Winner takes it all as ABBA make UK album history
LONDON (Reuters) - Swedish supergroup ABBA made British chart history as their "Gold -- Greatest Hits" compilation became the oldest album to reach number one, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.
First released in 1992, the compilation has previously topped the charts on four separate occasions, but Sunday's achievement was the first time an album had taken the number one spot after such a long interval.
The Swedish group has enjoyed a resurgence on the back of the success of the film version of the hit musical "Mamma Mia!", with the soundtrack topping the album charts two weeks ago.
With worldwide sales topping 26 million "Gold" is one of the top 40 best selling albums of all time, while ABBA's legacy of hits has racked up worldwide album sales of more than 350 million, with the group still selling 3 million albums annually.
ABBA's success pushed last week's number "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" by Coldplay down to two, while Welsh singer Duffy and "Rockferry" rose one to three.
There were no new releases in the top 10, although Kid Rock's album "Rock N Roll Jesus" made an impressive showing climbing 141 places to four.
The U.S musician did even better in the singles chart taking top spot with "All Summer Long" knocking last week's number "Dance Wiv Me" by rapper Dizzee Rascal down to two.
Script's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" climbed 27 places to three, Katy Perry and "I Kissed a Girl" rose from 139 to four, with the Saturdays the only newcomer in the top 10, coming in at eight with "If This Is Love".
(Reporting by John Joseph; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
