Since his death in January 2016, David Bowie has posthumously charted dozens of new albums in his home country of the United Kingdom. More than 30 collections with his name attached have debuted on the U.K.’s Official Albums chart since his passing, and while most have only hung around for a week or two, there is one project that stands out as far and away his longest-running success.
Amazingly, Bowie’s longest-charting effort on the most competitive albums roster did not drop until months after his death, but ever since, it has remained undeniably popular. This period, the singer’s Legacy reaches a milestone he never saw during his lifetime – and one which only a handful of extremely beloved musicians will ever approach.
David Bowie’s Legacy Reaches 500 Weeks
As of this period, Bowie’s Legacy, one of many compilations released that feature his most popular tracks, has lived on the Official Albums chart for 500 weeks. The tally, one of the most competitive in the U.K., ranks albums and EPs based on a methodology that takes into account sales and streams. Legacy has succeeded when it comes to both metrics, though plays on platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify seem to be largely responsible for the title’s nonstop presence.
Legacy Remains David Bowie’s Longest-Charting Album
Legacy has long reigned as Bowie’s set with the most time spent on the Official Albums chart, and it is his first to make it to 500 weeks. In fact, Legacy may be the only collection by Bowie to ever crack that incredible landmark, as none of his other projects are even close to doing so, and they never have been.
Bowie’s second longest-charting studio effort remains The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which is up to 168 weeks somewhere on the 100-space list. Only two other projects by Bowie – the simply-named Best of Bowie and Hunky Dory – have passed triple-digit stints somewhere on the ranking as well. The first of those two, another compilation, has spent 163 weeks on the chart, while Hunky Dory managed 151.
David Bowie Debuted Eight Albums in 2016 Alone
Legacy was one of eight albums by Bowie to not only reach, but debut on the Official Albums chart in 2016. He died in the first few days of that year, shortly after dropping his final traditional album Blackstar on January 8. As that set opened at No. 1, Scary Monsters and The Man Who Sold the World also arrived. Throughout the rest of 2016, several other projects, including Lodger, Back in Anger — Live with Nine Inch Nails and several compilations, hit the tally before Legacy cracked the top 10, where it peaked at No. 5.
Legacy Already Passed 500 Weeks on the Streaming List
Legacy lives on two lists in the U.K., and amazingly, it has already passed 500 weeks on the other. The compilation dips to No. 55 on the Official Albums Streaming chart – only a few spaces above its No. 62 placement on the Official Albums tally. Last frame, Legacy celebrated 500 weeks as one of the 100 most-streamed titles in the U.K. The fact that it does not appear on any sales rundowns points to its popularity on streaming sites, which appear to be keeping it going.