Ben Howard and Slipknot battle for Number 1 album

Ben Howard’s second studio album, I Forget Where We Were, is currently at Number 1 on today’s Chart Update. If he holds on to his position, it will beat the peak of his debut LP Every Kingdom, which peaked at Number 4 in 2011.

Meanwhile, Slipknot’s .5: The Gray Chapter is not far behind behind at Number 2. The record marks the band's first in six years and first since drummer Joey Jordison left in 2013 and bassist Paul Gray died in 2010.

New at Number 3 on today’s Update is Neil Diamond’s 32nd studio album Melody Road, and Ed Sheeran’s X is at Number 4.

Rounding off the Top 5 are Status Quo with Aquostic (Stripped Bare). The record - which marks the rock band’s 31st LP and first completely acoustic collection - is on track to be their highest charting album in 18 years, since 1996’s Don’t Stop: The 30th Anniversary Album.

New entries

Nicole Scherzinger’s second solo album Big Fat Lie lands at Number 15, Mark Lanegan’s Phantom Radio enters at 16, and Scott Walker + Sunn O’s Soused debuts at 20.

Madonna’s 1986 album True Blue returns to the chart at Number 22, Billy Idol’s Kings & Queens Of The Underground is new at 23, and Scottish alt-rockers Del Amitri start at 29 with Into The Mirror.

Elsewhere, Bear’s Den’s Islands (31), Dexy’s Nowhere Is Home (38), Half Man Half Biscuit’s Urge For Offal (39) are all set to enter the Top 40 this weekend.

Finally, can Aretha Franklin score her first UK Top 40 studio album in 45 years? Her new album, Great Diva Classics, is currently at Number 40 in today's Update.

Win: Aretha Franklin's new Diva Classics album!

The Official Singles Chart Update Top 40 is as follows. The Official Singles Chart Top 100 will be posted in full, here, on Sunday at 7pm.

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