U.K. MIDWEEKS: CALLING FOR A #1

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abott have taken the lead on the U.K.’s Official Albums midweeks with Manchester Calling (Virgin EMI) outperforming its closest competitor by more than double. Over on singles, a new Aitch and AJ Tracey collaboration starts at #3.

Should Manchester Calling hold onto its midweek peak by Friday, Heaton and Abott will land their first chart-topper as a duo (they had three as part of The Beautiful South).

Scottish band Deacon Blue are new at #2 with City of Love (Ear Music), followed by Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake (Atlantic) at #4.

Further down, Smoke & Mirrors (MPG) by The Fizz (a spin-off from '80s group Bucks Fizz) opens at #6, while Lauv’s debut, How I’m Feeling (AWAL), is #11.

Jhené Aiko could land her highest U.K. charting album as Chilombo (UMG) is currently #13; a greatest hits collection from 1970s heartthrob David Soul, Gold (Demon Music Group), is #15.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” (Island) is still holding onto #1 for a fifth week. Saint Jhn’s “Roses” (Ministry of Sound) follows at #2 with the Aitch, AJ Tracey and Tay Keith collaboration, “Rain” (NQ Records), as the highest new entry today, #3.

Further down, Dua Lipa rises five places with “Physical” (Warner Records) to #8, and Tones & I’s “Dance Monkey” (Parlophone) rebounds six places to #13. Sam Smith’s “To Die For” (Capitol) jumps four places to a new peak of #19.