A Rush of Blood to the Head

Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Good article Template:Redirect {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Parachutes2000Live 20032003studioA Rush of Blood to the HeadColdplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head Cover.pngyesA grey, polygonal, incomplete 3D rendering of a woman's shoulders and the lower half of her head on a white background. Distortions in the rendering create the appearance of spikes protruding from the neck and hair.Standard edition coverColdplayTemplate:Start date13 September 2001 – July 2002<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>* Mayfair (London)

• AIR (London)
• Parr Street (Liverpool)Template:Hlist54:06* Parlophone
• Capitol* Ken Nelson
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A Rush of Blood to the Head is the second studio album by the British rock band Coldplay. It was released on 26 August 2002 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and a day later by Capitol in the United States. The album was produced by the band and Ken Nelson, and makes greater use of the electric guitar and piano than the band's debut album, Parachutes (2000).

Recording of the album began after the band achieved worldwide popularity with Parachutes and the single "Yellow".<ref>Template:Cite magazineTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="MossHeats">Template:Cite news</ref> A Rush of Blood to the Head topped the UK Albums Chart upon its first week of release in the United Kingdom, becoming the eighth best-selling album of the 21st century in the country.<ref name="musicweek 2011">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has since certified the album 10× Platinum for its accumulated sales of 3 million units in the United Kingdom, while over 20 million copies were sold worldwide.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album spawned the hit singles "In My Place", "The Scientist", "Clocks" and "God Put a Smile upon Your Face.

A Rush of Blood to the Head has been critically acclaimed, and the band received three Grammy Awards for the album at the 45th Grammy Awards; Best Alternative Album, which was the band's second win in a row, Best Rock Performance for "In My Place", and Record of the Year for "Clocks" at the 46th ceremony. In 2007, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on their 200 Definitive Albums list. In 2010, it was among ten albums nominated for the best British album of the past 30 years at the Brit Awards,<ref name="nme wilkinson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and one of ten classic album covers from British artists commemorated on a UK postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail. It has appeared on several editions of Rolling StoneTemplate:'s list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Multiple publications have listed A Rush of Blood to the Head as being considered of the best albums in history.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recording

Coldplay started recording A Rush of Blood to the Head in London in September 2001,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> but later relocated to Liverpool, where they had recorded some of the songs on their debut album Parachutes (2000).<ref name="CumberbacthOut">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lead singer Chris Martin said that once there they "became obsessed with recording".<ref name="CumberbacthOut"/> "In My Place" was among the first songs recorded for the album during this period, and the one that the band released as the album's lead single because it was the song that made them want to do a second album. It kept them going and made them think they could still write songs, following a strange period of not really knowing what they were doing three months after the success of Parachutes.<ref name="CumberbacthOut"/>

The opening track "Politik" was recorded two days following 2001's September 11 attacks. According to an interview with lead singer Chris Martin, "I wrote the song on 9/11 and we recorded it on 9/13. We were all, like everyone else, I suppose, a little confused and frightened. I get off tour and had a rest for one or two days. But then I get antsy again. I want to write songs and do things, 'cause you never know what might happen."<ref name="Spivak 2004 80">Template:Cite book</ref> The band wrote more than twenty songs in the months following for the album and some of those, including "In My Place" and "Animals", were performed live during the tours promoting Parachutes.<ref name="MossHeats"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album's title was revealed through a post on the band's official website.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

During initial recording sessions in Liverpool, Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland worked alone, and only on weekends. Each Monday, they would present the song ideas that they had developed to their bandmates.<ref name="CumberbacthOut"/> With A Rush of Blood to the Head nearly completed, Martin went into the studio late one night and wrote a piano riff that he has stated "just came out". The band recognised that this early version of the song, that would become "Clocks", was special the first time Martin played it to them. Reasoning that it was too late to include the song on the album, they recorded a demo version and included it on a CD marked "Songs for #3", featuring unfinished tracks they intended to work on for their third studio album.<ref name="WebbStory">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="WiederhornRoad">Template:Cite news</ref>

By June 2002, the band had completed A Rush of Blood to the Head, but thought their output sounded "rubbish" and reached an agreement with record label Parlophone to postpone the release of the album until they were completely satisfied.<ref name="WebbStory"/><ref name="WiederhornRoad"/> Subsequently, many songs were discarded because they sounded like they could have been on Parachutes. Martin has claimed that it would have been uninteresting: "It would have shown that we're happy to sit back on what we'd done, and we're not. For us, it was important to progress and try to improve upon our abilities as musicians." Such ambitions put the band under strain: "sometimes practice sessions ended abruptly with one or more members of Coldplay threatening to quit".<ref name="WiederhornBleed">Template:Cite news</ref>

After headlining the 2002 Glastonbury Festival, Coldplay returned to the studio and worked on some tracks from the "Songs for #3" CD they had produced earlier. Phil Harvey, the band's manager, heard "Clocks" and urged them to rework it immediately: "No, you must do that song now 'cause you're going on [in the lyrics] about urgency, and you're talking about keeping this song back. That doesn't make sense."<ref name="WebbStory"/><ref name="WiederhornRoad"/>

Composition

Template:Listen Production of the album began quickly with the writing of the track "Politik", which was a song seen as a reflection of the world at the time, giving the band a renewed perspective on their lives and society. Many of the song lyrics on the album relate strongly to the theme of urgency. Martin has commented that previous songs were more relaxed since they were in a comfortable state of mind: "Perhaps there's a bit more urgency on some of these songs. And that's born from all the places we've been and the things we've experienced." Martin has explained. In relation to the theme of urgency, Martin has also stated that the album's title means "doing something on impulse".<ref name="WiederhornBleed" />

Several songs on the album are about the themes of love and relationships. These tracks are based on reality, but according to Martin, they were written with a fictional twist: "Songs are like fairy tales: they have a beginning and an end and you can make it all work perfectly. Real life doesn't work like that".<ref name="CumberbacthOut" />

The album includes ballads and acoustic songs featuring extensive use of guitar and piano. The U2-esque "epic rock" of the album's opening track "Politik", the piano-driven "Clocks", the loud guitars of "A Whisper" and the country rock-inspired guitar in "Warning Sign" were seen as an extension of the band's musical range.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chris Martin has also stated that the album's title track is an homage to American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The title track is about uncertainties faced in life.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> According to Martin, the song "Green Eyes" was composed for an "American friend" and guitarist Jonny Buckland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Drummer Will Champion revealed that "A Whisper" was recorded on a single take during an interview for Apple Music, adding that the band never managed to re-record the song or play it live properly after the original session.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Artwork

The album cover for A Rush of Blood to the Head was designed by photographer Sølve Sundsbø. Sundsbø had been hired by fashion magazine Dazed & Confused in the late 1990s to produce a shot with a "technological feel, something all white", according to himself. As an artist, Sundsbø attempted to do a unique original piece, creating a shot that had never been seen before; He suggested taking shots using a three-dimensional scanning machine—used to measure head sizes for USAF fighter jet helmets—to fulfil his vision.<ref name="BenedictusShot">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The model for the shots, named Mim, wore all-white cosmetic makeup, along with a coloured twill cape, to aesthetically produce optimal and desired results. The scanner could not properly identify some of the colors on the cape, so they were replaced with digital spikes, and the head in the image was chopped as the machine was unable to scan more than about thirty centimeters in height at a time.<ref name="ARushofBloodtotheHeadArtwork">(2002) Artwork for A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay. Capitol (CDP 7243 5 40504 2 8).</ref> At first, Sundsbø had mixed feelings about the image, stating that when he first saw the result, he was terrified. "I thought it was so beautiful, but I was sure the magazine was never going to run it." The editor of the magazine, however, absolutely loved the image, and eventually featured it in one of their publications. After seeing the image in a publication of the magazine, Chris Martin approached Sundsbø for proper permission to use the image as the cover of A Rush of Blood to the Head. For the album's singles, Martin asked Sundsbø for any ideas; Sundsbø suggested scanning the head of each member of the band.<ref name="BenedictusShot"/>

The album booklet contains only two photos; One with Coldplay in a location that was rumoured to be a forest,Template:Clarify and one with the band in a recording studio. The album cover was among the ten chosen by the Royal Mail for a set of "Classic Album Cover" postage stamps issued in January 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release

A Rush of Blood to the Head was released on 26 August 2002 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom, and a day later on 27 August 2002 by Capitol in the United States. The album was completed and originally ready to hand over to record representatives and released in June 2002; however, after recording a demo of "Clocks" intended for the third album, the band delayed release by two months to allow them to work it into a finished track and include it on A Rush of Blood to the Head.<ref name="WebbStory" /> Capitol released a remastered version of the album in 2008 on a 180-gram vinyl record as part of its "From the Capitol Vaults" series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Critical reception

Reviews

Template:Music ratings Upon release, A Rush of Blood to the Head received positive reviews from contemporary critics. Review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalised score of 80 out of 100 based on 25 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="MC"/> This makes A Rush of Blood to the Head Coldplay's highest-scoring album on the website as of 2023. Many reviewers felt that it built upon Parachutes.<ref name="MC"/> Alexis Petridis of the newspaper The Guardian wrote that the band's "new assurance is everywhere ... the timidity of Parachutes is nowhere to be found". He concludes, "It sounds like an album ready to take on the world, and win."<ref name="guardian"/>

Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times praised the album, commenting that it is "one of the year's best albums" and describing it as "sparser, stranger and even catchier than its predecessor".<ref name="KelefaVertigo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rolling StoneTemplate:'s Rob Sheffield said that "A Rush of Blood to the Head is a nervier, edgier, thoroughly surprising album", adding, "where Parachutes was the clumsy diary of a high-strung kid, A Rush of Blood sounds more like a band with the confidence to test its own limits."<ref name="RS"/> Ted Kessler of NME lauded the album, calling it "an album of outstanding natural beauty, an organic, wholesome work." MacKenzie Wilson of AllMusic echoed the above comments, saying that it is a "strong album". Wilson, who compliments Martin for his "sharpened" falsetto and refined "haunting delivery" and Buckland for his "riveting guitar work", notes that "regardless of the band still being in their mid-twenties, they've made an amazing record".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Emma Pearse of the American newspaper The Village Voice has the same sentiments, stating that it is "a little edgier, trancier, and more conversational" compared to Parachutes.<ref name="villagevoice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Conversely, Robert Christgau gave the album a one-star honorable mention (Template:Rating-Christgau) and quipped "Let Green Eyes dump him for real and we'll see how long he hums in the void".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2012, it was ranked number 466 on Rolling StoneTemplate:'s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, with its ranking climbing to number 324 in the 2020 update.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2013, the album topped a BBC Radio poll ahead of Hopes and Fears by Keane, Rio by Duran Duran and The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.<ref name="3news">Template:Cite news</ref> It was also included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Billboard listed "Green Eyes" among the best deep cuts from the 21st century.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Rankings

A Rush of Blood to the Head on select critic rankings

Publisher	Year	Listicle	Rank	Template:Abbr
Template:Sort	2002	Best Albums of 2002	3	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Billboard	2002	Critics' Choice Albums 2002	1	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Blender	2002	Top 10 Albums of 2002	2	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Consequence	2009	Top of the Decade Albums	33	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Entertainment Weekly	2008	100 Best Albums from 1983 to 2008	49	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	2007	1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die	Placed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Il Manifesto	2002	Best Albums of 2002	3	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Loudwire	2025	Template:Sort	Placed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mondo Sonoro	2002	Best Records of 2002	9	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Newsweek	2020	100 Best Rock Albums of All Time	77	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2021	50 Best Rock Albums from the 21st Century	12	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
NME	2002	Best Albums of 2002	1	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2006	100 Greatest British Albums Ever	67	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2013	Template:Sort	266	<ref name="auto"/>
NPR	2009	Template:Sort	Placed	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Paste	2009	Template:Sort	33	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
PopMatters	2002	Template:Sort	3	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Q	2002	Recordings of the Year – 2002	Placed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2004	50 Best British Albums Ever	19	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2016	Template:Sort	Placed	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Radio X	2023	Template:Sort	16	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame	2007	Definitive 200 Albums of All Time	65	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rolling Stone	2002	Best Albums of 2002	3	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2011	100 Best Albums of the 2000s	21	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	2023	Template:Sort	324	Template:Efn
RTÉ Gold	2023	Top 100 Greatest Albums	29	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Spin	2010	Top 125 Albums of the Past 25 Years	107	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2014	Template:Sort	278	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	2009	Template:Sort	71	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Uncut	2009	150 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far	131	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Under the Radar	2009	Best Albums of the Decade (2000–2009)	76	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Sort	2002	Pazz & Jop Critics Poll	9	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
WXPN	2021	All Time Greatest Albums	249	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Yardbarker	2023	Best Alternative Albums of the 21st Century	Placed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Accolades

Awards and nominations for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Year	Ceremony	Category	Result	Template:Abbr
2002	Fryderyk Awards	Best Foreign Album	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Gaffa Awards (Denmark)	International Album of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best Album	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Q Awards		Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Rockbjörnen Awards	Best International Album	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Top of the Pops Awards	Top Album	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2003	Brit Awards	British Album of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Danish Music Awards	International Album of the Year	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Grammy Awards	Best Alternative Music Album	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Hungarian Music Awards	Modern Rock Album of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Mercury Prize	Mercury Prize	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	NME Awards	Album of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		Best Album	Template:Won
	Premios Oye!	English Album of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Žebřík Music Awards	Best Foreign Album	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2010	Brit Awards	British Album (Last 30 Years)	Template:Nominated	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Commercial performance

A Rush of Blood to the Head topped the charts of 12 countries around the world.<ref name="WILD">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart selling 273,924 copies.<ref name="Jones20">Template:Cite news</ref> The British Phonographic Industry has since certified the album 10× Platinum for accumulated sales of over 3 million copies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With the subsequent release of "Clocks" and "The Scientist", the album spent over one year on the chart. A Rush of Blood to the Head has been placed at number seven on the list of United Kingdom's 20 biggest-selling albums of the 21st century, published by the British trade paper Music Week.<ref name="Jones20"/> In July 2011, A Rush of Blood to the Head climbed from No. 176 back to No. 44 in the album's 250th charting week there.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of October 2021, the album has sold over 3 million copies in the UK, making it Coldplay's best-selling album and the 10th biggest of the 21st century.<ref name="ColdplayUKSales">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

It spent four consecutive weeks at number one on the European Top 100 Albums chart in 2002.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the United States, A Rush of Blood was Coldplay's first venture into the top 5 with 141,000 copies sold initially, stronger than its predecessor, Parachutes, which debuted at number 189 in December 2000.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A Rush of Blood debuted at number-one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 28,200 copies in its first week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album has been certified 4x times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association for shipments of over 400,000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has been certified 7× platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, having accumulated shipments of more than 490,000 units.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

All tracks are written by Coldplay, with co-production from Ken Nelson.

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Coldplay

• Chris Martin – lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar (tracks 8–9)
• Jonny Buckland – lead guitar, backing vocals (tracks 1 and 6), acoustic guitar (track 4), twelve-string slide guitar (track 6)
• Guy Berryman – bass guitar
• Will Champion – drums, backing vocals

Technical and additional personnel Template:Div col

• Coldplay – producer, string arranger, mixer, art direction
• Andrea Wright – assistant engineer
• Ann Lines – string performer
• Audrey Riley – string arranger and performer
• Ben Thackeray – assistant engineer
• Blue Source – art direction
• Chris Tombling – string performer
• Dan Green – string performer
• Dan Keeling – century, published by the British trade paper Music Week. A&R
• Danton Supple – mixer (track 2, 3, 6, 8, 10)
• Dave Holmes – manager
• Estelle Wilkinson – manager
• George Marino – mastering
• Jon Bailey – assistant engineer
• Jon Withnal – assistant engineer
• Ken Nelson – producer, engineer, mixer
• Laura Melhewish – string performer
• Leo Payne – string performer
• Mark Phythian – additional production, mixer
• Nettwerk – management
• Peter Lale – string performer
• Richard George – string performer
• Rik Simpson – additional engineering
• Sølve Sundsbø – cover art
• Susan Dench – string performer
• Tom Sheehan – photographer
• Zed Nelson – photographer

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Weekly chart performance for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chart (2002–2025)	Peak position
Argentine Albums (CAPIF)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
European Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1
Greek Albums (IFPI)<ref name="GRE"/>	2
Hong Kong Albums (HKRMA)<ref name="STAFF">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn)<ref name="STAFF" />	1
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38
Norwegian Rock Albums (IFPI Norge)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Portuguese Albums (AFP)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
Singaporean Albums (RIAS)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
South Korean Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	89
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	9
Emirati Albums (IFPI)<ref name="WILD" />	1

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chart (2016)	Peak position
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	20

Year-end charts

Template:Album chart

Year-end chart performance for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chart (2002)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	15
Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	35
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref name = "CANALTYE02">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31
European Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	14
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	73
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	64
Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	43
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	88
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	140
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24

Template:Album chart

Chart (2003)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	72
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
European Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	8
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	83
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	54
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	17
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6

Chart (2004)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46
Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	27
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	77
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	85
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	76

Chart (2005)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	51
Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	37
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	103
US Catalog Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine Digit page 120 on the PDF archive.</ref>	9

Chart (2006)	Position
US Catalog Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	23

Chart (2007)	Position
Belgian Midprice Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21
Belgian Midprice Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	35

Chart (2008)	Position
Belgian Midprice Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	39
Belgian Midprice Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	30

Chart (2014)	Position
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref name="KoreanYearEnd2014">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	84

Chart (2023)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	79

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chart (2000–2009)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA end of Decade">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>	8
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine Digit page 167 on the PDF archive.</ref>	88

All-time charts

All-time chart performance for A Rush of Blood to the Head

Chart	Position
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	26

See also

• 2002 in British music
• List of best-selling albums of the 21st century
• List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom
• List of best-selling albums of 2002 in Ireland
• List of best-selling albums of 2003 in Ireland
• List of number-one albums in Hong Kong
• List of number-one albums in Norway
• List of number-one albums of 2002 (Australia)
• List of number-one albums of 2002 (Canada)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Europe)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Germany)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Italy)
• List of number-one hits of 2002 (Switzerland)
• List of number-one albums from the 2000s (Denmark)
• List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2000s

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Discogs master
• Template:Metacritic album