The Last Shadow Puppets, featuring Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of Liverpool band the Rascals, debuted at No. 1 on the British album chart yesterday (April 27) with “The Age of the Understatement” (Domino). The album’s No. 1 start followed a top ten spot last week for the group’s U.K. single of the same name.
The Puppets’ set is the fifth U.K. No.1 album for the independent Domino label in two and a half years. Domino has previously topped the chart twice with Franz Ferdinand and twice with Arctic Monkeys. The Puppets are the fifth debut act to top the British charts in 2008, according to Official U.K. Charts Company data, following Amy Macdonald, Scouting For Girls, Adele and Duffy. That compares to three at the same stage last year, by the View, Mika and Ray Quinn.
The Last Shadow Puppets recently played introductory shows on both sides of the Atlantic, but with Kane and the Rascals due to release their debut album in June, the Puppets will not tour until October.
Last week’s No.1 album, “Konk” (Virgin/EMI) by the Kooks, fell to No.2, and Leona Lewis’ “Spirit” (Syco Music/Sony BMG) fell 2-3. There was a notable chart comeback at No.7 as veteran rockers Whitesnake debuted with “Good To Be Bad” (SPV Recordings). The group’s first new album in 11 years, “Bad” is also their highest ranking on the U.K. chart since “Come and Get It” reached
No.2 in 1981, although frontman David Coverdale is the only remaining member of that line-up.
Chris De Burgh, another 80s act, has also returned to the bestsellers. His “Now and Then” (UMTV/Universal), which debuted at No. 12 this week, extends the singer-songwriter’s album chart span in Britain to over 26 years, since “Best Moves” opened on the survey in September 1981.
On the singles chart, “4 Minutes” (Warner Bros.) by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake started a second week at No. 1, pursued by Sam Sparro’s “Black & Gold” (Universal Island), which moved back up 3-2. “Wearing My Rolex”
(Asylum/Atlantic), the breakthrough single by U.K. rapper Wiley, entered at No.4.
Two singles climbed into the top ten. The U.K. version of will.i.am’s “Heartbreaker” (A&M/Universal), which features Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud, moved 18-8, and Scouting For Girls’ “Heartbeat” (Epic/Sony BMG) climbed 14-10. “Propane Nightmares” (WEA) by Propane, the Perth, Australia band now resident in London, had a No. 16 debut, while Adele’s “Cold Shoulder” (XL
Recordings) saw a 53-18 climb.
Duffy has earned a second week at No. 1 on European Top 100 Albums with “Rockferry” (A&M/Universal) but the group’s hit, “Mercy,” was usurped at the top of Eurochart Hot 100 Singles by the Madonna/Justin Timberlake hit.
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