It is two years to the week since erstwhile Pink Floyd guitarist, singer and composer David Gilmour's most recent studio album, Rattle That Lock was released. His first album in nine years, it raced to No.1 in 11 countries, and made the Top 10 in a further 11.
Live albums rarely pack the same punch as studio efforts but 71-year-old Gilmour's new Live At Pompeii set nevertheless makes a good initial impact. Pompeii is, of course, in Italy and its thus rather appropriate that the album debuts atop the chart in that country. It also opens at No.2 in Germany and The Netherlands, No.4 in Flanders, No.6 in Wallonia, No.12 in Sweden and No.24 in Ireland.
Three female superstars from North America unlashed their new albums simultaneously last week and, based on charts thus far, it is hard to see which of the three - Shania Twain, Miley Cyrus & Demi Lovato - is faring best.
Shania Twain - back after an absence of 15 years with fifth studio album Now and, soberingly, older than - Miley and Demi together - is almost certain to open atop the chart in The USA and her native Canada in the next few days and opens at No.1 in the UK, No.3 in New Zealand, No.4 in Ireland, No.12 in Germany, No.22 in The Netherlands, No.39 in Flanders, No.42 in Sweden and No.43 in Wallonia.
Lovato's sixth album Tell Me You Love Me counters with debuts at No.5 in The UK, No.6 in New Zealand, No.7 in Ireland, No.10 in Flanders and The Netherlands, No.12 in Italy, No.16 in Sweden, No.27 in Wallonia and No.32 in Germany, while 24 year old Cyrus' fourth regular album, Younger Now is No.4 in Argentina and New Zealand, No.5 in Ireland, No.8 in The UK, No.9 in Italy, No.11 in The Netherlands and Sweden, No.16 in Germany, No.17 in Flanders and No.21 in Wallonia.
With round two due next week, Shania and Miley both have the edge in four countries, while deferring to Demi in two.
Suffolk extreme metal veterans Cradle Of Filth's 12th studio album, The Seductiveness Of Decay, brought them their seventh Top 75 entry in the UK, opening at No.50 last week. They consistently fare better overseas, and the album continues this trend, opening at No.8 in Finland, No.15 in Germany, No.17 in The Czech Republic, No.20 in Austria, No.24 in Switzerland, No.32 in Hungary, No.35 in Flanders, No.42 in Wallonia, No.53 in Australia and No.110 in France.
Chris Rea's 23rd studio album, Road Songs For Lovers, makes a big impact in the UK, opening at No.11, his highest chart position of the 21st century. It also debuts at No.19 in Germany, No.30 in Wallonia, No.38 in Flanders, No.52 in The Netherlands, No.91 in Ireland,
No.1 in The UK and Ireland and Top 40 in a further seven territories last week, The Killers' fifth album Wonderful Wonderful now debuts atop the chart in The USA and Australia, at No.4 in Canada, No.6 in Spain, No.7 in Argentina, No.8 in Switzerland, No.10 in Austria, No.16 in Finland and Norway, No.26 in Italy, No.37 in Portugal, No.40 in Poland, No.50 in The Czech Republic, No.56 in Slovakia, and No.60 in France.
Finally, 72-year-old Van Morrison's 37th studio album, Roll With The Punches follows its No.4 debut in The UK by opening at No.3 in Spain, No.5 in Germany, No.7 in Ireland, No.9 in Austria, Flanders and Switzerland, No.11 in Australia, No.13 in The Netherlands, No.26 in Canada, No.30 in Norway, No.31 in Italy, No.32 in Portugal, No.4o in Sweden, No.125 in Wallonia and No.174 in France.
