Arctic Monkeys make Official Albums Chart history with AM

Arctic Monkeys clock up their fifth consecutive Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart with AM, while London Grammar, Goldfrapp and The Strypes score big new entries.

Arctic Monkeys will no doubt be celebrating this evening as their latest album, AM, debuts at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, and in doing so sets a new chart record.

AM, which is released on the Domino Records label,is Arctic Monkey’s fifth consecutive studio album to debut at Number 1, and the first indie-released act to achieve such a feat in British chart history. That tally increases to six for front man Alex Turner, whose side project The Last Shadow Puppets also debuted at Number 1 with 2008’s The Age Of The Understatement.

According to Official Charts Company sales data, more than 157,000 copies of the Sheffield band’s album have been purchased in the UK over the last week. AM is now the second fastest selling album of 2013 so far behind Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, which sold 165,000 copies during its first week on sale back in May.

“Congratulations to the unstoppable Arctic Monkeys and all at Domino Records,” comments Official Charts Company Chief Executive Martin Talbot. “Scoring a fifth Official Number 1 studio album in a row is an exceptional achievement.”

Official Albums Chart Facts

• The Beatles still hold the record for most consecutive Number 1 albums from debut onwards (seven), from their 1963 album Please Please Me, through to Revolver in 1966.
• Robbie Williams also managed an impressive run of five consecutive Number 1 albums, though his first solo album, Life Thru A Lens, did not debut in the top spot.
• Keane also have had five albums reach Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart from debut, however this included the EP, Night Train.
• Independently released actsErasureand The Prodigymanaged five Number 1 albums in a row, but not from their debut albums, and their runs also included Greatest Hits collections.

Meanwhile, London Grammar score this week’s second highest new entry with If You Wait (Number 2). The album features the British alternative trio’s Top 40 singles Wasting My Young Years and Strong.

Last week’s chart toppers, The 1975, are down two places to Number 3 today with their eponymous debut album, while Goldfrapp are new in at Number 4 with Tales Of Us. This week’s Official Albums Chart Top 5 is completed by young Irish band The Strypes’ debut album Snapshot (Number 5).

New Entries

In addition to Arctic Monkey’s (Number 1), London Grammar (2), Goldfrapp (4) and The Strypes (5), there are six other new entries on this week’s Official Albums Chart.

The Weeknd, AKA Abel Tesfaye, scores his highest charting UK album to date with Kiss Land. The follow-up to last year’s Trilogy album, is new in today at Number 12. The Clash’s latest Best Of collection, The Clash Hits Back, enters at 13, while Janelle Monae’s The Electric Lady debuts at Number 14 today.

This week’s new entries are completed by Rod Stewart’s Rarities (35), Murray Gold’s Doctor Who Series 7 (37), and US jazz vocalist Gregory Porter’s Liquid Spirit (40).

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

© 2013 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.