Coldplay score sixth UK Number 1 album with Ghost Stories

Plus: With over 168,000 sales, Ghost Stories has also become the fastest-selling artist album of 2014 so far.

Congratulations to Coldplay whose new album, Ghost Stories, has gone straight in at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, knocking Michael Jackson’s Xscape (Number 2 today) off the top spot. It is the band’s sixth studio album, and is also their sixth successive UK Number 1.

According to the Official Charts Company’s sales data, Ghost Stories has sold a staggering 168,000 copies since it went on sale last Monday (May 19). It is now the fastest selling artist album of 2014 so far, beating previous title holder, Caustic Love by Paolo Nutini, which clocked up sales of 109,000 copies during its first week of release last month.

“A new Coldplay album always makes a huge impact, and Ghost Stories is no exception,” says Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company. “The boys have made it a perfect six Number 1s out of six albums today; that is some achievement!” 

“It is a thrill to celebrate their sixth straight Number 1 album in the UK; a landmark moment in a long list of accomplishments for an extraordinary band," adds Miles Leonard, Chairman of Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records UK, who has worked with Coldplay since their first album. “Ghost Stories is a captivating record that will live with the band's millions of fans for a long time to come.”

Coldplay’s previous five studio albums -Parachutes (2000), A Rush Of Blood To The Head (2002), X&Y (2006), Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (2008) and Mylo Xyloto (2011) –have sold more than 11.1 million copies in the UK to date.

Meanwhile, recently re-united Beautiful South bandmates Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott enter at Number 3 today with their new album, What Have We Become, while Paloma Faith’s A Perfect Contradiction slides one place to Number 4. This week’s Top 5 is completed by the 20th anniversary edition of Oasis’ debut album, Definitely Maybe (Number 5).

New Entries

REM’s Unplugged 1991 & 2001 – The Complete Sessions, which was originally issued as a limited edition vinyl run for last month’s Record Store Day, enters at Number 22 today after going on general sale last Monday.

Rock supergroup California Breed, who feature members of Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin among their ranks, are new in at 26 with their self-titled debut album, while The Voice’s Bob Blakely enters at 34 with his debut album, Performance. Back in January viewers of the BBC One reality TV show were left shocked when the judges failed to turn around following the 56 year-old warehouse worker’s show-stopping performance of Ella Fitzgerald’s Cry Me A River. However, Bob was subsequently offered a record deal by Bright Eyes songwriter, Mike Batt, during a live interview with Charlie Stayt and Susanna Reid on BBC Breakfast.

This week’s new entries are completed by Herd Runners (Number 36) by Bolton rockers Cherry Ghost.

The Official Albums Chart Top 10 is as follows. Click here to see the Official Albums Chart Top 100 in full after 7pm.

© 2014 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.