U.K. modern rock band the Kaiser Chiefs debuted at No. 1 on the new British album chart Sunday (Apr. 6) with their fifth full-length, “Education, Education, Education & War” (Kaiser Chiefs/Fiction/Universal). Aloe Blacc’s “The Man” (Interscope/Universal), currently No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot 100, went straight to No. 1 in the U.K. to become his first solo chart-topper here.
Kaiser Chiefs’ new release has benefited from the current high media profile of frontman Ricky Wilson as a judge on the BBC talent series “The Voice.” “Education” has reversed the downward trend of the band’s recent output: after debuting with the 2005 album “Unemployment,” which reached No. 2, they topped the U.K. bestsellers in 2007 with “Yours Truly, Angry Mob.” The 2008 follow-up “Off With Their Heads” peaked at No. 2 and 2011’s “The Future Is Medieval” only reached No. 10.
The new album was in a close battle with last week’s No. 1, Sam Bailey’s “The Power Of Love” (Syco Music/Sony), moving ahead at the end of the chart week to finish some 2,000 sales ahead of the “X Factor” winner, according to the Official Charts Company. With Bailey down to No. 2, George Michael’s “Symphonica” (Virgin EMI/Universal) also fell a place to No. 3.
Johnny Cash’s “new” release from the 1980s, “Out Among The Stars” (Columbia/Sony), opened at No. 4, his highest-ever U.K. ranking with a studio album (although the classic 1969 live set “Johnny Cash At San Quentin” reached No. 2). John Legend’s “Love In The Future” (Columbia/Sony) held at No. 5, while last week’s new entry at No. 3, Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey’s “Going Back Home” (Chess/Universal), fell three places.
There was a No. 8 start for Christina Perri’s “Head Or Heart” (Atlantic/Warner Music), while Steel Panther’s “All You Can Eat” (Open E Music) arrived at No. 12. On the compilation chart, the Walt Disney Records soundtrack of “Frozen” moved back 5-1.
Aloe Blacc’s singles chart triumph follows his uncredited appearance on Avicii’s U.K. No. 1 hit of last summer, “Wake Me Up.” His own breakthrough hit “I Need A Dollar” reached No. 2 in the territory in 2011. “The Man” features on Blacc’s “Lift Your Spirit” album, which is released in Britain on Monday (7th).
With last week’s No. 1 single, 5 Seconds Of Summer’s “She Looks So Perfect” (Capitol/Universal), dropping way out of contention with a steep decline to No. 10, the modern soul flavor in the upper echelons of the U.K. survey was heightened by another climb for Legend’s “All Of Me,” 5-2. The former No. 1 “I Got U” (Blasé Boys Club), by Duke Dumont featuring Jax Jones, fell 2-3.
Swedish vocalist John Martin, known for his work with Swedish House Mafia and others, scored his first solo top ten hit as “Anywhere For You” (Universal Island) debuted at No. 7. “I’m A Freak” (Republic/Universal) by Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull climbed back 11-9 and there was a No. 12 debut for Paolo Nutini’s “Scream (Funk My Life Up)” (Atlantic/Warner Music).