Jackson maintains albums chart supremacy

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

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

The Essential is one of seven Jackson albums in this week's top 40 - two down on seven days ago.

Behind the Jackson retrospective, Florence and the Machine's debut album Lungs holds steady at two, while Black Eyed Peas bounce back to three with The E.N.D.

The highest new entry comes from Norwegian synth-pop trio A-ha, who debut at five with Foot On The Mountain, scoring their first top ten album since 1988 in the process.

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

Source: Official Chart Company

> Click here for this week's top ten singles