Delta Goodrem scores fifth ARIA Albums Chart #1

Delta Goodrem takes out her fifth #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart with Bridge Over Troubled Dreams. The singer-songwriter’s seventh studio album comes six months on from her festive release Only Santa Knows (#2 Dec. ’20) and features the single ‘Paralyzed’ (#36 Aug. ’20). At the same time as the album was released, Goodrem issued a book under the same title featuring the stories behind each song on Bridge Over Troubled Dreams. Delta Goodrem has previously scored #1s on the ARIA Albums Chart with Innocent Eyes (#1 Mar. ’03), Mistaken Identity (#1 Nov. ’04), Delta (#1 Oct. ’07) and Wings Of The Wild (#1 Jul. ’16). Goodrem draws to equal second alongside Kasey Chambers for most #1 albums on the ARIA Charts by an Australian female solo artist. Only Kylie Minogue has more, with seven chart-topping albums.

ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd says: “A huge congratulations to Delta Goodrem on reaching #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart with Bridge Over Troubled Dreams. Her fifth #1 album is a testament to her enduring appeal to fans nearly two decades on from her record-breaking debut, Innocent Eyes.”

Bridge Over Troubled Dreams is the seventh Australian #1 album on the ARIA Charts in 2021.

Australian indie rock icons You Am I score their first Top Ten entry on the ARIA Albums Chart in 20 years as they debut at #2 with The Lives Of Others. The follow-up to Porridge & Hotsauce (#20 Nov. ‘15) is the quartet’s eleventh studio album. It was recorded by the band in various studios across Australia during 2020, sometimes individually, sometimes with other members. You Am I last appeared in the Top Ten with their fifth album Dress Me Slowly (#3 May ’01). The Lives Of Others is also #2 on this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.

Three years on from KOD (#1 Apr. ’18), American rapper J. Cole releases The Off-Season, debuting at #3. Cole’s sixth studio album features contributions by 21 Savage, Lil Baby, 6lack and more. All 12 of the album’s tracks sit in the Top 50 on this week’s ARIA Singles Chart with ‘m y . l I f e’ the highest at #11.

Melbourne’s King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard take out their twelfth Albums Chart Top Ten as they re-enter at #4 with L.W. The band’s 17th studio album first hit the chart at #39 in March and grabs its new peak after its release on vinyl. L.W. gives the band their fifth #1 on the ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart. Their next album, Butterfly 3000, is set for release on 11 June.

Rock duo The Black Keys take out their fifth Top Ten album at #8 as they release tenth album, Delta Kream. The album was recorded by the pair over two afternoons at the end of the tour in support of Let’s Rock (#4 Jul. ’19) and features them performing covers of hill country blues songs that influenced them by the likes of R. L. Burnside, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Big Joe Williams. The Black Keys topped the Albums Chart with Turn Blue (#1 May ’14).

Debuting at #14, American country star Alan Jackson releases his first album in six years, Where Have You Gone. Jackson’s 21st album comes after he took out a career chart peak with Angels And Alcohol (#4 Aug. ’15). Between studio albums, Jackson charted with the compilation Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story (#41 Aug. ’16).

St. Vincent scores her second career Top 50 entry as she debuts at #15 with Daddy's Home. The American singer-songwriter’s sixth album is her first since Masseduction (#19 Oct. ’17) and gives her a new Albums Chart peak. Like its predecessor, Daddy’s Home was co-produced with Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Lorde, Lana Del Rey).

Australian country artist Jason Owen scores his first chart entry since 2015 as he hits #17 with Jason Owen Sings John Denver: The Acoustic Sessions. It comes four years on from the 2017 album Jason Owen Sings John Denver. He last charted in 2015 with Friday Night (#9 Mar. ’15).

Byron Bay psych-rock band the Babe Rainbow equal their peak on the Albums Chart as they debut at #18 with Changing Colours. The quartet’s fourth album is the follow-up to 2019’s Today and includes a collaboration with Jaden Smith on the track ‘Your Imagination’. The Babe Rainbow first charted with Double Rainbow (#18 Jul. ’18).

Re-releasing her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty, Nicki Minaj debuts at #41 and takes out could her first Albums Chart entry since 2018. The 2021 version of the release includes some addition tracks including ‘Seeing Green’ with Drake and Lil Wayne. Minaj was last on the Albums Chart with Queen (#4 Aug. ’18).

British singer-songwriter Jorja Smith debuts at #49 with the EP Be Right Back. The release follows Smith’s debut album Lost & Found (#13 Jun. ’18) and is designed as a prelude to her second studio album.