Paul McCartney is the UK’s most successful albums act of all time, the Official Charts Company has revealed.
Celebrating 60 years to the day since the first ever Albums Chart was published, the OCC honoured McCartney with the ‘King of albums’ accolade, having racked up 22 No. 1 albums – 15 with The Beatles, two with Wings, four as a solo artists and one with Linda McCartney – during his career.
That’s a staggering total of 191 weeks at the top of the albums chart.
His first No. 1 album came with The Beatles’ Please Please Me in 1963, which also became the longest running debut No. 1 album in UK history, spending 30 weeks at the top spot.
Sticking with The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band went on to sell 5.1m copies, becoming Britain’s biggest selling album of all time.
Commenting on the news, McCartney said: “Okay, you know how it really feels? It feels unbelievable, because when you write your songs you don't count how well they're doing. I remember when Please, Please Me went to Number 1, that was our first Number 1 record, and it’s a beautiful feeling to suddenly get this [award], I mean it's amazing. So thank you to the people for giving it to me, I love you. And thank you to everyone who made it possible by buying the records, we love you too.”
Martin Talbot, chief executive, Official Charts Company, added: “It is a huge honour for the Official Charts to pay tribute to Paul McCartney’s incredible achievements with this special award. Over more than fifty years, Paul has been a fixture on the British and world music scene – so to recognise his contribution as part of the UK Albums Chart’s 60th birthday feels absolutely appropriate.
“Congratulations, Paul. Here’s to many more No. 1 albums to come!”
