U.K. MIDWEEKS: ROBBIE DOES IT BETTER

Robbie Williams is on track for his 15th #1 as a solo artist on the Official U.K. Album chart this week, while Gracie Abrams looks to retain control of the Singles roundup for a ninth frame.

Williams' Columbia soundtrack to Better Man, the unconventional biopic of the onetime Take That member in which he's portrayed as a CGI monkey, is ahead of Abrams' The Secret of Us (Interscope), which could jump 14-2 following the vinyl release of its deluxe edition.

Late rapper Mac Miller's Balloonerism (Parlophone) is #4 at midweek. The artist's previous high mark on the U.K. album chart came with Circles at #8 in 2020.

Singer/songwriter David Gray could open at #5 with Dear Life (Laugh a Minute), which would be his best entry in more than 15 years.

On the classic rock tip, The Who's Who's Next (UMe) could return at #24 after the release of an expanded boxed set, and Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (Columbia) could rocket 98-40 following the arrival of the biopic A Complete Unknown.

Abrams' "That's So True" is one again trying to fend off Lola Young's "Messy" (Island) and ROSÉ and Bruno Mars' "APT." (Atlantic) at #s 2 and 3, respectively.

BTS member Jimin's "Who" (Big Hit) is trending toward a 13-6 increase, while Central Cee's "GBP" featuring 21 Savage (Columbia) could be the top new entry at #7.