Tom Jones scores record-breaking Number 1 album with Surrounded By Time: “I am forever grateful”
Sir Tom Jones reaffirms his status as a chart icon today as his new album Surrounded By Time lands straight in at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, setting a UK chart record.
At 80 years and 10 months old, Tom becomes the oldest male to claim a Number 1 album on the Official Albums Chart, and the oldest artist ever to do so with an album of new material, overtaking Bob Dylan, who topped the chart at 79 years old last June with Rough And Rowdy Ways.
The late Dame Vera Lynn holds the overall record with her greatest hits collection We’ll Meet Again – The Very Best Of, Number 1 in 2009 when Vera was 92. Read more on the oldest artists who ruled the Official Chart here.
MORE: Every Official UK Number 1 album ever
Surrounded By Time is Tom’s fourth Number 1 album and his first since 1999’s Reload. He’s also the first Welsh soloist to land a UK chart-topper in nine years, since Marina & The Diamonds’ Electra Heart in 2012.
Celebrating the news, Sir Tom Jones told OfficialCharts.com: "I am thrilled beyond words with the reception for Surrounded By Time, and to now hold these UK chart records is tremendous, just unbelievable.
"I am so proud of everyone who helped me create this music, I had a ball working with them and to get this result is just incredible. It’s wonderful that the public has allowed me to be musically expressive at my time of life and have shown their support. I am forever grateful."
Last week’s Number 1 album, Californian Soil by London Grammar, drops to 2, and AJ Tracey’s Flu Game completes the Top 5.
MORE: Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2021 so far
Just outside the Top 10, a 50th anniversary edition of John Lennon’s 1971 solo debut album Plastic Ono Band enters at Number 11. Similarly, a reissue of The Who’s third studio album The Who Sell Out lands at Number 15, and a reissue of ska band The Selecter’s 1980 album Too Much Pressure is new at Number 24 – and is this week’s best-selling album on vinyl.
Further down, alt-rock band Dinosaur Jr. claim their fifth Top 40 album with Sweep It Into Space at 29, Icelandic blues outfit Kaleo are new at 34 with Surface Sounds, and Sunderland rock band Field Music score their third Top 40 album with Flat White Moon at 36.
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Rico Sharma
yes boss
arsemonkey147
So, Tom Jones sets the record for oldest male number 1 of NEW material, but the overall record is Vera Lynn with a GREATEST HITS record. Can we please stop this BS that she holds records as oldest artist to chart, she was not that age when they were recorded so it does not count!!!!
Marko
The Pale White - Infinite Pleasure should be in Top 10.
Two good songs on the album.
Marko
London Grammar with 1 good song on the album, How Does It Feel
NC
Nigel Coleman
But can't have a hit single.
Marko
Dinosaur Jr. and Field Music both awful albums
DJ
Derek Johnston
This is not unusual...
thierry henon
Congrats to Sir Tom Jones: am overjoyed!
Piran
Oh wow, I didn't even realise that this album set a new chart record this week! Congratulations, Sir Tom Jones. :)
NC
Nigel Coleman
Congratulations Tom.
But the likes of Tom Jones can't have a Top 100 Single cause of the way the Singles Charts work now.
It can't be cause the album is , cause it wouldn't be No1.
Someone could sit down all-day at home streaming the same song all-day just to get it further up the chart.
Alfred Lock
Not just One More Cup Of Coffee for the road more like 7.4 millions cups to compete with the Rap juggernauts that clog up the charts right now.
Piran
There's a cap of 10 streams per day on each platform that count towards OCC though, so streaming the same song all day would do nothing more to the chart than if you just listened it to for like 30-40 minutes every day, haha. :)
NC
Nigel Coleman
Glad to hear it.
Piran
I actually don't mind the inclusion of streaming in the charts, but I definitely agree with the daily cap on them! :P