Shropshire Star

Elvis Presley to battle it out with Ed Sheeran for top chart spot

Ed Sheeran holds two chart records that are unlikely to be beaten soon.

Published
Elvis Presley takes a break from singing during his stint at Las Vegas (PA Archive)

Elvis Presley could be back at top of the UK album exactly 40 years since his death – but only if he manages to outsell Ed Sheeran.

The two stars are battling for number one this week, with Presley’s compilation The 50 Greatest Hits hoping to unseat Sheeran’s Divide from the top spot.

SHOWBIZ Elvis
Elvis Presley v Ed Sheeran (PA graphics)

But Sheeran holds two chart records that Presley is unlikely ever to beat.

Ed’s first album Plus, released in 2011, has so far spent a total of 281 weeks on the UK album chart.

Elvis’s first album managed only 16.

SHOWBIZ Elvis
Elvis Presley v Ed Sheeran, longest uninterrupted run at number one (PA Graphics)

Elvis has the edge when it comes to number one singles, however, having to date enjoyed 21 compared with just three for Sheeran.

He has also spent more weeks at number one in the singles chart (80) than his present day rival (17).

Ed Sheeran tattoo
Ed Sheeran and Elvis Presley will be doing battle in the charts this week (PA)

By contrast, Sheeran had an uninterrupted run of 13 weeks at the top earlier this year with Shape Of You.

Both artists have enjoyed uninterrupted spells at number one in the UK album chart, but here Presley beats Sheeran, with his 1962 album Blue Hawaii staying at the top for 16 straight weeks compared with nine weeks for Sheeran’s album Divide.

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