Taylor Swift challenged for Number 1 album by Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney & Wings and more

Taylor Swift starts the week at the top of the Official Albums Chart, aiming to see The Tortured Poets Department to a seventh non-consecutive week at Number 1 in the UK.  

But there are several challengers wanting to knock her off Number 1; including Billie Eilish’s former chart-topper HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, which could lift two to Number 2, and currently trails Taylor by a little over 1,100 chart units. 

This week’s highest new entry – also a contender for Number 1 – is predicted to be Paul McCartney & Wings’ One Hand Clapping compilation (3). A collection of previously unreleased material recorded at Abbey Road in 1973, the LP is released alongside the documentary of the same name, and could become the band’s 9th UK Top 10 record. 

English indie-rock outfit Sea Girls could secure their third Top 10 album with Midnight Butterflies (4), while Charli xcx could mark another personal best with BRAT set to become her first album to spend a second week in the Top 10 (5). 

Fred again..’s USB is on track to surge an incredible 171 spots into the Top 10 for the first time, hoping to become the acclaimed DJ and producer’s second Top 10 collection (6). 

The late, great David Bowie could net a 37th overall Top 10 record with latest posthumous boxset Rock ‘n’ Roll Star!, which charts his recording journey from February 1971 to the creation of alter ego Ziggy Stardust (7). 

US country superstar Luke Combs’ Fathers & Sons could mark his third Top 10 UK album (8), yet another sign of the country music boom on the Official Chart right now. 

Elsewhere, singer-songwriter John Grant is on his way to his fifth Top 40 LP with The Art of the Lie (12), as Black Country Communion eye a Top 20 debut with V (13). 

Following his recent UK tour, Bruce Springsteen’s seminal Born In The USA could return to the Top 40 for the first time since 1986 (23), while The Decemberists’ ninth album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again is expected to become their fourth consecutive Top 40 album (26). 

Houston MC Don Toliver’s fourth album HARDSTONE PSYCHO is right now heading for Number 34 and, finally, Irish upstart KNEECAP could make their Official Chart debut with Fine Art at Number 40. 

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