Weird Al Yankovic released his first album in 1983. It took him until this week to get his first #1 with Mandatory Fun. That 31-year gap is impressive, because he’s still relevant enough to sell 104,000 copies, and sad, because the likes of Godsmack and Korn hit the top of the charts before him. I was curious to see how that three-decade-long interval compared to other artists, so I took a look at the Billboard 200 charts and kept track of how long it took for other respected singers and bands to either get their first #1 OR, and this is important, the space of time between #1 albums. Here’s what I found.
AC/DC
For Those About to Rock We Salute You (1981) — Black Ice (2008)
Years between: 27
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath (1970) — 13 (2013)
Years between: 43
Johnny Cash
At San Quentin (1969) — American V: A Hundred Highways (2006)
Years between: 37
Ray Charles
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) — Genius Loves Company (2004)
Years between: 42
Bob Dylan
Desire (1976) — Modern Times (2006)
Years between: 30
Bonnie Raitt
Didn’t have a #1 album until 1989’s Nick of Time, 18 years into her career
Santana
Santana III (1971) — Supernatural (1999)
Years between: 28
