U.K. MIDWEEKS: ROBBIE PUTS A BOW ON IT

While Robbie Williams didn’t make the U.K.’s Official Albums top spot last week with The Christmas Present (Columbia), he’s looking good this week, leading at the halfway point by 5k combined sales. Over on singles, The Weeknd has two entries in the Top 10.

Should Williams maintain his midweek momentum, The Christmas Present will mark his 13th U.K. #1 as a solo artist.

Rod Stewart also looks set to improve on his chart position from last week as his 50th anniversary album, You’re In My Heart (Rhino), is on course to rise to #2, ahead of last week’s chart-toppers, Coldplay, whose Everyday Life (Parlophone) slips to #3.

This week’s highest new entry could be g Cliff Richard & The Shadows’ The Best Of The Rock ‘N’ Roll Pioneers (Rhino), currently at #7.

Over on the U.K’s Official Singles midweeks, Tones & I’s “Dance Monkey” (Parlophone) is still holding strong at #1, while Lewis Capaldi’s “Before You Go” (Virgin EMI) remains at #2.

The Weeknd’s two new tracks, “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights” (Island), are set to land in this week’s Top 20, currently at #5 and #10 respectively.

“Pump It Up” (Defected) by Brighton producer Endor, a remix of the 2004 dance track by Belgian artist Danzel, is on track to climb into the Top 20, currently up four places to #17.