Fueled by the viral hit “We’re not talking about Bruno”, the Encanto the soundtrack topped the Billboard 200 for eight straight weeks earlier this year. This is the longest continuous run at No. 1 so far this year. But it is very far from the record.
In the past 20 years, two albums have managed to string together 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 – Adele’s 21 from January to March 2012, and Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: the double album from January to March 2021. The last album to record more than 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 was the Titanic soundtrack, which topped for 16 consecutive weeks in 1998.
Long continuous runs at No. 1 were quite common. Between March 1956, when the Billboard 200 was introduced, and May 1998, when Titanic ended its long reign, 19 albums spent 15 or more consecutive weeks at No. 1. Let’s take a closer look at those albums that completely topped the Billboard 200 in their time.
First of all, Michael Jackson Thriller deserves a special mention. He was No. 1 for 17 consecutive weeks twice – from February 26, 1983 to June 18, 1983, when “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” topped the Hot 100, and again from December 24, 1983 to April 14, 1984, when the “Thriller” video topped MTV and the album swept nominations and awards at the 1984 Grammy Awards. An interesting side note: Iconic ’80s movie soundtracks broke Jackson’s 17-week winning streaks every time. lightning dance ended Thrillerfirst long run of No. 1. Free from all ties finishes his second.
Five of the six albums with the longest continuous streaks at No. 1 since the inception of the Billboard 200 are movie soundtracks, which dramatizes the power of the movie/music connection. The non-soundtrack with the longest continuous run at No. 1 (20 weeks) is by Harry Belafonte Calypsowho was at the forefront of the calypso craze of the 1950s.
by Carole King Tapestry had the longest continuous run at No. 1 (15 weeks) of any album by a female solo artist. Billy Ray Cyrus’ Some gave their all had the longest continuous run at No. 1 (17 weeks) for a country album – and for an artist’s debut album in any genre. MC Hammer’s Please hammer, don’t hurt them had the longest continuous run at No. 1 (18 weeks) for a hip-hop album.
As we progress, we’ll note the albums that topped those hit albums after such long runs. Some were unlikely “giant killers” – including albums by Bobbie Gentry and Gerry Rafferty. Here are all the albums that have had 15 or more consecutive weeks at No. 1 since the Billboard 200’s inception in March 1956 through today, starting with five albums that had 15 consecutive weeks at the top and ending with one album. who had 29 consecutive weeks. top weeks.
(From May 1959 to August 1963, Billboard released separate mono and stereo cards, which has complicated things for card researchers ever since. For this four-year period, we show all albums that recorded 15 weeks or more at #1 on either chart.)
