U.K. MIDWEEKS: BEN HOWARD'S AHEAD

Ben Howard leads the midweek race on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with Collections From the Whiteout (Island). Over on singles, Lil Nas X is the highest new entry.

Howard’s fourth album is outperforming its two closest rivals combined after racking up the most physical sales over the weekend. Those rivals are Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia (Warner Records), which is eyeing a 33rd week in the Top 10 at #2, and Evanescence’s new The Bitter Truth (RCA) at #3.

The self-titled debut album from Smith/Kotzen (BMG), featuring Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen of Iron Maiden and The Winery Dogs, opens at #5.

A collaboration of Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra, Promises (Luaka Bop), starts at #6, while Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow is in pursuit of his first solo Top 40 album in 10 years with Stargazer (BMG) at #7.

Also anticipating a place in this week’s Top 10 is Assembly (BMG), a new compilation from The Clash’s late leader, Joe Strummer, at #8, and the Neil Young live album Young Shakespeare (Reprise) at #9.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek, “Friday” (Ministry of Sound) by Riton x Nightcrawlers f/Mufasa and The Hypeman is competing with Nathan Evans’ “Wellerman” (Polydor) for the top spot; Evans is currently at #1 but by a margin of less than 2k in sales.

Following his #1 album, Tom Grennan looks set to secure two Top 10 singles, with “Little Bit of Love” (Relentless) up six to #7 and the Ella Henderson collab “Let’s Go Home Together” up 11 to #8.

“Your Love (9pm)” (EMI) from ATB, Topic and A7S could break the Top 10 for the first time on Friday as it’s up three places to #9. Finally, Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” (RCA) is new at #15.