AC/DC return to claim six Australian #1 album with PWR/UP

Legendary Aussie rockers AC/DC take out their sixth #1 album in Australia as they return with PWR/UP, their first album in six years. The follow-up to Rock Or Bust (#1 Dec. ’14) is the first album released by the ARIA Hall Of Fame members since the passing of founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017. The tracks on the album stem from unreleased riffs, hooks and choruses Malcolm and brother Angus wrote together in the years prior to the former’s departure from the band. PWR/UP also includes vocalist Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams, all of whom played on Rock Or Bust but had departed AC/DC in the years since.

AC/DC achieve a chart record by being the only Australian group to have #1 albums at least once over five decades. AC/DC topped the Australian Albums Chart in the pre-ARIA era with Back In Black (#1 Mar. ’81). In the ARIA era (Jul. ’83-present), they’ve also had #1s with Live (#1 Nov. ’92), Ballbreaker (#1 Oct. ’95), Black Ice (#1 Oct. ’08) and Rock Or Bust. With six chart toppers, they become equal first (with Hilltop Hoods) in terms of Australian groups with the most #1 albums.

On hearing the news, Angus Young commented, “A very big thank you to Denis, and all at Sony Music Australia, and everyone else in Australia who’ve put in their time, effort and creativity to get PWR/UP to #1! Also a big shout out to all our fans, old and new. You are, and always have been, our guiding inspiration.”

ARIA CEO Dan Rosen said: “Congratulations to AC/DC on topping the ARIA chart for a record-breaking fifth decade in a row. In a year of uncertainty, at least we can rely on AC/DC to rock the roof off the place. Legendary barely describes their place in Australian music, and after all these years, we continue to salute AC/DC.”

PWR/UP is the 16th Australian #1 album on the ARIA Charts in 2020.

Debuting at #5, 2020 ARIA Awards host Delta Goodrem releases her first studio album in four years, Only Santa Knows. The festive album - which features two originals and 11 covers – was released on 12 November without any prior announcement. It Goodrem’s first studio album since Wings Of The Wild (#1 Jul. ’16). Between albums, she released the soundtrack I Honestly Love You (#4 May ’18).

After scoring four Singles Chart Top 50 entries so far this year, Sydney’s Onefour make their Albums Chart debut at #7 with Against All Odds. The EP includes the singles ‘Home and Away’ (#48 Aug. ’20) and ‘My City’ (#35 Nov. ’20).

Australian blues aficionados Josh Teskey and Ash Grunwald debut at #8 with their collaboration Push The Blues Away. The album is the second this year for Teskey, who as a part of The Teskey Brothers topped the chart with Live At The Forum (#1 May ’20), which has earned the ARIA Awards nominations for Best Group and Best Blues & Roots Album. It’s Grunwald’s first Top 50 entry since Mojo (#40 Sept. ’19). Push The Blues Away is #3 on this week’s ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.

Waltz King Andre Rieu returns to the Top 50 for the first time since 2018 at #10 with Jolly Holiday. The tracks on the album come from a series of Christmas concerts in Rieu’s hometown Maastricht in 2018. He last charted with Romantic Moments II (#Dec. ’18). It’s his first Top Ten entry since Andre Rieu Celebrates ABBA / Music Of The Night (#10 Nov. ’13).

At #15, American country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton releases his fourth studio album, Starting Over. It comes three years on from From A Room: Volume 2 (#25 Dec. ’17) and becomes his highest-charting release to date.

The music of the late country music icon Johnny Cash gets reimagined on Johnny Cash And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which debuts at #19. The album includes some of The Man In Black’s classics including ‘Ring Of Fire’ and ‘I Walk The Line’, as well as collaborations with Bob Dylan, Duane Eddy and June Carter Cash. The last Johnny Cash release to chart was Out Among The Stars (#4 Apr. ’14).

After charting earlier in the year with double EP set Fire On Marzz / Stella & Steve (#19 Jun. ’20), New Zealand singer-songwriter Benee hits the chart at #22 with her debut album, Hey U X. It features the single ‘Supalonely’ (#6 Jun. ’20), as well as collaborations with Lily Allen, Mallrat and Grimes, among others.

Lime Cordiale’s ARIA-nominated #1 album 14 Steps To A Better You moves back up the chart 16 spots to #23 following the release of a reissue of the album with additional tracks. The album, which debuted at #1 in July, earned the band eight ARIA nominations this year, including for Album Of The Year and Breakthrough Artist.

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli releases his 17th studio album, Believe, debuting at #35. It’s the follow-up to Si (#7 Nov. ’18) and includes renditions of ‘Amazing Grace’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’.