Bob Dylan leapt straight to the top of the album chart today almost 40 years after his last number one record, the Official Charts Company said.

Together Through Life comes 38 years and five months after he last claimed the top spot, meaning the American singer-songwriter now holds the record for the longest gap between solo number one albums.

His last chart topper was New Morning which was released in October 1970, reaching number one on November 28.

Together Through Life is Dylan's seventh UK number one, his 33rd studio album and his 53rd album, including compilations and soundtracks.

He first reached number one with The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan released in 1964.

The previous record for the longest gap between number on albums was held by Welsh crooner Tom Jones.

His 1999 comeback, Reload, topped the UK charts in October of that year, more than 31 years after Delilah reached the top in August 1968.

Dylan's critically acclaimed UK tour ends in Edinburgh this evening.

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo said: "Dylan is arguably our greatest cultural icon, and his words and music remain as relevant and as powerful today as they did five decades ago.

"His albums always sell consistently well, but with demand for his catalogue of recordings up significantly in recent months, it's evident that Dylan is going through one of his zeitgeist moments, as a new generation of fans join his more established followers in appreciating his musical legacy."

Dylan has won numerous awards throughout his career, including a special Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power".

Elsewhere in the album charts, The Enemy's second album, Music For The People, went straight in at number two in, while Lady Gaga's The Fame fell two places to number three.

In the singles chart east London vocalist Tinchy Stryder, featuring N-Dubz, spends a second week in the top spot with the the aptly titled song Number 1.

It will be a welcome boost for N-Dubz lead singer Tulisa Contostavlos. The 20-year-old from north London was being treated in a hospital in Athens undergoing tests for swine flu after becoming ill on a flight to Greece on Thursday.

Last week Stryder's single became the first to reach the top with the words "Number 1" in the title.

La Roux remained at number two position in the singles chart with In For The Kill.

The highest new entry was Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer), the collaboration between Ironik, Chipmunk and Sir Elton John, which went in at number three.

Calvin Harris's former number one, I'm Not Alone, slipped one place to number four and Lady Gaga's Poker Face was down one to five.