Jackson continues to dominate albums chart

Michael Jackson has now spent the last month at the top of the UK albums chart.

His 2-CD compilation The Essential notches up a third week at number one, having previously replaced another Jackson collection, Number Ones, in the top spot.

A total of nine Jackson albums appear in this week's top 40, five of which take up positions in the top ten.

Singles and albums by the late singer accounted for more than 300,000 sales last week, the Official Chart Company confirmed, bringing the total of Jackson records sold since his death to 1.75 million.

Elsewhere on this week's albums chart, Florence and the Machine's Lungs remains at two, while Lady GaGa's The Fame rebounds from ten to five.

The top ten albums in full (click where possible for our reviews):

1. (1) Michael Jackson: 'The Essential'
2. (2) Florence and the Machine: 'Lungs'
3. (4) Michael Jackson: 'Thriller'
4. (5) Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5: 'The Motown Years'
5. (10) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame'
6. (12) Paolo Nutini: 'Sunny Side Up'
7. (3) Michael Jackson: 'Off The Wall'
8. (6) La Roux: 'La Roux'
9. (8) Cascada: 'Evacuate The Dancefloor'
10. (7) Michael Jackson: 'Number Ones'

Source: Official Chart Company

> Click here for this week's top ten singles