The Beatles' The Red Album and The Blue Album set for spectacular chart return

Just when you thought Beatlemania was over… 

After a record-breaking return to Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart last week with Now And Then, Beatlemania roars on, with re-issues of The Beatles’ first greatest hits compilations, 1962-1966 and 1967-1970, heading for the top of the Official Albums Chart. 

At the midweek mark, 1967-1970 (commonly known as ‘The Blue Album’ due to its recognisable artwork, and contrasting companion album ‘The Red album’) which comprises The Beatles’ later singles, is on track for Number 1 for the first time, having originally peaked at Number 2 in its first incarnation back in May 1973. Remixed and expanded, the reissue also includes new chart-topping single Now And Then. 

MORE: Re-visit every UK Number 1 single by The Beatles

It would mark The Beatles’ landmark 16th UK Number 1 album, while just 1,000 chart units behind at Number 2 is 1962-1966 (affectionately known as ‘The Red Album’, The record, containing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr’s earlier repertoire, originally peaked at Number 3 in 1973. 

But wait, there’s more! To celebrate the release of Now And Then, a composite boxset of the two LPs, is set to enter the UK Top 10 for the first time ever at Number 9. It previously peaked outside the Top 40 in 2010. 

Meanwhile, at Number 3 midweek, drum & bass duo Chase & Status look set to earn their fifth UK Top 10 album with 2 RUFF, Vol. 1. It follows the group’s extraordinary renaissance on the Official Singles Chart, boasting no less than three recent Top 20 hits; Disconnect with Becky Hill (6), Baddadan with Bou, Flowdan, IRAH, Trigga and Takura (6) and Liquor & Cigarettes featuring Hedex and ArrDee (17). 

A 10th anniversary edition of Passenger’s fourth studio album All the Little Lights could see the Brighton-born singer-songwriter net a seventh UK Top 10 LP this week (5). All the Little Lights (Anniversary Edition Deluxe) features reimagined versions of the album’s original tracks, including a brand-new take on 2013 Number 2 single Let Her Go featuring Ed Sheeran. 

Elsewhere, New Order’s 1987 compilation Substance is set for a re-entry at Number 6 thanks to a multi-format reissue. The record previously reached highs of Number 3 in its year of release.  

Two acts could claim their first-ever UK Top 10 records this week; South African-born, London-based rising alt-pop star Baby Queen with her debut album Quarter Life Crisis (7), and US country music superstar Chris Stapleton with Higher (10).  

MORE: Everything you need to know about The Beatles' 'Red' and 'Blue' album reissues

Chris Brown’s 11:11 is set to debut at Number 11, while BBC Sound of 2022 winner PinkPantheress’s debut LP Heaven knows is heading for Number 15. Elsewhere, Bad Boy Chiller Crew are expected to gain a second UK Top 40 album, with Influential expected to bow at Number 19. 

Further down, we have a new entry from The Kid LAROI’s official debut album THE FIRST TIME (29), which was recently trailed by the Top 10 hit TOO MUCH with Jung Kook and Central Cee. 

After Wham! and Mariah Carey got the Christmas festivities started earlier than ever on the Official Singles Chart last week, Michael Bublé’s former chart-topping yuletide staple Christmas is slowly creeping back into the Top 40 (33), sure to rise further in the coming weeks. 

Måneskin’s former Top 10 album RUSH! seeks a re-entry into the Top 40 this week following the release of an expanded edition (35), as Cat Power’s Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall could become the US vocalist’s fourth UK Top 40 LP (37). 

Finally, folk singer and actor Johnny Flynn has teamed up with the writer Robert MacFarlane for a second collaborative album, The Moon Also Rises, which could become the duo’s first-ever Top 40 entry, and a career best for Flynn (40).  

Image: Apple Corps