The U.K. albums chart is about to be Rickrolled.
According to data published by the Official Charts Company, Rick Astley leads the midweek chart with Are We There Yet? (via BMG), his ninth studio album.
If it holds its place, the “Never Gonna Give You Up” singer would nab his third leader, after Whenever You Need Somebody from 1987, and 50 from 2016.
It’s not a done deal.
Less than 400 chart units currently separate Astley’s new collection with Sick Boi (The Other Songs), the sophomore release from Welsh singer and songwriter Ren. The musician (full name: Ren Erin Gill) “shouldn’t be counted out” at this stage of the chart race, the OCC reports.
Based on sales and streaming data captured by the charts compiler, BRITs Rising Star winner Holly Humberstone is poised to complete the podium with her debut record Paint My Bedroom Black (Polydor). It’s new at No. 3 on the Official Chart Update.
Mike Skinner’s The Streets returns with its first album of new material in nearly 13 years, The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light (Rhino). It’s new at No. 4 on the chart blast, and should give Skinner’s project its sixth consecutive U.K. top 10 album, dating back to critically acclaimed debut Original Pirate Material from 2002, which peaked at No. 10.
Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon (Rhino) is moving into a top 10 position, thanks to a new-reissue in celebration of its 50th anniversary. One of the best-selling albums of all time, with 1,052 weeks on the tally, Dark Side peaked at No. 2 following its initial release in 1973. Based on new OCC data, the album could bounce to No. 5. That’s following the top 10 placement last Friday (Oct. 13) of Roger Waters’ The Dark Side of the Moon Redux.
Also eyeing top 10 starts are new releases from British blues pair When Rivers Meet (Aces Are High at No. 6 via One Road) and Australian pop singer Troye Sivan (Something to Give Each Other at No. 7 via Polydor), while ABBA’s Agnetha Fältskog could return to the top 10 with her 2013 solo LP A, following of a special rerecord called A+ (BMG). It’s at No. 9 on the chart blast.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published late Friday.
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