First album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard albums chart

On 7 June 1975, Elton John’s (UK, b. Reginald Dwight) Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy became the first album on the Billboard 200 to debut at No.1.

Elton repeated the trick on 8 November 1975, when Rock of the Westies debuted at No.1 – the second No.1 debut in the history of the Billboard 200. Rock… stayed at No.1 for three weeks.

Captain Fantastic… was Elton’s ninth studio album and features the single “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” and the opening title track. It was produced by Gus Dudgeon.

Captain Fantastic… spent six consecutive weeks at No.1 between 7 June and 12 July 1975 and returned to No.1 for a seventh week on 30 August.

The Billboard 200 was originally titled Top LPs when the magazine’s separate stereo and mono album charts were combined for the first time on 17 August 1963. The chart was expanded from 150 to 175 positions on 1 April 1967, and from 175 to the current 200 positions on 13 May 1967.