Positions is the most streamed album of the week so far, the OCC reports, and if it wins the race, it’ll become Grande’s fourth consecutive U.K. No. 1 album following Dangerous Woman (2016), Sweetener (2018), and Thank U, Next (2019).
Smith’s previous two albums In The Lonely Hour (2014) and The Thrill Of It All (2017) both debuted at the summit.
Coming in at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart Update is Cliff Richard’s 41st studio album Music… The Air That I Breathe (East West/Rhino). It’s the best-selling album in the first half of the week, and Breathe should become the veteran singer’s 46th Top 10 album.
Meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen’s latest album Letter to You (Columbia) dips 1-4, while The Style Council’s career retrospective Long Hot Summers (Polydor/UMC) starts at No. 5.
Also new to the Top 10 at the halfway stage are releases from Bring Me The Horizon (Post Human: Survival Horror at No. 6 via RCA), Amy MacDonald (The Human Demands at No. 7 via Infectious Music), Black Stone Cherry (The Human Condition at No. 8 via Mascot), M Huncho & Nafe Smallz (DNA at No. 9 via Hunchozone) and Dizzee Rascal (E3 AF at No. 10 via Dirtee Stank).
Just outside the Top 10 is David Bowie’s live album Ouvrez Le Chien (No. 11 via Parlophone), a reissue of U2’s 2000 set All That You Can’t Leave (at No. 13 via Island UMC) and Made in Lagos from Nigerian-born Afrobeats artist Wizkid (No. 15 via RCA/Starboy).
The Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published late Friday, local time.
