Cheryl Cole Owns U.K. Singles, Albums Charts

Cheryl Cole joined the select band of solo female artists to achieve simultaneous U.K. No. 1 singles and albums yesterday. The Girls Aloud member and "X Factor" judge's debut solo album "3 Words" (Fascination/Polydor/Universal) opened in pole position while "Fight For This Love," which arrived at No. 1 last week as the U.K.'s fastest-selling single of the year, went into a second week at the top.

Cole is the 12th female artist in U.K. chart history to record that double achievement, according to the Official U.K. Charts Company, and the third this year, following Lily Allen and Lady Gaga. Underlining her current popularity, the title track from her album, featuring will.i.am, also sold sufficient downloads to make the top 40 of the singles chart, at No. 26.

The "3 Words" album hit No. 1 ahead of some strong competition, with Michael Bublé's "Crazy Love" (Reprise/Warner Music) holding at No. 2. His single "Haven't Met You Yet" climbed 9-5 and another track from the set, "Cry Me A River," hit the singles top 40 at No. 34.

Michael Jackson's "This Is It" (Epic), the partner release to the film of the same name, arrived at No. 3 and Soldiers' "Coming Home" (Rhino/Warner Music) at No. 4. The latter is an album of covers (including "Tears In Heaven," "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Stand By Me") by Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, Sergeant Richie Maddocks and Sergeant Major Gary Chilton, serving officers in the British Army.

Last week's No. 1 album, Alexandra Burke's "Overcome" (Syco Music/Sony Music Entertainment), fell to No. 5, while crossover classical vocalist Katherine Jenkins' "Believe" (Warner Bros.) opened at No. 6. Irish easy listening singer and chart regular Daniel O'Donnell's "Peace in the Valley" (DMG TV) came in at No. 8.

Cole's single stayed at the top ahead of a new entry at No. 2 for Irish hitmakers Westlife. "What About Now" (S/Sony Music Entertainment), their cover of the Daughtry song, is the lead single from their new, tenth album "Where We Are," which follows Nov. 30. The track is Westlife's 23rd top ten U.K. single.

Jay Sean's Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Down" (Universal Island), featuring Lil Wayne, made its U.K. debut at No. 3, as Black Eyed Peas' "Meet Me Halfway" (Interscope/Universal) climbed 11-6. Miley Cyrus scored a No. 11 entry with "Party in the U.S.A." (Hollywood/EMI), with Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" (Interscope/Universal) new at No. 14 and Biffy Clyro's "The Captain" (14th Floor/Warner Music) at No. 17.

On Billboard's European sales charts, German rock mainstay Rammstein's "Liebe Ist Für Alle Da" (Motor) raced 15-1 to top European Albums, as Robbie Williams' "Bodies" (Virgin/EMI) began a second week atop European Hot 100 Singles.