In a remarkable feat, British pop superstar Robbie Williams has surpassed the Beatles’ record for the most UK number one albums, securing his 16th chart-topping release with his latest studio album “Britpop”.
The album, which pays homage to the lively and zeitgeist-defining guitar music of the mid-1990s, debuted at the top of the charts in its opening week, after Williams strategically moved the release date to avoid a potential clash with Taylor Swift’s new album. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as “Britpop” easily outperformed its competition to claim the coveted number one spot.
With this latest triumph, Williams has now eclipsed the previous record of 15 UK number one albums held by the Beatles since the early 2000s. The pop icon has achieved this feat in a considerably shorter timeframe, with his 16 chart-toppers coming over the course of just 29 years, compared to the 37 years it took the Fab Four to reach their landmark.
While some may debate whether Williams can be considered truly “greater” than the Beatles, there’s no denying the impressive nature of his accomplishment. The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift each have 14 number one albums, while Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna have 13, 12, and 12 respectively. Presley, however, still holds the record for the most UK number one singles, with 21, while Williams has seven, with his most recent chart-topper being “Candy” in 2012.
The release of “Britpop” saw Williams fend off competition from last week’s chart-topper, Olivia Dean, whose album “The Art of Loving” has now spent 17 weeks in the top five. He also overcame a challenge from US pop singer Madison Beer, whose album “Locket” entered the chart at number three.
In the singles chart, British rapper Dave earned his fourth number one with his collaboration track “Raindance”.
