Slim Dusty Sets ARIA Country Chart Record

The late, great Australian country-music star Slim Dusty has achieved the distinction of having been behind the longest-placing album on the ARIA Top 40 Country Music charts, with retrospective album The Very Best Of Slim Dusty stepping into its 800th week on the ladder today.

To put that in a more Monday-morning-brain-friendly context, that’s just over fifteen-and-a-third years on the charts, which – given it was released just shy of sixteen years ago, a little more than how long it’s been on the ladder – means it essentially hasn’t left the upper echelons since it was released, in November, 1998.

Since then, The Very Best Of… has hit Platinum status more than five times, chalking up sales figures in excess of 350,000 copies. “Slim was the foundation rock upon which EMI Australia was built,” EMI Music Australia managing director John O’Donnell said of the milestone, in a statement.

“EMI is the only label Slim called home throughout his sixty-year recording career, and we continue to proudly honour his legacy and celebrate his achievements. Slim was a remarkable songwriter, musician, and entertainer, but he walked a perfect line between being a true Australian icon and a regular bloke. His legacy runs deep with all Australians. And what a fitting album to reach this incredible milestone – a collection of his most memorable songs from across the years.”

The watershed moment for the album places it considerably ahead of its nearest competitor for the title of longest stayer, the Dixie Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces (1998), at 610 weeks. Johnny Cash’s The Essential has hung in there for 605 weeks, True Blue – The Very Best Of John Williamson claims fourth place for its 565-week run, while Shania Twain’s The Greatest Hits is the fifth-best performer in the history of the charts, sitting in the top 40 for 448 weeks.

“Slim’s songs always made an impact,” Slim’s wife and long-time co-writer Joy McKean said in a statement. “He told real stories about real people. He committed his life to taking these stories and music across the country, from the big cities to the most remote parts of Australia. This milestone is a testament to his dedication and the strength of great songs that continue to impact the lives of Australians today.”

If Slim's is a legacy you want to aid in keeping alight, you can grab the album physically or digitally.