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James Blunt Scores First UK Number 1 Album in 19 Years

James Blunt has gone straight to the top of this week's Official Albums Chart with Airplane Mode, his eighth studio album. It gives him his third Number 1 record and his first since All the Lost Souls in 2007 – a gap of 19 years.

The chart win also means the singer-songwriter now has a promise to keep. In a playful social media campaign, he said he would legally change his name to Ryan Air if the album made it to the summit. He had made a similar pledge in 2024, when a reissue of Back to Bedlam reached Number 7, so the long-awaited name change now looks ready for take-off.

Marking the moment, Blunt thanked his fans and shared what he had planned for the evening: "I can't tell you how grateful I am to every single person who has gone out there and downloaded, or bought, or streamed my album. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much! I'm going to get absolutely pissed."

The rest of the Top 5 was closely fought. Royal Blood enter at Number 2 with their fifth studio album, Dead Company, bringing an end to a run of four consecutive chart-topping records. Olivia Rodrigo stays at Number 3 with You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In, while Skepta lands at Number 4 with The Fork and Knife – his first solo album in seven years and his fourth straight Top 5 release. Kings of Leon complete the Top 5 with O My Beloved, their first self-produced studio album.

Lower down, prog rock favourite Steven Wilson picks up his fifth solo Top 10 with Requiem For A Village at Number 6, just ahead of the late George Michael, whose live collection The Faith Tour gives him his 11th Top 10 entry at Number 7.

Tinie Tempah is back on the chart after nine years away: The Night's Not Dead arrives at Number 20 and tops the Official Dance Albums Chart. There are also Top 40 entries for Rex Orange County, Queen, Bryan Adams and Roxy Music.

Photo: Music-News
Source: Muzland
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