List of UK top-ten albums in 2012

Last updated

2010s in music in the UK
Events
Charts
←2000s
2020→
Emeli Sande had the UK's best-selling album of 2012 with her debut release Our Version of Events, which lasted 67 weeks in the top 10 and spent a total of 10 weeks at number-one. The album has since sold more than 2.3 million copies in the UK alone. Emeli sande.pk.jpg
Emeli Sandé had the UK's best-selling album of 2012 with her debut release Our Version of Events , which lasted 67 weeks in the top 10 and spent a total of 10 weeks at number-one. The album has since sold more than 2.3 million copies in the UK alone.
Lana Del Rey reached number-one for two weeks in February 2012 with her second studio album Born to Die, which spent 15 weeks in the top 10 and became the UK's fourth best selling album of the year. Lana Del Rey Cannes 2012.jpg
Lana Del Rey reached number-one for two weeks in February 2012 with her second studio album Born to Die , which spent 15 weeks in the top 10 and became the UK's fourth best selling album of the year.

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).

Contents

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 All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra , Number Ones , Sigh No More , Teenage Dream , The Seldom Seen Kid and Whitney: The Greatest Hits , 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
The Maccabees 1 Given to the Wild 4—
Lana Del Rey 1 Born to Die 1—
Maverick Sabre 1 Lonely Are the Brave 2—
Emeli Sandé 1 Our Version of Events 1—
Gotye 1 Making Mirrors 4—
Military Wives 1 In My Dreams 2—
Michael Kiwanuka 1 Home Again 4—
Marcus Collins 1 Marcus Collins 7—
Nicki Minaj 1 Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 1—
Labrinth 1 Electronic Earth 2—
Moshi Monsters 1 Music Rox! 4—
Alabama Shakes 1 Boys & Girls 3—
Ren Harvieu 1 Through the Night 5—
John Mayer 1 Born and Raised 4—
fun. 1 Some Nights 4—
Frank Ocean 1 Channel Orange 2—
Lianne La Havas 1 Is Your Love Big Enough? 4—
Pnau 1 Good Morning to the Night 1—
Nas 1 Life Is Good 8—
The Gaslight Anthem 1 Handwritten 2—
Conor Maynard 1 Contrast 1—
Delilah 1 From the Roots Up 5—
Rick Ross 1 God Forgives, I Don't 8—
Ryan O'Shaughnessy 1 Ryan O'Shaughnessy (EP) 9—
Jessie Ware 1 Devotion 5—
The Black Keys 1 El Camino 6—
Trey Songz 1 Chapter V 10—
Rita Ora 1 Ora 1—
Of Monsters and Men 1 My Head Is an Animal 3—
Two Door Cinema Club 1 Beacon 2—
Carly Rae Jepsen 1 Kiss 9—
Jonathan and Charlotte 1 Together 5—
Deadmau5 1 Album Title Goes Here 9—
All Time Low 1 Don't Panic 9—
Jake Bugg 1 Jake Bugg 1—
Lawson 1 Chapman Square 4—
Little Mix 1 DNA 3—
Notes

Blunderbuss 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
‡Album 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)		Weeks
in
top
10		AlbumArtistPeakPeak
reached
(week ending)		Weeks
at
peak
Albums in 2011
29 January 201141 Doo-Wops & Hooligans ‡ Bruno Mars 129 January 20112
5 February 201176 21 ‡ (#2) Adele 15 February 201123
12 March 201134 Who You Are ‡ Jessie J 212 March 20111
26 March 20114 What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? ‡ The Vaccines 426 March 20111
9 July 201111 4 ‡ Beyoncé 19 July 20112
10 September 201115 Nothing but the Beat ‡ David Guetta 210 September 20113
24 September 201149 + ‡ (#3) Ed Sheeran 124 September 20113
1 October 20114 Velociraptor! ‡ Kasabian 11 October 20111
29 October 20117 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ‡ Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 129 October 20111
5 November 201128 Mylo Xyloto ‡ (#9) Coldplay 15 November 20111
12 November 20117 Ceremonials ‡ Florence + The Machine 112 November 20111
4 Stereo Typical Rizzle Kicks 54 February 20121
3 December 201118 Talk That Talk ‡ Rihanna 13 December 20112
7 Up All Night ‡ One Direction 23 December 20111
10 December 20119 In Case You Didn't Know ‡ Olly Murs 110 December 20111
17 December 20116 Lioness: Hidden Treasures ‡ Amy Winehouse 117 December 20111
9 Heaven ‡ Rebecca Ferguson 317 December 20111
Albums in 2012
21 January 20121 Given to the Wild The Maccabees 421 January 20121
28 January 20121 A Flash Flood of Colour Enter Shikari 428 January 20121
4 February 20121 Beyond the Sun Chris Isaak 64 February 20121
11 February 201215 Born to Die (#4) Lana Del Rey 111 February 20122
2 Old Ideas Leonard Cohen 211 February 20121
18 February 20123 Lonely Are the Brave Maverick Sabre 218 February 20121
1 Kisses on the Bottom Paul McCartney 318 February 20121
1 A Different Kind of Truth Van Halen 618 February 20121
25 February 201267 Our Version of Events (#1) Emeli Sandé 125 February 201210
6 Making Mirrors Gotye 425 February 20121
1 Whitney: The Greatest Hits Whitney Houston 725 February 20121
3 19 Adele 73 March 20121
10 March 20121 Hell in a Handbasket Meat Loaf 510 March 20121
1The Essential Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 710 March 20121
17 March 20123 Wrecking Ball Bruce Springsteen 117 March 20121
3 In My Dreams Military Wives 124 March 20121
2 Tuskegee Lionel Richie 717 March 20121
1 Secret Symphony Katie Melua 817 March 20121
24 March 20122 Home Again Michael Kiwanuka 424 March 20121
1 Marcus Collins Marcus Collins 724 March 20121
31 March 20122 Sonik Kicks Paul Weller 131 March 20121
7 April 20122 MDNA Madonna 17 April 20121
1 Teenage Dream Katy Perry 67 April 20121
14 April 20125 Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Nicki Minaj 114 April 20121
2 Electronic Earth Labrinth 214 April 20121
2 Music Rox! Moshi Monsters 414 April 20121
1 Weapons Lostprophets 914 April 20121
21 April 20124 Boys & Girls Alabama Shakes 321 April 20121
28 April 20121 Love Is a Four Letter Word Jason Mraz 228 April 20121
3 California 37 Train 718 August 20121
5 May 20123 Blunderbuss Jack White 15 May 20121
1 Out of the Game Rufus Wainwright 55 May 20121
12 May 20121 Electra Heart Marina and the Diamonds 112 May 20121
1...Little Broken Hearts Norah Jones 412 May 20121
19 May 20124 Strangeland Keane 119 May 20122
1 Standing at the Sky's Edge Richard Hawley 319 May 20121
1 In the Belly of the Brazen Bull The Cribs 919 May 20121
26 May 20121 Rize of the Fenix Tenacious D 226 May 20121
1 Through the Night Ren Harvieu 526 May 20121
2 Every Kingdom Ben Howard 626 May 20121
1 Not Your Kind of People Garbage 926 May 20121
2 June 20121 Driving Towards the Daylight Joe Bonamassa 22 June 20121
1 Born and Raised John Mayer 42 June 20121
5 Number Ones Bee Gees 416 June 20121
5 Some Nights fun. 410 November 20121
1 Spirit in the Room Tom Jones 82 June 20121
1 Streets in the Sky The Enemy 92 June 20121
9 June 20124 Sing Gary Barlow 19 June 20123
15 Fall to Grace Paloma Faith 29 June 20123
2 Boys Don't Cry Rumer 39 June 20121
1 Magic Hour Scissor Sisters 49 June 20121
1Anthems – Music To Inspire A Nation Russell Watson 59 June 20121
1 Valtari Sigur Rós 89 June 20121
16 June 20125 Graceland Paul Simon 428 July 20121
23 June 20123 Life in a Beautiful Light Amy Macdonald 223 June 20121
2 Looking 4 Myself Usher 323 June 20121
1 25 Years – The Chain Fleetwood Mac 923 June 20121
30 June 20122 Believe Justin Bieber 130 June 20121
2 A Million Lights Cheryl 230 June 20121
7 July 20122 Living Things Linkin Park 17 July 20121
9 Overexposed Maroon 5 27 July 20123
1 Wild Ones Flo Rida 87 July 20121
14 July 20122 Fortune Chris Brown 114 July 20121
21 July 20121 Write It on Your Skin Newton Faulkner 121 July 20121
2 Channel Orange Frank Ocean 221 July 20121
1 Is Your Love Big Enough? Lianne La Havas 421 July 20121
1 Cheeky for a Reason The View 921 July 20121
28 July 20122 Good Morning to the Night Elton John vs. Pnau 128 July 20121
1 Life Is Good Nas 828 July 20121
4 August 20127 Ill Manors Plan B 14 August 20121
1 Handwritten The Gaslight Anthem 24 August 20121
1 Dance Again... the Hits Jennifer Lopez 44 August 20121
1 The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 Joss Stone 64 August 20121
11 August 20122 Contrast Conor Maynard 111 August 20121
1 From the Roots Up Delilah 511 August 20121
1 Two Sides: The Very Best of Mike Oldfield Mike Oldfield 611 August 20121
1 God Forgives, I Don't Rick Ross 811 August 20121
25 August 20121 The Seldom Seen Kid Elbow 625 August 20121
1 Ryan O'Shaughnessy (EP) Ryan O'Shaughnessy 925 August 20121
1 September 20121 Four Bloc Party 31 September 20121
1 Hot Cakes The Darkness 41 September 20121
1 Devotion Jessie Ware 51 September 20121
2 El Camino The Black Keys 68 September 20121
1 Chapter V Trey Songz 101 September 20121
8 September 20124 Ora Rita Ora 18 September 20121
2 My Head Is an Animal Of Monsters and Men 38 September 20121
1 Dead in the Boot Elbow 48 September 20121
15 September 20122 Come of Age The Vaccines 115 September 20121
2 Beacon Two Door Cinema Club 215 September 20121
1 Fires Ronan Keating 515 September 20121
1 Privateering Mark Knopfler 815 September 20121
1 The Light Between Us Scouting for Girls 1015 September 20121
22 September 20123 Coexist The xx 122 September 20121
4 #3 The Script 222 September 20121
2 Tempest Bob Dylan 322 September 20121
1 Here's What I Believe Joe McElderry 822 September 20121
1 Elysium Pet Shop Boys 922 September 20121
29 September 20124 Battle Born The Killers 129 September 20121
17 The Truth About Love Pink 229 September 20121
1 Bad 25 Michael Jackson 629 September 20121
1 Kiss Carly Rae Jepsen 929 September 20121
6 October 201216 Babel (#6) Mumford & Sons 16 October 20123
2 ¡Uno! Green Day 26 October 20121
2 Together Jonathan and Charlotte 56 October 20121
1 Album Title Goes Here Deadmau5 96 October 20121
1 Sigh No More Mumford & Sons 106 October 20121
13 October 20124 The 2nd Law Muse 113 October 20121
1 Higher The Overtones 613 October 20121
2 All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra 1013 October 20122
20 October 201222 Halcyon ♦ Ellie Goulding 111 January 20143
1 Long Wave Jeff Lynne 720 October 20121
1 Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra 820 October 20121
1 Don't Panic All Time Low 920 October 20121
27 October 201216 Jake Bugg Jake Bugg 127 October 20121
2 Glassheart Leona Lewis 327 October 20121
1 The Haunted Man Bat for Lashes 627 October 20121
1The Singer Art Garfunkel 1027 October 20121
3 November 20124 Red Taylor Swift 13 November 20121
1 Chapman Square Lawson 43 November 20121
1 Bad Intentions Dappy 63 November 20121
1 Songs from the Movies and More Daniel O'Donnell 73 November 20121
10 November 201215 18 Months Calvin Harris 110 November 20122
2 The Abbey Road Sessions Kylie Minogue 210 November 20121
1American Soul Mick Hucknall 610 November 20121
1 The Fire Matt Cardle 810 November 20121
1 Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da Madness 1010 November 20121
17 November 201210 Take the Crown Robbie Williams 117 November 20121
5Magic of the Movies André Rieu & The Johann Strauss Orchestra 217 November 20121
1 Evolution JLS 317 November 20121
1Stronger Together Military Wives 517 November 20121
1 Opera Andrea Bocelli 1017 November 20121
24 November 201210 Take Me Home (#5) One Direction 124 November 20121
6 Merry Christmas, Baby Rod Stewart 224 November 20121
1 GRRR! The Rolling Stones 324 November 20121
2 Storyteller Alfie Boe 624 November 20121
1 ¡Dos! Green Day 1024 November 20121
1 December 201214 Unapologetic (#10) Rihanna 11 December 20121
1 DNA Little Mix 31 December 20121
1 Celebration Day Led Zeppelin 41 December 20121
6 Christmas (#8) Michael Bublé 215 December 20121
1 Standing Ovation: The Greatest Songs from the Stage Susan Boyle 71 December 20121
8 December 201216 Right Place Right Time (#7) Olly Murs 18 December 20122
5The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio Recordings Neil Diamond 515 December 20122
1 Ten Girls Aloud 98 December 20121
22 December 201224 Unorthodox Jukebox Bruno Mars 122 December 20121

Entries by artist

Taylor Swift scored her first UK number-one album in 2012 with Red. Swift outside Letterman studio (cropped).jpg
Taylor Swift scored her first UK number-one album in 2012 with Red .
Marina and the Diamonds reached number-one in the UK in May of this year with her album Electra Heart. Marina and The Diamonds.jpg
Marina and the Diamonds reached number-one in the UK in May of this year with her album Electra Heart .

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
2 Adele 28 19 , 21
Bruno Mars 8 Doo-Wops & Hooligans , Unorthodox Jukebox
Cheryl 3 A Million Lights , Ten
Elbow 2 Dead in the Boot , The Seldom Seen Kid
Electric Light Orchestra 3 All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra , Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra
Green Day 3 ¡Dos! , ¡Uno!
Military Wives 4 In My Dreams , Stronger Together
Mumford & Sons 8 Babel , Sigh No More
Olly Murs 9 In Case You Didn't Know , Right Place Right Time
One Direction 8 Take Me Home , Up All Night
Rihanna 18 Talk That Talk , Unapologetic
The Vaccines 5 Come of Age , What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?
Whitney Houston 2The Essential Whitney Houston, Whitney: The Greatest Hits

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.