In a surprise result Dame Vera Lynn has beaten off competition from The Beatles to become the oldest living person to have a UK number one album.
Dame Vera Lynn rose to fame in the 40s, with her golden voice helping to boost morale in the Second World War. Touring the nation, Lynn gave countless performances to both the public and the armed forces.
Still an icon, recent greatest hits collection ‘We’ll Meet Again’ has become a surprise hit. Entering the charts three weeks ago at number twenty, the album swiftly rose until it hit number two last week.
Now Dame Vera Lynn has broken a new record by becoming the oldest living artist to claim a UK number one album. ‘We’ll Meet Again’ sits at the top of the charts, ahead of the much publicised Beatles re-issue.
“I am extremely surprised and delighted, and a big ‘thank you’ to all my fans for putting me there,” she said.
According to the official chart company the previous record holder was Bob Dylan. It seems to be a year for older talent, with the legendary songsmith soaring to number one with his latest album ‘Together Through Life’ at the ripe age of 67.
The Beatles also claimed a new record with the iconic Scousers having a fab four albums in the Top 20 – beating The Monkees who had three albums in the Top 10 back in 1967 In total, the band scored eleven albums in the Top 40 and sixteen albums in the Top 60.
The Beatles also overtook Elvis Presley’s record in 1977 for the most albums simultaneously in the Top 60 by any act.
Newcomers such as Jamie T and The Cribs also made an impression. Jamie T’s debut album ‘Kings & Queens’ went in at number two while Wakefield indie giants The Cribs hit number eight with their new album ‘Ignore The Ignorant’.
The UK Top Ten Albums Chart
The UK’s Top Ten albums are:
1. Vera Lynn – ‘We’ll Meet Again – The Very Best Of’
2. Jamie T – ‘Kings & Queens’
3. David Guetta – ‘One Love’
4. Arctic Monkeys – ‘Humbug’
5. The Beatles – ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’
6. The Beatles -‘Abbey Road’
7. Kings Of Leon – ‘Only By The Night’
8. The Cribs – ‘Ignore The Ignorant’
9. The Beatles – ‘Revolver’
10. The Beatles – ‘Rubber Soul’
