U.K. MIDWEEKS: BLIGHTY HOT FOR TAKE THAT HITS

Take That have shifted a relatively mighty 89k combined sales with their 30th anniversary greatest hits, Odyssey (Polydor), already claiming this year’s fastest-selling artist album in the U.K. at the midweek stage. Over on singles, Ariana Grande is set for a fourth week at #1.

Odyssey is currently outselling the rest of the Official Albums Chart Top 5 combined and will be Take That’s eighth #1 album in the U.K. on Friday. Behind at #2 is Cliff Richard, who is on course for his highest charting album for 25 years with Rise Up (Rhino). There’s another new entry in the Top 5 from Alfie Boe, As Time Goes By (Decca), at #5.

Rita Ora occupies the #6 slot today with her first album in six years, Phoenix (Atlantic), while Unchained Melodies (Legacy)—Roy Orbison’s second posthumous album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra—is just behind at #7.

On the Official Singles midweeks, Grande’s “thank u, next” (Island) is still going strong at #1. Little Mix f/Nicki Minaj stay at #2 with “Woman Like Me” (RCA), closely followed by Jess Glynne’s “Thursday” (Atlantic) at #3.

After Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” (Polydor) at #4, Halsey has entered the Top 5 for the first time at #5 with “Without Me” (Virgin EMI).

This week’s highest new entry is currently rapper DigDat with his self-released “AirForce” at #27. High risers include Ava Max up six places to #7 with “Sweet But Psycho” (Atlantic), while Ellie Goulding & Diplo f/Swae Lee rise to #19 with “Close To Me” (Polydor). George Ezra’s “Hold My Girl” (Columbia) also rises 12 places to #21 midweek, and Clean Bandit, Marina & Luis Fonsi’s “Baby” is up seven rungs to #25.