Taylor Swift Pips Kings Of Leon For U.K. Chart Crown

Taylor Swift is in the neighborhood and back at No. 1 on the U.K. albums chart.

Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (via EMI) returns to No. 1 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart, published Friday, May 17, as the European leg of her The Eras Tour kicks off in Paris, France.

That’s a third non-consecutive week at No. 1 for Swift’s latest studio album. Swift will visit the U.K. in June for stadium shows in Scotland, northern England, Cardiff and at London’s Wembley Stadium.

The top new entry on the current frame belongs to Kings of Leon, as Can We Please Have Fun (Polydor) bows at No. 2. The week’s best-seller on vinyl, Can We Please Have Fun is the U.S. rock outfit’s ninth top 10 appearance, a tally that includes six No. 1s.

KoL, comprising brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared Followill plus cousin Matthew Followill, had led the midweek U.K. chart with Fun, their Kid Harpoon-produced ninth studio album.

Meanwhile, Dua Lipa’s latest, Radical Optimism (Warner Records), dips 1-3.

Gunna shoots for an equal career best on the U.K. chart with One Of Wun (300 Entertainment) this week. It’s new at No. 4, matching the peak position of the U.S. rapper, singer and songwriter’s 2022’s release DS4EVER.

Further down the list, Keane’s debut Hopes And Fears (Island/UMR) returns to the top 10 for the first time in almost two decades, thanks to a 20th anniversary deluxe reissue. The 2004 LP enjoyed five non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 following its release, and returns to the national chart at No. 7.

Finally, Manchester, England rapper Bugzy Malone lands his sixth U.K. top 40 album with The Great British Dream (BSomebody), new at No. 13. Malone previously landed top 10s with 2015’s Walk With Me (No. 8), 2016’s Facing Time (No. 6), 2017’s King Of The North (No. 4), 2018’s B.Inspired (No. 6) and 2021’s The Resurrection (No. 7).