The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom.[1][2][3] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 2003, as well as albums which peaked in 2002 and 2004 but were in the top 10 in 2003. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and twenty-two albums were in the top ten this year. Sixteen albums from 2002 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while Elephunk by The Black Eyed Peas and Twentysomething by Jamie Cullum were both released in 2003 but did not reach their peak until 2004. Come Away with Me by Norah Jones, Justified by Justin Timberlake, Let Go by Avril Lavigne and Missundaztood by Pink were the albums from 2002 to reach their peak in 2003. Eleven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2003. 50 Cent, Busted, Girls Aloud, Michael Bublé and Sean Paul were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 album in 2003.
One-hundred and twenty-two albums charted in the top 10 in 2003, with one-hundred and eight albums reaching their peak this year (including The Record and The Very Best of Cat Stevens, which both charted in previous years but reached a peak on their latest chart run).
Eleven artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 2003. Blue, Busted, Elvis Presley, Pink, Rachel Stevens, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R. Kelly, Robbie Williams, Sugababes and Westlife were the acts who had two top 10 albums this year. Busted and R. Kelly's two entries were both released this year.
Twenty-nine artists achieved their first top 10 album in 2003 as a lead artist. Busted and R. Kelly both had one more entry in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo album, or featured appearances on compilations or other artists recordings.
As members of Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé had two top 10 albums to their name (The Writing's on the Wall in 1999 and Survivor two years later). Both had debut solo albums in 2003 that reached high positions - Beyoncé's Dangerously in Love and Kelly Rowland's Simply Deep topped the chart.
Ex Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh peaked at number 9 with her first and only solo album Standing Tall. Rachel Stevens broke out on her own after S Club went on hiatus and she made the top 10 with Funky Dory, her debut album.
Entered (week ending) | Weeks in top 10 | Single | Artist | Peak | Peak reached (week ending) | Weeks at peak | Albums in 2002 |
---|
format=dmy|2002|02|09}} | 31 | Missundaztood | Pink | 2 | format=dmy|2003|01|18}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2002|06|08}} | 14 | The Eminem Show ‡ {{ref label|Eminem Show|C|c}} | Eminem | 1 | format=dmy|2002|06|08}} | 5 |
29 | Come Away with Me {{ref label|Come Away|D|d}} (#5) | Norah Jones | 1 | format=dmy|2003|03|08}} | 4 |
format=dmy|2002|07|20}} | 28 | By the Way ‡ {{ref label|By the Way|E|e}} | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 1 | format=dmy|2002|07|20}} | 5 |
format=dmy|2002|08|24}} | 2 | Melody AM ‡ {{ref label|Melody AM|F|f}} | Royksopp | 9 | format=dmy|2002|08|24}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2002|09|07}} | 31 | A Rush of Blood to the Head ‡ {{ref label|Rush of Blood|G|g}} (#7) | Coldplay | 1 | format=dmy|2002|09|07}} | 3 |
7 | Angels with Dirty Faces ‡ {{ref label|Angels with Dirty Faces|H|h}} | Sugababes | 2 | format=dmy|2002|09|07}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2002|10|05}} | 9 | 30 No. 1 Hits ‡ | Elvis Presley | 1 | format=dmy|2002|10|05}} | 2 |
28 | Let Go | Avril Lavigne | 1 | format=dmy|2003|01|11}} | 3 |
format=dmy|2002|11|02}} | 4 | One by One ‡ {{ref label|One by One|I|i}} | Foo Fighters | 1 | format=dmy|2002|11|02}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2002|11|09}} | 10 | A New Day at Midnight ‡ | David Gray | 1 | format=dmy|2002|11|09}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2002|11|16}} | 10 | One Love ‡ | Blue | 1 | format=dmy|2002|11|16}} | 1 |
24 | Justified {{ref label|Justified|J|j}} (#2) | Justin Timberlake | 1 | format=dmy|2003|02|01}} | 7 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2002|11|23}} | 9 | The Greatest Hits Volume 1 ‡ | Westlife | 1 | format=dmy|2002|11|23}} | 1 |
11 | Greatest Hits 1970–2002 ‡ {{ref label|Elton Greatest Hits|K|k}} | Elton John | 3 | format=dmy|2002|11|23}} | 2 |
format=dmy|2002|11|30}} | 14 | Escapology ‡ {{ref label|Escapology|L|l}} | Robbie Williams | 1 | format=dmy|2002|11|30}} | 7 |
Albums in 2003 |
---|
format=dmy|2003|01|18}} | 17 | Gotta Get Thru This {{ref label|Gotta Get Thru This|M|m}} (#4) | Daniel Bedingfield | 2 | format=dmy|2003|08|02}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|01|25}} | 17 | Busted {{ref label|Busted debut|N|n}} | Busted | 2 | format=dmy|2003|02|08}} | 2 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|02|01}} | 21 | Stripped {{ref label|Stripped|O|o}} (#3) | Christina Aguilera | 2 | format=dmy|2003|03|15}} | 1 |
3 | The Record {{ref label|Bee Gees|P|p}} | Bee Gees | 5 | format=dmy|2003|02|08}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|02|15}} | 4 | Simply Deep | Kelly Rowland | 1 | format=dmy|2003|02|15}} | 1 |
2 | The Greatest Hits | Lisa Stansfield | 3 | format=dmy|2003|02|15}} | 1 |
2 | I Care 4 U | Aaliyah | 4 | format=dmy|2003|02|15}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|02|22}} | 2 | 100th Window | Massive Attack | 1 | format=dmy|2003|02|22}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|03|01}} | 8 | Get Rich or Die Tryin' {{ref label|Get Rich|Q|q}} | 50 Cent | 2 | format=dmy|2003|03|01}} | 1 |
5 | Greatest Hits {{ref label|Tom Jones|R|r}} | Tom Jones | 2 | format=dmy|2003|03|08}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|03|08}} | 1 | Everything's Eventual | Appleton | 9 | format=dmy|2003|03|08}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|03|15}} | 1 | Ether Song | Turin Brakes | 4 | format=dmy|2003|03|15}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|03|22}} | 1 | Reason | Melanie C | 5 | format=dmy|2003|03|22}} | 1 |
5 | Daniel in Blue Jeans: 20 Great Rock 'N' Roll Love Songs | Daniel O'Donnell | 3 | format=dmy|2003|03|29}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|03|29}} | 1 | Back in the World Live | Paul McCartney | 5 | format=dmy|2003|03|29}} | 1 |
2 | Ballads – The Love Song Collection | Boyzone | 6 | format=dmy|2003|03|29}} | 2 |
1 | Neon Nights | Dannii Minogue | 8 | format=dmy|2003|03|29}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|04|05}} | 4 | Meteora | Linkin Park | 1 | format=dmy|2003|04|05}} | 1 |
5 | Home | Simply Red | 2 | format=dmy|2003|04|05}} | 1 |
1 | One Heart | Celine Dion | 4 | format=dmy|2003|04|05}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|04|12}} | 10 | Elephant | {{sortname|The|White Stripes}} | 1 | format=dmy|2003|04|12}} | 2 |
1 | Eye Candy | Mis-Teeq | 6 | format=dmy|2003|04|12}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|04|19}} | 1 | The Very Best Of | Lighthouse Family | 9 | format=dmy|2003|04|19}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|05|03}} | 4 | American Life | Madonna | 1 | format=dmy|2003|05|03}} | 1 |
1 | Couldn't Have Said It Better | Meat Loaf | 4 | format=dmy|2003|05|03}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|05|10}} | 1 | Seven Years – Ten Weeks | David Sneddon | 5 | format=dmy|2003|05|10}} | 1 |
2 | Say You Will | Fleetwood Mac | 6 | format=dmy|2003|05|10}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|05|17}} | 3 | Think Tank | Blur | 1 | format=dmy|2003|05|17}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|05|24}} | 1 | The Golden Age of Grotesque | Marilyn Manson | 4 | format=dmy|2003|05|24}} | 1 |
16 | Fallen {{ref label|Fallen|S|s}} | Evanescence | 1 | format=dmy|2003|06|28}} | 1 |
3 | Chocolate Factory | R. Kelly | 10 | format=dmy|2003|05|24}} | 3 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|05|31}} | 3 | Nu-Flow {{ref label|Nu Flow|T|t}} | Big Brovaz | 6 | format=dmy|2003|05|31}} | 1 |
1 | Deftones | Deftones | 7 | format=dmy|2003|05|31}} | 1 |
4 | The Definitive {{ref label|Drifters|U|u}} | {{sortname|The|Drifters}} | 8 | format=dmy|2003|05|31}} | 2 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|06|07}} | 1 | Sound of the Underground | Girls Aloud | 2 | format=dmy|2003|06|07}} | 1 |
3 | How the West Was Won | Led Zeppelin | 5 | format=dmy|2003|06|07}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|06|14}} | 10 | You Gotta Go There to Come Back {{ref label|Gotta Go There|V|v}} | Stereophonics | 1 | format=dmy|2003|06|14}} | 1 |
4 | The Greatest Hits of S Club 7 | S Club 7 | 2 | format=dmy|2003|06|14}} | 1 |
3 | St. Anger | Metallica | 3 | format=dmy|2003|06|14}} | 1 |
3 | Labour of Love, Vols. I, II & III: The Platinum Collection | UB40 | 7 | format=dmy|2003|06|21}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|06|21}} | 3 | Hail to the Thief | Radiohead | 1 | format=dmy|2003|06|21}} | 1 |
3 | Bare | Annie Lennox | 3 | format=dmy|2003|06|21}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|07|05}} | 9 | Dangerously in Love {{ref label|Dangerously in Love|W|w}} | Beyoncé | 1 | format=dmy|2003|07|05}} | 5 |
6 | The Greatest Hits of George Benson | George Benson | 4 | format=dmy|2003|07|05}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 9 | Innocent Eyes {{ref label|Innocent Eyes|X|x}} | Delta Goodrem | 2 | format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 2 |
4 | So Much for the City {{ref label|So Much|Y|y}} | {{sortname|The|Thrills}} | 3 | format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 1 |
1 | Chapter II | Ashanti | 5 | format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 1 |
3 | Parts of the Process (The Very Best of Morcheeba) | Morcheeba | 6 | format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 1 |
1 | Fire | Electric Six | 7 | format=dmy|2003|07|12}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|07|19}} | 22 | Permission to Land {{ref label|Permission to Land|Z|z}} (#6) | {{sortname|The|Darkness|The Darkness (band)}} | 1 | format=dmy|2003|09|06}} | 4 |
2 | Ultimate Collection | {{sortname|The|Osmonds}} | 4 | format=dmy|2003|07|19}} | 1 |
7 | Youth & Young Manhood {{ref label|Youth|AA|aa}} | Kings of Leon | 3 | format=dmy|2003|07|26}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|08|02}} | 1 | Phantom Power | Super Furry Animals | 4 | format=dmy|2003|08|02}} | 1 |
1 | Standing Tall | Kym Marsh | 9 | format=dmy|2003|08|02}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|08|09}} | 4 | Magic and Medicine | {{sortname|The|Coral}} | 1 | format=dmy|2003|08|09}} | 1 |
9 | Dutty Rock {{ref label|Dutty Rock|BB|bb}} | Sean Paul | 2 | format=dmy|2003|09|13}} | 1 |
1 | 35th Anniversary Collection | Yes | 10 | format=dmy|2003|08|09}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|08|23}} | 5 | American Tune | Eva Cassidy | 1 | format=dmy|2003|08|23}} | 2 |
1 | Kokopelli | Kosheen | 7 | format=dmy|2003|08|23}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|08|30}} | 1 | Cast of Thousands | Elbow | 7 | format=dmy|2003|08|30}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|09|06}} | 1 | Take Them On, On Your Own | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club | 3 | format=dmy|2003|09|06}} | 1 |
1 | Love & Life | Mary J. Blige | 8 | format=dmy|2003|09|06}} | 1 |
format=dmy|2003|09|13}} | 2 | You've Got a Friend: The Best of James Taylor | James Taylor | 4 | format=dmy|2003|09|13}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|09|20}} | 1 | Dance of Death | Iron Maiden | 2 | format=dmy|2003|09|20}} | 1 |
1 | Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose | {{sortname|The|Cooper Temple Clause}} | 5 | format=dmy|2003|09|20}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|09|27}} | 2 | Silence Is Easy | Starsailor | 2 | format=dmy|2003|09|27}} | 1 |
1 | Reality | David Bowie | 3 | format=dmy|2003|09|27}} | 1 |
1 | Seal IV | Seal | 4 | format=dmy|2003|09|27}} | 1 |
1 | Grand Champ | DMX | 6 | format=dmy|2003|09|27}} | 1 |
8 | Pure {{ref label|Pure|CC|cc}} | Hayley Westenra | 7 | format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 |
17 | Elephunk ♦ {{ref label|Elephunk|DD|dd}} | {{sortname|The|Black Eyed Peas}} | 3 | format=dmy|2004|01|17}} | 4 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 2 | Absolution | Muse | 1 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 1 |
2 | Sacred Love | Sting | 3 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 1 |
7 | The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 | R. Kelly | 4 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 2 |
2 | The Long Road | Nickelback | 5 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 1 |
1 | Results May Vary | Limp Bizkit | 7 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 1 |
1 | Singles 93–03 | {{sortname|The|Chemical Brothers}} | 9 | format=dmy|2003|10|04}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|10|11}} | 21 | Life for Rent (#1) | Dido | 1 | format=dmy|2003|10|11}} | 10 |
4 | Live at Knebworth | Robbie Williams | 2 | format=dmy|2003|10|11}} | 2 |
1 | Funky Dory | Rachel Stevens | 9 | format=dmy|2003|10|11}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|10|18}} | 2 | ELVIIS: 2nd to None | Elvis Presley | 4 | format=dmy|2003|10|18}} | 1 |
2 | Michael Bublé | Michael Bublé | 6 | format=dmy|2003|10|18}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|10|25}} | 5 | The Very Best of Sheryl Crow {{ref label|Sheryl Crow|EE|ee}} | Sheryl Crow | 2 | format=dmy|2003|10|25}} | 1 |
2 | 12 Memories | Travis | 3 | format=dmy|2003|10|25}} | 1 |
3 | The Very Best of Cat Stevens (2003 UK Edition) {{ref label|Cat Stevens|FF|ff}} | Cat Stevens | 6 | format=dmy|2003|11|01}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|01}} | 2 | Room on Fire | {{sortname|The|Strokes}} | 2 | format=dmy|2003|11|01}} | 1 |
4 | The Great American Songbook, Volume II | Rod Stewart | 4 | format=dmy|2003|11|01}} | 1 |
1 | Careful What You Wish For | Texas | 5 | format=dmy|2003|11|01}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|08}} | 12 | The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003 (#10) | R.E.M. | 1 | format=dmy|2003|11|08}} | 1 |
5 | Three {{ref label|Three|GG|gg}} | Sugababes | 3 | format=dmy|2003|11|08}} | 1 |
6 | Twentysomething ♦ {{ref label|Twentysomething|HH|hh}} | Jamie Cullum | 3 | format=dmy|2004|03|06}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|15}} | 4 | Guilty | Blue | 1 | format=dmy|2003|11|15}} | 1 |
1 | This Left Feels Right | Bon Jovi | 4 | format=dmy|2003|11|15}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 | Try This | Pink | 3 | format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 |
1 | Ladies Night | Atomic Kitten | 5 | format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 |
2 | Bryn | Bryn Terfel | 6 | format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 |
1 | The Definitive Collection | Lionel Richie & The Commodores | 10 | format=dmy|2003|11|22}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 10 | Number Ones (#8) | Michael Jackson | 1 | format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 1 |
7 | A Present for Everyone (#9) | Busted | 2 | format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 1 |
9 | Greatest Hits {{ref label|Red Hot Chili Peppers|II|ii}} | Red Hot Chili Peppers | 4 | format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 1 |
1 | Body Language | Kylie Minogue | 6 | format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 1 |
1 | Let It Be... Naked | {{sortname|The|Beatles}} | 7 | format=dmy|2003|11|29}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|12|06}} | 5 | Turnaround | Westlife | 1 | format=dmy|2003|12|06}} | 1 |
2 | Introduction | Alex Parks | 5 | format=dmy|2003|12|06}} | 1 |
{{dts|format=dmy|2003|12|13}} | 15 | Friday's Child {{ref label|Friday's Child|JJ|jj}} | Will Young | 1 | format=dmy|2003|12|13}} | 2 |
2 | Cliff at Christmas | Cliff Richard | 9 | format=dmy|2003|12|20}} | 1 |
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 2003, including albums that reached their peak in 2002. The figures only include main artists, with featured artists and appearances on compilation albums not counted individually for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 2003 is also shown.
1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/|title=The Official Charts Company|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=28 December 2014}}
2. ^{{cite book|title=Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition)|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2005|isbn=1-904994-00-8|pages=14|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited}}
3. ^{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3196892.stm |title=New singles formats to save the charts|work=BBC News|date=16 October 2003 |accessdate=21 February 2010}}