Pop superstar Robbie Williams surpassed the Beatles to become the artist with the most number one albums in the history of the British charts, sales trackers confirmed on Friday.
The milestone came a week after Williams released Britpop, which was officially announced as his 16th album to reach the top of the UK charts. The achievement marked another major chapter in a career that has spanned more than three decades and consistently placed him among Britain’s most successful recording artists.
“He’s the one!” said the Official Charts Company in response to the record-breaking feat, referencing She’s the One, the hit 1998 single that became one of the defining songs of Williams’ solo career following his departure from Take That.
Since launching his chart-topping solo career with his 1997 debut album Life Thru a Lens, Williams, now 51, has sold an estimated 20 million albums in the UK alone. His latest release, Britpop, is his first album in seven years, making its chart success particularly notable.
“Not even the confident young 16-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent would have believed this were possible when he joined Take That back in 1990”, said Official Charts chief executive Martin Talbot in a statement.
“But here he is, on top of the world, the UK’s number one album artist of all time”, Talbot added.
Across his 35-year career, Williams has sold an estimated 80 million albums worldwide, cementing his status as one of the most commercially successful artists of his generation.
The Beatles now occupy second place on the British album chart-topping list with 15 number one albums. They are followed by the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift, who are tied with 14 each, while Elvis Presley ranks next with 13 chart-topping albums. — AFP
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