U.K. MIDWEEKS: DRAKE EYES THIRD #1

Drake is heading for #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with Dark Lane Demo Tapes (Island) ahead of the closest competition by 6.5k sales. He’s the highest new entry on singles, too, with “Chicago Freestyle” f/Giveon starting at #7.

Should Dark Lane Demo Tapes hold onto its midweek lead, it will be Drake’s third chart-topping album in the U.K.

The Strokes’ The New Abnormal (RCA), which entered at #3 on release last month, is just behind after lifting to a new peak of #2 following its release on vinyl.

Eye of the Storm (Tide Lines Music) from Scottish indie band Tide Lines is also in the Top 3 on the midweek sales flash. The album has accumulated the most CD sales over the past three days.

Quarantime: The Lost Files (Disturbing London) could give London rapper Yxng Bane his first Top 10 album at #7, while Niall Horan’s Heartbreak Weather (Capitol) is heading for a Top 20 return at #19 following the former chart-topping record's release on vinyl.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek chart, BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Allstars’ “Times Like These” (BBC) is currently leading the pack by a margin of 200 sales.

Drake’s “Toosie Slide” is the closest competition after jumping to #2 from #4. It’s one of three tracks from Drake in the Top 10 today, with “Not You Too” f/Chris Brown following “Chicago Freestyle” at #9.

A new remix of Doja Cat’s “Say So” f/Nicki Minaj (Ministry of Sound) could send the track to a new peak this week, up seven places to #3. Similarly, a new version of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” f/Beyoncé (Atlantic) is sending the song up the chart, currently up 18 places to #4.

Finally, AJ Tracey could secure his fourth Top 10 with new self-released single, “Dinner Guest” f/Mostack, currently at #10.