The Courteeners make history after album reaches number one – 15 YEARS after its original release

The Courteeners made history this week after their album reached number one on the Official UK Charts almost 15 years after its original release.

The Manchester-formed rock trio’s 2008 debut, St Jude, secured their first-ever number one album after the release of their 15th anniversary edition of the album.

The new edition features remastered tracks and previously unreleased material.

Now, St Jude has become the album with the longest time between release and reaching the top spot – 14 years nine months and 14 days after its original release, the Official UK Charts has said.

The band also became the third in Official UK Chart history to reach number one with a reissued album, alongside The Rolling Stones with Goats Head Soup and Exile On Main St; and The Beatles with Abbey Road and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The band were formed in Middleton in 2006 by frontman Liam Fray (lead guitar/vocals), Michael Campbell (drums/backing vocals), Daniel “Conan” Moores (rhythm guitar) and Mark Cuppello (bass).

Mark was replaced by the band’s producer Joe Cross in 2015. 

Exciting! The Manchester-formed rock trio’s 2008 debut, St Jude, secured their first-ever number one album after the release of their 15th anniversary edition of the album. (Liam and Mark Cuppello pictured in 2007)

They also previously toured with pianist Adam Payne, who was featured on every album, but in 2019 was replaced with Elina Lin. 

The band have released six studio albums: St. Jude (2008), Falcon (2010), Anna (2013), Concrete Love (2014), Mapping the Rendezvous (2016) and More. Again. Forever. (2020).  

Speaking to the Official UK Charts, Liam said: ‘Good Things come to thems that wait. God bless the fans.’

Long time to wait: Liam Fray, Michael Campbell, Daniel Conan Moores and Mark Cuppello pose together in 2008

Big names: The band also became the third in Official UK Chart history to reach number one with a reissued album, alongside The Rolling Stones and The Beatles

St. Jude includes three Official Top 40 singles (Not Nineteen Forever, No You Didn’t, No You Don’t and What Took You So Long?), and previously peaked at Number 4 upon its initial 2008 release. 

Elsewhere, pop superstar Miley Cyrus claimed her third UK number one single with Flowers. 

The lead track from her upcoming eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, was the UK’s biggest first week overall since Harry Styles’ As It Was reached the top spot in May last year.

The 30-year-old previously topped the UK singles chart with We Can’t Stop in 2013 and Wrecking Ball in the same year.

Speaking to the Official UK Charts, Liam said: ‘Good Things come to thems that wait. God bless the fans.’ (Liam and Daniel pictured in 2022)