U.K. MIDWEEK CHARTS: ELBOW GREASED FOR #1
Elbow is likely to secure their second #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart as their seventh studio album, Little Fictions (Polydor), has already moved 28k units. And although Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl performance occurred after most Brits had called it a night, look for Joanne to be the week’s biggest gainer.
Besides Elbow, it looks like a good week for rock acts. Nuclear Blast’s Black Star Riders, a band featuring former members of the Thin Lizzy touring band, have hit #2 with their third album Heavy Fire and Lower Than Atlantis’ fifth LP Safe in Sound (Easy Life) is currently at 4. Recent #1s, Interscope’s soundtrack to La La Land and Pete Tong's Classic House, are at #3 and #5 respectively.
Looking to make their first appearances in the Top 10 are Process (Young Turks) from singer-songwriter Sampha, which is at #6, and Big Sean, whose fourth album, I Decided. (EMI), is #10.
Meanwhile, Gaga's Joanne is #27, up from #85.
On the singles side, Atlantic’s Ed Sheeran looks to hold onto #1 for the fifth straight week with “Shape Of You” as his “Castle On The Hill” is close behind at #2. Looking to enter the Top 10 are Stormzy’s “Big For Your Boots” (Merky), which is at #8, Dua Lipa’s “Be the One” (Warner Bros.) at #9 and Zayn/Taylor Swift’s “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” (RCA/Republic) at #10.
