List of UK top-ten albums in 2012 explained

The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1] [2] [3] Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical albums and digital downloads. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 2012, as well as albums which peaked in 2011 and 2013 but were in the top 10 in 2012. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

One hundred and sixty-three albums were in the top 10 this year. Seventeen albums from 2011 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. Halcyon by Ellie Goulding debuted this year but its peak position was not until two years later in 2014. Eighteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2012. Carly Rae Jepsen, Emeli Sandé, Little Mix, Nicki Minaj and Rita Ora were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2012.

+ by Ed Sheeran, returned to the top spot in the first week of 2012. The first new number-one album of the year was Born to Die by Lana Del Rey. Overall, thirty-five different albums peaked at number-one in 2012, with Bruno Mars and Rihanna (2) having the joint most albums hitting that position.

Background

Multiple entries

One hundred and sixty-three albums charted in the top 10, with one hundred and forty-four albums reaching their peak this year (including , Number Ones, Sigh No More, Teenage Dream, The Seldom Seen Kid and , which charted in previous years but reached a peak on their latest chart run).

In 2012 18 artists scored multiple entries in the top 10. Adele, Bruno Mars, Cheryl, Elbow, Electric Light Orchestra, Green Day, Military Wives, Mumford & Sons, Olly Murs, One Direction, Rihanna, The Vaccines and Whitney Houston were the acts who had two top 10 albums this year. Cheryl (one album with Girls Aloud as well as a solo release), Green Day and Military Wives' two entries were both released this year, with All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra by Electric Light Orchestra, Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons, The Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow and Whitney: The Greatest Hits by Whitney Houston, all returning after making the top 10 before.

Chart debuts

Thirty-seven artists achieved their first top 10 album in 2012 as a lead artist.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo album, or featured appearances on compilations or other artists recordings.

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
1Given to the Wild4 -
Lana Del Rey1Born to Die1 -
Maverick Sabre1Lonely Are the Brave2 -
Emeli Sandé1Our Version of Events1 -
Gotye1Making Mirrors4 -
Military Wives1In My Dreams2 -
Michael Kiwanuka1Home Again4 -
Marcus Collins1Marcus Collins7 -
Nicki Minaj11 -
Labrinth1Electronic Earth2 -
Moshi Monsters1Music Rox!4 -
Alabama Shakes1Boys & Girls3 -
Ren Harvieu1Through the Night5 -
John Mayer1Born and Raised4 -
fun.1Some Nights4 -
Frank Ocean1Channel Orange2 -
Lianne La Havas1Is Your Love Big Enough?4 -
Pnau1Good Morning to the Night1 -
Nas1Life Is Good8 -
1Handwritten2 -
Conor Maynard1Contrast1 -
Delilah1From the Roots Up5 -
Rick Ross1God Forgives, I Don't8 -
Ryan O'Shaughnessy1Ryan O'Shaughnessy (EP)9 -
Jessie Ware1Devotion5 -
1El Camino6 -
Trey Songz1Chapter V10 -
Rita Ora1Ora1 -
Of Monsters and Men1My Head Is an Animal3 -
Two Door Cinema Club1Beacon2 -
Carly Rae Jepsen1Kiss9 -
Jonathan and Charlotte1Together5 -
Deadmau51Album Title Goes Here9 -
All Time Low1Don't Panic9 -
Jake Bugg1Jake Bugg1 -
Lawson1Chapman Square4 -
Little Mix1DNA3 -
NotesBlunderbuss by Jack White was the singer's debut solo release, however he had previous chart success with The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. Dappy took some time away from his group N-Dubz, scoring a number 6 album Bad Intentions.

Best-selling albums

Emeli Sandé had the best-selling album of the year with Our Version of Events. The album spent 67 weeks in the top 10 (including 10 weeks at number 1), sold over 2.3 million copies and was certified 8× Platinum by the BPI. 21 by Adele came in second place. Ed Sheeran's +, Born to Die from Lana Del Rey and Take Me Home by One Direction made up the top five. Albums by Mumford & Sons, Olly Murs, Michael Bublé, Coldplay and Rihanna were also in the top 10 best-selling albums of the year.

Top-ten albums

Key
SymbolMeaning
bgcolor=lightblueAlbum peaked in 2011 but still in chart in 2012.
Album released in 2012 but peaked in 2013 or 2014.
(#)Year-end top-ten album position and rank
EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
data-sort-type="number"Weeks
in
top
10
AlbumArtistdata-sort-type="number"PeakPeak
reached
(week ending)
data-sort-type="number"Weeks
at
peak
Albums in 2011
41Doo-Wops & HooligansBruno Mars12
7621(#2)Adele123
34Who You AreJessie J21
4What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?41
114Beyoncé12
15Nothing but the BeatDavid Guetta23
49+(#3)Ed Sheeran13
4Velociraptor!Kasabian11
7Noel Gallagher's High Flying BirdsNoel Gallagher's High Flying Birds11
28Mylo Xyloto(#9)Coldplay11
7CeremonialsFlorence + The Machine11
4Stereo Typical Rizzle Kicks51
18Talk That TalkRihanna12
7Up All NightOne Direction21
9In Case You Didn't KnowOlly Murs11
6Amy Winehouse11
9HeavenRebecca Ferguson31
Albums in 2012
1Given to the Wild41
1A Flash Flood of ColourEnter Shikari41
1Beyond the SunChris Isaak61
15Born to Die (#4)Lana Del Rey12
2Old IdeasLeonard Cohen21
3Lonely Are the BraveMaverick Sabre21
1Kisses on the BottomPaul McCartney31
1A Different Kind of TruthVan Halen61
67Our Version of Events (#1)Emeli Sandé110
6Making MirrorsGotye41
1Whitney Houston71
319Adele71
1Hell in a HandbasketMeat Loaf51
1The Essential Whitney HoustonWhitney Houston71
3Wrecking BallBruce Springsteen11
3In My DreamsMilitary Wives11
2TuskegeeLionel Richie71
1Secret SymphonyKatie Melua81
2Home AgainMichael Kiwanuka41
1Marcus CollinsMarcus Collins71
2Sonik KicksPaul Weller11
2MDNAMadonna11
1Teenage DreamKaty Perry61
5Nicki Minaj11
2Electronic EarthLabrinth21
2Music Rox!Moshi Monsters41
1WeaponsLostprophets91
4Boys & GirlsAlabama Shakes31
1Love Is a Four Letter WordJason Mraz21
3California 37Train71
3BlunderbussJack White11
1Out of the GameRufus Wainwright51
1Electra HeartMarina and the Diamonds11
1...Little Broken HeartsNorah Jones41
4StrangelandKeane12
1Standing at the Sky's EdgeRichard Hawley31
1In the Belly of the Brazen Bull91
1Rize of the FenixTenacious D21
1Through the NightRen Harvieu51
2Every KingdomBen Howard61
1Not Your Kind of PeopleGarbage91
1Driving Towards the DaylightJoe Bonamassa21
1Born and RaisedJohn Mayer41
5Number OnesBee Gees41
5Some Nightsfun.41
1Spirit in the RoomTom Jones81
1Streets in the Sky91
4SingGary Barlow13
15Fall to GracePaloma Faith23
2Boys Don't CryRumer31
1Magic HourScissor Sisters41
1Anthems – Music To Inspire A NationRussell Watson51
1ValtariSigur Rós81
5GracelandPaul Simon41
3Life in a Beautiful LightAmy Macdonald21
2Looking 4 MyselfUsher31
125 Years – The ChainFleetwood Mac91
2BelieveJustin Bieber11
2A Million LightsCheryl21
2Living ThingsLinkin Park11
9OverexposedMaroon 523
1Wild OnesFlo Rida81
2FortuneChris Brown11
1Write It on Your SkinNewton Faulkner11
2Channel OrangeFrank Ocean21
1Is Your Love Big Enough?Lianne La Havas41
1Cheeky for a Reason91
2Good Morning to the NightElton John vs. Pnau11
1Life Is GoodNas81
7Ill ManorsPlan B11
1Handwritten21
1Dance Again... the HitsJennifer Lopez41
1The Soul Sessions Vol. 2Joss Stone61
2ContrastConor Maynard11
1From the Roots UpDelilah51
1Two Sides: The Very Best of Mike OldfieldMike Oldfield61
1God Forgives, I Don'tRick Ross81
1The Seldom Seen KidElbow61
1Ryan O'Shaughnessy (EP)Ryan O'Shaughnessy91
1FourBloc Party31
1Hot Cakes41
1DevotionJessie Ware51
2El Camino61
1Chapter VTrey Songz101
4OraRita Ora11
2My Head Is an AnimalOf Monsters and Men31
1Dead in the BootElbow41
2Come of Age11
2BeaconTwo Door Cinema Club21
1FiresRonan Keating51
1PrivateeringMark Knopfler81
1The Light Between UsScouting for Girls101
3Coexist11
4
  1. 3
21
2TempestBob Dylan31
1Here's What I BelieveJoe McElderry81
1ElysiumPet Shop Boys91
4Battle Born11
17The Truth About LovePink21
1Bad 25Michael Jackson61
1KissCarly Rae Jepsen91
16Babel (#6)Mumford & Sons13
2¡Uno!Green Day21
2TogetherJonathan and Charlotte51
1Album Title Goes HereDeadmau591
1Sigh No More Mumford & Sons101
4The 2nd LawMuse11
1Higher61
2Electric Light Orchestra102
22HalcyonEllie Goulding13
1Long WaveJeff Lynne71
1Electric Light Orchestra81
1Don't PanicAll Time Low91
16Jake BuggJake Bugg11
2GlassheartLeona Lewis31
1The Haunted ManBat for Lashes61
1The SingerArt Garfunkel101
4RedTaylor Swift11
1Chapman SquareLawson41
1Bad IntentionsDappy61
1Songs from the Movies and MoreDaniel O'Donnell71
1518 MonthsCalvin Harris12
2The Abbey Road SessionsKylie Minogue21
1American SoulMick Hucknall61
1The FireMatt Cardle81
1Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da DaMadness101
10Take the CrownRobbie Williams11
5Magic of the MoviesAndré Rieu & The Johann Strauss Orchestra21
1EvolutionJLS31
1Stronger TogetherMilitary Wives51
1OperaAndrea Bocelli101
10Take Me Home (#5)One Direction11
6Merry Christmas, BabyRod Stewart21
1GRRR!31
2StorytellerAlfie Boe61
1¡Dos!Green Day101
14Unapologetic (#10)Rihanna11
1DNALittle Mix31
1Celebration DayLed Zeppelin41
6Christmas (#8)Michael Bublé21
1Susan Boyle71
16Right Place Right Time (#7)Olly Murs12
5The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio RecordingsNeil Diamond52
1TenGirls Aloud91
24Unorthodox JukeboxBruno Mars11

Entries by artist

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2012, including albums that reached their peak in 2011. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top 10 in 2011 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksAlbums
2Adele2819, 21
Bruno Mars8Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Unorthodox Jukebox
Cheryl3A Million Lights, Ten
Elbow2Dead in the Boot, The Seldom Seen Kid
Electric Light Orchestra3,
Green Day3¡Dos!, ¡Uno!
Military Wives4In My Dreams, Stronger Together
Mumford & Sons8Babel, Sigh No More
Olly Murs9In Case You Didn't Know, Right Place Right Time
One Direction8Take Me Home, Up All Night
Rihanna18Talk That Talk, Unapologetic
5Come of Age, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?
Whitney Houston2The Essential Whitney Houston,

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. 28 December 2014.
  2. Book: Roberts, David. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums. 2005. 1-904994-00-8. 14. 18th . Guinness World Records Limited.
  3. Web site: New singles formats to save the charts. BBC News. 16 October 2003 . 21 February 2010.