"White Ladder," the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter David Gray, initially flew under the radar upon its release in November 1998 through Gray's independent label, IHT Records, failing to make a chart impact. However, its fortunes dramatically shifted when it was re-released on April 24, 2000, by Dave Matthews' ATO Records label.
 
Debuting at a modest number 69 on the UK Albums Chart, "White Ladder" steadily climbed its way to the top, reaching the coveted number one spot on August 5, 2001, more than a year after its re-release. The album's success was largely fueled by the infectious single "Babylon," which catapulted Gray to global fame. Additional singles like "This Year's Love," "Please Forgive Me," "Sail Away," and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" further solidified its acclaim.
 
Remarkably, "White Ladder" enjoyed an extraordinary chart run in the UK, spending nearly three consecutive years on the top 100 chart from May 2000 to March 2003, totaling an impressive 176 weeks of chart presence as of 2020. Its impact wasn't confined to the UK alone; it achieved massive success in Ireland, where it dominated the charts for six consecutive weeks and became the best-selling album of all time in the country by 2015, with 350,000 copies sold.
 
The album's success continued to mount, with "White Ladder" earning the distinction of being the fifth best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK, boasting sales of 2.9 million copies. Its success persisted, with over 3 million copies sold in the UK alone, solidifying its status as the eleventh best-selling album of the 21st century in the country and the 28th best-selling album of all time. Globally, "White Ladder" has surpassed seven million copies in sales, cementing its place as a timeless classic in the annals of contemporary music.