James Arthur completes a come-from-behind win in the UK chart race as Bitter sweet love (via Columbia) bows to No. 1his second in command.
The British singer-songwriter's fifth studio album was at number three during the first half of the chart week, before Bitter sweet love grew wings and entered the lead.
According to the Official Charts Company, Arthur's LP moved into the “final hours” of the cycle, dispatching The Reytons Ballad of a passer-by at No. 2 debut.
Bitter sweet love leads the nation in downloads, and physical copies account for 74% of its total, the OCC reports.
An ex X Factor UK champion, Arthur boasts five UK Top 3 albums, including 2013's self-titled debut (No.2), 2016's Back from the edge (No. 1), 2019 Set yourself free (No. 2) and 2021 It will all make sense in the end (No. 3).
Raytheons, meanwhile, narrowly misses out on a second consecutive No. 1, with Ballad of a passer-by ending the chart week as runner-up. It's the follow-up to the indie rockers' chart-topper for 2023 What is Rock and Roll? (The Reytons).
Rounding out a brand new top three is Smile Eye wall (XL Recordings). This is a career best for the Radiohead side-project, eclipsing the No.5 peak for their 2023 debut A light to attract attention. The independent trio, featuring Radiohead'Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood along with Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner had briefly led the chart race.
Eye wall was the week's best seller on vinyl, OCC reports.
Also new to the Official UK Albums Chart, published on Friday 2 January, is Tom Odell's Black Friday (Urok), new at No. 5. This is the English artist's sixth UK top 10 album, a list that includes a No. 1 in 2013 Long Way Down.
Further down the bill, future US synth-pop islands bring their first UK top 10 with People who are no longer there (4 AD). It's new at No.7, their fourth UK top 40 appearance. Also, British punk rock outfit Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes scored a fourth top 10 album with Dark Rainbow (International Death Cult), new at No. 10,
Finally, Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys takes his fourth top 40 title Grief sets me free (Rough Trade), new at No.22, and northern England rockers New Model Army claim an eighth UK top 40 with Unbreakable (Ear Music), new at No. 31.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/james-arthur-uk-chart-crown-bitter-sweet-love-1235596096/