PAUL NAMED THE UK’s MOST SUCCESSFUL ALBUMS ACT OF ALL TIME

Paul McCartney has recorded 22 number one albums and over a music career that spans six decades.

McCartney, who has sold 700 million albums across the globe, has now been awarded the Official Chart Record Breaker Award, which recognises him as the UK’s most successful albums act of all time.

His first number one came in 1963 when The Beatles released Please Please Me, which is also the longest-running number one debut album in chart history with 30 weeks in the top spot. The 74-year-old's most recent number one album came in 2000, with The Beatles's compilation album, 1.

In a statement to the Official Charts Company, which is today celebrating its 60th anniversary, McCartney said: "Okay, you know how it really feels? It feels unbelievable, because when you write your songs you don't count how well they're doing.

"I remember when Please, Please Me went to number one, that was our first number one record, and it's a beautiful feeling to suddenly get this [award], I mean it's amazing.

"So thank you to the people for giving it to me, I love you. And thank you to everyone who made it possible by buying the records, we love you too."

The chief executive of the Official Charts Company, Martin Talbot, said: "It is a huge honour for the Official Charts to pay tribute to Paul McCartney’s incredible achievements with this special award.

Over more than 50 years, Paul has been a fixture on the British and world music scene – so to recognise his contribution as part of the UK Albums Chart’s 60^th birthday feels absolutely appropriate."  

Paul McCartney's career in numbers

22 – number one albums across Paul McCartney’s career (15 – The Beatles; 2 – Wings; 4 – solo; 1 – Paul & Linda McCartney)

191 – weeks Paul McCartney has spent at number one on the Official Albums Chart across his career

5.1m – UK copies sold of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Britain’s biggest-selling studio album of all time

30 – weeks that The Beatles's Please Please Me spent at number one, the longest-running debut Number 1 album ever

Paul McCartney’s 22 Number 1 albums

1963 – Please Please Me (The Beatles)

1963 – With the Beatles (The Beatles)

1964 – A Hard Day's Night (The Beatles)

1964 – Beatles for Sale (The Beatles)

1965 – Help (The Beatles)

1965 – Rubber Soul (The Beatles)

1966 – Revolver (The Beatles)

1967 – Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)

1968 – The White Album (The Beatles)

1969 – Abbey Road (The Beatles)

1970 – Let It Be (The Beatles)

1971 – Ram (Paul & Linda McCartney)

1974 – Band on the Run (Paul McCartney & Wings)

1975 – Venus and Mars (Wings)

1977 – The Beatles Live at the Hollywood Bowl (The Beatles)

1980 – McCartney II (Paul McCartney)

1982 – Tug of War (Paul McCartney)

1984 – Give My Regards to Broad Street (Paul McCartney)