Alicia Keys Scores Her First UK Number One

07/02/2010

Alicia Keys, the multi-award winning singer, song writer, musician, producer, actress and philanthropist, scores her first number one in the Official Albums Chart this week with her fourth studio album The Element Of Freedom, the Official Charts Company announces today.

The Element Of Freedom (up from number two last week) is the follow up to Keys’ multi-platinum selling 2007 album As I Am which peaked at number eleven in the UK.   The Element Of Freedom was released in December 2009 when it entered the Official Albums Chart at number seventeen.

Keys’ previous best Official Albums Chart position was number six for her debut album Songs In A Minor (2001).  She has sold millions of records worldwide and notched up twelve Grammy Awards.
Keys is also currently at number five in the Official Singles Chart with Empire State Of Mind (Part II).  She embarks on a nationwide UK Arena tour in May 2010.

Dutch violinist Andre Rieu’s Forever Vienna at number two (up from number four) is one of the more unusual albums, a compilation of classical waltzes, ever to have made an impact on the Official Albums Chart.  Rieu formed his first salon orchestra 35 years ago and has since become known as the Waltz King, performing sell-out concerts and selling millions of records worldwide.  Forever Vienna entered the Official Albums Chart at twenty two at the end of last year has now been in the Official Albums Chart Top 10 for four weeks.

There are three new entries in the Official Album Charts Top 10 this week which have all leapt straight in: Corinne Bailey Rae at number five with The Sea, Kesha at number eight with Animal and Peter Andre at number nine with Unconditional Love Songs.                                                                                                                                          

Owl Cities’ Fireflies is number one for a third week in the Official Singles Chart while Jedward feat. Vanilla Ice are the highest new entry at number two with Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby).

There is just one other new entry in the Official Singles Chart Top 10:  Timbaland feat Katie Perry’s If We Ever Meet Again at number three (up from seventeen).

Notes to Editors:

1.   Chart information quoted from this release must be credited to The Official Charts Company

2.  The Official Charts Company (OCC) is a joint venture between record labels’ body the BPI and ERA, the Entertainment Retailers Association.   The OCC is responsible for the commissioning, marketing, distribution and management of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and is endorsed by the BVA (British Video Association).

3. The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information gathered across all key distribution (or entertainment) channels including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets, mail order internet retailers and digital music service providers. This market research sample equates to 99% of the total UK Singles market; 98% of the total UK Albums market and 90% of the total UK DVD market.

For further information contact:
Amy Howard, Official Charts Company.
T: 01480 860 530  M. 07768 891 264
E: amy@theofficialcharts.com
  

www.theofficialcharts.com

The Chart Show with Reggie Yates, Sunday 4pm-7pm, BBC Radio 1.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/

Ends.                                                                                                                                           

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