Christmas could be a time of winning for Paul McCartney, who is heading for his first solo U.K. No. 1 in more than 30 years.
The Beatles great last Friday (Dec. 18) released McCartney III (EMI), the third and final chapter in a trilogy of LPs dating back 40 years.
According to the Official Charts Company, the album is at No. 1 on the midweek chart after bolting out the gate with almost 25,000 chart sales over the weekend. If it holds its momentum, McCartney III will give the Hall of Famer his first solo No. 1 album since 1989’s Flowers in the Dirt.
Recorded in isolation earlier this year, McCartney performed every instrument on the new release.
The master songwriter is already the most successful albums act in U.K. recorded music history, with 22 No. 1s across his career with the Beatles, Wings, and solo efforts. His most recent solo collection, 2018’s Egypt Station, went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 but peaked at No. 3 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart.
It wouldn’t be the first time he’s worn the Christmas chart crown. Twenty years ago, The Beatles hits collection 1 ruled the 2000 Christmas chart, and the Liverpool legends nabbed six holiday chart leaders in the 1960s.
Further down the midweek chart is Eminem’s surprise release Music To Be Murdered By – B Side (Interscope), new at No. 6, while Britpop era band Shed Seven return to the Official Chart Update with Another Night Another Town (Shed Seven), new at No. 12.
Over in the race for coveted Christmas No. 1, Ladbaby is firming up as favorite with “Don’t Stop Me Eatin’ (FRTYFVE), ahead of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Columbia) and Wham’s “Last Christmas” (RCA), respectively.
All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles and Albums Charts are published on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
