The UK Official Charts have confirmed this week’s number one album to be Step’s latest release, The Platinum Collection. The group’s latest compilation marks their fourth UK number one and first UK number one album in 11 years. Alongside the announcement, The UK Official Charts have also confirmed that Steps have broken a chart record. The pop giants have secured a number one album in four consecutive decades (the 1990s, the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s), making them the first British mixed-gender act to do so.
Steps first saw chart success in 1999 with their second studio album Steptacular; the album debuted at the top spot on Halloween of the same year. They next secured a UK number one with their first greatest hits album, Gold: Greatest Hits; the album was released in 2001 and contained their cover of the Diana Ross hit “Chain Reaction”. The newly re-formed band then scored a hat trick with The Ultimate Collection in 2011; the release was the group’s third compilation album and featured a cover of ABBA’s megahit “Dancing Queen”, the track marked the band’s first recorded song in a decade.
Within an exclusive conversation with OfficialCharts.com, Steps stated, “We could NOT be more thrilled that our Platinum Collection is this week’s UK Official Number 1 album! We have the best fans in the world, and this is all down to their incredible support. It’s unbelievable to think that we’ve now broken records, becoming the first British, mixed-gender group to score four Number 1 albums across four consecutive decades! What a way to celebrate our 25th birthday!”
Two years ago, it was confirmed that The Rolling Stones had achieved a similar feat after the album Goats Head Soup had reached the top of the UK album charts. The 2020 release meant that the band broke an official record in achieving a number one album across six separate decades, making them the first band in history to do so. Goats Head Soup was the band’s 11th studio album released in Britain and has enjoyed two occasions as the UK’s number one album. The album was initially released in 1973; upon its initial release, it debuted at the top of the UK album charts.
Also included within the elite club are Welsh rockers Stereophonics and Disco legends ABBA. In November 2020 it was confirmed that pop princess Kylie Minogue has also been awarded a similar accolade. The UK Official Charts confirmed that the singer was the first female act to score a number one album within five separate decades. The “Better The Devil You Know” icon secured this feat after her album DISCO reached the top of the UK album charts in November 2020.
Steps’ most recent number one album not only catalyzed their chart record but was also released to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary. Comprising of band members Lee Latchford- Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer and Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Steps first came to fame after their formation in 1997. After a five-year hiatus, the band reformed for the second time in 2017; since coming back together, the iconic pop singers have released new music and performed several live shows.
