First No.1 studio album by a solo female (UK)

In contrast to today’s musical trends, it took 24 years and two months for a solo female to reach No.1 in the UK with a studio album. On 20 September 1980, Never for Ever by Kate Bush (UK) debuted at the summit. The success of Never for Ever completed a notable 1-2 for Bush, who became the first female to top the UK singles chart with a self-composed song when the inimitable “Wuthering Heights” led the countdown on 11 March 1978. Connie Francis (in 1977) and Barbra Streisand (in 1977 and 1979) both topped the UK albums chart before Kate Bush, but with compilations rather than studio albums. The first albums chart in the UK was dated 28 July 1956 - more than 24 years before Kate Bush reached No.1!