Swift’s ninth studio album leads the way on downloads and album streams, according to the Official Charts Company, and three tracks from it are poised to enter the singles chart Top 20, led by “Willow,” new at No. 3 on the midweek survey.
With Christmas just around the corner, a pair of orchestral albums are climbing the chart.
The biggest physical seller in the week so far is Neil Diamond’s Classic Diamonds (Capitol) with the London Symphony Orchestra, new at No. 2 on the midweek tally, while Johnny Cash and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Johnny Cash and the RPO (Legacy Recordings) lifts 15-4.
Manchester indie rock band James are on track for a 10th U.K. Top 10 album as live recording Live In Extraordinary Times (Nothing But Love Music) starts at No. 10.
Also making an impact on the chart blast is Welsh opera star Katherine Jenkins’ Christmas Spectacular (Decca), new at No. 24; Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon III: The Chosen (Republic Records) rockets in at No. 25; and Australian electronic duo The Avalanches are rumbling toward a third Top 40 album with We Will Always Love You (EMI), new at No. 26.
Meanwhile, Mariah Carey is in pole position for the coveted Christmas No. 1 as “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) retains top spot on the midweek chart, ahead of Wham’s “Last Christmas” (RCA).
Carey’s 1994 Christmas classic reached No. 1 on the U.K. chart last week for the very first time.
The Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published late Friday, local time.
