In a resounding chart victory, Taylor Swift’s reimagined album, “1989” (Taylor’s Version), secured the No. 1 position on both the UK singles and albums charts. This remarkable achievement marked an extraordinary comeback for Swift’s iconic 2014 album.
The “1989” album, featuring 21 tracks, was released exactly nine years after the original album hit the music scene. Swift’s reimagined masterpiece catapulted to the summit of the Official Albums Chart with a staggering “184,000 chart units,” leaving the original “1989” in the dust, which managed 90,000 units during its opening week, according to the Official Charts Company.
But the triumph didn’t stop there. “1989” (Taylor’s Version) also earned the distinction of boasting the most substantial opening week for any album this year.
With this achievement, Taylor Swift now holds the record for the woman with the most No. 1 albums in the UK this century, thanks to her 11th UK No. 1 album. In a testament to her continued musical prowess, the reimagined “1989” also left its mark on the vinyl charts.
Adding to the excitement, the re-released album features five previously unreleased “From the Vault” tracks. Among these gems, “Is It Over Now?” stood out by capturing the top spot on the Official Singles Chart with an impressive 4.9 million streams. Two others, “Now That We Don’t Talk” and “Slut!,” made their mark at No. 2 and No. 5, respectively.
The original “1989,” Swift’s fifth studio album, had already achieved worldwide chart-topping success with hit singles like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” It also received recognition at the 2016 Grammy Awards, where it secured prestigious titles, including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Music Video for “Bad Blood.”
Taylor Swift’s decision to re-record her earlier works came in response to the loss of control over the master recordings of her first six albums when she parted ways with the Big Machine record label in 2019. This move ignited a public and contentious dispute with the label’s new owner, music executive Scooter Braun, who ultimately sold Swift’s master recordings to a private equity firm in a deal reportedly exceeding $300 million.
