U.K. CHARTS: SPECIALS DELIVER A #1

The Specials have beat Busted to claim this week’s U.K. Official Albums #1 with Encore (UMC), finishing ahead by just over 1k combined sales. Over on singles, Billie Eilish has the highest new entry with “Bury a Friend” (Polydor) at #7.

With Encore—the band's first album of new material in 37 years—The Specials have their first ever #1 album in the U.K. Eighty-nine percent of sales were physical, thanks in part to a heavy week of in-store signings and promo.

Busted’s Half Way There (East West) finished a close second; it’s their third album to reach #2. A further three new entries land in the albums Top 10: Ripples (EMI) by Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown at #4, London rapper Fredo’s debut full-length album, Third Avenue (RCA), at #5, and Claire Richards—of late ‘90s pop outfit Steps—at #9 with her debut solo project, My Wildest Dreams (Sony CMG).

On the Official Singles Chart, the only movement in this week’s Top 5 is Mabel’s “Don’t Call Me Up” (Polydor) rising two places to #5. Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” (Island) now has a third week at #1 on 71.9k combined sales, including 8.96m audio and video streams.

“Bury a Friend” is Eilish’s highest charting track to date in Blighty as her Don’t Smile EP lands a new peak on albums at #12.

Further down, Fredo has his fourth Top 40 single with “All I Ever Wanted” f/Dave at #15, and Marshmello’s “Happier” (Positiva) with Bastille rebounds 28 places to #29 following his online concert in video game phenomenon Fortnite.