Arctic Monkeys head for ANOTHER chart record
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Sheffield band look set to have a record 18 songs in the top 200. The previous record was 13 back in 1983[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Rosie Swash[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Thursday April 26, 2007[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva,Arial,sans-serif]Guardian Unlimited[/FONT]
(Left to right): Matt Helders (drums), Alex Turner (vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar), Nick O'Malley (bass). Their domination of the music charts harks back to the Beatles in their 1960s heyday
The Arctic Monkeys are on the cusp of making chart history yet again, as every track from their new album looks set to claim a position in the UK singles chart. The midweek sales figures show that 10 tracks from Favourite Worst Nightmare, released this Monday, are already in the top 75, while the remaining two - The Bad Thing and If You Were There, Beware - are at 77 and 114 respectively.
New album: Favourite Worst Nightmare
If the chart placings hold until the weekend, the Monkeys will claim the record for the most tracks on the chart at any one time. They could have as many as 18 in the top 200 thanks to the reappearance of other tracks from the band's earlier releases, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and the EP Who the **** are the Arctic Monkeys? It is also the first time a band has ever had an entire album feature in the singles chart.
The band's success is all down to the changes in chart rules which came into effect earlier this year, allowing downloads to contribute to final placings. Previously, it was only possible for a single to appear in the UK charts when accompanied by a hard release. Download sales don't count when an album is bought as a whole, however, suggesting that fans are cherry-picking their favourite tracks from the album.
"This is the first time that the full impact of January's download changes has really been felt," said HMV spokesman Gennaro Costaldo.
"At the time, many people talked about the scenario of the Beatles back catalogue appearing in the singles chart should they be made available for downloads. Following the current success of the Arctic Monkeys, this scenario is now looking increasingly likely."
Earlier this week it was reported that the Sheffield four-piece, who first made chart history in 2006 when Whatever People Say I Am... became the fastest-selling debut album of all time, had secured the biggest first-week sales of the year with their follow-up Favourite Worst Nightmare. The band have also been nominated for an Ivor Novello award for When The Sun Goes Down, currently placed at number 193 in the charts.
guardian.co.uk