Jackson continues to rule albums chart

Michael Jackson has extended his posthumous reign over the UK albums chart to five weeks.

His two-disc compilation The Essential notches up a fourth 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 - the same number as last week - three of which appear in the top ten.

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

Meanwhile, Jordin Sparks just misses out on a top ten debut, landing at eleven with second album Battlefield.

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. (5) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame'
4. (6) Paolo Nutini: 'Sunny Side Up'
5. (8) La Roux: 'La Roux'
6. (3) Michael Jackson: 'Thriller'
7. (4) Michael Jackson & The Jackson Five: 'The Motown Years'
8. (13) Black Eyed Peas: 'The E.N.D.'
9. (16) Noisettes: 'Wild Young Hearts'
10. (11) Kasabian: 'West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum'

Source: Official Chart Company

> Click here for this week's top ten singles