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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. 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. 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.

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. Stars, their fourth studio album, sold 3.29 million copies in total, and was the biggest-selling album of both 1991 and 1992. 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?, which spent 10 weeks at number one during 1995 and 1996, and sold 4.16 million copies. It was the highest-certified album of the 1990s, achieving platinum certification 13 times. 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.

The first number-one album of the 1990s was ...But Seriously by Phil Collins – released in 1989, ...But Seriously first reached number one in December of that year, and remained at the top for eight weeks. It stayed at number one for nine weeks during the decade, and was the biggest-selling album of 1990. The final number one of the 1990s was Come On Over by Shania Twain. Like ...But Seriously, Come on Over remained at number one into the following decade, and was the biggest-selling album of its year. 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. 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.

Number ones

By artist

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

By record label

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

Christmas number ones

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. During the 1990s, the following albums were Christmas number ones.

Notes

1. ^ The artist, album, week ending date of reaching number one and number of weeks at number one are those given by the OCC.
2. The record labels are those given by the OCC.
3. The certifications are those awarded by the BPI as of 31 December 1999.
4. ^ Seal released two number-one albums during the 1990s, both of which were eponymously titled.
5. Evita is sometimes credited to Madonna & Various Artists.
6. The totals for Luciano Pavarotti include two albums co-credited with Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.

References

1. ^ "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. ^ "Number 1 Albums – 1990s". London: The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 August 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
4. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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.
16. "All the Number One Albums: 1993". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
17. "All the Number One Albums: 1994". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
18. "All the Number One Albums: 1995". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
19. "All the Number One Albums: 1996". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
20. "All the Number One Albums: 1997". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
21. "All the Number One Albums: 1998". London: Official Charts Company. 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
22. "Artist Chart History". London: Official Charts Company. 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
23. ^ "Number 1 Albums – 1990s". London: The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 9 August 2005. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
24. "Christmas No.1s: Albums". London: The Official UK Charts Company. 2007. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
25. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 29th December 1990". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
26. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 28th December 1991". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
27. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 26th December 1992". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
28. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 25th December 1993". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
29. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 31st December 1994". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
30. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 30th December 1995". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
31. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 29th December 1996". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
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.
34. "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 25th December 1999". London: Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 March 2012.

External links

• "Official UK Albums Top 100 at the Official Charts Company". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
• The Official UK Top 40 Albums Chart at BBC Radio 1

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