of The seekers (Seekers) 1
3 May Goodbye (Cream) 1
10 May Best of The Seekers (Seekers) 1
17 May On The Threshold of A Dream (Moody Blues)1
24 May Nashville Skyline (Bob Dylan) 6
5 July This Is Tom Jones (Tom Jones) 2
19 July Flaming Star (Elvis Presley) 4
16 August Stand Up (Jethro Tull) 6
27 September Blind Faith (Blind Faith) 1
4 October Abbey Road (Beatles) 20
Date Title Artist weeks At No1
21 February Led Zeppelin II (Led Zeppelin) 2
7 March Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 13
6 June Let It Be (Beatles) 8
1 August Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 7
19 September A Question of Balance (Moody Blues)3
10 October Get Yer Ya Ya's Out! (Rolling stones)3
31 October Paranoid (Black Sabbath) 1
7 November Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & garfunkel) 1
14 November Paranoid (Black Sabbath) 1
21 November Led Zeppelin III (Led zeppelin) 7
Date Title Artist Weeks at No1
9 January Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 4
6 February All Things Must Pass (George Harrison)8
3 April Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 2
17 April Home Lovin' Man (Andy Williams) 4
15 May Tamla Mowtown Chartbusters Vol 2 (Various)1
22 May Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones) 7
10 July Tarkus (Emerson Lake & Palmer) 1
17 July Ram (Paul & Linda McCartney) 1
24 July Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 1
31 July Ram (Paul & Linda McCartney) 1
7 August Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) 1
14 August Ram (Paul & Linda McCartney) 1
21 August Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (Moody Blues) 4
18 September Every Picture Tells A Story (Rod Stewart) 1
25 September Tapestry (Carole King) 1
2 October Every Picture Tells A Story (Rod Stewart) 10
11 December Imagine (John Lennon) 4
Date Title Artist Weeks at No1
8 January Electric Warrior (T.Rex) 4
5 February Teaser and The Firecat (Cat Stevens) 1
12 February Electric Warrior (T.Rex) 3
4 March Teaser and The Firecat (Cat Stevens) 2
18 March Paul Simon (Paul Simon) 4
15 April Harvest (Neil Young) 7
3 June Bolan Boogie (T.Rex) 6
15 July American Pie (Don McClean) 3
5 August Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (Simon & Garfunkel) 4
2 September Never A Dull Moment (Rod Stewart) 7
21 October Catch Bull At Four (Cat Stevens) 1
28 October Never A Dull Moment (Rod Stewart) 1
4 November Simon & Garfunkels Greatest Hits 3
25 November 20 All Time Greats of The 50's (Various) 1
2 December Back To Front (Gilbert O' Sullivan) 3
23 December 20 All time Greats of The 50's (Various) 2
6 January Slayed (Slade) 2
20 January Back To Front (Gilbert O' Sullivan) 3
10 February Slayed (Slade) 1
17 February No Secrets (Carly Simon) 1
24 February Don't Shoot! I'm Only The Piano Player (Elton John) 7
14 April Tanx (T.Rex) 1
21 April Billion Dollar Babies (Alice Cooper)1
28 April Houses of The Holy (Led Zeppelin)1
5 May Ooh! La-La! (Faces) 2
19 May Aladdin Sane (David Bowie)4
16 June * Aladdin Sane (David Bowie) & Beatles 1962 -1966 (Beatles) = 1
23 June Alladin Sane (David Bowie)2
7 July Beatles 1967-70 (Beatles)2
21 July Aladdin Sane (David Bowie) 3
11 August We Can Make It (Peters & Lee)
1 September Now and Then (Carpenters) 3
22 September Sing It Again Rod (Rod Stewart) 2
6 October Goats Head Soup (Rolling Stones) 3
27 October Sladest (Slade) 1
3 November Hello (Status Quo) 1
10 November Pin-Ups (David Bowie) 5
15 December Stranded (Roxy Music) 5
19 January Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John) 1
26 January Stranded (Roxy Music) 2
9 February The singles 1969-1973 (Carpenters) 17
8 June Journey To The Centre of The Earth (Rick Wakeman) 1
15 June Diamond Dogs (David Bowie) 4
13 July Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) 1
20 July The singles 1969-1973 (Carpenters) 1
27 July Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) 1
3 August Band On The Run (Wings) 6
14 September Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) 3
5 October Hergest Ridge (Mike Oldfield) 1
12 October Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) 3
2 November Smiler (Rod Stewart) 4
30 November Elton Johns Greatest Hits 12
22 February Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield) 3
15 March Crime Of The Century (Supertramp) 1
22 March On The Level (Status Quo) 2
5 April Twenty Greatest Hits (Tom Jones) 1
12 April Physical Graffiti (Led Zeppelin) 1
19 April Twenty Greatest Hits (Tom Jones) 1
26 April Young Americans (David Bowie) 1
3 May Myths & Legends of King Arthur & Knights of The Round Table (Rick Wakeman) 1
10 May Once Upon A Star (Bay city Rollers) 5
14 June Best of The Stylistics 1
21 June Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy (Elton John) 3
12 July Venus and Mars (Wings) 7
30 August Best of The Stylistics 1
6 September Atlantic Crossing (Rod Stewart) 9
8 November Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) 1
15 November Siren (Roxy Music) 1
22 November 40 Greatest Hits (Perry Como) 1
29 November Siren (Roxy Music) 1
6 December 40 Greatest Hits (Perry Como) 1
13 December Ommadawn (Mike Oldfield) 1
20 December A Night At The Opera (Queen) 9
21 February Desire (Bob Dylan) 1
28 February The Very Best of Slim Whitman (Slim Whitman) 4
27 March Carnival (Manual and The Music of The Mountains) 1
3 April Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (Eagles) 3
24 April Rock Follies (Soundtrack) 3
15 May Abba's Greatest Hits (Abba) 9
17 July A Night On The Town (Rod Stewart) 1
24 July 20 Golden Greats (Beach Boys) 11
9 October Abba's Greatest Hits (Abba) 4
6 November Songs In The Key Of Life (Stevie Wonder) 2
20 November The Song Remains The Same (Led Zeppelin) 1
27 November Songs In The Key Of Life (Stevie Wonder) 2
11 December 20 Golden Greats (Glenn Campbell) 1
18 December Arrival (Abba) 7
5 February Red River Valley (Slim Whitman) 1
12 February Songs In The Key Of Life (Stevie Wonder) 1
19 February Red River Valley (Slim Whitman) 1
26 February Evita (Various) 1
5 March 20 Golden Greats (Shadows) 5
9 April Portrait Of Sinatra (Frank Sinatra) 3
30 April Arrival (Abba) 4
28 May Hotel California (Eagles) 1
4 June Arrival (Abba) 2
18 June Hotel California (Eagles) 2
2 July A Star Is Born (Soundtrack) 1
9 July The Muppet Show (Muppets) 2
23 July A Star Is Born (Soundtrack) 1
30 July The Johnny Mathis Collection (Johnny Mathis) 1
6 August A Star Is Born (Soundtrack) 2
20 August Going For The One (Yes) 3
10 September Oxygene (Jean Michael Jarre) 3
1 October 20 Golden Greats (Diana Ross and The Supremes) 6
12 November 40 Golden Greats (Cliff Richard) 1
19 November Footloose and Fancy Free (Rod Stewart) 1
26 November The Sound of Bread (Bread) 10
4 February Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) 2
18 February The Album (Abba) 7
8 April 20 Golden Greats (Buddy Holly and The Crickets) 1
15 April The Kick Inside (Kate Bush) 1
22 April 20 Golden Greats (Nat King Cole) 1
29 April And Then There Were Three (Genesis) 1
6 May Saturday Night Fever (Bee Gees, Various, Soundtrack) 18
9 September Night Flight To Venus (Boney M) 4
7 October Grease (Soundtrack) 11
23 December Blondes Have More Fun (Rod Stewart) 3
13 January The Singles 1974-1978 (Carpenters) 2
27 January Don't Walk, Boogie (Various) 2
10 February Parallel Lines (Blondie) 8
7 April Barbra Streisand Greatest Hits Vol 2 3
28 April The Very Best Of Leo Sayer (Leo Sayer) 4
26 May Breakfast In America (Supertramp) 1
2 June Voulez-Vous (Abba) 2
16 June Do It Yourself (Ian Dury and The Blockheads) 1
23 June Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra) 4
21 July Replicas (Tubeway Army) 3
11 August The Best Disco Album In The World (Various) 3
1 September I Am (Earth Wind and Fire) 1
8 September Discovery (Electric Light Orchestra) 2
22 September In Through The Out Door (Led Zeppelin) 2
6 October The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan) 3
27 October Regetta De Blanc (Police) 4
24 November Tusk (Fleetwood Mac) 1
1 December Greatest Hits Vol 2 (Abba) 3
22 December The Wall (Pink Floyd) 3
12 January Greatest Hits Vol 2 (Abba) 1
19 January The Wall (Pink Floyd) 1
26 January Regatta De Blanc (Police) 1
2 February The Pretenders (Pretenders) 4
1 March The Last Dance (Various) 1
8 March Get Happy (Elvis Costello and The Attractions) 3
29 March Tell Me On A Sunday (Marti Webb) 1
5 April Tears and Laughter (Johnny Mathis) 1
12 April 12 Gold Bars (Status Quo) 1
19 April Duke (Genesis) 2
# From 3 May to 7 June 1980 paper hit by industrial action.
7 June Sky 2 (Sky) 1
14 June I just Can't Stop It (The Beat) 1
21 June Peter Gabriel (Peter Gabriel) 2
5 July Peter Gabriel * (Peter Gabriel)
Flesh and Blood* (Roxy Music) =1
12 July Flesh and Blood (Roxy Music) 1
19 July Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones) 4
16 August Closer (Joy Division) 1
23 August Back In Black (AC/DC) 2
6 September Flesh and Blood (Roxy Music) 1
13 September Drama (Yes) 1
20 September Telekon (Gary Numan) 1
27 September Signing Off (UB40) 1
4 October Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (David Bowie) 2
18 October Zenyatta Mondatta (Police) 4
15 November Guilty (Barbra Streisand) 3
6 December Supertrouper (Abba)
10 January Double Fantasy (John Lennon) 3
31 January Kings of The Wild Frontier (Adam and The Ants) 3
21 February Double Fantasy (John Lennon) 1
28 February Face Value (Phil Collins) 6
11 April Face Dances (Who) 2
25 April Sky 3 (Sky) 1
2 May Come and Get It (Whitesnake) 1
9 May Future Shock (Gillan) 1
16 May Kings of The Wild Frontier (Adam and The Ants) 2
30 May Wha’ Appen? (Beat) 2
13 June Stars on 45 (Starsound) 1
20 June Present Arms (UB40) 3
11 July No Sleep `Till Hammersmith (Motorhead) 3
1 August Secret Combination (Randy Crawford) 3
22 August Time (Electric Light Orchestra) 4
19 September Tattoo You (Rolling Stones) 2
3 October Dead Ringer (Meatloaf) 1
10 October Abacab (Genesis) 1
17 October Ghost In The Machine (Police) 3
7 November Dare (Human League) 2
21 November Queens Greatest Hits (Queen) 7
9 January Dare (Human League) 7
27 February Love Songs (Barbra Streisand) 3
20 March Pelican West (Haircut 100) 2
3 April The Gift (Jam) 1
10 April Love Songs (Barbra Streisand) 3
1 May Pelican West (Haircut 100) 1
8 May 1982 (Status Quo) 1
15 May Complete Madness (Madness) 3
5 June Rio (Duran Duran) 2
19 June Avalon (Roxy Music) 4
17 July The Lexicon of Love (ABC) 3
7 August Fame (Soundtrack) 1
14 August The Kids From Fame (Various) 1
21 August Too-Rye-Ay (Dexy's Midnight Runners) 3
11 September The Kids From Fame (Various) 1
18 September Upstairs At Eric's (Yazoo) 3
9 October Love Over Gold (Dire Straits) 5
13 November Kissing To Be Clever (Culture Club) 1
20 November Singles – 45's and Over (Squeeze) 1
27 November Hello; I Must Be Going (Phil Collins) 2
11 December The Singles: The First Ten Years (ABBA) 4
8 January The John Lennon Collection (John Lennon) 3
29 January Business as Usual (Men at Work) 4
26 February Porcupine (Echo and the Bunnymen) 1
5 March Business as Usual (Men at Work) 1
12 March Thriller (Michael Jackson) 1
19 March War (U2) 2
2 April The Hurting (Tears for Fears) 2
16 April The Final Cut (Pink Floyd) 1
23 April Lets Dance (David Bowie) 4
21 May True (Spandau Ballet) 3
11 June Thriller (Michael Jackson) 1
18 June Lets Dance (David Bowie) 1
25 June Synchronicity (The Police) 4
23 July Fantastic (Wham!) 1
30 July You and Me Both (Yazoo) 1
6 August No Parlez (Paul Young) 3
27 August Punch the Clock (Elvis Costello) 1
3 September 18 Greatest Hits (Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five) 1
10 September Fantastic (Wham!) 1
17 September Flick of The Switch (AC/DC) 1
24 September Standing In the Light (Level 42) 1
1 October Labour of Love (UB40) 2
15 October No Parlez (Paul Young) 1
22 October Genesis (Genesis) 1
29 October Colour by Numbers (Culture Club) 4
26 November Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie) 1
3 December Undercover (Rolling Stones) 1
10 December Seven and the Ragged Tiger (Duran Duran) 1
17 December Under a Blood Red Sky (U2) 1
24 December No Parlez (Paul Young) 4
21 January Thriller (Michael Jackson) 2
4 February Under a Blood Red Sky (U2) 1
11 February Touch (The Eurythmics) 2
25 February Sparkle In The Rain (Simple Minds) 1
3 March Into The Gap (Thompson Twins) 3
24 March Humans Lib (Howard Jones) 3
14 April Can't Slow Down (Lionel Richie) 5
19 May Ocean Rain (Echo and The Bunnymen) 1
26 May Legend (Bob Marley & The Wailers) 7
21 July Parade (Spandau Ballet) 1
28 July Legend (Bob Marley & The Wailers) 2
11 August Diamond Life (Sade) 4
8 September Now That's What I Call Music 3 (Various) 3
29 September The Woman In Red (Soundtrack) 2
13 October Tonight (David Bowie) 1
20 October The Unforgettable Fire (U2) 3
10 November Welcome To The Pleasuredome (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) 2
24 November Make It Big (Wham!) 3
15 December The Hits Album (Various) 5
19 January Alf (Alison Moyet) 2
2 February Agent Provocateur (Foreigner) 3
23 February Born In The USA (Bruce Springsteen) 1
2 March No Jacket Required (Phil Collins) 5
6 April The Secret of Association (Paul Young) 4
4 May Songs From The Big Chair (Tears Fears) 2
18 May Be Yourself Tonight (The Eurythmics) 2
1 June Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits) 2
15 June Our Favourite Shop (Style Council) 1
22 June Boys and Girls (Bryan Ferry) 2
6 July Misplaced Childhood (Marillion) 1
13 July Born In The USA (Bruce Springsteen) 4
10 August Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits) 2
24 August Now That's What I Call Music Now 5 (Various) 5
28 September Hounds of Love (Kate Bush) 6
9 November Once Upon A Time (Simple Minds) 1
16 November Afterburner (ZZ Top) 1
23 November Promise (Sade) 3
14 December Now That's What I Call Music 6 (Various) 5
18 January Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits) 8
15 March King of America (The Costello Show) 1
22 March Brothers In Arms (Dire Straits) 3
12 April Hits 4 (Various) 2
26 April Parade (Prince and the Revolution) 1
3 May Street Life – 20 Greatest Hits (Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music) 5
7 June So (Peter Gabriel) 2
21 June A Kind of Magic (Queen) 1
28 June Invisible Touch (Genesis) 2
12 July True Blue (Madonna) 7
30 August Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie) 1
6 September Now That's What I Call Music 7 (Various) 3
27 September Graceland (Paul Simon) 1
4 October Break Every Rule (Tina Turner) 1
11 October Graceland (Paul Simon) 6
22 November Every Breath You Take –The Singles (The Police) 1
29 November Bruce Springsteen & Street Band Live 1975-85 1
6 December The Whole Story (Kate Bush) 2
20 December Now That's What I Call Music 8 (Various) 4
17 January The Whole Story (Kate Bush) 3
7 February Graceland (Paul Simon) 3
28 February The Phantom of the Opera (Various) 3
21 March The Joshua Tree (U2) 5
25 April Raindancing (Alison Moyet) 2
9 May The Joshua Tree (U2) 1
16 May Keep Your Distance (Curiosity Killed The Cat) 1
23 May Solitude Standing (Suzanne Vega) 1
30 May It's Better To Travel (Swing Out Sister) 1
6 June Live In the City of Light (Simple Minds) 2
20 June Whitney (Whitney Houston) 5
25 July Introducing the Hardline-According To (Terrance Trent D’Arby) 3
15 August The Hits Album 6 (Various) 3
5 September Hysreria (Def Leppard) 1
12 September Bad (Michael Jackson) 6
24 October Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen) 1
31 October Nothing Like The Sun (Sting) 3
21 November Faith (George Michael) 1
28 November All The Best (Paul McCartney) 1
5 December Whenever You Need Somebody (Rick Astley) 1
12 December Now That's What I Call Music 10 (Various) 6
23 January Popped In, Souled Out (Wet, Wet, Wet) 1
30 January Introducing the Hardline, According To (Terrance Trent D’Arby) 1
6 February If I Should Fall From Grace (The Pogues) 1
13 February Introducing the Hardline, According To (Terrance Trent D’Arby) 5
19 March Little Children (Mission) 1
26 March Viva Hate (Morrisey) 2
9 April Now That's What I Call Music 11 (Various) 2
23 April Push (Bros) 1
30 April Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden) 1