Sam Bailey extends lead in this week’s albums race

X Factor winner Sam Bailey’s The Power Of Love increases it lead in this week’s albums race overnight.

X Factor winner Sam Bailey has extended her lead in the race to be Number 1 this Mother’s Day with debut album The Power Of Love.

Sam, who beat Nicholas McDonald to win last year’s series of the ITV reality TV singing contest, has increased her lead over her closest rivals, Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey (2), ­in the last 24 hours: The Power Of Love is now nearly 7,000 copies ahead of the veteran rockers’ Back Home (Number 2), according to the latest Official Charts Company sales data.

The Power Of Love features a series of cover versions, including her debut single, Skyscraper, which claimed the Official Christmas Number 1 of 2013.

George Michael falls two places to Number 3 today with Symphonica, while Pharrell Williams’ G I R L is down one to Number 4. Today’s Official Albums Chart Update Top 5 is completed by the recently disbanded My Chemical Romance with their new greatest hits package, May Death Never Stop You (5).

New Entries

It’s been nearly five years since her last album, but Shakira is heading for the Top 10 this weekend. The Can’t Remember To Forget You singer’s self-titled follow-up to 2009’s She Wolf is new in at Number 10 on today’s Update.

The 40th anniversary edition of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has propelled Elton John’s classic album back into the Top 20. The record, which features the original version of Candle In The Wind, is currently at Number 11. Foster The People look set to replicate the chart performance of their 2011 debut, Torches, with new album Supermodel. The US band’s second full-length debuts at 12 today.

British prog rockers Magnum are on track for their highest charting album in 24 years with Escape From The Shadow Garden (17), while Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin is heading for his debut solo Top 40 album with Odludek (22).

This week’s new entries are completed by Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa’s Live In Amsterdam (24), The Hold Steady’s Teeth Dreams (29), Tony Bennett’s The Classics (31), and Toseland’s Renegade (35).

The Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 is as follows. The Official Albums Chart Top 100 will be posted in full, here, on Sunday at 7pm.

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