Arctic Monkeys became the first independently-released group to score five consecutive U.K. No. 1 albums yesterday (Sept. 15). The Official Charts Company reports that “AM” (Domino) sold 157,000 last week, second only for an opening week on the artist chart this year to Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories” (Columbia/Sony), which sold 165,000 in May. Meanwhile, Katy Perry started a second week atop the singles chart with “Roar” (Virgin/Universal).
The Sheffield group, now based in Los Angeles, started their run when the debut set “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” went to No. 1 in 2006. That was followed the next year by “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” by “Humbug” in 2009 and “Suck It And See” in 2011. “AM” is also well represented on the singles survey: “Do I Wanna Know” has already reached No. 11 and this week climbs back 24-14, while “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High,” which previously reached No. 8, moves back 26-20.
Four of the top five titles on the album chart were new entries, with indie pop trio London Grammar’s debut set “If You Wait” (Metal and Dust Recordings) in at No. 2. From it, the single “Strong” climbed 17-16 in the new data. Last week’s No. 1, the eponymous debut album by The 1975 (Dirty Hit/Polydor/ Universal), fell to No. 3.
Electronic duo Goldfrapp extended their album chart span to 12 years, since the modest 2001 debut of “Felt Mountain,” with a No. 4 entry for “Tales Of Us” (Mute). Their best showing was the No. 2 peak of both 2005’s “Supernature” and 2008’s “Seventh Tree.” New at No. 5 was “Snapshot” (Virgin EMI/Universal), the media-acclaimed debut release by Irish retro-R&B band the Strypes.
Climbing back into the top ten were Rod Stewart’s “Time” (Capitol/Decca/ Universal), 26-6, Bastille’s “Bad Blood” (Virgin EMI/Universal), 12-9, and Tom Odell’s “Long Way Down” (Columbia/Sony), 15-10. There were new entries in the top 20 for The Weeknd’s “Kiss Land” (XO/Republic) at No. 12, the Clash’s “The Clash Hits Back” compilation (Columbia/Sony) at No. 13 and Janelle Monae’s “The Electric Lady” (Atlantic/Warner Music) at No. 14. It’s now eight weeks at No. 1 on the compilation chart for “Now That’s What I Call Music! 85” (Sony Music CG/Virgin EMI/Universal).
Katy Perry added 103,000 new sales last week to give “Roar” a two-week total of 282,000. One Republic reached a career-best No. 2 by climbing 11 places with “Counting Stars” (Interscope/Universal) as Ellie Goulding’s “Burn” (Polydor/Universal) and Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” (Positiva/PRMD) fell one rung each at Nos. 3 and 4. “Hold On We’re Going Home” (Cash Money/Republic/ Universal) by Drake featuring Majid Jordan climbed another place to No. 5.
“Same Love” (Macklemore) by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert climbed 20-9, as Coldplay’s new song “Atlas” (Republic) entered at No. 12 and Example’s “All The Wrong Places” (Epic/Sony) at No. 13.
