List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1990s

The UK Albums Chart is a weekly record chart based on album sales from Sunday to Saturday in the United Kingdom; during the 1990s, a total of 216 albums reached number one. Until 1 February 1994, the chart was compiled each week by Gallup – after this date, it was managed by Millward Brown, who expanded the number of sales figures sampled, and extended the use of electronic point of sale machines.[1] From July 1998 onwards, compilation of the chart was overseen by the Chart Information Network, jointly operated by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and the British Association of Record Dealers.[1] Throughout the decade, the chart was based solely on physical album sales, and each week's number one was first announced on Sunday evenings on The Radio 1 Chart Show.[2]

Colour photograph of Simply Red performing live onstage in 2009.
British band Simply Red spent 19 weeks at the top of the UK Albums Chart during the 1990s, longer than any other act.

The most successful artist of the 1990s was British band Simply Red, who topped the UK Albums Chart for 19 weeks with four different albums.[3] Stars, their fourth studio album, sold 3.29 million copies in total,[4] and was the biggest-selling album of both 1991 and 1992.[5] Stars was the second biggest-selling album of the decade; it was outsold by Manchester band Oasis's second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?,[4] which spent 10 weeks at number one during 1995 and 1996,[3] and sold 4.16 million copies.[4] It was the highest-certified album of the 1990s, achieving platinum certification 13 times.[6] Following the album's success, Oasis's follow-up, Be Here Now, sold 663,000 copies in the first four days of its release, making it the fastest-selling album in UK chart history.[7]

The first number-one album of the 1990s was ...But Seriously by Phil Collins[8] – released in 1989, ...But Seriously first reached number one in December of that year, and remained at the top for eight weeks.[9] It stayed at number one for nine weeks during the decade, and was the biggest-selling album of 1990.[3] The final number one of the 1990s was Come On Over by Shania Twain.[10] Like ...But Seriously, Come on Over remained at number one into the following decade,[11] and was the biggest-selling album of its year.[12] In chart terms, the most successful album of the nineties was Spice, the debut album from the Spice Girls, which spent 15 weeks at number one over five separate runs.[3] The Spice Girls' record label, Virgin Records, was the most successful label of the decade – with an artist roster that included the Spice Girls, Phil Collins and Meat Loaf, Virgin topped the albums chart with 19 different albums for a total of 62 weeks.[13]

Number ones

edit
Key
No. nth album to top the UK Albums Chart
re Return of an album to number one
Silver Silver certification (60,000 units)
Gold Gold certification (100,000 units)
Platinum Platinum certification (300,000 units)
Best-selling album of the year
Best-selling album of the decade
Contents
← 1980s • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000s →
No. Artist[a] Album[a] Record label[b] Reached number one
(for the week ending)[a]
Weeks at
number one[a]
Certification
(as of 31
December 1999)
[c]
1990
402 Phil Collins ...But Seriously Virgin 2 December 1989 8 8× Platinum
403 The Christians Colour Island 27 January 1990 1 Platinum
re Phil Collins ...But Seriously Virgin 3 February 1990 7 8× Platinum
404 Sinéad O'Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got Ensign 24 March 1990 1 2× Platinum
405 David Bowie Changesbowie EMI 31 March 1990 1 Gold
406 The Carpenters Only Yesterday: Richard and Karen Carpenter's Greatest Hits A&M 7 April 1990 2 4× Platinum
407 Fleetwood Mac Behind the Mask Warner Bros. 21 April 1990 1 Platinum
re The Carpenters Only Yesterday: Richard and Karen Carpenter's Greatest Hits A&M 28 April 1990 5 4× Platinum
408 Soul II Soul Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade 10 2 June 1990 3 Platinum
409 Luciano Pavarotti The Essential Pavarotti Decca 23 June 1990 1 3× Platinum
410 New Kids on the Block Step by Step CBS 30 June 1990 1 Platinum
re Luciano Pavarotti The Essential Pavarotti Decca 7 July 1990 3 3× Platinum
411 Elton John Sleeping with the Past Rocket 28 July 1990 5 3× Platinum
412 Prince Graffiti Bridge Paisley Park 1 September 1990 1 Gold
413 Luciano Pavarotti/Plácido Domingo/José Carreras In Concert Decca 8 September 1990 1 5× Platinum
414 George Michael Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 Epic 15 September 1990 1 4× Platinum
re Luciano Pavarotti/Plácido Domingo/José Carreras In Concert Decca 22 September 1990 4 5× Platinum
415 The Charlatans Some Friendly Situation Two 20 October 1990 1 Gold
416 Paul Simon The Rhythm of the Saints Warner Bros. 27 October 1990 2 2× Platinum
417 Elton John The Very Best of Elton John Rocket 10 November 1990 2 9× Platinum
418 Madonna The Immaculate Collection Sire 24 November 1990 9 12× Platinum
1991
419 Enigma MCMXC a.D. Virgin 26 January 1991 1 3× Platinum
420 Sting The Soul Cages A&M 2 February 1991 1 Gold
421 Jesus Jones Doubt Food 9 February 1991 1 Gold
422 Queen Innuendo Parlophone 16 February 1991 2 Platinum
423 Oleta Adams Circle of One Fontana 2 March 1991 1 Gold
424 Chris Rea Auberge East West 9 March 1991 1 2× Platinum
425 The Farm Spartacus Produce 16 March 1991 1 Gold
426 R.E.M. Out of Time Warner Bros. 23 March 1991 1 5× Platinum
427 Eurythmics Greatest Hits RCA 30 March 1991 9 6× Platinum
428[d] Seal Seal ZTT 1 June 1991 3 2× Platinum
re Eurythmics Greatest Hits RCA 22 June 1991 1 6× Platinum
429 Cher Love Hurts Geffen 29 June 1991 6 3× Platinum
430 Luciano Pavarotti Essential Pavarotti II Decca 10 August 1991 2 Platinum
431 Metallica Metallica Vertigo 24 August 1991 1 Platinum
432 Jason Donovan/London cast Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Really Useful/Polydor 31 August 1991 2 Platinum
433 Paul Young From Time to Time – The Singles Collection Columbia 14 September 1991 1 3× Platinum
434 Dire Straits On Every Street Vertigo 21 September 1991 1 2× Platinum
435 Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion II Geffen 28 September 1991 1 Platinum
436 Bryan Adams Waking Up the Neighbours A&M 5 October 1991 1 3× Platinum
437 Simply Red Stars East West 12 October 1991 2 12× Platinum
438 Erasure Chorus Mute 26 October 1991 1 Platinum
re Simply Red Stars East West 2 November 1991 1 12× Platinum
439 Queen Greatest Hits II Parlophone 9 November 1991 1 5× Platinum
440 Enya Shepherd Moons WEA 16 November 1991 1 4× Platinum
441 Genesis We Can't Dance Virgin 23 November 1991 1 5× Platinum
442 Michael Jackson Dangerous Epic Records 30 November 1991 1 6× Platinum
re Queen Greatest Hits II Parlophone 7 December 1991 4 5× Platinum
1992
re Simply Red Stars East West 4 January 1992 5 12× Platinum
443 Wet Wet Wet High on the Happy Side The Precious Organisation 8 February 1992 2 Platinum
re Simply Red Stars East West 22 February 1992 3 12× Platinum
444 Madness Divine Madness Virgin 14 March 1992 3 3× Platinum
445 Bruce Springsteen Human Touch Columbia 4 April 1992 1 Gold
446 Def Leppard Adrenalize Bludgeon Riffola 11 April 1992 1 Gold
447 Annie Lennox Diva RCA 18 April 1992 1 4× Platinum
448 Right Said Fred Up Tug 25 April 1992 1 2× Platinum
449 The Cure Wish Fiction 2 May 1992 1 Gold
re Simply Red Stars East West 9 May 1992 1 12× Platinum
450 Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine 1992 – The Love Album Chrysalis 16 May 1992 1 Gold
451 Iron Maiden Fear of the Dark EMI 23 May 1992 1 Gold
452 Michael Ball Michael Ball Polydor 30 May 1992 1 Gold
453 Lionel Richie Back to Front Motown 6 June 1992 6 4× Platinum
454 The Orb U.F.Orb Big Life 18 July 1992 1 None
455 Neil Diamond The Greatest Hits: 1966–1992 Columbia 25 July 1992 3 Platinum
456 INXS Welcome to Wherever You Are Mercury 15 August 1992 1 Gold
re Genesis We Can't Dance Virgin 22 August 1992 1 5× Platinum
457 The Smiths Best...I WEA 29 August 1992 1 Gold
458 Kylie Minogue Greatest Hits PWL International 5 September 1992 1 Platinum
459 Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells II WEA 12 September 1992 2 2× Platinum
460 Belinda Carlisle The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 Virgin 26 September 1992 1 2× Platinum
461 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits Polydor 3 October 1992 1 18× Platinum
462 R.E.M. Automatic for the People Warner Bros. 10 October 1992 1 6× Platinum
463 Prince and The New Power Generation Symbol Paisley Park 17 October 1992 1 Platinum
464 Simple Minds Glittering Prize 81/92 Virgin 24 October 1992 3 3× Platinum
465 Bon Jovi Keep the Faith Jambco 14 November 1992 1 Platinum
466 Cher Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 Geffen 21 November 1992 1 3× Platinum
467 Erasure Pop! The First 20 Hits Mute 28 November 1992 2 3× Platinum
re Cher Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 Geffen 12 December 1992 6 3× Platinum
1993
468 Genesis The Way We Walk, Volume Two: The Longs Charisma 23 January 1993 2 Gold
469 Little Angels Jam Polydor 6 February 1993 1 Silver
470 The Cult Pure Cult: for Rockers, Ravers, Lovers, and Sinners Beggars Banquet 13 February 1993 1 Gold
471 Buddy Holly & The Crickets Words of Love PolyGram TV/MCA 20 February 1993 1 Gold
472 East 17 Walthamstow London 27 February 1993 1 Platinum
re Annie Lennox Diva RCA 6 March 1993 1 4× Platinum
473 Lenny Kravitz Are You Gonna Go My Way Virgin 13 March 1993 2 Platinum
474 Hot Chocolate Their Greatest Hits EMI 27 March 1993 1 Platinum
475 Depeche Mode Songs of Faith and Devotion Mute 3 April 1993 1 Gold
476 Suede Suede Nude 10 April 1993 1 Gold
477 David Bowie Black Tie White Noise Arista 17 April 1993 1 Gold
re R.E.M. Automatic for the People Warner Bros. 24 April 1993 1 6× Platinum
478 Cliff Richard The Album EMI 1 May 1993 1 Gold
re R.E.M. Automatic for the People Warner Bros. 8 May 1993 1 6× Platinum
479 New Order Republic Centredate Co 15 May 1993 1 Gold
re R.E.M. Automatic for the People Warner Bros. 22 May 1993 1 6× Platinum
480 Janet Jackson Janet Virgin 29 May 1993 2 2× Platinum
481 2 Unlimited No Limits PWL Continental 12 June 1993 1 None
482 Tina Turner What's Love Got to Do with It Parlophone 19 June 1993 1 Platinum
483 Jamiroquai Emergency on Planet Earth Sony S2 26 June 1993 3 Platinum
484 U2 Zooropa Island 17 July 1993 1 Platinum
485 UB40 Promises and Lies DEP International 24 July 1993 7 2× Platinum
486 Mariah Carey Music Box Columbia 11 September 1993 1 5× Platinum
487 Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 18 September 1993 1 6× Platinum
488 Nirvana In Utero Geffen 25 September 1993 1 Gold
re Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 2 October 1993 1 6× Platinum
489 Pet Shop Boys Very Parlophone 9 October 1993 1 Platinum
re Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 16 October 1993 1 6× Platinum
490 Take That Everything Changes RCA 23 October 1993 1 4× Platinum
re Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 30 October 1993 3 6× Platinum
491 Phil Collins Both Sides Virgin 20 November 1993 1 2× Platinum
re Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 27 November 1993 5 6× Platinum
1994
492 Diana Ross One Woman: The Ultimate Collection EMI 1 January 1994 1 4× Platinum
re Take That Everything Changes RCA 8 January 1994 1 4× Platinum
493 Bryan Adams So Far So Good A&M 15 January 1994 1 2× Platinum
re Diana Ross One Woman: The Ultimate Collection EMI 22 January 1994 1 4× Platinum
494 Chaka Demus & Pliers Tease Me Mango 29 January 1994 2 Platinum
495 Tori Amos Under the Pink East West 12 February 1994 1 Platinum
496 Enigma The Cross of Changes Virgin 19 February 1994 1 Platinum
re Mariah Carey Music Box Columbia 26 February 1994 4 5× Platinum
497 Morrissey Vauxhall and I Parlophone 26 March 1994 1 Gold
re Mariah Carey Music Box Columbia 2 April 1994 1 5× Platinum
498 Pink Floyd The Division Bell EMI 9 April 1994 4 2× Platinum
499 Blur Parklife Food 7 May 1994 1 4× Platinum
500 Deacon Blue Our Town – The Greatest Hits Columbia 14 May 1994 2 2× Platinum
501 Erasure I Say I Say I Say Mute 28 May 1994 1 Gold
502[d] Seal Seal ZTT 4 June 1994 2 2× Platinum
503 2 Unlimited Real Things PWL 18 June 1994 1 Gold
504 The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? Island 25 June 1994 1 2× Platinum
505 Ace of Base Happy Nation London 2 July 1994 2 2× Platinum
506 The Prodigy Music for the Jilted Generation XL 16 July 1994 1 Platinum
507 The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Virgin 23 July 1994 1 Gold
508 Wet Wet Wet End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits The Precious Organisation 30 July 1994 4 4× Platinum
509 Prince Come Warner Bros. 27 August 1994 1 Gold
re Wet Wet Wet End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits The Precious Organisation 3 September 1994 1 4× Platinum
510 Oasis Definitely Maybe Creation 10 September 1994 1 7× Platinum
511 Luciano Pavarotti/Plácido Domingo/José Carreras The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 Teldec 17 September 1994 1 2× Platinum
512 Eric Clapton From the Cradle Duck 24 September 1994 1 Gold
513 Luther Vandross Songs Epic 1 October 1994 1 Platinum
514 R.E.M. Monster Warner Bros. 8 October 1994 2 3× Platinum
515 Bon Jovi Cross Road Jambco/Mercury 22 October 1994 3 6× Platinum
516 Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York Geffen 12 November 1994 1 Platinum
re Bon Jovi Cross Road Jambco/Mercury 19 November 1994 2 6× Platinum
517 The Beautiful South Carry On up the Charts Go! Discs 3 December 1994 1 6× Platinum
518 The Beatles Live at the BBC Parlophone 10 December 1994 1 2× Platinum
re The Beautiful South Carry On up the Charts Go! Discs 17 December 1994 6 6× Platinum
1995
519 Celine Dion The Colour of My Love Epic 28 January 1995 6 5× Platinum
520 Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits Columbia 11 March 1995 1 2× Platinum
521 Annie Lennox Medusa RCA 18 March 1995 1 2× Platinum
522 Elastica Elastica Deceptive 25 March 1995 1 Gold
re Celine Dion The Colour of My Love Epic 1 April 1995 1 5× Platinum
523 The Boo Radleys Wake Up! Creation 8 April 1995 1 Gold
re Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits Columbia 15 April 1995 1 2× Platinum
524 Wet Wet Wet Picture This The Precious Organisation 22 April 1995 3 3× Platinum
525 Take That Nobody Else RCA 13 May 1995 2 2× Platinum
526 Paul Weller Stanley Road Go! Discs 27 May 1995 1 4× Platinum
527 Alison Moyet Singles Columbia 3 June 1995 1 Platinum
528 Pink Floyd Pulse EMI 10 June 1995 2 Gold
529 Michael Jackson HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Epic 24 June 1995 1 4× Platinum
530 Bon Jovi These Days Mercury 1 July 1995 4 4× Platinum
531 Supergrass I Should Coco Parlophone 29 July 1995 3 Platinum
532 Black Grape It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah Radioactive 19 August 1995 2 Platinum
533 Boyzone Said and Done Polydor 2 September 1995 1 3× Platinum
534 The Charlatans The Charlatans Beggars Banquet 9 September 1995 1 Gold
535 Levellers Zeitgeist China 16 September 1995 1 Gold
536 Blur The Great Escape Food 23 September 1995 2 3× Platinum
537 Mariah Carey Daydream Columbia 7 October 1995 1 2× Platinum
538 Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Creation 14 October 1995 1 14× Platinum
539 Simply Red Life East West 21 October 1995 3 5× Platinum
540 Pulp Different Class Island 11 November 1995 1 4× Platinum
541 Queen Made in Heaven Parlophone 18 November 1995 1 4× Platinum
542 Robson & Jerome Robson & Jerome RCA 25 November 1995 7 5× Platinum
1996
re Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Creation 13 January 1996 6 14× Platinum
543 The Bluetones Expecting to Fly Superior Quality 24 February 1996 1 Platinum
re Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Creation 2 March 1996 3 14× Platinum
544 Celine Dion Falling into You Epic 23 March 1996 1 7× Platinum
545 The Beatles Anthology 2 Apple 30 March 1996 1 Platinum
546 Take That Greatest Hits RCA 6 April 1996 4 3× Platinum
547 Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Maverick 4 May 1996 2 10× Platinum
548 Ash 1977 Infectious 18 May 1996 1 Platinum
549 George Michael Older Virgin 25 May 1996 3 6× Platinum
550 Metallica Load Vertigo 15 June 1996 1 Gold
551 Bryan Adams 18 til I Die A&M 22 June 1996 1 2× Platinum
re Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Maverick 29 June 1996 1 10× Platinum
552 Crowded House Recurring Dream Capitol 6 July 1996 2 4× Platinum
re Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill Maverick 20 July 1996 8 10× Platinum
553 Suede Coming Up Nude 14 September 1996 1 Platinum
554 R.E.M. New Adventures in Hi-Fi Warner Bros. 21 September 1996 1 Platinum
555 Kula Shaker K Columbia 28 September 1996 2 2× Platinum
556 Peter Andre Natural Mushroom 12 October 1996 1 Platinum
557 Simply Red Greatest Hits East West 19 October 1996 2 6× Platinum
558 The Beautiful South Blue Is the Colour Go! Discs 2 November 1996 1 5× Platinum
559 Boyzone A Different Beat Polydor 9 November 1996 1 3× Platinum
560 Spice Girls Spice Virgin 16 November 1996 1 10× Platinum
561 Robson & Jerome Take Two RCA 23 November 1996 2 4× Platinum
re Spice Girls Spice Virgin 7 December 1996 8 10× Platinum
1997
562 Original cast recording[e] Evita Warner Bros. 1 February 1997 1 2× Platinum
563 Reef Glow Sony S2 8 February 1997 1 Gold
564 Texas White on Blonde Mercury 15 February 1997 1 6× Platinum
565 Blur Blur Food 22 February 1997 1 Platinum
566 Mansun Attack of the Grey Lantern Parlophone 1 March 1997 1 Gold
re Spice Girls Spice Virgin 8 March 1997 1 10× Platinum
567 U2 Pop Island 15 March 1997 1 Platinum
re Spice Girls Spice Virgin 22 March 1997 4 10× Platinum
568 The Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole Virgin 19 April 1997 1 Platinum
569 Depeche Mode Ultra Mute 26 April 1997 1 Gold
570 The Charlatans Tellin' Stories Beggars Banquet 3 May 1997 2 Platinum
re Spice Girls Spice Virgin 17 May 1997 1 10× Platinum
571 Michael Jackson Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix Epic 24 May 1997 2 Gold
572 Gary Barlow Open Road RCA 7 June 1997 1 Platinum
573 Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Forever Loud 14 June 1997 1 Gold
574 Hanson Middle of Nowhere Mercury 21 June 1997 1 Gold
575 Radiohead OK Computer Parlophone 28 June 1997 2 3× Platinum
576 The Prodigy The Fat of the Land XL 12 July 1997 6 3× Platinum
re Texas White on Blonde Mercury 23 August 1997 1 6× Platinum
577 Oasis Be Here Now Creation 30 August 1997 4 6× Platinum
578 Ocean Colour Scene Marchin' Already MCA 27 September 1997 1 Platinum
re Oasis Be Here Now Creation 4 October 1997 1 6× Platinum
579 The Verve Urban Hymns Hut 11 October 1997 5 10× Platinum
580 Spice Girls Spiceworld Virgin 15 November 1997 2 5× Platinum
581 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love Epic 29 November 1997 2 6× Platinum
re Spice Girls Spiceworld Virgin 13 December 1997 1 5× Platinum
re Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love Epic 20 December 1997 2 6× Platinum
1998
re The Verve Urban Hymns Hut 3 January 1998 6 10× Platinum
582 James Horner Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture Sony Classical 14 February 1998 1 3× Platinum
re The Verve Urban Hymns Hut 21 February 1998 1 10× Platinum
re James Horner Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture Sony Classical 28 February 1998 2 3× Platinum
583 Madonna Ray of Light Maverick 14 March 1998 2 6× Platinum
re Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love Epic 28 March 1998 1 6× Platinum
584 James The Best Of Fontana 4 April 1998 1 Platinum
585 Pulp This Is Hardcore Island 11 April 1998 1 Gold
586 Robbie Williams Life thru a Lens Chrysalis 18 April 1998 2 8× Platinum
587 Massive Attack Mezzanine Circa 2 May 1998 2 Platinum
588 Catatonia International Velvet Blanco y Negro 16 May 1998 1 3× Platinum
589 Garbage Version 2.0 Mushroom 23 May 1998 1 2× Platinum
590 Simply Red Blue East West 30 May 1998 1 2× Platinum
591 Boyzone Where We Belong Polydor 6 June 1998 1 2× Platinum
re Simply Red Blue East West 13 June 1998 1 2× Platinum
592 Embrace The Good Will Out Hut 20 June 1998 1 Platinum
593 The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 27 June 1998 1 9× Platinum
594 Five Five RCA 4 July 1998 1 Platinum
re The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 11 July 1998 1 9× Platinum
595 Beastie Boys Hello Nasty Grand Royal 18 July 1998 1 Gold
596 Jane McDonald Jane McDonald Focus Music International 25 July 1998 3 Platinum
re The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 15 August 1998 3 9× Platinum
re Boyzone Where We Belong Polydor 5 September 1998 2 2× Platinum
re The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 19 September 1998 1 9× Platinum
597 Manic Street Preachers This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours Epic 26 September 1998 3 3× Platinum
598 Phil Collins Hits Virgin 17 October 1998 1 6× Platinum
599 The Beautiful South Quench Go! Discs 24 October 1998 2 3× Platinum
600 Robbie Williams I've Been Expecting You Chrysalis 7 November 1998 1 10× Platinum
601 U2 The Best of 1980–1990 & B-Sides Island 14 November 1998 1 5× Platinum
602 George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Epic 21 November 1998 8 8× Platinum
1999
re Robbie Williams I've Been Expecting You Chrysalis 16 January 1999 1 10× Platinum
603 Fatboy Slim You've Come a Long Way, Baby Skint 23 January 1999 4 3× Platinum
re Robbie Williams I've Been Expecting You Chrysalis 20 February 1999 1 10× Platinum
re The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 27 February 1999 3 9× Platinum
604 Stereophonics Performance and Cocktails V2 20 March 1999 1 3× Platinum
605 Blur 13 Food 27 March 1999 2 Platinum
re The Corrs Talk on Corners Atlantic 10 April 1999 1 9× Platinum
re ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits Polydor 17 April 1999 1 18× Platinum
606 Catatonia Equally Cursed and Blessed Blanco y Negro 24 April 1999 1 Platinum
re ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits Polydor 1 May 1999 2 18× Platinum
607 Suede Head Music Nude 15 May 1999 1 Gold
608 Texas The Hush Mercury 22 May 1999 1 2× Platinum
re ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits Polydor 29 May 1999 2 18× Platinum
609 Boyzone By Request Polydor 12 June 1999 2 6× Platinum
610 Jamiroquai Synkronized S2 26 June 1999 1 Platinum
611 The Chemical Brothers Surrender Virgin 3 July 1999 1 Platinum
re Boyzone By Request Polydor 10 July 1999 7 6× Platinum
612 Travis The Man Who Independiente 28 August 1999 2 9× Platinum
613 Shania Twain Come On Over Mercury 11 September 1999 3 11× Platinum
614 Leftfield Rhythm and Stealth Hard Hands 2 October 1999 1 Gold
615 Tom Jones Reload Gut 9 October 1999 1 Platinum
re Shania Twain Come On Over Mercury 16 October 1999 3 11× Platinum
616 Steps Steptacular EBUL 6 November 1999 3 3× Platinum
617 Celine Dion All the Way... A Decade of Song Epic 27 November 1999 1 2× Platinum
re Steps Steptacular EBUL 4 December 1999 1 3× Platinum
re Shania Twain Come On Over Mercury 11 December 1999 5 11× Platinum
Contents
← 1980s • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000s →

By artist

edit
 
The Spice Girls' debut, Spice, spent a total of 15 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart during the 1990s, longer than any other album.
 
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis was the biggest-selling album of the decade.
 
Irish group Boyzone topped the albums chart with four different releases this decade.
 
Canadian singer Celine Dion achieved four number-one albums during the 1990s.

Eight artists spent 12 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1990s.

Artist Number ones Weeks at number one Albums
Simply Red 4 19

 • Stars (1991–92, twelve weeks at number one)
 • Life (1995, three weeks)
 • Greatest Hits (1996, two weeks)
 • Blue (1998, two weeks)

Spice Girls 2 18

 • Spice (1996–97, fifteen weeks at number one)
 • Spiceworld (1997, three weeks)

Oasis 3 16

 • Definitely Maybe (1994, one week at number one)
 • (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (1995–96, ten weeks)
 • Be Here Now (1997, five weeks)

Boyzone 4 14

 • Said and Done (1995, one week at number one)
 • A Different Beat (1996, one week)
 • Where We Belong (1998, three weeks)
 • By Request (1997, nine weeks)

Celine Dion 4 14

 • The Colour of My Love (1995, seven weeks at number one)
 • Falling into You (1996, one week)
 • Let's Talk About Love (1997–8, five weeks)
 • All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999, one week)

Cher 2 13

 • Love Hurts (1991, six weeks at number one)
 • Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 (1992–93, seven weeks)

Luciano Pavarotti[f] 4 12

 • The Essential Pavarotti (1990, four weeks at number one)
 • In Concert (1990, five weeks)
 • Essential Pavarotti II (1991, two weeks)
 • The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 (1994, one week)

George Michael 3 12

 • Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990, one week at number one)
 • Older (1996, three weeks)
 • Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998–99, eight weeks)

By record label

edit

Six record labels spent 20 weeks or more at number one on the album chart during the 1990s.

Record label Number-one albums Weeks at number one
Virgin Records 19 62
RCA Records 10 32
Epic Records 10 30
Polydor Records 8 24
Mercury Records 7 24
East West Records 6 21

Christmas number ones

edit
 
Cher's greatest hits album 1965–1992 was the 1992 Christmas number-one album.

In the UK, Christmas number one albums are those that are at the top of the UK Albums Chart on Christmas Day. Typically, this will refer to the album that was announced as number one on the Sunday before 25 December—when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday itself, the official number one is considered by the OCC to be the one announced on that day's chart.[24] During the 1990s, the following albums were Christmas number ones.

Year Artist Album Record label Weeks at
number one
Ref.
1990 Madonna The Immaculate Collection Sire 9 [25]
1991 Queen Greatest Hits II Parlophone 5 [26]
1992 Cher Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 Geffen 7 [27]
1993 Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Virgin 11 [28]
1994 The Beautiful South Carry On up the Charts Go! Discs 7 [29]
1995 Robson & Jerome Robson & Jerome RCA 7 [30]
1996 Spice Girls Spice Virgin 15 [31]
1997 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love Epic 5 [32]
1998 George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael Epic 8 [33]
1999 Shania Twain Come On Over Mercury 11 [34]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b c d The artist, album, week ending date of reaching number one and number of weeks at number one are those given by the OCC.[9][11][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
  2. ^ The record labels are those given by the OCC.[22]
  3. ^ The certifications are those awarded by the BPI as of 31 December 1999.[6]
  4. ^ a b Seal released two number-one albums during the 1990s, both of which were eponymously titled.[23]
  5. ^ Evita is sometimes credited to Madonna & Various Artists.[23]
  6. ^ The totals for Luciano Pavarotti include two albums co-credited with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts". London: The Official UK Charts Company. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  2. ^ "The Official UK Top 40 Albums Chart". London: BBC Radio 1. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "Number 1 Albums – 1990s". London: The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 August 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Top 10 Selling Albums of the 1990s in the UK". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. 16 August 2003.
  5. ^ Ellen, Barbara (23 March 2003). "The Mother of All Bachelors". The Observer. London: Guardian News and Media. ISSN 0029-7712. OCLC 470355082. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Certified Awards Search". London: British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  7. ^ Pickover, Ella (22 November 2010). "Record First-week Sales for Take That". The Independent. London: Independent Print. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 240904920. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 13th January 1990". Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  9. ^ a b "All the Number One Albums: 1990". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 1st January 2000". Official Charts Company. 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  11. ^ a b "All the Number One Albums: 1999". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. ^ McLean, Craig (29 May 2003). "Up and Away". The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 613316876. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016.
  13. ^ Martland, Peter (1997). Edge, Ruth (ed.). Since Records Began: EMI, the First 100 Years (illustrated ed.). London: Batsford. p. 263. ISBN 9780713462074. OCLC 37740500.
  14. ^ "All the Number One Albums: 1991". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  15. ^ "All the Number One Albums: 1992". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
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  32. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 27th December 1997". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  33. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 26th December 1998". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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