Newton Faulkner beats Frank Ocean to top the Official Albums Chart

Newton Faulkner debuts at Number 1 today on the Official Albums Chart with his third album, Write It On Your Skin, after fending off tough competition from Frank Ocean's debut solo album, Channel Orange.

Faulkner took an early lead in Wednesday’s Official Chart Update, which he has managed to maintain through to today’s final whistle. Write It On Your Skin gives the Surrey singer songwriter his second chart topper; his 2007 debut, Hand Built By Robots, also reached the Official Albums Chart summit.

“I've been completely blown away by the response to this album,” Newton told OfficialCharts.com. “It was three years solid work but so worth it!”

His closest competitor, Frank Ocean, debuts at Number 2 today with his first solo outing, Channel Orange. Ocean, who is a member of US hip-hop collective Odd Future, saw his debut album rush released earlier this week. It entered Wednesday’s Official Chart Update at Number 6 after just 24 hours on sale. Today Channel Orange finishes in second place, a mere 3,000 copies behind the top spot.

Maroon 5 are down one place this week as Overexposed slides from Number 2 to Number 3, while 22 year old South London singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas enters the Official albums Chart at Number 4 with her debut release, Is Your Love Big Enough. Last week’s Official Albums Chart-topper, Fortune by Chris Brown (Number 5) completes this week’s Top 5.

New Entries And High Climbers

In addition to Newton Faulkner’s Write It On Your Skin (Number 1), Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange (2) and Lianne La Havas’ Is Your Love Big Enough (4), there are three other new entries on today’s Official Albums Chart Top 40.

Scottish indie rockers The View are at Number 9 with new offering Cheeky For A Reason, while former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert scores his highest charting UK album to date with Trespassing new in at Number 16. Canadian rockers Rush enter at Number 21 with their 19th studio album, Clockwork Angels.

Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now is this week’s highest climber, up 24 places from 56 to Number 32, while Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds are up 7 places from 33 to 26.

The Official Albums Chart Top 10 is as follows. Click here to see the Top 100 in full after 7PM.

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