Jimmy Barnes storms to record 13th ARIA #1 album

Homegrown icon Jimmy Barnes has made history on this week’s ARIA Chart by claiming his 13th #1 album with Flesh And Blood.

Barnes’ record-breaking album is his 20th solo studio effort and follows My Criminal Record, which reached #1 in June 2019 and gave him the ARIA record for most #1 albums – beating out Madonna and U2 with 11 chart-toppers each.

On his success, Barnes said: “I don’t take any of this for granted. Firstly, I’d like to thank all the people who are still willing to listen to my new music after all these years. I hope they get as much pleasure from listening to it as I get from making it. I’m also deeply grateful to Warren and the whole staff at Bloodlines and the Mushroom Group. Michael loved to call them “the A Team” and they’ve certainly shown that yet again with all their hard work promoting Flesh And Blood. I also want to thank my brother-in-law Mark Lizotte for writing most of the songs on the album with me and, lastly, I’d like to thank my Jane and our beautiful family for continuing to inspire me, and for being such a huge part of this record”

The ninth Australian #1 album on the ARIA Charts in 2021, Flesh And Blood was written by Barnes during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. In March this year, he premiered the title track at the state funeral for his long-time friend and label boss, Michael Gudinski. It’s also this week’s #1 on the ARIA Vinyl Albums Chart.

ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said: “Huge congratulations are in order for an undeniable legend. Despite this difficult and challenging year for Australian artists, it’s incredible to see our own musicians continue to dominate the charts. 

"Jimmy’s achievement proves the generation-spanning depth of Australia’s chart-topping artists. From a 17-year-old wunderkind to a history-making veteran, we really have it all, and Aussie music lovers know it."

Jimmy Barnes has previously hit #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart with Bodyswerve (1984, 2 weeks), For The Working Class Man (1985, 7 weeks), Freight Train Heart (1987, 5 weeks), Barnestorming (1988, 3 weeks), Two Fires (1990, 5 weeks), Soul Deep (1991, 3 weeks), Hits (1996, 1 week), Double Happiness (2005, 3 weeks), The Rhythm And The Blues (2009, 2 weeks), 30:30 Hindsight (2014, 1 week), Soul Searchin' (2016, 1 week) and My Criminal Record (2019, 1 week).

ARIA Hall Of Fame members The Seekers take out their fourth chart entry in three years as they debut at #41 with Live In The UK. The album showcases the final leg of the quartet’s final tour, taking place months after the Australian tour captured on Farewell (#3 May ’19). The Seekers charted last year with Hidden Treasures - Volume 1 (#21 Jun. ’20).