“Prelude to Ecstasy”, the debut album by The Last Dinner Party, comprising Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies, and Aurora Nishevci, secures a historic moment by claiming the top spot on the UK Official Albums Chart.
The 2024 BRITs Rising Star winners have left an indelible mark, earning the title of the biggest album debut by a band in nine years. In its first week, “Prelude to Ecstasy” amassed an impressive 32,800 chart units, marking the most significant opening week for a debut album by a band since 2015 when Years & Years debuted with “Communion”, garnering 55,000 units.
The success doesn’t stop there; The Last Dinner Party’s debut also claims the throne on the Official Record Store Chart, asserting its dominance as the best seller in UK independent record shops this week. Notably, it achieves the status of the fastest-selling debut album by a group on vinyl of the century, with over 14,000 vinyl copies contributing to its total. This marks the most successful week in vinyl sales for an album since the remastered edition of Oasis’ “The Masterplan” in November.
In a music landscape filled with diverse talents, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Jamie Webster secures the second position with “10 For The People”, marking his third Top 10 and highest-charting album to date. Taylor Swift, following the recent announcement of her upcoming album “The Tortured Poets Department”, witnessed several of her albums making a resurgence on the Official Albums Chart, with “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and “Midnights” at Number 5 and 6, respectively.
Paul McCartney & Wings also make a notable return to the Top 40 with “Band on the Run”, reaching its highest placing since June 1975 after a special 50th-anniversary reissue. Glaswegian singer-songwriter Dylan John Thomas and psychedelic rockers Kula Shaker land at Number 21 and 22, respectively, with their latest releases.
Closing the week’s chart highlights, Bob Marley & The Wailers’ greatest hits collection, “Legend”, makes a significant leap to Number 25, generating anticipation for the upcoming biopic “Bob Marley: One Love” set to release on February 14, 2024.
The Last Dinner Party’s achievement not only signifies their rising prominence but also contributes to the vibrant tapestry of the UK music scene, marking a momentous occasion for both the band and music fans alike.