Throughout his lengthy and prestigious career, singer-songwriter James Taylor has achieved many great things, but a US Number One album has always eluded him: until today! Taylor’s 47 year wait for a Billboard chart topping LP came to an end this week as it was announced that his new effort Before This World had outsold all rivals.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Taylor’s 17th studio album sold 97,000 copies in its first week of release to debut atop the Billboard 200, with 96,000 of those coming through actual album sales (as opposed to streaming or track equivalents). His very first album, a self-titled effort, was released in December 1968 but only achieved a chart peak of Number 62 in the US.

James TaylorJames Taylor scored his first ever US No.1 album

Only Tony Bennett has waited longer for an album to reach the top of the American charts, with 2011’s Duets coming 54 years after his 1957 debut album. However, Taylor has achieved far more Top Ten-charting albums without hitting the top, with 11. Again, only Neil Diamond managed more (14) before achieving his first chart-topper.

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Dealing with the rest of this week’s Top Ten (ending June 21st), Taylor Swift notches up yet another week in the Top Ten, with 1989 a non-mover at Number 2 with 57,000 sales. Adam Lambert, the runner-up of 2009’s ‘American Idol’ and sometime Queen lead singer, scores a new entry at Number 3 with The Original High, selling 47,000 copies in its first week.

Ed Sheeran’s X climbs two places to Number 4 (39,000), the highest it’s been in the Billboard charts since February. Hilary Duff’s first album in eight years, Breathe In. Breathe Out. debuts at Number 5, with 33,000 sales.

Country singer Sam Hunt gains more momentum, with his album Montevallo achieving its highest chart position climbing a place to Number 6 (32,000 copies). Fun’s lead singer Nate Ruess enters at Number 7 with his first solo album Grand Romantic (31,000 copies).

Meghan Trainor’s Title continues its steady sales, jumping two places to Number 8 (27,000 copies); Maroon 5’s evergreen V is a non-mover at Number 9 (27,000 copies); and Mumford & Sons see a much-needed boost to their flagging sales as Wilder Mind jumps nine places to Number 10 (27,000).

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