No. 1: The Eddy Duchin Story

No. 2: The King and I

Notes: The first album was part of a biopic about the famous orchestra leader who achieved numerous hits during the 1930s, including “Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?” and “Let’s Fall in Love.” The latter album originated from the film adaptation of the acclaimed Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical, which won the prestigious Tony Award for best musical in 1952.

No. 1: Bing Crosby, Merry Christmas

No. 2: Elvis Presley, Elvis’ Christmas Album

Notes: During the 1957-58 holiday season, fans were treated to a variety of musical styles, whether they preferred the classic “White Christmas” or the more modern “Blue Christmas.” Crosby’s timeless album was initially released in 1945, while Presley’s holiday album, which dominated the charts in the final three weeks of 1957, was a fresh release. Both albums retained their top two positions the following week, with Presley reclaiming the lead.

No. 1: The Music Man

No. 2: My Fair Lady

Notes: The Music Man, featuring Robert Preston as the charming con artist Professor Harold Hill, won the Tony Award for best musical in 1958. My Fair Lady, starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews, had also claimed the same award in 1957. Together, these albums dominated the Billboard 200 for a striking total of 27 weeks, with My Fair Lady holding the top spot for 15 weeks, while The Music Man ruled for 12 weeks. Notably, Andrews and Preston would later co-star in the 1982 film Victor/Victoria, with both actors receiving Oscar nominations for their performances.

No. 1: Elvis Presley, Blue Hawaii soundtrack

No. 2: Joey Dee and His Starlighters, Doin’ the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge

Notes: The Blue Hawaii soundtrack made history by holding the No. 1 spot on the charts for an astounding 20 weeks, longer than any other album by Elvis Presley. The album by Dee and His Starlighters featured their chart-topping Hot 100 hit “Peppermint Twist – Part I,” and it enjoyed a six-week run at No. 2 before being overtaken by Chubby Checker’s Your Twist Party, which included the groundbreaking No. 1 Hot 100 hit that sparked the dance craze, “The Twist.”

No. 1: Vaughn Meader, The First Family

No. 2: Allan Sherman, My Son, The Folk Singer

Notes: The First Family was a light-hearted (by today’s standards) parody of the Kennedy family, while My Son, The Folk Singer offered a humorous take on the burgeoning folk music scene. These albums maintained the top two positions for an impressive 11 consecutive weeks until February 23, 1963. The following week, The First Family remained in the lead while Sherman’s sequel album, My Son, The Celebrity, climbed to No. 2. Sherman continued to expand the My Son series with My Son, The Nut, all of which reached No. 1. Both The First Family and My Son, The Folk Singer were nominated for the 1963 Grammy for album of the year, with The First Family taking home the award.

No. 1: Peter, Paul & Mary, In the Wind

No. 2: Peter, Paul & Mary, Peter, Paul & Mary

Notes: Peter, Paul & Mary held the No. 1 position for six consecutive weeks in the fall of 1962 before returning to the top on October 26, 1963, coinciding with the debut of their album In the Wind, which opened at No. 12. The following week, In the Wind, featuring their iconic rendition of Bob Dylan’s classic “Blowin’ in the Wind,” ascended to the top, pushing PPM down to No. 2.

No. 1: Cream, Wheels of Fire

No. 2: The Graduate soundtrack

Notes: Although you might not classify either of these albums as traditional R&B, both made it onto Billboard’s Best Selling Rhythm & Blues LP’s chart at the time. Wheels of Fire reached No. 11 and remained on the chart for six months, while The Graduate soundtrack, featuring iconic tracks by Simon & Garfunkel, reached No. 32 during its short five-week run. Both the soundtrack and the film were monumental successes, with the album topping the Billboard 200 for nine nonconsecutive weeks. Notably, the Mike Nichols comedy was the top-grossing film in North America for 1967.

To satisfy your curiosity about the first time R&B albums by Black artists occupied the top two spots in the same week, it occurred on October 30, 1976, when Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life was in its third week at No. 1 and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Spirit soared from No. 4 to No. 2. These two albums continued to hold the top two spots the subsequent week, with EWF’s previous albums, That’s the Way of the World and Gratitude, also having reached No. 1. There was no dishonor in peaking at No. 2 behind Wonder’s masterpiece, which topped the charts for 14 nonconsecutive weeks and won the Grammy for album of the year.

No. 1: M.C. Hammer, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em

No. 2: Vanilla Ice, To the Extreme

Notes: Throughout the period from June 9, 1990, to February 23, 1991, one of these albums held the No. 1 position for an impressive 37 of the 38 weeks, with the boy band New Kids on the Block briefly interrupting this streak for one week in June 1990 with their album Step by Step. Notably, Please Hammer made history as the first hip-hop album nominated for a Grammy for album of the year.

No. 1: Billy Ray Cyrus, Some Gave All

No. 2: Garth Brooks, Beyond the Season

Notes: Cyrus’ album was in its 15th consecutive week at No. 1, while Brooks’ holiday album impressively surged from No. 5 to No. 2. Yes, a holiday album managed to reach No. 2 in mid-September, highlighting Brooks’ overwhelming popularity at that time. Some Gave All set a record with 17 consecutive weeks at No. 1 for a country album, ultimately being displaced on October 10 by Brooks’ The Chase, which enjoyed its first six weeks at the top.

No. 1: Stray Kids, ATE

No. 2: Jimin, MUSE

Notes: Both albums made their chart debut this week. ATE marks Stray Kids’ fifth No. 1 album, while MUSE represents Jimin’s second solo album to achieve No. 2 status, following the success of FACE released in 2023. Jimin has also achieved a remarkable six No. 1 albums as a member of BTS, all of which were recorded between 2018 and 2022. On June 14, 2022, BTS announced a temporary hiatus to allow members to fulfill their mandatory 18-month military service in South Korea.

No. 1: Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos

No. 2: Fuerza Regida, 111XPANTIA

Notes: This week marks a significant achievement for Bad Bunny, as this is his fourth No. 1 album, and it stands as his second album to maintain multiple weeks at the top. Fuerza Regida also celebrates their first entry into the top 10, marking a notable week of advancement for the seasoned band.