Music
Adele ties Beatles record on U.K. charts
Updated: 2011-02-22 15:17
(Agencies)
LONDON - Adele has become the first living artist since the Beatles in 1964 to have two titles simultaneously in the top five of both the U.K. singles and album charts.
The XL-signed star's sophomore album, "21," started a fourth week at No. 1 on February 20, passing half a million sales in the process, as its predecessor "19" rose 6-4.
On the singles survey, the "21" track "Someone Like You" raced 47-1, after she performed it at the BRIT Awards February 15. Almost all of the live performances at the show were made available for download at iTunes immediately afterwards.
Helped by the Official Charts Company decision to count both versions of "Someone" together, "Someone Like You" unseated the U.K.'s No. 1 of the past two weeks, Jessie J's "Price Tag" (Lava/Universal Island) featuring B.o.B.
The last time that living artists had two top five singles and albums at the same time on the British chart was January 1964, when the Beatles had the top two album places via "With the Beatles" and "Please Please Me," and were Nos. 2 and 5 respectively with the singles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You."
The first single from "21," "Rolling In The Deep," which debuted at No. 2 last month, moved 5-4. Additionally, Adele's cover of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love" from the first album climbed 25-24, in its 28th chart week.
Other BRIT winners and performers also saw a notable upswing in sales. Mumford & Sons' "Sigh No More" (Universal Island), named British Album of the Year and already certified triple platinum, raced 15-2 in its 72nd week on the chart.
Double winner Tinie Tempah's debut album "Disc-overy" (Parlophone/EMI) rose 25-6 as he posted five appearances in the singles top 40. JLS' "Eyes Wide Shut" (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment), on which he appears, climbed 17-8; the rapper's "Wonderman," featuring Ellie Goulding, held at No. 18.
Best British Single winner "Pass Out" jumped back 61-32, "Written In The Stars" featuring Eric Turner improved 57-33 while sales of the live download of "We Bring The Stars Out," featuring Labrinth, helped it enter at No. 40.
Best International Female Solo Artist Rihanna held at No. 3 with her "Loud" album (Def Jam/Universal) as the single "S&M" rose 11-6.
Among other performers and winners, Best British Male Solo Artist Plan B's "The Defamation of Strickland Banks" (679/Atlantic/Warner Music) jumped 24-7, and Best International Male Solo Artist Cee Lo Green's "The Lady Killer" (Warner Bros./Warner Music) 18-11. His former No. 1 single "Forget You" climbed 35-19.
The chief non-BRIT-related new entry on the album chart was P.J. Harvey's "Let England Shake" (Universal Island), at No. 8. Mogwai logged a No. 25 debut for "Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will" (Rock Action).
Double winners Arcade Fire saw "The Suburbs" (Sonovox) vault 52-14, while Laura Marling, surprise winner of Best British Female Solo Artist, saw her "I Speak Because I Can" album (Virgin/EMI) re-enter the top 75 at No. 21. On the compilation chart, Rhino/Warner Music's triple-CD "BRIT Awards 2011" collection rose 3-1.
Singles-wise, there was a No. 14 debut for "Rocketeer" (Interscope/Universal) by Far East Movement featuring Ryan Tedder, while "Rescue Me" (Virgin/EMI) by You Me At Six featuring Chiddy Bang debuted at No. 21.
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