Elton John nets ninth Number 1 album with Diamonds

Congratulations are in order for Elton John, who celebrates his ninth Official Number 1 album with Diamonds this week.

A chart staple since its release in 2017, Elton’s career-spanning hits collection finally surges to the summit in its 374th week on chart, bolstered by limited edition releases across brand-new formats, including cassette for the first time.

The Pinner-born legend’s latest compilation debuted at Number 5 in its opening week back in 2017 and went on to peak at Number 2. It hasn’t left the Official Albums Chart Top 100 since its release, and is far and away boasts more weeks on chart than any other Elton LP.

Moreover, Diamonds claims the most consecutive weeks inside the Official Albums Chart Top 40 ever and claims the most weeks inside the Top 40 before reaching that coveted Number 1 spot.

Speaking exclusively to Official Charts, Elton John says: 

“I’m so happy to have a UK Number 1 album with Diamonds. It came out in 2017, which feels like a lifetime ago. This is the first time it's topped the charts since its release. I'm blessed that so many incredible things have happened with my career during that time. 

“I’m overjoyed and want to sincerely thank all my incredible fans for their constant love and support.”

Elton John pictured with his Official Number 1 album award for Diamonds (CREDIT: Official Charts)

MORE: See where every Elton John song and album has charted in the UK

The album now joins Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Caribou (1974), Elton John’s Greatest Hits (1974), Sleeping With The Past (1989), The Very Best Of Elton John (1990), collaborative PNAU record Good Morning To The Night (2012) and The Lockdown Sessions (2021) in Elton’s tally of UK chart-toppers.

The LP’s new variants also claim Number 1 on this week’s Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Official Record Store Chart.

Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter’s Top 5 stint is anything but Short N’ Sweet, as she stays steady at Number 2, with SZA’s expanded SOS Deluxe: LANA edition also sees her hold strong at Number 3. 

Noah Kahan’s enduring Stick Season, one of the Official biggest albums of 2024, is on the ascent once again; up three in a return to the Top 10 (9).

This week’s highest new entry comes courtesy of Lil Baby, who earns his fifth UK Top 40 LP with fourth studio album WHAM (an acronym for Who Hard As Me) (12). Previously, the Atlanta rapper saw success with 2018 Gunna team-up Drip Harder (12), 2018’s Street Gossip (50), 2020’s My Turn (6), 2021 Lil Durk collaborative project The Voice Of The Heroes (5) and 2022 LP It’s Only Me (3).

MORE: The Official biggest albums of 2024

Other big winners this week include Calvin Harris, whose latest compilation 96 Months lifts eight (30), and Post Malone, with The Diamond Collection jumping nine back into the Top 40 (37). 

See the full Official Albums Chart Top 100 here from 5.45pm.