List of UK top-ten albums in 2016

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Following his death on 10th January 2016, David Bowie (pictured in 1974) debuted at number-one with his final studio album Blackstar, which ended up as the sixth best selling album of the year. Meanwhile, four other Bowie albums entered/re-entered the top 10, including the compilation album Best of Bowie, originally released in 2002, which peaked at number-one in February. Bowie ended up having the most top 10 albums this year, with six in total. David Bowie - TopPop 1974 03.png
Following his death on 10th January 2016, David Bowie (pictured in 1974) debuted at number-one with his final studio album Blackstar , which ended up as the sixth best selling album of the year. Meanwhile, four other Bowie albums entered/re-entered the top 10, including the compilation album Best of Bowie , originally released in 2002, which peaked at number-one in February. Bowie ended up having the most top 10 albums this year, with six in total.

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 2016, as well as albums which peaked in 2015 but were in the top 10 in 2016. 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-seven albums were in the top 10 this year. Two albums from 2014 and eight albums from 2015 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year. A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay was the only album from 2015 to reach its peak in 2016. Giggs and Jack Garratt were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2016.

The 2015 Christmas number-one album, 25 by Adele, remained at number one for the first two weeks of 2016. The first new number-one album of the year was Blackstar by David Bowie. Overall, thirty-five different albums peaked at number-one in 2016, with David Bowie (2) having the most albums hit that position.

Background

Chart debuts

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
Jack Savoretti 2 Written in Scars 7 Sleep No More (6)
Charlie Puth 1 Nine Track Mind 6
Jack Garratt 1 Phase 3
Kano 1 Made in the Manor 8
Killswitch Engage 1 Incarnate 10
Lukas Graham 1 Lukas Graham 2
Skepta 1 Konnichiwa 2
Kygo 1 Cloud Nine 3
Fifth Harmony 1 7/27 6
Christine and the Queens 1 Chaleur humaine 2
Bear's Den 1Red Earth & Pouring Rain6
Viola Beach 1 Viola Beach 1
DJ Khaled 1 Major Key 7
Blossoms 1 Blossoms 1
Giggs 1 Landlord 2
Moose Blood 1 Blush 10
Twenty One Pilots 1 Blurryface 5
Ward Thomas 1 Cartwheels 1
A Day to Remember 1 Bad Vibrations 6
Shawn Mendes 1 Illuminate 3
Airbourne 1 Breakin' Outta Hell 9
Blackberry Smoke 1 Like an Arrow 8
Bradley Walsh 1 Chasing Dreams 10

Soundtracks

The only film soundtrack album to enter the top 10 this year was Purple Rain by Prince and The Revolution. The album had previously charted in the top 10 upon its initial release in 1984 and peaked at number 7. Upon its 2016 re-entry, following Prince's death, the album reached a brand new peak of number 4.

Best-selling albums

For the second year in a row, Adele had the best-selling album of the year with 25 . A Head Full of Dreams by Coldplay came in second place. Michael Ball & Alfie Boe's Together , Purpose from Justin Bieber and The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra made up the top five. Albums by David Bowie, Little Mix, Drake, Jess Glynne and David Bowie ( Best of Bowie ) were also in the top ten best-selling albums of the year.

Top-ten albums

Key
SymbolMeaning
Album peaked in 2014 or 2015 but still in chart in 2016.
(#)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 2014
5 July 201477 × Ed Sheeran 15 July 201413
8 November 201443 1989 Taylor Swift 18 November 20141
Albums in 2015
4 April 201532 Chaos and the Calm James Bay 14 April 20151
3 September 201542 I Cry When I Laugh (#9) Jess Glynne 13 September 20151
12 November 201513 If I Can Dream Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 112 November 20152
19 November 201520 Get Weird Little Mix 219 November 20151
26 November 20159 Made in the A.M. One Direction 126 November 20151
33 Purpose (#4) Justin Bieber 226 November 20152
3 December 201543 25 (#1) Adele 13 December 201513
17 December 201530 A Head Full of Dreams (#2) Coldplay 118 February 20161
Albums in 2016
21 January 20166 Blackstar (#6) David Bowie 121 January 20163
5 Nothing Has Changed: The Very Best of David Bowie 521 January 20162
28 January 201611 Best of Bowie (#10)111 February 20161
1 Death of a Bachelor Panic! at the Disco 428 January 20161
1 Written in Scars Jack Savoretti 728 January 20161
4 February 20161 Night Thoughts Suede 64 February 20161
1 Hunky Dory David Bowie 94 February 20161
1 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 104 February 20161
11 February 20169 This Is Acting Sia 311 February 20161
2 Nine Track Mind Charlie Puth 611 February 20161
5 Anti Rihanna 711 February 20162
18 February 20161 Wonderful Crazy Night Elton John 618 February 20161
25 February 20161 Time of My Life Ronan Keating 425 February 20161
3 March 20161 Phase Jack Garratt 33 March 20161
10 March 20164 I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It The 1975 110 March 20161
1Believe – Songs of Inspiration Richard & Adam 910 March 20161
17 March 20161 Untitled Unmastered Kendrick Lamar 717 March 20161
1 Made in the Manor Kano 817 March 20161
24 March 20161 Incarnate Killswitch Engage 1024 March 20161
31 March 20161 Girl at the End of the World James 231 March 20161
1 Post Pop Depression Iggy Pop 531 March 20161
1 Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future Underworld 1031 March 20161
7 April 20162 Mind of Mine Zayn 17 April 20161
1 Blues of Desperation Joe Bonamassa 37 April 20161
1 Beautiful Lies Birdy 47 April 20161
14 April 20162 Everything You've Come to Expect The Last Shadow Puppets 114 April 20161
3 Lukas Graham Lukas Graham 214 April 20161
1 Super Pet Shop Boys 314 April 20161
1 Kentucky Black Stone Cherry 514 April 20161
4 One Voice Aled Jones 328 April 20161
21 April 20161 Cleopatra The Lumineers 121 April 20161
1 Red Flag All Saints 321 April 20161
1 Gore Deftones 521 April 20161
28 April 20161 The Hope Six Demolition Project PJ Harvey 128 April 20161
1 Santana IV Santana 428 April 20161
2 Ultimate Prince Prince 35 May 20161
5 May 201613 Lemonade Beyoncé 15 May 20161
5 The Very Best of Prince Prince 25 May 20161
1 Purple Rain Prince and The Revolution 45 May 20161
1Celebration Katherine Jenkins 75 May 20161
12 May 201616 Views (#8) Drake 112 May 20162
3Here You Are: The Best of Billy Ocean Billy Ocean 412 May 20161
1 Everything at Once Travis 512 May 20161
19 May 20165 A Moon Shaped Pool Radiohead 119 May 20162
2 Konnichiwa Skepta 219 May 20161
2 Take Me to the Alley Gregory Porter 519 May 20161
1 Electronica 2: The Heart of Noise Jean Michel Jarre 819 May 20161
26 May 20161 Cloud Nine Kygo 326 May 20161
1 Thank You Meghan Trainor 526 May 20161
2 June 20162 Dangerous Woman Ariana Grande 12 June 20161
1 These People Richard Ashcroft 32 June 20161
1 Fallen Angels Bob Dylan 52 June 20161
1 I Still Do Eric Clapton 62 June 20161
9 June 20163 The Ride Catfish and the Bottlemen 19 June 20161
1 The Lexicon of Love II ABC 59 June 20161
1 7/27 Fifth Harmony 69 June 20161
16 June 20162 Stranger to Stranger Paul Simon 116 June 20161
1Facing Time Bugzy Malone 616 June 20161
1 Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul Dexys 1016 June 20161
23 June 20169 50 Rick Astley 123 June 20161
1 Wrong Crowd Tom Odell 223 June 20161
1 Pure McCartney Paul McCartney 323 June 20161
11 All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra 14 August 20161
1 Soulsville Beverley Knight 923 June 20161
30 June 20163 The Getaway Red Hot Chili Peppers 230 June 20161
1 On My One Jake Bugg 430 June 20161
1 Johannesburg (EP) Mumford & Sons with Baaba Maal 630 June 20161
11 Chaleur humaine Christine and the Queens 24 August 20161
7 July 20161 21 Adele 107 July 20161
14 July 20162 California Blink-182 114 July 20161
1 The Bride Bat for Lashes 914 July 20161
21 July 20164 Ellipsis Biffy Clyro 121 July 20161
1 Wildflower The Avalanches 1021 July 20161
28 July 20164 Love & Hate Michael Kiwanuka 128 July 20161
9 Legend Bob Marley and the Wailers 525 August 20162
4 August 20161Red Earth & Pouring Rain Bear's Den 64 August 20161
11 August 20162 Viola Beach Viola Beach 111 August 20161
1 Major Key DJ Khaled 711 August 20161
18 August 20162 Blossoms Blossoms 118 August 20162
1 Landlord Giggs 218 August 20161
1 Boy King Wild Beasts 918 August 20161
1 Blush Moose Blood 1018 August 20161
25 August 20165 Blurryface Twenty One Pilots 58 September 20161
1 September 20162 Blonde Frank Ocean 11 September 20161
2 Pure & Simple Dolly Parton 21 September 20161
1 Life on the Road David Brent & Foregone Conclusion 31 September 20161
8 September 20162 Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway Barbra Streisand 18 September 20161
1 Glory Britney Spears 28 September 20161
15 September 20163 Cartwheels Ward Thomas 115 September 20161
2The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Songs The Carpenters 215 September 20161
1 Trick Jamie T 315 September 20161
1 Growing Over Life Wretch 32 515 September 20161
1 Bad Vibrations A Day to Remember 615 September 20161
1 Foreverland The Divine Comedy 715 September 20161
22 September 20164 Wild World Bastille 122 September 20162
2 Skeleton Tree Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 222 September 20162
2 Live at the Hollywood Bowl The Beatles 322 September 20161
1 Braver Than We Are Meat Loaf 422 September 20161
1 Kin KT Tunstall 722 September 20161
1 GLA Twin Atlantic 922 September 20161
1 Here Teenage Fanclub 1022 September 20161
29 September 20161 The Complete BBC Sessions Led Zeppelin 329 September 20161
1 Hard II Love Usher 729 September 20161
6 October 20162 Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea Passenger 16 October 20161
2 Chapter and Verse Bruce Springsteen 26 October 20161
1 Illuminate Shawn Mendes 36 October 20161
1 F E A R Marillion 46 October 20161
1 Breakin' Outta Hell Airbourne 96 October 20161
13 October 20162 Following My Intuition Craig David 113 October 20161
1 22, A Million Bon Iver 213 October 20161
2 My Universe The Shires 313 October 20161
1 Keep Me Singing Van Morrison 413 October 20161
1 Take Control Slaves 613 October 20161
1 Head Carrier Pixies 713 October 20161
20 October 20162 Revolution Radio Green Day 120 October 20161
1 In the Now Barry Gibb 220 October 20161
1 The Last Hero Alter Bridge 320 October 20161
1 Stay Together Kaiser Chiefs 420 October 20161
1 Oh My My OneRepublic 620 October 20161
1 Keepin' the Horse Between Me and the Ground Seasick Steve 820 October 20161
1 Day Breaks Norah Jones 920 October 20161
1 All Bright Electric Feeder 1020 October 20161
27 October 20163 Walls Kings of Leon 127 October 20161
4 The Singles Phil Collins 227 October 20161
1 The Wave Tom Chaplin 327 October 20161
1 Be Here Now Oasis 427 October 20161
1 Gameshow Two Door Cinema Club 527 October 20161
1 Superwoman Rebecca Ferguson 727 October 20161
1 Like an Arrow Blackberry Smoke 827 October 20161
1 In Winter Katie Melua 927 October 20161
3 November 201612 The Wonder of You (#5) Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 13 November 20161
9 Nobody but Me Michael Bublé 23 November 20161
1 Joanne Lady Gaga 33 November 20161
2 You Want It Darker Leonard Cohen 43 November 20161
1Aquostic II: That's a Fact Status Quo 73 November 20161
1 The Serenity of Suffering Korn 93 November 20161
1 Lazarus (Original Cast Recording) David Bowie and the New York Cast of Lazarus 103 November 20161
10 November 20164 Back from the Edge James Arthur 110 November 20161
1 Mapping the Rendezvous Courteeners 410 November 20161
1 Can't Touch Us Now Madness 510 November 20161
1 Sleep No More Jack Savoretti 610 November 20161
2 Upon a Different Shore Alexander Armstrong 810 November 20162
1 Greatest Hits Robbie Williams 910 November 20161
17 November 20168 The Heavy Entertainment Show 117 November 20161
10 Together (#3) Michael Ball & Alfie Boe 122 December 20162
1 This House Is Not for Sale Bon Jovi 517 November 20161
7 Christmas Michael Bublé 615 December 20161
1The Ultimate Collection Roy Orbison 1017 November 20161
24 November 20169 24 Hrs Olly Murs 124 November 20161
6 Long Live the Angels Emeli Sandé 224 November 20161
1 Just... Fabulous Rock 'n' Roll Cliff Richard 424 November 20161
1 December 201629 Glory Days (#7) Little Mix 11 December 20165
1 Hardwired... to Self-Destruct Metallica 21 December 20161
8 24K Magic Bruno Mars 31 December 20161
8 December 20161 Before the Dawn Kate Bush 48 December 20161
9 Starboy The Weeknd 58 December 20161
1Falling in Love Andre Rieu & the Johann Strauss Orchestra 78 December 20161
1 Chasing Dreams Bradley Walsh 108 December 20161
15 December 20167 Blue & Lonesome The Rolling Stones 115 December 20161

Entries by artist

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2016, including albums that reached their peak in 2015. 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 ten in 2016 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksAlbums
6 David Bowie 25 Best of Bowie , Blackstar , Hunky Dory , Lazarus (Original Cast Recording) , Nothing Has Changed: The Very Best of David Bowie , The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
3 Prince 8 Purple Rain , The Very Best of Prince , Ultimate Prince
2 Adele 44 21 , 25
Elvis Presley 25 If I Can Dream , The Wonder of You
Jack Savoretti 2 Sleep No More , Written in Scars
Little Mix 49 Get Weird , Glory Days
Michael Bublé 16 Christmas , Nobody but Me
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 25 If I Can Dream , The Wonder of You

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific