London, November 16 : Singer Dame Shirley Bassey has made it to the album charts with her first album of original material in 20 years.

The 72-year-old’s album, titled ‘The Performance,’ has entered the charts at number 20.

The Welsh singer has recorded tracks written by artists including the Kaiser Chiefs, Gary Barlow, Pet Shop Boys and Manic Street Preachers.

Meanwhile, 92-year-old Dame Vera Lynn became the oldest living artist to top the UK album chart with her album in September.

She replaced Arctic Monkeys at the top position.

Martin Talbot, from the Official UK Charts Company, believes it is the older music fans who have played a role in the increase in album sales.

"It''s been a vintage year for veteran artists. The success of older acts has been growing over recent years but it has peaked in 2009," the Telegraph quoted him as telling The Guardian.

Also, Will Page, chief economist at PRs for Music, added: "With so much ambiguity around the return on an investment in a new record by an emerging band, a safer bet might be to exploit existing records from established acts.” (ANI)