U.K. MIDWEEKS: PRINCE REIGNS
Sales of Prince’s music have now had ample time to fully infiltrate the U.K. charts following his death on Thursday, and the late star claims every single spot on the Official Albums Top 5 at midweek stage. So where’s Beyoncé?
Bey’s Lemonade (Columbia) was made available to download in the U.K. on iTunes today, and is currently sitting at #1 on the iTunes Albums Chart. Will it have enough time and traction to bump Prince from one of his Top 5 spots before midnight on Thursday? The Tidal streaming exclusive could harm its performance in the U.K., much like Rihanna's ANTI, that peaked at #7 in Blighty; her lowest since Rated R hit #9 in 2009.
Prince’s 2001 retrospective The Very Best Of (Warner) is currently #1, followed by 2006’s Ultimate (Warner), the Grammy Award-winning official soundtrack to the movie Purple Rain (Paisley Park), The Hits/The B-Sides (Paisley Park) and Sign O’ The Times (Paisley Park). If nothing changes before Friday, The Very Best Of will be Prince’s sixth #1 album in the U.K.
The other five Prince albums on course to enter this week’s Official Albums Chart Top 40 are 1999 at #18, the Parade soundtrack at #21, Diamonds And Pearls at #25, Hitnrun Phase One at #30, and Lovesexy at #39.
At the Official Singles Chart midweek stage, six of Prince’s hits are on course to enter the Top 40 with “Purple Rain” sitting at #2 behind Drake’s “One Dance” (Island). “When Doves Cry” is at #6, “Kiss” #11, “Raspberry Beret” #15, “1999” #17 and “Little Red Corvette” at #26.
