David Bowie’s Labyrinth nearly conquers the U.K.’s Official Soundtrack Albums chart, but instead it stalls at No. 2. David Bowie On Set of “Jump They Say” Music Video, in Los Angeles California, circa March 1993. (Photo by Lester Cohen)
Lester Cohen
It’s a very exciting week for the late David Bowie on the music charts in the United Kingdom. The multi-genre superstar scores a new bestselling album with his Record Store Day release Excerpts from Outside. A tune titled “Hallo Spaceboy” also launches on several rankings, earning the Grammy winner yet another top 10 more than a decade after his passing.
Amidst his several new arrivals, a decades-old classic by Bowie and his collaboration partner Trevor Jones climbs to a never-before-seen peak and nearly nets the rocker another champion.
David Bowie’s Labyrinth Soundtrack Nearly Hits No. 1
Bowie’s Labyrinth soundtrack, which accompanied the movie of the same name, which he co-starred in, surges on the U.K.’s Official Soundtrack Albums chart. That list looks only at the bestselling projects connected to TV or film releases. This time around, Labyrinth dances from No. 16 to No. 2, which marks its loftiest showing yet.
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Did Rise to No. 1
Labyrinth is one of five top 10s by Bowie on the Official Soundtrack Albums chart. Two of those releases, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Moonage Daydream – which was attached to a documentary of the same name – took turns ruling several years apart from one another.
Another three efforts, including two versions of The Buddha of Suburbia, as well as Christiane F., also broke into the region. Christiane F. stalled at No. 6, while one take on The Buddha of Suburbia climbed as high as No. 4. An earlier cut, which arrived nearly a decade before the higher-rising win, topped out at No. 10.
David Bowie’s Labyrinth Sits Behind Doctor Who
This week’s Official Soundtrack Albums chart is led by a new arrival. Doctor Who – The Rescue, which is not credited to any one musical act, launches at No. 1. It pushes Epic – Elvis Presley in Concert – released earlier this year around the same time that the movie of the same name by Baz Luhrmann hit theaters – off of the throne, as the king was in charge only a few days ago.
A portrait of American singer and actor Elvis Presley holding an acoustic guitar circa 1956. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
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Labyrinth Has Led the U.K.’s Vinyl Albums Chart Before
While the Labyrinth album has never managed to conquer the Official Soundtrack Albums list – at least not yet – it does rank as Bowie’s longest-running title on the rundown. Only one other project by the pioneering artist held on for more than a year. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, one of two takes of that collection that have hit the roster, held on for 59 periods.
Labyrinth might miss topping the soundtrack-only ranking by just one space, but it has previously led the charge on one other important ranking. Labyrinth debuted on the Official Vinyl Albums chart at No. 4 in July 2017, and then it quickly disappeared. A month later, it returned suddenly and conquered the tally, but not for long. As quickly as it reentered that format-specific chart, it vanished once more. Several months later, in October 2017, Labyrinth broke back in at No. 39, and it hasn’t been seen in nearly a decade since.
David Bowie’s Labyrinth Enjoyed Limited Runs Elsewhere
Labyrinth has managed much shorter streaks on several other charts in the U.K. that are focused on purchases. Bowie’s cult classic peaked at No. 20 on the Official Physical Albums list and No. 26 on the Official Albums Sales roster. The set spent just one frame on the Official Albums tally – which takes into account sales as well as streaming activity – where it launched at No. 58.