As is expected stateside in the coming week, Madonna has wheeled her cougar slut jam set, Hard Candy, to the top of the U.K. album chart. Just behind her, at #5, is the debut of dandy du jour Sam Sparro's self-titled LP, while his electro jam "Black And Gold" hangs tight at #2 on the Brit singles chart. But perhaps the most eyebrow-raising new entry on the album tally is Rick Astley's Ultimate Collection at #17, no doubt rushed out to cash in on the crooner's billing on the Here & Now tour.The tour also features Bananarama, T'Pau, Paul Young and Heaven 17, and getting Rick must seem like a coup given his recent unlikely resurgence in popularity due to the viral Rickrolling phenomenon.
But honestly -- another goddamn Rick Astley compilation? Has Sony BMG any shame? (Oh, right...Leona Lewis. That answers that.) Ultimate Collection hardly lives up to its name, given its "same-ol'" tracklisting. The best bet for your money is 2002's U.S. release, Greatest Hits...
Then of course there's 2003's Never Gonna Give You Up: The Best Of Rick Astley...
2004's Platinum & Gold Collection (another good U.S. one, with some rare SAW-produced b-sides)..
2005's U.K. Greatest Hits...
And 2007's Together Forever: The Best Of Rick Astley.
Over on the singles chart, there's not much new to squawk about. Robyn slides up to #26 with "Who's That Girl," her fourth U.K. single off her self-titled worldwide comeback set.Both Robyn and Duffy appeared on U.S. television this week -- the former on Late Night With David Letterman, and the latter making her American debut on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Below are the vids (note, the Duffy one has about two minutes of commercials at the beginning):
Anwyay...The U.K. Top 10:
1. "4 Minutes" - Madonna Feat. Justin Timberlake *3 weeks*
2. "Black And Gold" - Sam Sparro
3. "Wearing My Rolex" - Wiley
4. "Love In This Club" - Usher Feat. Young Jeezy
5. "American Boy" - Estelle Feat. Kanye West
6. "Cry For You" - September
7. "Low" - Flo Rida Feat. T-Pain
8. "Heartbreaker" - Will.I.Am
9. "Propane Nightmares" - Pendulum
10. "Heartbeat" - Scouting For Girls