Apella enters the Official Irish Albums Chart at Number 2 with 1963

Dublin indie-pop band Apella score the highest new entry on this week’s Official Irish Albums Chart with their debut album 1963.

Entering at Number 2, 100% of the proceeds from the album, its name the birth year of frontman Dara Quilty’s mother, will benefit cancer charity The Marie Keating Foundation.

"1963 is for the woman who faces diagnosis today, for the woman who is sitting in that chemotherapy chair for the first time today, for the woman who has just reached her 5 years remission today and all in-between," explained Quilty, whose own mother is living with the disease.

First released in January digitally, the physical release on April 2 spurred a huge second wind for the record, which is the best-selling CD album of the week.

Justin Bieber’s Justice holds at Number 1 with a narrow lead of 101 chart sales, the album’s third week leading the Irish Top 50.

Cork folk singer John Spillane returns to the Official Irish Albums Chart Top 10 for the first time in almost 12 years. His new album 100 Snow White Horses debuts at Number 5, John’s highest chart placement since Hey Dreamer topped out at Number 4 in April 2005.

Also new in this week’s Top 10 is Demi Lovato with her seventh album Dancing With The Devil… The Art of Starting Over at 8, marking her fourth consecutive Top 10 effort.

Bronx rapper Lil Tjay streams his way to success at Number 14 with his second studio album Destined 2 Win, his first Irish Top 50 appearance, while British post-punk group Dry Cleaning enter at Number 45 with their debut LP New Long Leg.

See the full Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50

© IRMA