And just like that, James Arthur is the frontrunner in the race for the UK album chart crown.
Arthur, the ex X Factor UK champion, enters the lead with Bitter sweet love (Columbia), his fifth studio album, following the release of a “Digital Deluxe” edition on Saturday (Jan. 27), including three live recordings cut in Hamburg with the Lufthansa Orchestra, and four bonus tracks.
The pop singer promoted his new release over the weekend by performing the title track for Michael McIntyre's Big show on BBC One.
What a difference a day makes. Before the official chart company's latest update, Radiohead spin-off Smile were in pole position with Eye wall (XL Recordings), which held a lead of just 200 chart units over indie rockers the Reytons Ballad of a passer-by (The Reytons), in second place.
Now, Arthur's Bitter sweet love roars ahead with an additional 5,000 chart units gathered overnight, mostly physical selling, the OCC reports. With missile boosters on full blast, Bitter sweet love it moves 4,000 chart units ahead of its nearest competition, Smile's Eye wall.
His winner The X Factor in 2012, Arthur has cracked the top 3 with all of his previous releases, including a leader with 2016 Back from the edgea compilation that featured his No. 1 single “Say You Won't Let Go.”
Arthur also entered the UK top 10 with his 2013 self-titled debut (at No. 2), in 2019 You (No. 2) and his most recent LP, 2021 It will all make sense in the end (No. 3).
As it stands, a number of new releases are on track for top 10 spots, including Future Islands People who are no longer there (at No. 6 via 4AD), Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes' Dark Rainbow (No. 8 via International Death Cult), New Model Army's Unbreakable (No. 9 via Ear Music), and Gruff Rhys's Super Furry Animal Grief sets me free (No. 10 via Rough Trade).
All will be revealed when the official UK album chart is released on Friday, February 2.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/james-arthur-lead-uk-chart-race-bitter-sweet-love-1235592377/