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A recording of Pink Floyd’s eerie and evocative 1972 gig in the ruins of Pompeii, entitled Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, has become the band’s seventh UK chart-topping album.
The album captures the gig that was documented by director Adrian Maben for one of rock’s most arresting concert films, which has been restored to 4K quality and rereleased in cinemas, including in Imax format. A recording of the gig was previously included as part of a larger Pink Floyd box set, but this is the first standalone version, featuring a new sound mix helmed by prog rock musician Steven Wilson.
It is Pink Floyd’s first No 1 since 2014’s The Endless River, their final studio album. Atom Heart Mother (1970), Wish You Were Here (1975), The Final Cut (1983), The Division Bell (1994) and Pulse (1995) were their other UK chart-toppers.
Despite going 16 times platinum and spending 578 weeks on the chart, The Dark Side of the Moon only ever reached No 2, having been held off the top in its March 1973 week of release by the forgotten compilation 20 Flash Back Greats of the Sixties. Classics such as Meddle, Animals and The Wall also placed in the Top 3 without reaching No 1, trumped by artists including Rod Stewart, the Shadows and Abba.
Surprisingly, Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII isn’t the only new entry on this week’s chart from a British band performing amid the ruins of classical antiquity. Brit-poppers James are at No 27 this week with James (Live at the Acropolis), their July 2023 concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus beneath the Acropolis in Athens.
Other new entries this week include Erasure’s Andy Bell, who earns his first solo entry on the chart, reaching No 4 with his third album, Ten Crowns. Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet spends its 37th straight week in the UK Top 5, hopping back to No 2.
In the singles chart, Alex Warren’s Ordinary spends its eighth week at No 1, while at No 2 is US R&B singer Ravyn Lenae who continues to break through with her first UK hit, Love Me Not. Released in August 2024, it entered the chart in February at No 89 and has climbed every week since.
