U.K. CHARTS: STONES GO FOR GOLD IN BLIGHTY

The Rolling Stones have hit #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, with Blue & Lonesome racking up 106k combined sales. In doing so, the British band earns the second-fastest-selling album of the year, and awards new Polydor bosses Ben Mortimer and Tom March the highest new entries on the albums and singles Top 5 this week.

Blue & Lonesome sits 40k combined sales behind the fastest-selling album of 2016, David Bowie’s Blackstar (RCA). The set is the Stones’ first new studio album to hit #1 in the U.K. since Voodoo Lounge did so in ’94. The expanded reissue of Exile on Main St topped the chart in 2010.

Another big seller from David Joseph’s UMG U.K. is Michael Ball and Alfie Boe’s Together (Decca), which sits at #2 again on 71k combined sales this week. Little Mix’ Glory Days (SYCO) slips to #3, Elvis Presley’s The Wonder of You (Sony Music CG) does the same to #4 and Olly Murs’ 24 HRS (RCA) rises one place to #5.

Over on the Official Singles Chart, Atlantic act Clean Bandit have their longest- running #1, as “Rockabye” f/Anne-Marie and Sean Paul spends its fifth week at the top on 70k combined sales (30k downloads and 4.04m streams). The track surpasses the four-week feat former chart-topper “Rather Be” managed in 2014.

Neiked’s “Sexual” (Polydor) is the highest new entry into the Top 5, climbing one place to #5.

Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” (Polydor) holds at #2, The Weeknd’s “Starboy” (Island) and James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go” (Syco) do the same at #3 and #4 respectively.