Irish pop act Westlife moved into fourth place on the list of artists with the most U.K. No. 1 singles in British chart history, as “You Raise Me Up” debuted yesterday (Oct. 30) at the top of the tally. On the album chart, Robbie Williams’ “Intensive Care” (Chrysalis) sold a massive 373,000 copies in its first week to become his seventh solo No. 1 album.
Williams’ banner week forced last week’s best-selling album, the Prodigy’s “Their Law — Singles 1990-2005” (XL) down to No. 2. An increasing number of compilations on the chart heralds the undeniable onset of the holiday retail season, and this week included a No. 6 entry for Destiny’s Child’s “No. 1s” collection (Columbia) and a No. 9 start for Supertramp’s “Retrospectacle” (A&M).
That gives the rock act, whose heyday was in the late 1970s, its first chart appearance since “The Very Best of Supertramp” reached No. 8 in 1997, and its seventh top 10 album in total. The only other new entry in the top 40 of the album chart came from former TV talent show notable Alex Parks, whose “Honesty” (Polydor) debuted at No. 24.
As for the Westlife single, it is the lead release from the quartet’s new album, “Face to Face,” out on Nov. 21 via S/Sony BMG. “You Raise Me Up” was previously a Christmas hit in 2003 for countryman Daniel O’Donnell, reaching No. 22. Only Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Cliff Richard have now had more U.K. No. 1 singles than Westlife.
Kate Bush returned to the singles chart after an absence of 11 years with “King of the Mountain” (EMI). The lead single from her much-heralded “Aerial,” due Nov. 7, debuted at No. 4. While predominantly an album artist, Bush has now amassed seven top 10 hits in the U.K. dating back to her No. 1 debut, “Wuthering Heights,” in 1978, although “King” is her first top 10 single since “Running Up That Hill” in 1986.
The new singles chart also contained a No. 7 entry for Hilary Duff’s “Wake Up” (Angel), an improvement on her previous highest U.K. ranking of No. 9 with “So Yesterday” in November 2003. Also new in the top 10 were the Backstreet Boys, whose “Just Want You To Know” (Jive) arrived at No. 8.
On the pan-European charts, Depeche Mode powered straight to the top of the European Top 100 Albums chart with “Playing the Angel” (Mute), beating the No. 2 debut of its 2001 studio forerunner, “Exciter.” Robbie Williams scored a third week atop the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles roundup with “Tripping.”
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news