The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Since 2004 the chart has been based on the sales of both physical albums and digital downloads. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 2011, as well as albums which peaked in 2010 and 2012 but were in the top 10 in 2011. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and fifty-three albums were in the top ten this year. One album from 2009 and nineteen albums from 2010 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while Stereo Typical by Rizzle Kicks was released in 2011 but did not reach its peak until 2012. Loud by Rihanna, Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons, The Beginning by The Black Eyed Peas and The Lady Killer by CeeLo Green were the albums from 2010 to reach their peak in 2011. Twelve artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2011. Drake, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Matt Cardle, One Direction, Rebecca Ferguson and Rizzle Kicks. were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2011.
The 2010 Christmas number-one album, Progress by Take That, remained at the top spot for the first week of 2011. The first new number-one album of the year was Loud by Rihanna. Overall, twenty-five different albums peaked at number-one in 2011, with Amy Winehouse (2) having the most albums hitting that position.
Background Multiple entries One-hundred and fifty-three albums charted in the top 10 in 2011, with one-hundred and thirty-five albums reaching their peak this year (including 19, All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, Back to Black, Frank and Nevermind, which charted in previous years but reached a peak on their latest chart run).
Twelve artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2011. Amy Winehouse and Glee cast both had four top 10 albums in 2011. Adele, Alfie Boe, Daniel O'Donnell, JLS, Kate Bush, Michael Bublé, Olly Murs, Rihanna, Susan Boyle and The Wanted were the acts who had two top 10 albums this year. Alfie Boe, Daniel O'Donnell and Kate Bush's two entries were both released this year, with Frank by Amy Winehouse returning after missing the top 10 when it was first released in 2003 and 19 by Adele and Back to Black by Amy Winehouse both returning after making the top ten before.
Chart debuts Thirty-eight artists achieved their first top 10 album in 2011 as a lead artist. Alfie Boe had one other entry in his breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo album, or featured appearances on compilations or other artists recordings.
Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entriesBruno Mars1Doo-Wops & Hooligans1—Imelda May1Mayhem7—Alfie Boe2Bring Him Home9Alfie (6)Chase & Status1No More Idols2—James Blake1James Blake9—Jessie J1Who You Are2—Beady Eye1Different Gear, Still Speeding3—Clare Maguire1Light After Dark7—Alexis Jordan1Alexis Jordan9—1What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? 4—1Good Ol' Fashioned Love4—Mary Byrne1Mine & Yours6—Katy B1On a Mission2—1This Modern Glitch3—Hugh Laurie1Let Them Talk2—Friendly Fires1Pala6—Caro Emerald1Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor4—1You & I4—Aloe Blacc1Good Things8—Jackie Evancho1Dream with Me4—Wonderland1Wonderland8—Bad Meets Evil1Hell: The Sequel (EP)7—Bon Iver1Bon Iver4—1Skying5—LMFAO1Sorry for Party Rocking8—Nero1Welcome Reality1—Wretch 321Black and White4—Lil Wayne1Tha Carter IV8—Ed Sheeran1+1—Christina Perri1Lovestrong9—Ben Howard1Every Kingdom7—Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds1Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds1—Matt Cardle1Letters6—Rizzle Kicks1Stereo Typical5—Cher Lloyd1Sticks + Stones4—Drake1Take Care5—One Direction1Up All Night2—Rebecca Ferguson1Heaven3—
Notes The group Beady Eye was fronted by Liam Gallagher, one half of the Gallagher brothers from Oasis. Their entry Different Gear, Still Speeding went straight in at number 3. His brother Noel Gallagher made the chart again with his group Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, topping the rankings with their self-titled album. Nicole Scherzinger charted at number 8 with her debut solo album Killer Love, adding to her success as part of The Pussycat Dolls. Charlie Simpson previously featured in the line-ups of Busted and Fightstar. Young Pilgrim marked his first time in the top 10 as a solo artist.
Soundtracks The cast of the TV series Glee had four top-ten albums in 2011. This included Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers, Glee: The Music, Volume 4, Glee: The Music, Volume 5 and Glee: The Music, Volume 6.
Best-selling albums Adele had the best-selling album of the year with 21. The album spent 76 weeks in the top 10 (including 23 weeks at number one), sold over 3.772 million copies and was certified 14× platinum by the BPI. Christmas by Michael Bublé came in second place. Bruno Mars' Doo-Wops & Hooligans, 19 from Adele and Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay made up the top five. Albums by Rihanna (Loud), Lady Gaga, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Rihanna (Talk That Talk) were also in the top ten best-selling albums of the year.
Top-ten albums Key SymbolMeaning‡Album peaked in 2010 but still in chart in 2011.♦Album released in 2011 but peaked in 2012.(#)Year-end top-ten album position and rankEnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered (week ending)Weeksintop10 Album ArtistPeak Peakreached (week ending)WeeksatpeakAlbums in 2009 36Crazy Love ‡Michael Bublé 1 1Albums in 2010 32Sigh No MoreMumford & Sons 2 1 8Lights ‡Ellie Goulding 1 1 30The Defamation of Strickland Banks ‡Plan B 1 2 12Eliza Doolittle ‡Eliza Doolittle 3 1 12Teenage Dream ‡Katy Perry 1 1 2Hands All Over ‡Maroon 5 6 1 10Disc-Overy ‡Tinie Tempah 1 1 9Come Around Sundown ‡Kings of Leon 1 2 2The Wanted ‡ 4 1 8Greatest Hits ‡Bon Jovi 2 2 7Seasons of My Soul ‡Rumer 3 1 7The Gift ‡Susan Boyle 1 1 13The Lady Killer CeeLo Green 3 1 17Progress ‡Take That 1 7 32Loud (#6)Rihanna 1 3 6Outta This World ‡JLS 2 1 4Olly Murs ‡Olly Murs 2 1 3The Beginning 8 1 2Michael ‡Michael Jackson 4 1Albums in 2011 3719 (#4)Adele 2 5 41Doo-Wops & Hooligans (#3)Bruno Mars 1 2 1Ritual White Lies 3 1 7621 (#1)Adele 1 23 2Mayhem Imelda May 7 1 1Bring Him Home Alfie Boe 9 1 10No More Idols Chase & Status 2 1 4Simply Eva Eva Cassidy 4 1 1Computers and Blues 8 1 1James Blake James Blake 9 1 1Let England Shake PJ Harvey 8 1 1Glee: The Music, Volume 4 Glee cast 4 1 34Who You Are (#8)Jessie J 2 1 2Different Gear, Still Speeding Beady Eye 3 1 1Light After Dark Clare Maguire 7 1 1Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan 9 1 5Build a Rocket Boys! Elbow 2 1 1Collapse into Now R.E.M. 5 1 1Last Night on Earth Noah and the Whale 8 1 1Goodbye Lullaby Avril Lavigne 9 1 4What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? 4 1 4Good Ol' Fashioned Love 4 1 1Moon Over Ireland Daniel O'Donnell 9 1 1Heroes Michael Ball 10 1 1Angles 3 1 2When Ronan Met Burt Ronan Keating & Burt Bacharach 3 1 1Killer Love Nicole Scherzinger 8 1 1F.A.M.E. Chris Brown 10 1 1Mine & Yours Mary Byrne 6 1 2The King of Limbs Radiohead 7 2 1Femme Fatale Britney Spears 8 1 3On a Mission Katy B 2 1 1Euphoric Heartbreak Glasvegas 10 1 7Wasting Light Foo Fighters 1 1 2Glee: The Music, Volume 5 Glee cast 4 1 1Transition Chipmunk 10 1 1This Modern Glitch 3 1 2Helplessness Blues Fleet Foxes 2 1 1Love? Jennifer Lopez 6 1 1Hot Sauce Committee Part Two Beastie Boys 9 1 3Let Them Talk Hugh Laurie 2 1 1Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers Glee cast 7 1 1The Ultimate Collection Sade 8 1 1Director's Cut Kate Bush 2 1 1Pala Friendly Fires 6 1 10Deleted Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor Caro Emerald 4 1 12Born This Way (#7)Lady Gaga 1 3 1World's On Fire 5 1 1You & I 4 1 3You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks Seasick Steve 6 3 1Good Things Aloe Blacc 8 1 1Quid Pro Quo Status Quo 10 1 3Suck It and See Arctic Monkeys 1 1 1Dream with Me Jackie Evancho 4 1 1Glee: The Music, Volume 6 Glee cast 6 1 1Wonderland Wonderland 8 1 1So Beautiful or So What Paul Simon 6 1 2Hell: The Sequel (EP) Bad Meets Evil 7 1 1All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra Electric Light Orchestra 10 1 1Bon Iver Bon Iver 4 1 114 Beyoncé 1 2 1Revolutions: Live at Wembley Biffy Clyro 9 1 1The Future Is Medieval Kaiser Chiefs 10 1 1Skying 5 1 1Sorry for Party Rocking LMFAO 8 1 6Back to Black Amy Winehouse 1 3 3Frank 3 1 1Frank/Back to Black 10 1 4Watch the Throne Jay-Z & Kanye West 3 1 1The Best of Randy Crawford Randy Crawford 7 1 2Welcome Reality Nero 1 1 1Young Pilgrim Charlie Simpson 6 1 1The Ultimate Collection John Denver 7 1 5Echoes Will Young 1 1 6Classic Joe McElderry 2 1 1Black and White Wretch 32 4 1 1What Matters Most Barbra Streisand 7 1 1Killer Sounds Hard-Fi 9 1 3I'm with You Red Hot Chili Peppers 1 1 15Nothing but the Beat David Guetta 2 3 1A Different Kind of Fix Bombay Bicycle Club 6 1 1Tha Carter IV Lil Wayne 8 1 1Better Day Dolly Parton 9 1 4Playing in the Shadows Example 1 1 11 6 1 1My Heart Doris Day 9 1 49+ (#9)Ed Sheeran 1 3 1A Creature I Don't Know Laura Marling 4 1 1Junk of the Heart 10 1 4Velociraptor! Kasabian 1 1 2Duets II Tony Bennett 5 1 1Lovestrong Christina Perri 9 1 4The Awakening James Morrison 1 2 1Nevermind Nirvana 5 1 1Neighborhoods Blink-182 6 1 1Sinners Never Sleep You Me at Six 3 1 1Own the Night Lady Antebellum 4 1 1Every KingdomBen Howard 7 1 3The Ultimate Collection Steps 1 1 1Evanescence Evanescence 4 1 1Daydream Katherine Jenkins 6 1 1Future History Jason Derulo 7 1 1Ashes & Fire Ryan Adams 9 1 1Soulicious Cliff Richard 10 1 7Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 1 1 2Letters Matt Cardle 2 1 1The Ultimate Collection Daniel O'Donnell 7 1 28Mylo Xyloto (#5)Coldplay 1 1 9Christmas (#2) Michael Bublé 1 3 1Stronger Kelly Clarkson 5 1 1Bad as Me Tom Waits 10 1 7Ceremonials Florence + The Machine 1 1 1At Your Inconvenience Professor Green 3 1 1Alfie Alfie Boe 6 1 4Stereo Typical ♦ Rizzle Kicks 5 1 1National Treasures – The Complete Singles Manic Street Preachers 10 1 2Someone to Watch Over Me Susan Boyle 1 1 1Sticks + Stones Cher Lloyd 4 1 1Battleground 5 1 2And the Waltz Goes On André Rieu & the Johann Strauss Orchestra 7 1 2Jukebox JLS 2 1 1Fallen Empires Snow Patrol 3 1 1Take Care Drake 5 1 18Talk That Talk (#10) Rihanna 1 2 7Up All Night One Direction 2 1 4Greatest Hits Westlife 4 1 150 Words for Snow Kate Bush 5 1 1Here and Now Nickelback 10 1 9In Case You Didn't Know Olly Murs 1 1 1Wicked Game Il Divo 6 1 6Lioness: Hidden Treasures Amy Winehouse 1 1 9Heaven Rebecca Ferguson 3 1
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2011, including albums that reached their peak in 2010. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 2011 is also shown.
Entries Artist Weeks Albums4Amy Winehouse9Back to Black, Frank, Frank/Back to Black, Lioness: Hidden TreasuresGlee cast5Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers, Glee: The Music, Volume 4, Glee: The Music, Volume 5, Glee: The Music, Volume 62Adele5119, 21Alfie Boe2Alfie, Bring Him HomeDaniel O'Donnell2Moon Over Ireland, The Ultimate CollectionJLS4Jukebox, Outta This WorldKate Bush250 Words for Snow, Director's CutMichael Bublé12Christmas, Crazy LoveOlly Murs5In Case You Didn't Know, Olly MursRihanna32Loud, Talk That TalkSusan Boyle3Someone to Watch Over Me, The Gift2Battleground, The Wanted
Notes
Stereo Typical reached its peak of number five on 4 February 2012 (week ending). Crazy Love re-entered the top 10 at number 7 on 16 April 2011 (week ending).