Katy Perry, Lorde Grab Top Spots on U.K. Sales Charts

Katy Perry’s “Prism” (Virgin/Universal) debuted at the top of the U.K. album chart yesterday (Oct. 28) to become her second No. 1 on that survey.
 Her much-touted Virgin labelmate, 16-year-old New Zealand-born newcomer Lorde, became the youngest solo artist to debut atop the singles chart here for 15 years with “Royals.”

Perry previously hit the U.K. album chart summit in September 2010 with “Teenage Dream.” The Official Charts Company reports that her new set finished the sales week nearly 12,000 sales ahead of James Blunt’s “Moon Landing” (Custard/Atlantic/Warner Music).

That came in at No. 2, two places higher than the 2010 peak of its predecessor “Some Kind Of Trouble.” Its single “Bonfire Heart” fell 4-7 in the new data while Perry’s former No. 1 “Roar” rebounded 6-4. Four other tracks of hers appear on the singles list between positions 60 and 100.
John Newman’s “Tribute” (Universal Island), which arrived at No. 1 on last week’s album chart, fell to No. 3, with Arctic Monkeys’ “AM” (Domino) back up 6-4.

 There was an eighth U.K. top ten album for Andrea Bocelli as “Love In Portofino” (Decca/Universal) came in at No. 5, and English singer-songwriter Passenger’s “All The Little Lights” (Nettwerk) moved back 7-6.
Andrea Begley, who won the second series of BBC talent series “The Voice” in June, started at No. 7 with her first album “The Message” (Capitol/Universal). There were steep descents for last week’s new entries at Nos. 2 and 3, Pearl Jam’s “Lightning Bolt” (EMI/Universal) and Paul McCartney’s “New” (Hearmusic/Universal), 2-20 and 3-14 respectively. On the compilation chart, “Now That’s What I Call Music! 85” (Sony Music CG/Virgin EMI/Universal) regained the No. 1 spot for a 13th week at the summit.

Lorde becomes the youngest solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart since Billie (later known as singer-actress Billie Piper) did so at 15 in 1998 with “Because We Want To.” 2012 “X Factor” winner James Arthur debuted behind Lorde at No. 2 with “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” (Syco Music/Sony Music), his first single since his chart-topper of last December, “Impossible.” Last week’s No. 1, OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” (Interscope/Universal), fell to No.3.

Two other tracks debuted in the top ten, “Booyah” (Polydor/Universal) by Dutch brothers Showtek, featuring We Are Loud! and Sonny Wilson, at No. 5, and 2012 “X Factor” contestants Union J at No. 8 with “Beautiful Life” (RCA/Sony). That follows their debut No. 6 hit “Carry You” in June.