U.K. MIDWEEKS: BEATLES BACK ON TOP

The Beatles are #1 on the midweek Official Albums chart in Blighty with a 50th anniversary remixed and remastered edition of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Apple Corps) selling 24k combined sales since Friday. On the singles chart, seven-piece London band Captain Ska are the highest new entry with a self-released politically charged track.

Captain Ska’s “Liar Liar” is currently #7 on the Official Singles Chart and #2 on iTunes. The anti-right wing single criticises the U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May as the battle with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn heats up two weeks before the General Election. All proceeds from the song between 5/26 and 6/8 will be split between food banks around the U.K. and The People’s Assembly Against Austerity.

The Manchester Arena attack is still at the forefront of public consciousness and Ariana Grande’s “One Last Time” (Island) continues to rise as a result—the single is at a new peak of #3.

Elsewhere, “Despacito” (Polydor) by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber is the latest long-running #1 and on course for a fourth week at the summit. DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One” (Black Butter/Def Jam) stays at #2, “Strip That Down” (Capitol) by Liam Payne f/Quavo is down one place to #4 and Shawn Mendes also moves down one to #5 with “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” (Virgin EMI).

Others making an impact include “Mama” (Virgin EMI) by Jonas Bluef/William Singe, rising three spots to #9, while Rita Ora’s first single under her new deal with Ben Cook’s Atlantic, “Your Song,” enters at #13.

Over on the Official Albums midweek chart, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band looks set to hit #1, a half-century after the original release spent 27 weeks at the top. Further down, The Charlatans are the highest new entry with 13th studio album Different Days (BMG) at #4.

Ed Sheeran is #2 with ÷ (Atlantic), Rag ’n’ Bone Man is #3 with Human (Columbia) and Harry Styles moves down to #5 with his self-titled debut (Columbia).