Adele has pushed back to number one with last year’s vastly successful album ’21’.
Adele dominated 2011. No if’s, not but’s and definitely no maybes – the retro soul singer was a phenomenon. So when the first chart of 2012 is collected, it comes as no surprise to find out who is sitting on top.
’21’ has netted the first number one of 2012, with the album outselling its opponents. The album has yet to drop out of the Top Ten since its release 12 months ago, and has broken chart records in the process.
Returning to number one, ’21’ was perhaps aided by BBC One showing ‘Live At The Royal Albert Hall’ over the festive period. Broadcast to an audience of millions, the live show draws heavily on Adele’s second album.
Further down the chart, Coldplay linger at number four with ‘Mylo Xyloto’. Released last year, the album has been a fixture on the British charts and remains in the Top Ten after being on sale for eleven weeks.
The posthumous Amy Winehouse album ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ sits at number five, having been a continual presence on the charts over Christmas.
Collecting home recordings, early demos and the odd reggae offcut the album predictably sold in droves. Sitting at number five, ‘Lioness: Hidden Treasures’ is ahead of Olly Murs, Jessie J and new mum Beyonce in a pop heavy Top Ten.
Further down the chart, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have risen to number fifteen, while The Vaccines are back in the Top 20. The band began 2011 by promising to put guitar music back in the mainstream, and while this may have been slightly hubris-tic ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ remains a slow burning success at this week’s number sixteen.
The current Top Ten albums are:
1. Adele – 21
2. Bruno Mars – Doo Wops & Hooligans
3. Ed Sheeran – +
4. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
5. Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures
6. Beyonce – 4
7. Olly Murs – In Case You Didn’t Know
8. Jessie J – Who You Are
9. Rebecca Ferguson – Heaven
10. Rihanna – Talk That Talk
