To: Original Mad Dog who wrote (2323 ) 1/21/2002 12:10:40 PM From: calgal Respond to of 3937 Just to give you more to review: This is all current stuff. The Year In Charts By Fred Bronson The biggest shock of the chart year 2001 is that the No. 1 album of the year is by the Beatles. But wait... there's a bigger shock. This is the first time in chart history that the Beatles have the No. 1 album of the year. What? Is that possible? A check of the Billboard archives says it is. The Capitol greatest-hits collection "1," which spent eight weeks in pole position on The Billboard 200, puts the Fab Four atop a year-end album recap for the first time. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's such a stunning fact that it's worth saying twice. In 1964, the year Beatlemania first washed over our shores, "Meet the Beatles" was the No. 8 album of the year. The best-selling LP that year was the Original Cast album "Hello, Dolly!" In 1965, the Beatles had their highest year-end ranking until now, when "Beatles '65" ranked second. Another America-only release, "Beatles VI," came in 10th. In 1966, two of the Mop Tops' most revered albums finished in the top 10: "Rubber Soul" was No. 4, and "Revolver" was No. 8. In 1967, the album that changed the way we thought about albums, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," was No. 10 for the year. It continued to sell well enough to rank sixth in 1968, the same year that "Magical Mystery Tour" was No. 4. In 1969, the double album titled "The Beatles" but known as "the white album" was No. 8. In 1970, "Abbey Road" was No. 4 and "Let It Be" finished at No. 31. Twenty-five years later, the Beatles appeared again on the year-end album recaps. "Live at the BBC" was No. 46 in 1995, and "Anthology I" put them back in the top-10 at No. 8 in 1996, the same year "Anthology II" came in at No. 39. In 1997, "Anthology III" showed up at No. 107. Perhaps as equally amazing as the Beatles collecting their first No. 1 album of the year is the fact that 2001's top disc is made up of songs that are all at least 30 years old. And placing first put the Beatles above best-selling contemporary acts like Shaggy, the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Destiny's Child, and Alicia Keys. But that's just scratching the surface. Take a closer look at 2001 through the charts of the top formats by clicking the links on the left side of the page.billboard.com