The Beach Boys have beaten the Beatles to the longest stand of top 10 albums in the U.S. charts by a group - by 18 months.

Brian Wilson's reunited surf pop band crashed into the new Billboard 200 countdown on Wednesday when their comeback release That's Why God Made the Radio - the group's first album of new material since 1992 - debuted at number three.

And the hit extends The Beach Boys' top 10 run to 49 years and a week - they first hit the top 10 with Surfin' U.S.A. in June, 1963.

And the reunion album gives the band the edge over the Fab Four, who previously held the longevity record with 47 years, seven months and three weeks, according to Billboard.com.

The Rolling Stones are now third among groups with the longest top 10 span on the Billboard 200. Their 45-year, six-month top 10 span began in December, 1964, and ended in June, 2010, with Exile on Main St.

Frank Sinatra boasts the longest run on the Billboard 200's top flight with 52 years, two months and one week.

Meanwhile, Wilson and the Beatles' Sir Paul McCartney will clash again next week on the birthday charts - McCartney turns 70 on Monday (18Jun12), two days before Wilson hits the landmark age. (KL/WNWCBB/MJ)