Prince set to top UK singles and albums charts

Grieving fans propel Purple Rain single and greatest hits collection to early leads, despite absence from streaming services

 

Prince is set to top both the UK’s singles and albums charts as fans rush to buy the artist’s back catalogue after his shock death.

The funk-rock performer died on Thursday, aged 57, at his Paisley Park home near Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was found collapsed in a lift.

Within 24 hours of his death, Prince’s music had jumped into the top 10 of the official albums chart, despite much of it not being available on streaming services such as Spotify and Deezer.

The latest early sales figures provided by the Official Charts Company indicate that Prince is on track to take top spot in both charts on Friday.

Data from the first day of the chart week indicates that his 1984 anthem Purple Rain is a strong early contender for the top-selling single. When Doves Cry is on track for second place, with Kiss at No 4 and 1999 in fifth.

The only other artist holding their own against Prince is Drake, with One Dance siting in third spot.

With much of Prince’s back catalogue not available on streaming services, the addition of streaming data could affect the estimates, the Official Charts Company said.

If Purple Rain does take top spot, it would be the singer’s second UK No 1, following 1994’s The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. Purple Rain only reached No 8 when it was released in 1984.

Early estimates for the albums chart show Prince LPs dominating half the top 10, based on 24 hours’ worth of data.

On course for No 1 is The Very Best Of, with Ultimate in second position and Purple Rain in third.

Fifth position looks set to be taken by The Hits/The B-Sides, with Sign O’ The Times in sixth.

Prince has to date had five UK No 1 albums: Lovesexy (1988), the Batman soundtrack the following year, Graffiti Bridge (1990), the “Love Symbol” album (1992) and Come (1994).

The rankings are released on Friday at 5.45pm on Official Charts.

Via the Guardian