List of UK top-ten albums in 2021

Last updated

2020s in music in the UK
Events
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • 2027
  • 2028
  • 2029
Charts
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • 2027
  • 2028
  • 2029
←2010s
American singer and actress Olivia Rodrigo made history in 2021 when she became the youngest solo artist to achieve the coveted UK chart double after her single "Good 4 U" climbed to number-one in the UK Singles Chart the same week her debut album Sour entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one. Olivia Rodrigo with Dr Fauci 2.png
American singer and actress Olivia Rodrigo made history in 2021 when she became the youngest solo artist to achieve the coveted UK chart double after her single "Good 4 U" climbed to number-one in the UK Singles Chart the same week her debut album Sour entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one.

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] Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical albums and digital downloads. [2] [3] Since 2015, the album chart has been based on both sales and streaming. This list shows albums that peaked in the top ten of the UK Albums Chart during 2021, as well as albums which peaked in 2020 and 2022 but were in the top 10 in 2021. 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

Two-hundred and eighteen albums were in the top ten this year. Two albums from 2019 and thirteen albums from 2020 remained in the top ten for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while Between Us by Little Mix was released in 2021, but did not reach its peak until 2022. Little Mix sixth studio album Confetti, was also the fastest-selling album of 2020 by a British act. [4] Fine Line by Harry Styles debuted in 2019 and re-entered the top 10 in 2020, but its peak position was not until 2021. Christmas by Michael Bublé was originally released in 2011, launched a new chart run in 2020, reaching a peak on its latest run in 2021, when it returned to number-one. Post Human: Survival Horror by Bring Me the Horizon was the only album from 2020 to reach its peak in 2021. Olivia Rodrigo, Celeste and Arlo Parks were among the many artists who achieved their first top 10 album in 2021.

The first new number-one album of the year was Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 by Barry Gibb. Overall, forty different albums peaked at number-one in 2021, with Taylor Swift (2) having the most albums hit that position. An asterisk (*) in the "Weeks in Top 10" column shows that the album is currently in the top 10.

Background

Tom Jones becomes the oldest living male artist to achieve a UK number-one album

Welsh singer Tom Jones made UK chart history this year when, at 80 years and 10 months old, he became the oldest living male artist to achieve a number-one album in the UK Albums Chart with his 41st studio album Surrounded by Time . The album entered the chart at the top spot on 30 April 2021 (6 May 2021, week ending), giving Jones his fourth number-one album in the United Kingdom and his first in that country since 1999's Reload . [5]

Olivia Rodrigo becomes youngest solo artist to score UK chart double

On 28 May 2021 (3 June 2021, week ending), American singer Olivia Rodrigo became the youngest solo artist to achieve the coveted UK chart double at 18 years and 3 months old. Her single "Good 4 U" climbed to number-one in the UK Singles Chart after debuting at number two the previous week, while her debut album Sour entered the UK Albums Chart at number-one. Rodrigo became the first artist since Sam Smith in 2015 to garner a UK chart double with a debut album. [6]

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.

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
The Kid Laroi 1 F*ck Love 6—
Why Don't We 1 The Good Times and the Bad Ones 5—
Shame 1 Drunk Tank Pink 8—
Bicep 1 Isles 2—
Poor Clares of Arundel1Light for the World5—
Celeste 1 Not Your Muse 1—
Arlo Parks 1 Collapsed in Sunbeams 3—
Black Country, New Road 1 For the First Time 4—
Ghetts 1 Conflict of Interest 2—
Architects 1 For Those That Wish to Exist 1—
Digga D 1 Made in the Pyrex 3—
Central Cee 1 Wild West 2—
RJ Thompson 1Lifeline5—
Black Honey 1Written & Directed7—
Floating Points 1 Promises 6—
Pharoah Sanders 1—
The Snuts 1 W.L. 1—
Dry Cleaning 1 New Long Leg 4—
Lil Tjay 1 Destined 2 Win 7—
Greta Van Fleet 1 The Battle at Garden's Gate 8—
Gojira 1 Fortitude 6—
Girl in Red 1 If I Could Make It Go Quiet 7—
Squid 1 Bright Green Field 4—
Olivia Rodrigo 1 Sour 1—
Lil Durk 1 The Voice of the Heroes 5—
Bo Burnham 1 Inside (The Songs) 5—
Griff 1 One Foot in Front of the Other 4—
Doja Cat 1 Planet Her 3—
Inhaler 1 It Won't Always Be Like This 1—
Unknown T 1 Adolescence 8—
Kurupt FM 1The Greatest Hits (Part 1)8—
Orla Gartland 1Woman on the Internet10—
Maisie Peters 1 You Signed Up for This 2—
Becky Hill 1 Only Honest on the Weekend 7—
Little Simz 1 Sometimes I Might Be Introvert 4—
Lil Nas X 1 Montero 2—
Tion Wayne 1Green with Envy5—
M1llionz 1Provisional License10—
The Lathums 1 How Beautiful Life Can Be 1—
Joy Crookes 1 Skin 5—
Mimi Webb 1 Seven Shades of Heartbreak 9—
Silk Sonic 1 An Evening with Silk Sonic 9—

Best-selling albums

Adele had the best-selling album of the year with 30 . = by Ed Sheeran came in second place. ABBA's Voyage , Sour by Olivia Rodrigo and Queen's Greatest Hits made up the top five. Albums by Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran ( ÷ ), Elton John, Fleetwood Mac and Dave were also in the top ten best-selling albums of the year.

Top-ten albums

Key
SymbolMeaning
‡Album peaked in 2019 or 2020 but still in chart in 2021.
♦Album released in 2021 but peaked in 2022.
(#)Year-end top ten album position and rank
EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the song reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered
(week ending)		Weeks
in
top
10		AlbumArtistPeakPeak
reached
(week ending)		Weeks
at
peak
Albums in 2019
30 May 201985 Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent ‡ Lewis Capaldi 130 May 201910
26 December 201957 Fine Line Harry Styles 214 January 20211
Albums in 2020
30 January 202011 Music to be Murdered By ‡ Eminem 130 January 20201
9 April 202051 Future Nostalgia ‡ (#6) Dua Lipa 116 April 20204
9 July 20203 What's Your Pleasure? ‡ Jessie Ware 39 July 20201
16 July 202034 Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon ‡ Pop Smoke 11 October 20201
12 November 20205 Positions ‡ Ariana Grande 112 November 20201
4 Love Goes ‡ Sam Smith 212 November 20201
2 Post Human: Survival Horror Bring Me the Horizon 14 February 20211
19 November 20205 Disco ‡ Kylie Minogue 119 November 20201
11 Confetti ‡ Little Mix 219 November 20201
3 December 20205Classic Diamonds ‡ Neil Diamond & the London Symphony Orchestra 224 December 20201
10 December 202010 Christmas Michael Bublé 17 January 20211
17 December 20202 Weird! ‡ Yungblud 117 December 20201
24 December 20209 Evermore ‡ Taylor Swift 124 December 20202
Albums in 2021
7 January 202122 Greatest Hits (#5) Queen 215 July 20211
14 January 20214 F*ck Love The Kid Laroi 65 August 20211
21 January 20213 Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1 Barry Gibb 121 January 20211
1 Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted Passenger 221 January 20211
28 January 20211 Suckapunch You Me at Six 128 January 20211
1 Spare Ribs Sleaford Mods 428 January 20211
1 The Good Times and the Bad Ones Why Don't We 528 January 20211
1 Drunk Tank Pink Shame 828 January 20211
4 February 20211 Isles Bicep 24 February 20211
1Light for the WorldPoor Clares of Arundel54 February 20211
11 February 20213 Not Your Muse Celeste 111 February 20211
2Money Can't Buy Happiness Fredo 211 February 20211
1 Collapsed in Sunbeams Arlo Parks 311 February 20211
1 The Future Bites Steven Wilson 411 February 20211
1Snakes & Ladders Chip 711 February 20211
18 February 20213 Medicine at Midnight Foo Fighters 118 February 20211
111* The Highlights The Weeknd 218 February 20217
1 For the First Time Black Country, New Road 418 February 20211
1 Shore Fleet Foxes 518 February 20211
25 February 20211 Tyron Slowthai 125 February 20211
1 Who Am I? Pale Waves 325 February 20211
1 Death by Rock and Roll The Pretty Reckless 625 February 20211
4 March 20211 As the Love Continues Mogwai 14 March 20211
1 Conflict of Interest Ghetts 24 March 20211
11 March 20211 For Those That Wish to Exist Architects 111 March 20211
1 Nature Always Wins Maxïmo Park 211 March 20211
2 Made in the Pyrex Digga D 311 March 20212
1 Detroit Stories Alice Cooper 411 March 20211
1Choices Lucy Spraggan 511 March 20211
18 March 20212 When You See Yourself Kings of Leon 118 March 20211
1 Do It Again Gabrielle 418 March 20211
10 ÷ (#7) Ed Sheeran 78 July 20212
25 March 20211 Evering Road Tom Grennan 125 March 20211
5 Wild West Central Cee 225 March 20211
1 All the Right Noises Thunder 325 March 20211
1Lifeline RJ Thompson 525 March 20211
1 April 20211 Chemtrails over the Country Club Lana Del Rey 11 April 20211
7 Justice Justin Bieber 21 April 20213
1Written & Directed Black Honey 71 April 20211
8 April 20211 Collections from the Whiteout Ben Howard 18 April 20211
1 The Bitter Truth Evanescence 48 April 20211
1 Promises Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & the London Symphony Orchestra68 April 20211
15 April 20211 W.L. The Snuts 115 April 20211
1 Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over Demi Lovato 215 April 20211
1 New Long Leg Dry Cleaning 415 April 20211
9 50 Years – Don't Stop (#9) Fleetwood Mac 615 April 20212
1 Destined 2 Win Lil Tjay 715 April 20211
1 Rumours Fleetwood Mac815 April 20211
22 April 20213 Fearless (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift122 April 20211
29 April 20212 Californian Soil London Grammar 129 April 20211
2 Flu Game AJ Tracey 229 April 20211
1 Let the Bad Times Roll The Offspring 329 April 20211
1 11 Past the Hour Imelda May 629 April 20211
1 The Battle at Garden's Gate Greta Van Fleet 829 April 20211
6 May 20212 Surrounded by Time Tom Jones 16 May 20211
13 May 20212 Typhoons Royal Blood 113 May 20211
1 Coral Island The Coral 213 May 20211
1 Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac Mick Fleetwood & Friends 313 May 20211
1 Young Heart Birdy 413 May 20211
1 Fortitude Gojira 613 May 20211
1 If I Could Make It Go Quiet Girl in Red 713 May 20211
1Live At Knebworth 1990 Pink Floyd 813 May 20211
1 Khaled Khaled DJ Khaled 1013 May 20211
20 May 20217 Life by Misadventure Rag'n'Bone Man 120 May 20211
2We Are More Than One Michael Ball 220 May 20211
1 Build a Problem Dodie 320 May 20211
1 Bright Green Field Squid 420 May 20211
1 Latest Record Project, Volume 1 Van Morrison 520 May 20211
6 Diamonds (#8) Elton John 820 May 20212
27 May 20211 Fat Pop (Volume 1) Paul Weller 127 May 20211
2 The Off-Season J. Cole 227 May 20211
1 Daddy's Home St. Vincent 427 May 20211
1 Delta Kream The Black Keys 527 May 20211
1 Be Right Back (EP) Jorja Smith 927 May 20211
3 June 202154 Sour (#4) Olivia Rodrigo 13 June 20215
1 Intruder Gary Numan 23 June 20211
1 Scaled and Icy Twenty One Pilots 33 June 20211
1 All I Know So Far: Setlist Pink 43 June 20211
1 Loveless My Bloody Valentine 73 June 20211
1Seeking New Gods Gruff Rhys 103 June 20211
10 June 20211 Life's a Beach Easy Life 210 June 20211
1 Hi Texas 310 June 20211
1 Fatal Mistakes Del Amitri 510 June 20211
1 The Resurrection Bugzy Malone 710 June 20211
17 June 20212 Blue Weekend Wolf Alice 117 June 20211
1 All the Colours of You James 317 June 20211
1 The Voice of the Heroes Lil Baby & Lil Durk 517 June 20211
1 Dreamers Are Waiting Crowded House 617 June 20211
24 June 20213 Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011–2021) Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 124 June 20211
2 Hall of Fame Polo G 324 June 20211
1 No Gods No Masters Garbage 524 June 20211
7 Inside (The Songs) Bo Burnham 515 July 20211
1 Culture III Migos 924 June 20211
1 July 20211 Carnage Nick Cave & Warren Ellis 31 July 20211
1 One Foot in Front of the Other Griff 41 July 20211
1Consequences Joan Armatrading 101 July 20211
8 July 20212 Europiana Jack Savoretti 18 July 20211
15 Planet Her Doja Cat 38 July 20212
1 Call Me If You Get Lost Tyler, the Creator 48 July 20211
1Boy from Michigan John Grant 88 July 20211
22 July 20211 It Won't Always Be Like This Inhaler 122 July 20211
1 Monsters Tom Odell 422 July 20211
1 Origin of Symmetry Muse 622 July 20211
29 July 20215 All Over the Place KSI 129 July 20211
1 Faith Pop Smoke 329 July 20211
1 Sob Rock John Mayer 429 July 20211
5 August 202114 We're All Alone in This Together (#10) Dave 15 August 20212
3 Therapy Anne-Marie 25 August 20211
1 Back to Black Amy Winehouse 75 August 20211
12 August 20216 Happier Than Ever Billie Eilish 112 August 20211
1 Welcome 2 America Prince 512 August 20211
1 Adolescence Unknown T 812 August 20211
19 August 20211 Crying on the Bathroom Floor Will Young 319 August 20211
1 Release Me 2 Barbra Streisand 519 August 20211
1 All Things Must Pass George Harrison 619 August 20211
1 Back to the Light Brian May 719 August 20211
1Independence Day Fredo 919 August 20211
26 August 20211 Pressure Machine The Killers 126 August 20211
1 Loving in Stereo Jungle 326 August 20211
2 September 20211 Solar Power Lorde 22 September 20211
1Saturday Night, Sunday Morning Jake Bugg 32 September 20211
1The Greatest Hits (Part 1) Kurupt FM 82 September 20211
1Woman on the Internet Orla Gartland 102 September 20211
9 September 20212 Donda Kanye West 19 September 20211
1 You Signed Up for This Maisie Peters 29 September 20211
1 Screen Violence Chvrches 49 September 20211
1 If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power Halsey 59 September 20211
3 Only Honest on the Weekend Becky Hill 79 September 20212
16 September 20219 Certified Lover Boy Drake 116 September 20212
2 Senjutsu Iron Maiden 216 September 20211
1 Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Little Simz 416 September 20211
4 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits ABBA 516 September 20211
1 Mercury – Act 1 Imagine Dragons 716 September 20211
1 21st Century Love Songs The Wildhearts 916 September 20211
23 September 20211 The Ultra Vivid Lament Manic Street Preachers 123 September 20211
1 What the Future Holds Pt. 2 Steps 223 September 20211
1 Dark Matters The Stranglers 423 September 20211
1 Back in Love City The Vaccines 523 September 20211
1 Metallica: 30th Anniversary Edition Metallica 823 September 20211
1 Star-Crossed Kacey Musgraves 1023 September 20211
30 September 20213 Montero Lil Nas X 230 September 20211
1Green with Envy Tion Wayne 530 September 20211
1 The Bootleg Series Vol. 16: Springtime in New York 1980–1985 Bob Dylan 630 September 20211
1 The Last Domino? – The Hits Genesis 930 September 20211
1Provisional License M1llionz 1030 September 20211
7 October 20211 How Beautiful Life Can Be The Lathums 17 October 20211
1Bright Magic Public Service Broadcasting 27 October 20211
1 Firebird Natalie Imbruglia 107 October 20211
14 October 20212 Tales from the Script: Greatest Hits The Script 114 October 20211
1 Protest Songs 1924–2012 The Specials 214 October 20211
1 Outsider Roger Taylor 314 October 20211
1 Love for Sale Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga 614 October 20211
1 No Time to Die: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Hans Zimmer 714 October 20211
1Thanks for Waiting Potter Payper 814 October 20211
21 October 20213 Seventeen Going Under Sam Fender 121 October 20211
1 Friends That Break Your Heart James Blake 421 October 20211
4 25 Adele 328 October 20211
28 October 20216 Music of the Spheres Coldplay 128 October 20211
1 Let It Be: Special Edition The Beatles 228 October 20211
160 Daniel O'Donnell 428 October 20211
1 Skin Joy Crookes 528 October 20211
1 21 Adele 628 October 20211
1 Sticky Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes 828 October 20211
4 November 20217 The Lockdown Sessions Elton John 14 November 20211
1 Blue Banisters Lana Del Rey 24 November 20211
1 Future Past Duran Duran 34 November 20211
1 The Myth of the Happily Ever After Biffy Clyro 44 November 20211
1 Tattoo You The Rolling Stones 74 November 20211
1 Seven Shades of Heartbreak (EP) Mimi Webb 94 November 20211
11 November 202166 = (#2) Ed Sheeran 111 November 20214
1 Acoustic Hymns Vol 1 Richard Ashcroft 211 November 20211
1 Spice Spice Girls 511 November 20211
1 I Don't Live Here Anymore The War on Drugs 611 November 20211
18 November 202110 Voyage (#3) ABBA 118 November 20211
1 It'll All Make Sense in the End James Arthur 318 November 20211
1 Kid A Mnesia Radiohead 418 November 20211
1 Still Over It Summer Walker 518 November 20211
1 Thank You Diana Ross 718 November 20211
1Still Rising: The Collection Gregory Porter 818 November 20211
25 November 20213 Red (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift 125 November 20211
20 Between Us ♦ Little Mix 35 May 20221
5 The Tears of Hercules Rod Stewart 525 November 20211
1 Crawler Idles 625 November 20211
1 The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows Damon Albarn 725 November 20211
1 Most Wanted: The Greatest Hits The Wanted 825 November 20211
1 An Evening with Silk Sonic Silk Sonic 925 November 20211
2 December 202116 30 (#1) Adele 12 December 20215
1Knebworth 1996 Oasis 42 December 20211
1 Raise the Roof Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 52 December 20211
4Home Alone 2 D-Block Europe 62 December 20212
1 Flying Dream 1 Elbow 72 December 20211
1The Stars Beneath My Feet (2004-2021) James Blunt 92 December 20211
9 December 20214 Wild Dreams Westlife 29 December 20211
1 The Dream of Christmas Gary Barlow 59 December 20211
16 December 20211 2.0 JLS 416 December 20211
3Happy Together Andre Rieu & the Johann Strauss Orchestra 530 December 20211
23 December 20211An Orchestrated Songbook Paul Weller with Jules Buckley & the BBC Symphony Orchestra 423 December 20211
1 Fighting Demons Juice Wrld 823 December 20211

Entries by artist

The following table shows artists who have achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2021, including albums that reached their peak in 2020. 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 2021 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksAlbums
3 Adele 8 21 , 25 , 30
Mick Fleetwood 5 50 Years – Don't Stop , Rumours , Mick Fleetwood & Friends Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
Taylor Swift 11 Evermore , Fearless (Taylor's Version) , Red (Taylor's Version)
2 ABBA 9 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits , Voyage
Brian May 23 Back to the Light , Greatest Hits
Ed Sheeran 18 ÷ , =
Fleetwood Mac 4 50 Years – Don't Stop , Rumours
Fredo 3Money Can't Buy Happiness, Independence Day
Little Mix 10 Confetti , Between Us
London Symphony Orchestra 2Classic Diamonds, Promises
Paul Weller 2 Fat Pop (Volume 1) , An Orchestrated Songbook
Pop Smoke 16 Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon , Faith
Roger Taylor 23 Greatest Hits , Outsider

See also

Related Research Articles

The UK singles chart was first compiled in 1969. However, the records and statistics listed here date back to 1952 because the Official Charts Company counts a selected period of the New Musical Express chart and the Record Retailer chart from 1960 to 1969 as predecessors for the period prior to 11 February 1969, where multiples of competing charts coexisted side by side. For example, the BBC compiled its own chart based on an average of the music papers of the time; many songs announced as having reached number one on BBC Radio and Top of the Pops prior to 1969 may not be listed here as chart-toppers since they do not meet the legacy criteria of the Charts Company.

The Official Albums Chart, previously the UK Albums Chart, is a list of albums ranked by sales and audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on Fridays. It is broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and found on the OCC website as a Top 100 or on UKChartsPlus as a Top 200, with positions continuing until all sales have been tracked in data only available to industry insiders. However, even though number 100 was classed as a hit album in the 1980s until January 1989, since the compilations were removed, this definition was changed to Top 75 with follow-up books such as The Virgin Book of British Hit Albums book only including this data. As of 2021, the OCC still only tracks how many UK Top 75s album hits and how many weeks in Top 75 albums chart each artist has achieved.

Jake Nathan Gosling is an English record producer and songwriter. He has worked on albums or singles for artists including Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, The Libertines, James Bay, Shawn Mendes, All Time Low, One Direction, Major Lazer, Christina Perri, Shania Twain, 5 Seconds of Summer, Paloma Faith, and Wiley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Rodrigo discography</span>

American singer and actress Olivia Rodrigo has released two studio albums, one reissue, three extended plays (EPs), ten singles, and ten music videos. She also is a part of the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and also contributed to the soundtrack of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, releasing ten promotional singles from it, with "All I Want" managing to chart worldwide at a peak position of 119. After signing with Interscope and Geffen Records in 2020, she released her debut single "Drivers License" in January 2021, which propelled her to international fame. "Drivers License" debuted at number one in the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, where it stayed for eight consecutive weeks, and topped the charts in 25 other countries. Subsequently, "Drivers License" was certified six times platinum in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), eight times platinum in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), seven times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), three times platinum in Norway and Portugal, two times platinum in United Kingdom, Poland, New Zealand and Sweden, and platinum in 10 other countries.

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.