James’ ‘Yummy’ Leads U.K. Albums Chart Race

James takes the lead in the U.K. albums chart race with Yummy, though Mark Knopfler might have a say in the result.

Based on midweek sales and streaming data captured by the Official Charts Company, James is on track for their second U.K. leader and 12th top 10 appearance with Yummy (via Nothing But Love Music), their 18th studio LP. The Manchester indie-rock veterans previously led the national chart back in 1998 with the career retrospective, The Best of James.

Close behind at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is ex-Dire Straits frontman and guitarist Mark Knopfler’s One Deep River (EMI), currently fewer than 3,000 chart units behind James’ Yummy.

If it continues its flow, One Deep River would become the Englishman’s highest-charting solo album in the U.K., and his ninth solo top 10 LP. As a member of Dire Straits, Knopfler bagged four No. 1 albums.

The guitar great returned to the top 40 on the U.K. singles chart last month with his all-star, charity-fundraising rerecording of “Going Home (Theme from Local Hero)”, which opened at No. 18, besting its original peak position of No. 56 back in 1983.

Beyoncé’s former leader Cowboy Carter (Columbia/Parkwood Ent) is riding to a No. 3 spot.

Meanwhile, British rock act Kris Barras Band is aiming high with Halo Effect (Earache). It’s new at No. 4 on the chart blast, and should it stay put, will become the band’s first top 10 appearance.

Nu-metal favorites Linkin Park is lining up a ninth U.K. top 10 appearance with Papercuts – Singles Collection (2000-2023) (via Warner Records), new at No. 5 on the chart blast.

The new arrivals keep coming with Leeds foursome English Teacher, set to arrive at No. 6 with This Could Be Texas (Island); Scottish rock act Gun with Hombres (Cooking Vinyl), on track for a No. 7 bow; U.S. indie-folk singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers’ Don’t Forget Me (Polydor), targeting a No. 8 arrival; and Future and Metro Boomin’s second collaborative LP We Still Don’t Trust You (Epic/Freebandz/Republic), expected to open its account at No. 10. It’s the followup to the U.S. hip-hop artists’ first collaborative work, We Don’t Trust You, which peaked at No. 2 earlier this month.

Further down the list, fresh releasees from Nia Archives (Silence Is Loud at No. 13 via Island), Girl in Red (I’m Doing It Again Baby! at No. 23 via Columbia), and the Feeling (San Vito at No. 36 via Little World) are eying top 40 berths.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published Friday, April 19.