Login
Login

List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1991

{{short description|None}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1991}}

The album chart name changed from "Top Pop Albums" to "Billboard 200 Top Albums" on September 7, 1991.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-09-07.pdf#page=74|title=Top Pop Albums|series=The Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=September 7, 1991|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 11, 2022|page=74|via=WorldRadioHistory}}

The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. In 1991, a total of 14 albums claimed the top of the chart. One of which, American rapper Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme started its peak on the issue dated November 10, 1990, and spent 8 weeks atop the chart in 1991.

Mariah Carey's self-titled debut album was the longest running number-one album of the year, spending 11 consecutive weeks atop the chart and was the best-selling album of 1991.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/the-biggest-hit-album-the-year-you-were-born-a7106016.html

| title=The highest hit album the year you were born|website=The Independent|first=John|last=Lynch|date=August 4, 2019|access-date=March 26, 2022}} Starting in 1991, Billboard began using Nielsen Soundscan data for its album chart, which provided more precise and accurate sales figures.{{Cite web |last=Harvilla |first=Rob |date=2021-05-25 |title=How SoundScan Changed Everything We Knew About Popular Music |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2021/5/25/22452539/soundscan-billboard-charts-streaming-numbers |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=The Ringer |language=en}} The first date to use this methodology was the June 1, 1991 dated chart when the number one album was Out of Time by R.E.M., which topped the chart with sales of 89,000.

File:Mariah Carey Neighborhood Ball in downtown Washington 2009 3-2.JPG topped the chart with her self-titled album Mariah Carey; it stayed in its position for 11 weeks.]]

File:Michael Jackson gives autograph - supercropped.jpg's Dangerous was his third straight album to top the Billboard 200.]]

File:"The_Voice"_of_Heavy_Metal_(4393755527).jpg by Skid Row (singer Sebastian Bach pictured) was the first album to debut at number one in the Soundscan era.]]

Chart history

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;"

|+Key

|style="background-color:#FFFF99"|{{dagger|alt=Best performing album of 1991}}

|Indicates best performing album of 1991

style="background-color:#63666A"|

|Indicates #1 album before Nielsen SoundScan tracked sales

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center"

! scope=col| Issue date

! scope=col| Album

! scope=col| Artist(s)

! scope=col| Sales

! scope=col class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" | {{dts|January 5}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=8|To the Extreme

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=8|Vanilla Ice

| rowspan="21" style="text-align: center;" bgcolor="#63666A" |

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-01-05|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=January 5, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|January 12}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-01-12|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=January 12, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|January 19}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-01-19|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=January 19, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|January 26}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-01-26|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=January 26, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|February 2}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-02-02|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=February 2, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|February 9}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-02-09|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=February 9, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|February 16}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-02-16|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=February 16, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|February 23}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-02-23|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=February 23, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|March 2}}

|bgcolor=#FFFF99 style="text-align: center;" rowspan=11|Mariah Carey {{dagger}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=11|{{Sortname|Mariah|Carey}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-03-02|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=March 2, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|March 9}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-03-09|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=March 9, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|March 16}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-03-16|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=March 16, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|March 23}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-03-23|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=March 23, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|March 30}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-03-30|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=March 30, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|April 6}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-04-06|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=April 6, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|April 13}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-04-13|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=April 13, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|April 20}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-04-20|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=April 20, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|April 27}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-04-27|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=April 27, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|May 4}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-05-04|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=May 4, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|May 11}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-05-11|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=May 11, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|May 18}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Out of Time

|style="text-align: center;"|R.E.M.

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-05-18|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=May 18, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|May 25}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Time, Love & Tenderness

|style="text-align: center;"|{{Sortname|Michael|Bolton}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-05-25|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=May 25, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|June 1}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Out of Time

|style="text-align: center;"|R.E.M.

|style="text-align: center;"| 89,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-06-01|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=June 1, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-06-01.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=June 1, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|June 8}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2"|Spellbound

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2"|{{Sortname|Paula|Abdul}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 88,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-06-08|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=June 8, 1991}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxYEAAAAMBAJ&q=paula+abdul+lowest+sales+for+number+one+album&pg=PA49|title=Billboard|last=Inc|date=July 22, 2006|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}

scope="row" | {{dts|June 15}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 89,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-06-15|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=June 15, 1991}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KxYEAAAAMBAJ&q=paula+abdul+lowest+sales+for+number+one+album&pg=PA49|title=Billboard|last=Inc|date=July 22, 2006|accessdate=June 11, 2018}}

scope="row" | {{dts|June 22}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Niggaz4Life

|style="text-align: center;"|N.W.A

|style="text-align: center;"| 954,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-06-22|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=June 22, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|June 29}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Slave to the Grind

|style="text-align: center;"|Skid Row

|style="text-align: center;"| 134,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-06-29|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=June 29, 1991}}{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=Billboard's New Charts Roil the Record Industry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/22/arts/billboard-s-new-charts-roil-the-record-industry.html|work=The New York Times|date=June 22, 1991|access-date=June 8, 2016}}

scope="row" | {{dts|July 6}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=3|For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=3|Van Halen

|style="text-align: center;"|243,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-07-06|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=July 6, 1991}}{{cite web|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|title=Between the Bullets |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22van+halen%22+%22243%2C000%22+%22unlawful%22&pg=PA89 |date=July 6, 1991|access-date=June 8, 2016}}

scope="row" | {{dts|July 13}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 195,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-07-13|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=July 13, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|July 20}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 142,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-07-20|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=July 20, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|July 27}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=5|Unforgettable... with Love

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=5|{{Sortname|Natalie|Cole}}

| style="text-align: center;" | 517,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-07-27|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=July 27, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|August 3}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 329,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-08-03|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=August 3, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|August 10}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 287,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-08-10|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=August 10, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|August 17}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 211,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-08-17|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=August 17, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|August 24}}

|style="text-align: center;"| 170,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-08-24|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=August 24, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|August 31}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=4|Metallica

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=4|Metallica

|style="text-align: center;"| 598,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-08-31|magazine=Billboard |title=Top Pop Albums|date=August 31, 1991}}{{cite web |last1=L.A. Times Archives |title=Metallica Locks On to No. 1 : The band's 'Re-Load' has the highest sales total over one week for a rock album this year. |website=Los Angeles Times |date=27 November 1997 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-27-ca-58052-story.html |access-date=10 August 2022}}

scope="row" | {{dts|September 7}}

|style="text-align: center;"|290,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-09-07|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=September 7, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-09-07.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=September 7, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|September 14}}

|style="text-align: center;"|213,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-09-14|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=September 14, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|September 21}}

|style="text-align: center;"|171,500

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-09-21|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=September 21, 1991}}

scope="row" | {{dts|September 28}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Ropin' the Wind

|style="text-align: center;"|{{Sortname|Garth|Brooks}}

|style="text-align: center;"|300,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-09-28|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=September 28, 1991}}{{cite web |last1=Philips |first1=Chuck |title=Hats Off ! Garth Brooks Tops Chart : Pop music: Country singer's new album topples Metallica. Fans are gleeful but have no illusions--next week GNR's sales will be counted. |website=Los Angeles Times |date=20 September 1991 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-20-ca-2739-story.html |access-date=10 August 2022}}

scope="row" | {{dts|October 5}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=2|Use Your Illusion II

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=2|Guns N' Roses

|style="text-align: center;"|770,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-10-05|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=October 5, 1991}}Hasty, Katie. An alternative version of Don't Cry is featured on the second album with the same music but different lyrics. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266167/kanye-edges-gnr-ludacris-for-no-1-debut "Kanye Edges GNR, Ludacris For No. 1 Debut"]. billboard.com. December 3, 2008.

scope="row" | {{dts|October 12}}

|style="text-align: center;"|340,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-10-12|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=October 12, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-10-12.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=October 12, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|October 19}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=7|Ropin' the Wind

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=7 data-sort-value="Brooks, Garth"|Garth Brooks

|style="text-align: center;"|254,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-10-19|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=October 19, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-10-19.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=October 19, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|October 26}}

|style="text-align: center;"|270,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-10-26|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=October 26, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-10-26.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=October 26, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|November 2}}

|style="text-align: center;"|230,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-11-02|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=November 2, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-11-02.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=November 2, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|November 9}}

|style="text-align: center;"|220,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-11-09|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=November 9, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-11-09.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=November 9, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|November 16}}

|style="text-align: center;"|190,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-11-16|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=November 16, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-11-16.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=November 16, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|November 23}}

|style="text-align: center;"|175,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-11-23|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=November 23, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-11-23.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=November 23, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|November 30}}

|style="text-align: center;"|167,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-11-30|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=November 30, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-11-30.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=November 30, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|December 7}}

|style="text-align: center;"|Achtung Baby

|style="text-align: center;"|U2

|style="text-align: center;"|295,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-12-07|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=December 7, 1991}}{{cite web |last1=Macminn |first1=Aleene |title=POP/ROCK |website=Los Angeles Times |date=28 November 1991 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-11-28-ca-114-story.html |access-date=10 August 2022}}

scope="row" | {{dts|December 14}}

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=3|Dangerous

|style="text-align: center;" rowspan=3|{{Sortname|Michael|Jackson}}

|style="text-align: center;"|326,500

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-12-14|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=December 14, 1991}}{{cite web |last1=Philips |first1=Chuck |title=Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' Is No 'Thriller' : * Pop music: Sales of 326,500 copies are well below first-week figures for Guns N' Roses and Metallica. |website=Los Angeles Times |date=5 December 1991 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-05-ca-1047-story.html |access-date=10 August 2022}}

scope="row" | {{dts|December 21}}

|style="text-align: center;"|378,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-12-21|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=December 21, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1992/Billboard-1991-12-21.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=December 21, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

scope="row" | {{dts|December 28}}

|style="text-align: center;"|370,000

|{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1991-12-28|magazine=Billboard |title=Billboard 200 Top Albums|date=December 28, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB1991.pdf|title=Between The Bullets|last=Mayfield|first=Geoff|date=December 28, 1991|page=112|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|volume=107|number=1}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{US Albums}}

1991

Category:1991 record charts