Jimmy Barnes Just Beat Madonna & U2 For Huge ARIA Chart Record

Jimmy Barnes is now the record holder for most #1 albums on the ARIA Albums Chart. 

Barnes' new album My Criminal Record has taken out the top spot on this week's chart, giving Barnes' his 12th #1 album and allowing him to overtake Madonna and U2 for the title (who he had been tied with to this point). 

Barnes scored his first #1 as a solo artist with Bodyswerve in 1984. It was followed by For The Working Class Man in 1985, Freight Train Heart in 1987, Barnestorming in 1988, Two Fires in 1990, Soul Deep in 1991, Hits in 1996, Double Happiness in 2005, The Rhythm & The Blues in 2009, 30:30 Hindsight in 2014, and Soul Searchin'  in 2016.

This is the 17th solo studio album for the Scottish-Australian singer, who rose to fame as the lead singer of much-loved Aussie rock band Cold Chisel which is joined in the mid-'70s and still fronts today. 

He has been twice-inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame, first in 1993 with Cold Chisel and again in 2005 for his solo work, and has picked up five ARIA albums, most recently for Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album for his Working Class Boy soundtrack, which scored the documentary version of Barnes’ hugely popular memoirs.

In 2017, Barnes was awarded the honour of Officer Of The General Division Of The Order Of Australia for his "distinguished service to the performing arts as a musician, singer and songwriter, and through support for not-for-profit organisations, particularly to children with a disability".

“The songs on this album are really personal because they were inspired by the experiences I had writing and touring my memoirs," says Barnes of the accolade. 

"Having this music strike a chord with people therefore feels particularly good. I’m grateful to everyone who’s continued to support me over the years and I’m looking forward to screaming my thanks in person when I get back out on the road shortly."

My Criminal Record pushes last week's #1 album, When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish into second place, while Elton Johns' Diamonds and Pink's Hurts 2B Human sit at #3 and #4 respectively. Susan Boyle's Ten debuts at #5 and Miley Cyrus' She Is Coming at #10.

Skepta's Ignorance Is Bliss debuts at #15, while Denzel Curry's Zuu makes its first appearance at #18, as does Thomas Rhett's Center Point Road at #24.

Lil Nas X's Old Town Road holds onto the #1 spot on the ARIA Singles Chart, which also sees Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber (I Don't Care), Billie Eilish (Bad Guy), and Lewis Capaldi (Someone You Loved) stay at their #2, #3 and #4 positions from last week. 

Katy Perry's Never Really Over debuts as #7, as does Miley Cyrus' Mother's Daughter at #25 and Aussie artist Ruel's Painkiller at #40. Local artist Tones & I has moved from #22 to #16 with Johnny Run Away, just a week after inking a deal with Paradigm Talent Agency in the US.