Ed Sheeran Scores Seventh U.K. No. 1 With ‘Autumn Variations’

October 9, 2023 E Jazz Reporter

Artistes

“Autumn Variations” keeps Ed Sheeran’s perfect streak alive.

Ed Sheeran performs during the Heart and Armor Foundation benefit concert at The Wiltern on Sept. 19, 2023 in Los Angeles.

Timothy Norris/Getty Images

Ed Sheeran extends his perfect U.K. albums chart record as Autumn Variations (via Gingerbread Man) debuts at No. 1.

Produced with the National’s Aaron Dessner, Autumn Variations bows at the summit of the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, Oct. 6, for the Brit’s seventh straight leader.

The leader at the halfway stage, when it dominated its nearest competitor by more than two-combined-sales-to-one, Autumn Variations is Sheeran’s second leader this year. It finishes the U.K. chart week as the best-seller on wax, and follows national No. 1s with his 2011 debut + (plus), 2014’s x (multiply), 2017’s ÷ (divide), 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project, 2021’s=(equals) and 2023’s – (subtract).

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Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore LP Guts (Geffen) holds at No. 2 for a third consecutive week, while Jorja Smith enjoys a podium finish with her second studio album Falling Or Flying (FAMM), new at No. 3. Smith, the 2018 BRITs Critics Choice award winner, has now landed three titles in the U.K. top 10, a tally that includes her 2018 debut Lost & Found (No. 3) and 2021 EP Be Right Back (No. 9).

Also new to the top tier is The Harmony Codex (SW Records), the third solo album from Porcupine Tree‘s Steven Wilson. It’s new at No. 4 on the U.K. chart, matching the peak of his previous effort, 2021’s The Future Bites (2017’s To the Bone reached No. 3).

Meanwhile, U.S. rock act Black Stone Cherry nabs a fourth U.K. top 10 album with Screamin’ at the Sky (Mascot), new at No. 6.

Further down the list, British synth-wave outfit Gunship rides to a new career peak position with Unicorn (Horsie In The Hedge), bowing at No. 26; U.K. Eurovision 2023 rep Mae Muller scores her first U.K. top 40 album with Sorry I’m Late (Capitol), arriving at No. 33, and British soul veteran Beverley Knight nabs an eighth with The Fifth Chapter (Tag8), starting at No. 39.

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