U.K. MIDWEEKS: DANCING MACHINE
The fifth studio album by Florence + the Machine is on its way to becoming their fourth U.K. #1, while, at singles, Harry Styles may have two challengers threatening his shot at a seventh week at #1.
Florence Welch & company’s Dance Fever (Polydor) has registered more than 26k in chart sales and is the best-selling album of the week in the U.K., physically and digitally.
The most streamed album is Kendrick Lamar’s first in five years, Mr Morale & The Big Steppers (Interscope), set to debut at #2 Friday on the Official Albums Chart. The Black Keys’ Dropout Boogie (Nonesuch), at #4, is on course to be their fifth U.K. Top 10. British folkies Bear’s Den may secure its highest-charting LP in the U.K. as Blue Hours (Communion) is now #5.
The Rolling Stones’ archival release Live at the El Mocambo (Polydor) is #7, and the debut from Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood’s The Smile, A Light for Attracting Attention (XL), is #9.
The re-release of Toyah’s 1981 live album, Toyah! Toyah! Toyah! (Cherry Red), sits at #11, potentially outperforming its original chart position of #22.
At singles, fewer than 2,000 in chart sales separate Styles’ “As It Was” (Columbia) and Cat Burns’ “Go” (RCA) at the midweek mark. Styles, currently #1, is vying for his seventh week atop the chart.
Three songs from Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (Interscope) are eyeing slots in the Top 10: “United in Grief” is #3, “N95” is #4 and “Die Hard” sits at #6.
Sam Ryder’s second-place finish at Eurovision Saturday has propelled his “SPACE MAN” (Parlophone) to #5. It would be the first U.K. Eurovision entry to crack the Top 10 since Scooch’s “Flying the Flag (For You)” in 2007. If it hits #1, it would be the first U.K. Eurovision #1 on the Official Singles Chart in 26 years.
My Chemical Romance’s surprise release “Foundations of Decay” (Warner) is heading for a #14 debut.
