British singer Adele’s 25 notched up the most sales in its opening week of any UK album, beating a record set in 1997 by Oasis, the Official Charts Company said on Friday.
The 27-year-old’s third studio album sold 800,307 copies – compared with Oasis’ previous record of 696,000 with Be Here Now – and amassed more sales than the last 19 No 1 albums in Britain combined.
It also became the most downloaded No 1 album ever, the charts company said.
“The statistics surrounding the album are staggering, topped by the simple fact that no album has ever sold 800,000 copies to reach Number 1 in the history of British music,” said Chief Executive Martin Talbot.
Adele, who also broke the single-week US album sales record in just four days with 25, announced on Thursday she would begin a 15-week concert tour of Britain, Ireland and continental Europe in February, her first tour in four years.
Elsewhere in the album charts, Elvis Presley was back up a place at two with the If I Can Dream compilation while Justin Bieber’s Purpose was third.
Bieber was also riding high in the UK singles chart, taking three of the top four places. Madonna was the last act to occupy the top two positions simultaneously back in 1985 with Into The Groove and Holiday.
Bieber’s Sorry was top, with Love Yourself second and What do you Mean fourth. Adele was third with Hello.
