Contents
- Introduction
- Series Contents
- Example Pages
- Purchasing Subscription
- Purchasing Individual Decades
- Purchasing Single Issues
- Final Note and disclaimer
Introduction
On 14 July 1956 Record Mirror announced Soon! Best-Selling L.P. Lists! Because, they said, of the ever increasing sales of Long Playing records and the many requests to do so, they are going to launch a First Five L.P. analysis, similar to their (and at that point NME and Melody Maker) Singles chart feature. Two weeks later, on 28 July 1956, the first Top 5 appeared, headed by Frank Sinatra and Songs For Swingin’ Lovers (Which had been 13 on their prior weeks Singles listing – one of several LP’s to make ‘Britain’s Top Twenty’ as the Record Mirror chart was sort of know).
70 years later, on 28 July 2026, the world will awake on a Tuesday morning, rather than a Saturday, to a chart announced the previous Friday where possibly (I’m writing this on Monday 13 July 2026 and will update when the facts are known) the 1446th UK Number 1 album – Madonna was number 1444 as announced on 10 July and it is likely that the Rolling Stones will be number 1445 on 17 July.
Over the course of those 70 years, 1444 or so number 1 albums we have had record breakers and huge sellers and a chart expanding from 5 to 200 covering 12inch vinyl through to Cassette, CD, and now paid digital download and streaming with a bunch of strange oddities in the middle – including the number 1 albums airbrushed from history, something occurring twice in 1969 though I will also remove one with reasons. We also have of course the numerous other charts – NME, Record Mirror post 1958, Melody Maker post 1960 and of course the lesser charts such as Top Pops and the huge yet flawed Music Echo LP chart. And then, as we come to the modern era, we find other charts such as Rock, Indie, Dance, R&B and, form 1989, Compilations which are removed from the main chart.
All this is covered in my 70 Years Of The UK Album Chart series, long wished for and announced today. The first issue, 1956, will come to subscribers on 27 July 2026 and, all being well, the last covering 2028 will be sent on 1 Jan 2029 – in all 73 volumes packed end to end with unmissable facts and figures.
Sample pages from the 1969 volume are below.
Series Contents
Each volume covers a single calendar year and showcases all the known positions for the charts for that year from the UK. We cover
- Record Mirror
- Melody Maker
- Record Retailer/Music Week
- Including Budget, Mid Price and other minor charts not hitherto tabulated at all
- British Market Research Bureau
- Including some sales data available for the first time between 1973 and 1975 with expanded positions
- Gallup Album Charts (1983-1994)
- MRIB (Including some Indie charts from the period)
- Milward Brown compiled charts from 1994-2028
- Including Scottish, Welsh, Rock, Dance, R&B and Indie as these came on stream but not all cover the full period due to gaps. Equally, some charts will appear for a short time as thats all the data that exists.
- … as well as other surprises along the way!
Not all the charts listed feature in every issue as some where compiled for a short period and others, while researched, are not as complete as I would like.
Example Contents
Below are some pages culled from the 1969 volume that do not cover all elements but give a flavour of the contents.
Each volume covers a full calendar year, with one each from 1956 through to 2028.
Each issue will include a full chart history for that year, but will also include a wealth of other information derived from the database. Each book includes some brand new information, never before calculated in this level of detail. 1969, for example, is close to 1000 pages and issues from the 1990’s and beyond can frequently get over 2,000 pages or more of detailed information!
Chart History
- As appropriate, chart rule changes are highlighted. It’s not always easy to know what was and was not allowed and sometimes odd records appear and then vanish, so this section will bring together as much information as possible about how the charts were compiled at the time.
Milestones
- These are a listing of the important chart changes, such as frozen weeks, chart size changes, etc.
Chart Age
- A new metric, looking at the average age of each week’s chart. This is found by adding up the weeks on chart column and dividing by how many records are present. This has been calculated to answer the question ‘What is the age of this week’s chart?’ and ‘Is this the youngest/oldest chart?’ Only the Top 130 and Bottom 130 chart weeks are shown as we have about 3780 chart weeks from 1956 to 2028, and this of course will only show for each individual chart.
Number 1’s
- Number 1 lists are always shown in books about the charts, but this listing is different as it will showcase an image of the record cover for the first time.
The Top 500 Artists
- One of the things I enjoyed twenty years ago was buying the new Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles and looking at where my favourite artists had moved to in the list of Top artists. Each issue will present a list of the artists and their ranking to date, with where the artist was on the previous years’ listing. Equally, decade listings will be presented showing where the artists line up per decade. Again, this is specific to each chart.
Full Chart History
- As usual, the full chart history will be presented in alphabetical order by artist showing entry date, weeks on chart, peak position, weeks at peak (for the albums peaking in the Top 5), title, full track listing, label, catalogue number and duration. Full listings showcase all re-entries, even if the record only dropped off the chart for one week.
The Annual
- This is a listing of the albums by peak position within the year, and shows all records that charted during the calendar year. This listing is based on albums in a calendar year, so the year runs from 1 Jan to 31 Dec.
Weekly Charts
- The full weekly charts are presented here, so that readers can see in full the accurate and complete charts for each week.
The Hit Log
- This is also something never before published – a listing of all records to chart but in the order in which they first entered the charts, together with a picture of the entry.
Highest New Entries / Highest Re-Entries
- This listing is the highest new or re-entry that occurred in the chart to date, ignoring the first chart as that would all be new entries. This listing is designed to showcase record statistics which have stood the test of time – very few records enter high, or re-enter high. After 1988, when more than 150 records have entered at number 1 on the main chart, the listing will be re-set to cover just records not entering at the number 1 spot.
Biggest Fall/Climb within the chart / Fall from the chart
- These three listings aim to show the largest movements within the chart. Most often, records will have small movements – relatively speaking to the size of the chart. This listing is designed to show those with the larger movements over time.
Artists With The Most Hits
- From the first chart to the current date, this will showcase the artists with the most hit records to chart, together with when they first charted.
Longest Runner By Record / Chart Run
- This listing is a showcase of the most weeks on chart in a single run (consecutively) or by a single recording in total, as the chart progresses. Albums, in particular, run for years and many of the current (2026) chart are over 500 or even 600 chart weeks with several now over 1,000. The aim is to present those records of longevity which have stood the test of time on the charts.
One thing to note is that sometimes albums chart again years after their initial run. From the 2010’s the Official Chart Company has combined versions of albums together to better combine digital and then streaming numbers and so all data is correct up to the current chart in the database when the volume is created. For example, the 1992 volume would show Abba Gold with 1651 chart weeks if issued today. It is likely, when that is created in late 2027 that the number of weeks will be 1713 weeks, yet if it still charts to the end of 2028, that count will rise each time a new volume is made. This is inevitable with an album series, where so many old, yet classic, albums routinely return or stay in the charts.
Purchasing
To purchase, you may either purchase a subscript to the set, which is the cheaper option, or decade or single issue options as listed below.
All purchasers receive a link to download the issue once it is released or a confirmation if the issue(s) are not yet available.
Any queries please contact me at lonnie@thechartbook.co.uk
Subscription Purchase
By purchasing this option, you will subscribe for a period of 30 months at £9.99 per month, for a total of £299.70. Purchasing the individual decade series below separately would cost £319 and the individual years £352, without the free gifts which are at least £10 each separately.
To purchase the subscription, please use the PayPal button below.
Single Decade Purchase
You can purchase a single decade using the buttons below.
The 1950’s (Covering 1956-1959) (Costs £14 and consists of 4 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1960’s (Covering 1960-1969) (Costs £35 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 1970’s (Covering 1970-1979) (Costs £50 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.) (Includes unique sales data for 1973-1979)
The 1980’s (Covering 1980-1989) (Costs £45 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.) (Includes sales data for 1980-82, and Compilation Top 50’s for the first time with sales data).
The 1990’s (Covering 1990-1999) (Costs £45 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.) (Includes Top 50 or larger Compilation Album chart (with sales data for 1990-92) and a Top 200 Albums for much of the decade)
The 2000’s (Covering 2000-2009) (Costs £45 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 2010’s (Covering 2010-2019) (Costs £45 and consists of 10 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
The 2020’s (Covering 2020-2028) (Costs £40 and consists of 9 issues and free gift of the Decade Series volume for this decade.)
Purchasing Single Issues
Alternatively, you can purchase a single year – each year cost either £4, £5 or £6 depending on the contents – using the links in the table below. Please note that purchasing a decade saves you money off the price of buying 10 consecutive single issues, and single issues do not gain free issues.
| Issue Date | Year | Cost | Price |
| 27-Jul-26 | 1956 | £4 | |
| 03-Aug-26 | 1957 | £4 | |
| 10-Aug-26 | 1958 | £4 | |
| 17-Aug-26 | 1959 | £4 | |
| 24-Aug-26 | 1960 | £4 | |
| 31-Aug-26 | 1961 | £4 | |
| 07-Sep-26 | 1962 | £4 | |
| 21-Sep-26 | 1963 | £4 | |
| 28-Sep-26 | 1964 | £4 | |
| 05-Oct-26 | 1965 | £4 | |
| 12-Oct-26 | 1966 | £4 | |
| 19-Oct-26 | 1967 | £4 | |
| 26-Oct-26 | 1968 | £4 | |
| 02-Nov-26 | 1969 | £4 | |
| 16-Nov-26 | 1970 | £4 | |
| 30-Nov-26 | 1971 | £4 | |
| 14-Dec-26 | 1972 | £4 | |
| 28-Dec-26 | 1973 | £6 | |
| 11-Jan-27 | 1974 | £6 | |
| 25-Jan-27 | 1975 | £6 | |
| 08-Feb-27 | 1976 | £6 | |
| 22-Feb-27 | 1977 | £6 | |
| 08-Mar-27 | 1978 | £6 | |
| 22-Mar-27 | 1979 | £6 | |
| 05-Apr-27 | 1980 | £6 | |
| 19-Apr-27 | 1981 | £6 | |
| 03-May-27 | 1982 | £6 | |
| 17-May-27 | 1983 | £4 | |
| 31-May-27 | 1984 | £4 | |
| 14-Jun-27 | 1985 | £4 | |
| 28-Jun-27 | 1986 | £4 | |
| 12-Jul-27 | 1987 | £4 | |
| 26-Jul-27 | 1988 | £4 | |
| 09-Aug-27 | 1989 | £5 | |
| 23-Aug-27 | 1990 | £5 | |
| 06-Sep-27 | 1991 | £5 | |
| 20-Sep-27 | 1992 | £5 | |
| 04-Oct-27 | 1993 | £5 | |
| 18-Oct-27 | 1994 | £5 | |
| 01-Nov-27 | 1995 | £5 | |
| 15-Nov-27 | 1996 | £5 | |
| 29-Nov-27 | 1997 | £5 | |
| 13-Dec-27 | 1998 | £5 | |
| 27-Dec-27 | 1999 | £5 | |
| 10-Jan-28 | 2000 | £5 | |
| 24-Jan-28 | 2001 | £5 | |
| 07-Feb-28 | 2002 | £5 | |
| 21-Feb-28 | 2003 | £5 | |
| 06-Mar-28 | 2004 | £5 | |
| 20-Mar-28 | 2005 | £5 | |
| 03-Apr-28 | 2006 | £5 | |
| 17-Apr-28 | 2007 | £5 | |
| 01-May-28 | 2008 | £5 | |
| 15-May-28 | 2009 | £5 | |
| 29-May-28 | 2010 | £5 | |
| 12-Jun-28 | 2011 | £5 | |
| 26-Jun-28 | 2012 | £5 | |
| 10-Jul-28 | 2013 | £5 | |
| 24-Jul-28 | 2014 | £5 | |
| 07-Aug-28 | 2015 | £5 | |
| 21-Aug-28 | 2016 | £5 | |
| 04-Sep-28 | 2017 | £5 | |
| 18-Sep-28 | 2018 | £5 | |
| 02-Oct-28 | 2019 | £5 | |
| 16-Oct-28 | 2020 | £5 | |
| 30-Oct-28 | 2021 | £5 | |
| 13-Nov-28 | 2022 | £5 | |
| 27-Nov-28 | 2023 | £5 | |
| 04-Dec-28 | 2024 | £5 | |
| 11-Dec-28 | 2025 | £5 | |
| 18-Dec-28 | 2026 | £5 | |
| 25-Dec-28 | 2027 | £5 | |
| 01-Jan-29 | 2028 | £5 |
Final Notes
It is the customers responsibility to ensure they provide an email address that can receive email attachments as issues are provided as email attachments. Whilst every attempt will be made to contact, no refunds will be made for incorrect email addresses, though subscriptions will be cancelled.
All issues are supplied manually by myself, and so may be subject to delay. Issues will be supplied as quickly as possible, usually within an hour, during normal UK working hours, but please to note that it may not be immediately possible and so issues may only be supplied within 3 days of payment.