List of posthumous number ones on the UK Albums Chart explained

The UK Albums Chart is a weekly record chart based on sales of albums in the United Kingdom. The first weekly albums chart in the UK was published by Record Mirror in July 1956[1] – since then, 28 albums by deceased artists have posthumously reached number one. Until 2007, the chart was based solely on sales of physical albums; from 2007 onwards, it has also included albums sold through digital distribution.[2], the listing is created using Friday to Thursday record sales from more than 3,500 vendors across the UK.[3] It is compiled by the Official Charts Company on behalf of the UK music industry,[4] and each week's new number one is first announced on Friday evenings on The Radio 1 Chart Show.[5]

The first deceased artist to top the UK Albums Chart was Otis Redding, who died in a plane crash on 10 December 1967.[6] [7] On 20 May 1968, Redding's sixth studio album, The Dock of the Bay, was released in the UK – three weeks later, it became his first and only UK number-one album. Since Redding, 14 further artists have posthumously topped the albums chart, of which three have done so more than twice.[6] The first of these was American singer Eva Cassidy; after dying in 1996, three posthumous releases from Cassidy reached number one in consecutive years, 2001–03. The second musician to achieve this feat was American entertainer Elvis Presley. Following his death from a heart attack in August 1977, Presley's compilation album 40 Greatest climbed to number one within three weeks.[8] Subsequent compilations ELV1S (2002), The King (2007), If I Can Dream (2015) and The Wonder of You (2016) also topped the chart. With If I Can Dream, Presley achieved his fourth posthumous number one, more than any other artist.[9]

The death of a musician can often result in an immediate increase in sales of their albums. As UK chart commentator James Masterton remarked in December 1995: "Death is very commercial."[10] Following his death in 2009, the number of purchases of Michael Jackson's albums grew significantly worldwide.[11] In the UK, sales of the singer's albums increased by more than 80 times in a single day. On 28 June, Jackson's 2003 release Number Ones climbed 120 places to the top of the chart;[12] the following week, his 2005 compilation The Essential Michael Jackson reached number one. The two albums spent a combined total of eight weeks at number one.[13] Five of Jackson's records were featured in the top twenty biggest-selling albums of 2009's third quarter, and 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.[14] In May 2014, Jackson's album Xscape topped the chart, making him the third musician to top the listing with three posthumous releases.[15] [16]

Like Jackson, British singer Amy Winehouse received a significant increase in sales after her death in 2011, when purchases of her albums grew 37 times over.[17] [18] This resulted in her 2006 album, Back to Black, returning to the top of the UK Albums Chart for three weeks and becoming the UK's biggest-selling album of the 21st century for three months before being overtaken by 21 by Adele.[19] Four months later, Winehouse's first compilation album, , became her second release to posthumously reach number one.[20] Over the year following her death, 1.2 million copies of Winehouse's albums were sold.[6]

Number ones

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.

scope=colArtistscope=colAlbumscope=colRecord labelscope=colDate of deathscope=colReached number
one (for the
week ending)		scope=colWeeks at
number one		scope=col
scope=rowStax1[21]
scope=rowAccording to My HeartRCA International[22] 4[23]
scope=row40 Golden GreatsArcade3
scope=rowElvis' 40 GreatestArcade[24] 1[25]
scope=row20 Golden Greats[26] EMI[27] 3[28]
scope=row20 Golden GreatsCapitol[29] 3[30]
scope=rowDouble Fantasy[31] Geffen[32] 2[33]
scope=rowParlophone6
scope=rowTelstar[34] 3[35]
scope=rowWords of LovePolyGram TV/MCA1
scope=rowSongbirdBlix Street/Hot[36] 2[37]
scope=rowImagineBlix Street/Hot1
scope=rowRCA2
scope=rowAmerican TuneBlix Street/Hot2
scope=rowRCA1
scope=rowNumber OnesEpic[38] 1[39]
scope=rowEpic7
scope=rowBack to BlackIsland[40] 3[41]
scope=rowIsland1
scope=rowXscapeEpic1
scope=rowParlophone[42] 1[43]
scope=rowIf I Can Dream[44] RCA/Legacy2
scope=rowBlackstarColumbia/ISO[45] 3[46]
scope=rowBest of BowieEMI1
Viola Beachscope=rowViola BeachFuller Beans[47] 1[48]
scope=rowRCA/Legacy1
George Michaelscope=rowListen Without Prejudice Vol. 1Sony25 December 2016[49] 27 October 20171[50]
Juice Wrldscope=rowLegends Never DieInterscope8 December 2019[51] 23 July 20201[52]
Pop Smokescope=rowShoot for the Stars, Aim for the MoonRepublic19 February 2020[53] 1 October 20201[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1956. Sharon. Mawer. 2008. The Official UK Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20090308002257/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/album_chart_history_1956.php. 8 March 2009. dead. 28 June 2011.
  2. Web site: Snow Patrol Benefit From New Uk Chart Rules. 8 January 2007. Contactmusic.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120829141627/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/snow-patrol-benefit-from-new-uk-chart-rules_1018233. 29 August 2012. live. 20 July 2011.
  3. Web site: FAQs. 2010. Official Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20111008223942/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/faqs/. 8 October 2011. dead. 7 October 2011. ... retailers representing more than 3,500 over the counter shops, home delivery retailers and a wide range of digital stores ....
  4. Web site: Our charts & data. Official Charts Company. 2015. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150824085122/http://www.officialcharts.com/who-we-are/our-charts-and-data/. 24 August 2015.
  5. Web site: The Official UK Top 40 Albums Chart. 2011. BBC Radio 1. 7 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120703070324/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums. 3 July 2012.
  6. Web site: Posthumous Chart Challengers . Talbot . Martin . 8 August 2015 . . London . https://web.archive.org/web/20150811231321/http://www.officialcharts.com/galleries/posthumous-chart-challengers/ . 11 August 2015 . live . 8 August 2015 .
  7. Seidenberg. Robert. 9 December 1994. Death of the King of Soul. Entertainment Weekly. 252. New York City. Time. 1049-0434. 137343926. 6 October 2011. ... on December 10, 1967, Redding died in a plane crash at age 26 .... live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020165321/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,304776,00.html. 20 October 2012.
  8. Web site: 1977. https://archive.today/20130105004524/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all-the-number-one-albums-list/_/1977/. dead. 5 January 2013. 2010. Official Charts Company. London. 23 December 2011.
  9. Web site: Hendicott . James . 6 November 2015 . Elvis scores record breaking 12th UK number one album . . London . Mike . Williams . Mike Williams (journalist) . 21 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151110015704/http://www.nme.com/news/elvis-presley/89549 . 10 November 2015 . live .
  10. Web site: The Complete Jackson . James . Masterton . James Masterton . 27 June 2009 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120415090959/http://www.masterton.co.uk/2009/06/the-complete-jackson/ . 15 April 2012 . 7 October 2011 . dead .
  11. News: Michael Jackson sales surge expected to last months. Reuters. Ed. Christman. Bruno. Antony. 3 July 2009. 24 August 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111223160438/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/07/03/industry-us-jackson-sales-idUSTRE5624WF20090703. 23 December 2011.
  12. Web site: Michael Jackson tops album chart. BBC News. London. 29 June 2009. 23 December 2011.
  13. Web site: 2009. 2010. Official Charts Company. London. 7 October 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101009213052/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all-the-number-one-albums-list/_/2009. 9 October 2010.
  14. Williams. Paul. Paul. Williams. 21 November 2009. Big Four face frantic finish in Q4. Music Week. 21.11.09. 14. United Business. London. 0265-1548. 60620772. 20 September 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216121249/http://business.highbeam.com/411456/article-1G1-212517022/quarterly-analysis-big-four-face-frantic-finish-q4. 16 December 2014.
  15. Web site: 18 May 2014. Michael Jackson scores 10th UK Number One album with posthumous release. NME. London. Greg. Cochrane. 16 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140519112033/http://www.nme.com/news/michael-jackson/77378. 19 May 2014. live.
  16. News: Campbell. Tina. 18 May 2014. Shamone: Michael Jackson claims tenth UK number one album. live. Young. Ted. Metro. London. DMG. 1469-6215. 225917520. https://web.archive.org/web/20140520011048/http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/18/shamone-michael-jackson-claims-tenth-uk-number-one-album-4732327/. 20 May 2014. 16 December 2014.
  17. News: Sales of Amy Winehouse records surge. The Independent. 25 July 2011. 7 October 2011. Rosa. Silverman. Independent Print. London. 0951-9467. 185201487. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121112010235/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sales-of-amy-winehouse-records-surge-2320089.html. 12 November 2012.
  18. Sexton. Paul. 25 July 2011. Amy Winehouse's Posthumous U.K. Sales Spike; Adele, The Wanted Top Charts. Billboard. Los Angeles. Prometheus. 9780753522455. Danyel. Smith. 0006-2510. 643578332. 7 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110829071008/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/amy-winehouse-s-posthumous-u-k-sales-spike-1005291352.story. 29 August 2011.
  19. 31 July 2011. Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black' returns to Number One. NME. London. IPC. 9780753522455. Krissi. Murison. Krissi Murison. 0028-6362. 60624023. 3 January 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121114002448/http://www.nme.com/news/amy-winehouse/58365. 14 November 2012.
  20. News: Amy Winehouse's posthumous album 'Lioness: Hidden Treasures' tops album chart. The Daily Telegraph. London. 0307-1235. 613316876. 11 December 2011. 23 December 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111212044624/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8949992/Amy-Winehouses-posthumous-album-Lioness-Hidden-Treasures-tops-album-chart.html. 12 December 2011.
  21. Web site: Otis Redding. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150726044716/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12105/otis-redding/. 26 July 2015.
  22. News: Musicians Who Died in Air Accidents. Steve. Hochman. https://archive.today/20130131151627/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60113202.html?dids=60113202:60113202&FMT=ABS. dead. 31 January 2013. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. 0458-3035. 9189499. 28 August 1990. 13. 9780753522455. 6 October 2011. ... Jim Reeves, July 31, 1964-Known for hits like "Welcome to My World" and "He'll Have to Go," Reeves died at age 39 in a light plane crash near Nashville. ....
  23. Web site: Jim Reeves. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150901202951/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/8263/jim-reeves/. 1 September 2015.
  24. Web site: 1977: Rock and roll 'king' Presley dies. BBC News. London. 2003. 6 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111109013538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/16/newsid_2496000/2496375.stm. 9 November 2011.
  25. Web site: Elvis Presley. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150902194443/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/13107/elvis-presley/. 2 September 2015.
  26. Credited to Buddy Holly & The Crickets
  27. Web site: 1959: Buddy Holly killed in air crash. BBC News. London. 2003. 6 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111120151016/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/3/newsid_2802000/2802541.stm. 20 November 2011.
  28. Web site: Buddy Holly. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161407/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5541/buddy-holly/. 24 September 2015.
  29. Web site: Nat King Cole. 2011. BBC Music. London. 7 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20111113032514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/fbe054ec-a143-4101-9e9e-64abc5ff5ac9. 13 November 2011.
  30. Web site: Nat "King" Cole. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150804234354/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28076/nat-king-cole/. 4 August 2015.
  31. Credited to John Lennon & Yoko Ono
  32. Web site: 1980: John Lennon shot dead. BBC News. London. 2003. 6 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20071209165907/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/8/newsid_2536000/2536321.stm. 9 December 2007.
  33. Web site: John Lennon. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150919033540/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27904/john-lennon/. 19 September 2015.
  34. Web site: Roy Orbison. 2011. BBC Music. London. 7 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110905035129/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/0bbbc496-c7b5-4b3f-bb6d-bd312827d6e5. 5 September 2011.
  35. Web site: Roy Orbison. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154143/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16272/roy-orbison/. 24 September 2015.
  36. Web site: Eva Cassidy. 2011. BBC Music. London. 7 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110219112447/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/6f2dfabb-f0bb-4801-a392-592489a148e7. 19 February 2011.
  37. Web site: Eva Cassidy. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161242/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5140/eva-cassidy/. 24 September 2015.
  38. Web site: Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50. 26 June 2009. BBC News. London. 6 October 2011.
  39. Web site: Michael Jackson. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201190339/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16519/michael-jackson/. 1 December 2017.
  40. Web site: Amy Winehouse dies at the age of 27. BBC News. London. 23 July 2011. 6 October 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110824012009/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14263734. 24 August 2011.
  41. Web site: Amy Winehouse. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150819062630/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/812/amy-winehouse/. 19 August 2015.
  42. Web site: Kassam. Ashifa. Gayle. Damien. Cilla Black may have died as result of an accident, say Spanish police. The Guardian. London. 3 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150823131302/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/aug/03/cilla-black-may-have-died-as-result-of-an-accident-say-spanish-police. 23 August 2015.
  43. Web site: Cilla Black. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 23 August 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150824020104/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10866/cilla-black/. 24 August 2015.
  44. Credited to Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  45. News: David Bowie died from liver cancer he kept secret from all but handful of people, friend says. Gallagher. Paul. 11 January 2016. The Independent. 15 January 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010207/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/david-bowie-died-from-liver-cancer-he-kept-secret-from-all-but-handful-of-people-friend-says-a6806596.html . 12 January 2016.
  46. Web site: David Bowie. 2015. Official Charts Company. London. 15 January 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701043643/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19138/david-bowie/. 1 July 2017.
  47. News: Khomami. Nadia. Meikle. James. Members and manager of indie band Viola Beach die in car crash in Sweden. 14 February 2016. The Guardian. 14 February 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160214134600/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/14/five-british-men-die-in-car-crash-in-stockholm-sweden . 14 February 2016.
  48. News: Viola Beach claim posthumous number one album. 6 August 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160806002448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36987966. 6 August 2016. 5 August 2016. Savage. Mark.
  49. News: Pop superstar George Michael dies at 53. 26 December 2016. BBC News. 28 October 2017. en-GB. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225231957/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38432862. 25 December 2016.
  50. Web site: Official Charts Analysis: Posthumous No.1 album for George Michael Analysis Music Week. www.musicweek.com. en. 28 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171027212634/https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-posthumous-no-1-album-for-george-michael/070293. 27 October 2017.
  51. Web site: Juice Wrld died from accidental overdose of Painkillers. 23 January 2020. BBC News. 17 July 2020.
  52. Web site: Juice WRLD scores posthumous Number 1 on Official Albums Chart with Legends Never Die. 17 July 2020. Official Charts. 17 July 2020.
  53. Web site: Pop Smoke: Rapper shot dead in apparent robbery. 19 February 2020. BBC News. 25 September 2020.
  54. Web site: Pop Smoke's Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon claims "bittersweet" Number 1 on Official UK Albums Chart. 25 September 2020. Official Charts. 25 September 2020.

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