• News

• All

Jan 18, 2016 David Bowie By Christopher Roberts

David Bowie‘s final album, Blackstar (styled as ★), has become the iconic singer’s first album to hit #1 on the Billboard American album charts. He’s had plenty of #1 albums in other countries, such as the United Kingdom (where Blackstar also hit #1), but #1 on the U.S. Billboard album charts have proved elusive until now. His last album, 2013’s The Next Day, debuted at #2, so it’s possible the critically acclaimed Blackstar could have hit #1 even if Bowie hadn’t passed away two days after the album’s release, but his death no doubt increased sales.

Blackstar dethroned Adele’s seven-week reign at the top of the chart with her blockbuster 25 album. Blackstar sold 181,000 copies, versus the 85,000 first week sales of The Next Day. Nine other Bowie titles re-entered the Billboard Top 200, including Best of Bowie at #4 and Ziggy Stardust and the Spider From Mars at #21. Other previous U.S. Top 10 Bowie albums include Let’s Dance (#4, 1983), ChangesOneBowie (#10, 1976), Station to Station (#3, 1976), Young Americans (#9, 1975), David Live (#8, 1974), and Diamond Dogs (#5, 1974).

As we previously reported, Bowie passed away last Sunday after an 18-month battle with cancer. His death came as something of a shock, as his cancer diagnosis was not made public. Below is the video for “Blackstar.”