Michael Jackson Sets Records in UK and US
King of Pop Number One Album, Dominates Hot Digital Songs Charts
Jul 2, 2009
Just three days after his untimely death at the age of 50 and mere weeks before he was set to make a comeback in the UK, Jackson ruled both the singles and the album charts in that country.
Michael Jackson Number One in the UK
Sixteen Michael Jackson singles pounded the top 75 places on the Official UK Chart, the biggest of which, “Man in the Mirror” landed just outside the top ten at number 11 but is expected to place even higher next week.
Including hits recorded as The Jackson 5 and The Jackson's, his total reaches 19 different singles claiming a place in the upper echelons of the pop charts.
Of those 19 hits, six ranked inside the top 40 lead by the aforementioned “Man in the Mirror”, only a minor hit in the UK upon initial release in 1987. “Thriller” made number 23, “Billie Jean” claimed 25, “Smooth Criminal” stole 28, “Beat It” hit 30 and “Earth Song” chirped at 38.
Jackson's six concurrent hits in the UK top 40 sets a new record in that country.
Number Ones hits Number One
Though a prolific hit maker, most of Michael Jackson's biggest tracks came from very few albums. Starting with 1979's Off the Wall, Jackson released five albums proper in twenty years plus the hybrid HIStory from 1995 which included a disc of new material and a half-hearted greatest hits collection as the second disc.
Jackson’s Number Ones compilation debuts at the top followed by his greatest accomplishment Thriller at Number 7. Another compilation, the UK release of King Of Pop lands at 14, Off The Wall at 17, and a third compilation, 2005's The Essential Michael Jackson, rounds off the top 20. The re-release Thriller 25 charts at 45 and 1987's Bad at 59.
In total, Michael Jackson placed seven albums on the UK album chart in the days following the news of his death.
Michael Jackson Dominated the Billboard Chart
In the US, the leading charts from Billboard, released every Thursday, allowed for one week of commercial activity to pass after his death. As a result Jackson made and even bigger splash on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog chart.
Created in 1991 to give an edge to newer albums over older material, the catalog chart tracks albums older than 18 months, making them ineligible to chart on the main Billboard Top 200.
Jackson moved so much product in the US, that he completely filled the top 9 out of 10 slots. As in the UK, Number Ones grabs the top spot, followed by The Essential Michael Jackson at number 2 and Thriller at 3.
Off the Wall re-entered just behind Thriller at number four followed by the Jackson 5's The Ultimate Collection and Bad. Dangerous returned to the chart at number 7 followed by two more compilations, HIStory and The Ultimate Collection, to round out the number 8 and number 9 positions respectively.
Jackson Breaks Record on Billboard Hot Digital Songs Chart
While Jackson failed to re-appear on the Billboard Hot 100, he placed six entries in the top ten on the Hot Digital Songs Chart starting with “Thriller” a number 2. “Man in the Mirror” comes in at number 3 followed closely by Jackson’s biggest hit “Billie Jean”.
“Way You Make Me Feel” snags the number 6 position followed behind by “Beat It” at number 7 and “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” at number 9.
Just outside the top ten, Jackson places another six songs in the top 25 making a total of 12 tracks by the King of Pop. A trio of hits, “Smooth Criminal”, “Black or White” and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” controls the positions 12 – 14 respectively, while “Rock with You” grabs the number 17 position. “Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'” rounds off the top 20 while “Bad” controls the 23rd position.
Billboard reports that in total, Jackson scored 25 songs on the 75-position Hot Digital Songs chart including four tracks recorded with his brothers.
Jackson’s placings smash the US record of 14 charting tracks established last year by the newly crowned American Idol David Cook who placed 14 simultaneous hits on the charts.
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