In an all-new top three on the U.K. album chart, the Killers' "Day
& Age" (Vertigo/Universal) took the No. 1 spot ahead of Guns N'
Roses' "Chinese Democracy" (Black Frog/Geffen), while Take That
scored its 11th U.K. career No. 1 single with "Greatest Day"
(Polydor/Universal).
The Killers thus complete a perfect trio of studio albums: "Hot
Fuss" was released in June 2004 and spent two weeks at the summit
the following January, while "Sam's Town" spent three weeks at the
top in October 2006. Welsh-born 2007 "X Factor" runner-up Rhydian
arrived at No. 3 with a self-titled debut set for Syco Music/Sony
BMG.
His Syco labelmate Leona Lewis' repackaged "Spirit" album fell 1-4,
while an eponymous album by Epic act the Priests came in at No. 5.
The group is a trio of Roman Catholic priests from Northern Ireland
whose album was produced by Mike Hedges (Manic Street Preachers,
U2).
All the top 10 newcomers restricted Kanye West to a No. 11 entry
with "808s & Heartbreak" (Mercury/Universal). Two more releases
aimed squarely at the festive market hit the top 20: Only Men
Aloud's self-titled album for Universal Classics & Jazz debuted
at No. 16; the 18-piece male voice choir won the BBC's "Last Choir
Standing" talent series in August. Another UCJ release, the
Salvation Army's "Together," came in at No. 20.
Take That's new No. 1 single is the lead song from the album "The
Circus," released today (Dec. 1). It's the third chart-topper of
the group's "second coming," which began two years ago with
"Patience" and continued early in 2007 with "Shine." Their No. 2
single from last November, "Rule the World," this week rebounds
46-27 in its 52nd chart week, while RCA/Sony BMG's "Never Forget --
The Ultimate Collection," which contains the hits from the group's
original 1991-96 era, climbs 74-39.
Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" (Columbia) fell 1-2 as its parent album
"I Am ... Sasha Fierce" slumps 10-21. "Live Your Life" (Atlantic)
by T.I. featuring Rihanna climbs back 4-3, and another successful
week for Rihanna also includes a 51-24 jump for "Rehab" (Def Jam)
featuring Justin Timberlake. McFly's "Do Ya"/"Stay With Me" (Super)
entered at No. 18.
Billboard's pan-European sales charts showed a Sony BMG double, as
Dido's "Safe Trip Home" (Cheeky/RCA) debuted at No. 1 on European
Top 100 Albums and the Beyonce track climbed 2-1 on Eurochart Hot
100 Singles.
