Dutchman's Blog

Robbie Williams has reclaimed the number one spot in the UK album charts with Swings Both Ways.

The LP previously topped the chart on November 24, becoming the UK’s 1,000th number one album. It was knocked down to number two following the release of One Direction’s Midnight Memories.

Williams has now reclaimed the top spot after two weeks, with his album selling 5,000 more copies that One Direction, who slip to second position.

Gary Barlow has stayed at three with his solo album Since I Saw You Last, while Olly Murs remains at four with Right Place, Right Time.

Beyoncé caused a stir this week when she released her surprise self-titled album.

The record, which is only available digitally, shifted over 68,000 copies during its first 48 hours on sale.

Featuring collaborations with Drake, Frank Ocean and Jay Z, the album enters the chart at number five.

The Official Chart Company’s executive Martin Talbon said of the release: “It is a great achievement by Beyoncé to make such an impact so quickly, after just two days sales – and especially only with the digital edition available. Few (if any) albums have sold as many digital copies in such a short space of time.”

Source: Official Charts Company

One Direction have scored a second week at the top of the UK Album Chart with their new album Midnight Memories.

The boyband have shifted a further 124,000 copies of their new LP this week, after it became the fastest-selling artist album of 2013 last Sunday (December 1).

Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow have swapped places on this week’s countdown with their albums Swings Both Ways and Since I Saw You Last.

Williams has sold a further 91,000 copies to climb to number two, while Barlow is at three with his first solo LP in 14 years.

Olly Murs holds at four with his third studio album Right Place, Right Time, while Il Divo claim their sixth Top 10 album with A Musical Affair at five.

Rebecca Ferguson scores a new entry at number six with her second album Freedom, which serves as the follow-up to her 2011 debut Heaven.

Britain’s Got Talent finalists Richard And Adam debut at 24 with The Christmas Album, while Leona Lewis enters one place behind them at 25 with her festive record Christmas With Love.

Britney Spears is a new entry at 34 with her eighth studio album Britney Jean, which features recent singles ‘Work Bitch’ and ‘Perfume’.

Source: Official Charts Company

One Direction have stormed to the top of the UK Album Chart with their third studio album Midnight Memories.

Gary Barlow’s Since I Saw You Last – his first solo album in 14 years – debuts at number two, with sales of 116,000.

Meanwhile, Robbie Williams – who scored the UK’s 1000th number one album last week – is at three. He sold 109,000 copies of Swings Both Ways this week.

Olly Murs rises from 96 to four on this week’s countdown with Right Place Right Time, following the album’s rerelease on Monday (November 25).

Eminem completes the top five with The Marshall Mathers LP 2, which drops three places from number two.

Boyzone, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, score a new entry at six with their fifth studio album BZ20.

Susan Boyle has scored her fifth consecutive Top 10 album today with Home For Christmas at nine.

Outside of the Top 10, Dido’s Greatest Hits is a new entry at number 27 and Mary J Blige’s festive collection A Mary Christmas enters at 28 following her X Factor performance last weekend.

Source: Official Charts Company

Robbie Williams has won the UK’s 1000th number one album with his new LP Swings Both Ways.

The singer sold almost 109,000 copies of his latest swing record during its first week on sale.

Williams has scored the landmark number one 57-and-a-half years after Frank Sinatra’s Songs for Swingin’ Lovers became the UK’s first ever number one album.

Meanwhile, Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2 remains in second spot for another week, while Jake Bugg’s second studio album Shangri La is a new entry at number three.

Celine Dion falls one place from three to four with her latest album Loved Me Back To Life. The record is Dion’s highest-charting LP since 2002’s A New Day Has Come.

Elvis Presley retrospective The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs holds at number five and JLS’s Goodbye – The Greatest Hits enters the chart at number six.

Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP drops eight places from number one to nine on this week’s countdown, while Little Mix’s Salute falls four places to eight.

Michael Bublé’s Christmas LP rises 23 places to number 14 as we draw closer to the festive period.

The other new entries in this week’s chart are choirmaster Gareth Malone’s Voices at number 23 and Gabrielle’s Now And Always – 20 Years of Dreaming at 38.

Source: Official Charts Company

Lady Gaga has secured her third UK number one album with ARTPOP.

The ‘Applause’ singer knocked Eminem off the top spot, with his album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 slipping to second place.

Meanwhile, Celine Dion – whose new single debuted at 14 in the singles chart – reaches number three with album Loved Me Back To Life, making it her highest-charting LP since 2002’s A New Day Has Come.

Little Mix’s Salute comes in at number four, while compilation album The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs rounds out the top five.

There are seven other new entries on today’s Official Albums Chart. The Killers’ best of collection Direct Hits makes it to number six, while Sir Cliff Richard’s The Fabulous Rock ‘N’ Roll Songbook is in at seven.

The presence of both Elvis and Richard marks the first time in 36 years that they have been in the same Top 10 album chart.

Eminem has landed his seventh UK number one album with The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

The rapper becomes the first American to score seven consecutive number one albums in the UK, equalling the feat achieved by The Beatles. Led Zeppelin and ABBA hold the overall record with eight number ones.

Selling over 143,000 copies, it is the third-fastest selling studio album of 2013, behind Daft Punk and Arctic Monkeys.

James Arthur enters at two with his self-titled debut album, followed by Tinie Tempah’s second LP Demonstration at three.

Andre Rieu and Johann Strauss Orchestra’s Music of the Night is a new entry at four, while The Overtones enter at five with Saturday Night at the Movies.

Elvis Presley compilation The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs lands at seven, to tie in with the ITV show of the same name.

The Wanted achieve their third Top 10 album at ten with Word of Mouth.

Avril Lavigne’s self-titled fifth album is new at 14, followed by husband Chad Kroeger’s band Nickelback with their Best Of at 15.

Bob Dylan’s Very Best Of compilation lands at 16. Midlake’s latest LP Antiphon sneaks in at 39.

Arcade Fire have earned their second number one album in the UK with Reflektor.

The Canadian band repeat the success of their previous LP The Suburbs by knocking Katy Perry’s Prism off the top spot.

James Blunt slips one place to three with Moon Landing, while Lorde enters at four with debut release Pure Heroine. Arctic Monkeys’ AM completes this week’s top five.

X Factor stars Union J’s self-titled debut album lands at six. 2010 winner Matt Cardle’s third LP Porcelain enters at 11.

Linkin Park’s new remix album Recharged is new at 12 and One Chance subject Paul Potts enters at 21 with his Greatest Hits.

Chas & Dave score a placing at 25 with That’s What Happens, while Boy George enters at 33 with This Is What I Do.

James Blake’s Mercury Prize-winning album Overgrown leaps from outside the top 200 to number 23.

Lou Reed climbs back into the Top 40 at 35 with classic album Transformer, following his death last weekend.

Source: Official Charts Company

Katy Perry has achieved her second number one album in the UK with Prism.

The ‘Roar’ singer matched the success of her 2010 album Teenage Dream by entering at the top of the pile this week.

James Blunt scores his fourth top five album with Moon Landing at two, being beaten by under 12,000 copies to the top spot.

John Newman slips two to three from last week’s summit with Tribute. Arctic Monkeys climb back up two to four with AM.

Opera star Andrea Bocelli’s latest collection Love In Portofino enters at five.

The Voice UK winner Andrea Begley scores the highest-charting album from the BBC One show at seven with The Message.

“I just want to say a huge thanks to all my fans who have supported my debut album,” Begley told The Official Charts Company. “I really cherish your faith in my voice.”

Earth Wind & Fire enter at 25 with Now Then & Forever, the group’s first new album in eight years.

Poliça earn their first Top 40 placing at 33 with their latest LP Shulamith.

Elsewhere, Lawson’s special edition of Chapman Square soars back 158 places to 13. Katy Perry’s previous album Teenage Dream climbs 91 spots to 36.

Source: Official Charts Company

John Newman has scored a debut number one with Tribute.

The singer-songwriter lands straight at the top of the chart, in a week that saw many new entries inside the Top 10.

“It’s such an amazing thing for an artist to have a number one album, especially on a debut,” he told The Official Charts Company. “It means so much to me and I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped make this happen. Can’t wait to see everyone on tour next week!”

Pearl Jam achieve their highest-charting UK album since 1993 by landing at two with Lightning Bolt.

Sir Paul McCartney enters at three with his 16th studio album New, followed by Cher’s latest release Closer To The Truth at four. Britain’s Got Talent alumni Jonathan and Charlotte land at five with Perhaps Love.

The Saturdays enter at 10 with their latest effort Living For the Weekend, making it their fourth Top 10 album.

Will Young’s Essential collection is new at 15. Lissie’s second LP Back To Forever lands at 16.

Gary Numan achieves his first Top 40 studio album since 1991, landing at 20 with Splinter (Songs From a Broken Mind). Giggs enters at 21 with When Will It Stop.

Trivium land at 23 with Vengeance Falls, while there are also new entries for Eliza Doolittle’s In Your Hands at 25, Matt Goss’s Life You Imagine at 27 and Cilla Black’s Very Best Of at 37.

Source: Official Charts Company

UK vinyl sales have doubled this year to hit their highest level in a decade, thanks to surging demand from music lovers for LPs by artists such as Daft Punk and the Arctic Monkeys.

Some 550,000 LPs have already been sold this year – more than in each full year since 2003 – according to data published by the BPI, which represents British recorded music businesses.

With new records from Arcade Fire and Pearl Jam due to be released in the run-up to Christmas, the BPI estimates that more than 700,000 LPs worth a total of £12m could be sold by the end of the year, the most since 2001.

“We’re witnessing a renaissance for records,” said Geoff Taylor, BPI head. “They’re no longer retromania and are becoming the format of choice for more and more music fans.”

(more…)