Pink Floyd Tops UK Charts

Pink Floyd’s haunting album, simply titled Pink Floyd in Pompeii, features a memorable 1972 performance held at the ruins of Pompeii. This release marks the band’s seventh album to hit the top of the UK charts.

The album includes a concert documented by director Adrian Maven, widely regarded as one of the most captivating concert films in rock history. While the recording was part of a larger Pink Floyd box set previously, this marks its first individual release, complete with a new sound mix overseen by progressive rock artist Stephen Wilson.

This is Pink Floyd’s first number one since The Endless River in 2014. Other chart-topping albums include Atom Heart Mother (1970), Wish You Were Here (1975), The Final Cut (1983), The Division Bell (1994), and Pulse (1995).

Interestingly, even though The Dark Side of the Moon has achieved 16 times platinum status and spent a staggering 578 weeks on the charts, it only reached number two. Classic albums like Meddle, Animals, and The Wall also made it into the top three but did not clinch the number one spot, which has been claimed by artists such as Rod Stewart and Ava.

Pink Floyd in Pompeii isn’t the only new entry by a British band this week. Pop group James is debuting at number 27 with James (live at the Acropolis), showcasing their concert from July 2023 at the Odeon, Herodes Atticus, under Athens’ Acropolis.

Other notable releases this week include Andy Bell from Erasure, whose solo album Ten Crowns has landed at number four—marking his first entry on the charts. Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter’s single N’Sweet, which has spent 37 weeks in the UK top five, makes a return to number two.

On the singles chart, Alex Warren typically opens at eighth place, but Ravyn Lenae, a US R&B artist, is making waves, climbing to number two with her debut British hit Love Me Not. Released in August 2024, the song made its chart debut at number 89 in February and has been steadily rising.