We’ve had a sudden spate of completed stories, so plenty of reviews coming up in the next couple of weeks.  But first up…

1.  The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – “Closer”

That’s four weeks, and it’s the fourth number one single in a row to manage that.  Apparently this has never happened before; but streaming moves a lot slower than sales did, and there’s a strong argument that this makes it a better measure of popularity, even if a less interesting one.  That said, fast climbs up the chart are still possible…

2.  James Arthur – “Say You Won’t Let Go”

…such as this Sheeranesque effort, which entered at number 25 last week.  This is turning out to be quite the comeback single for 2012 X Factor winner James Arthur, who had the obligatory number 1 with his winner’s single, followed it up with a short-lived number 2 a year later (“You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You”, which wasn’t that bad, come to think of it), and then failed to get anything else above 19 before being unceremoniously dropped for public stupidity.   Time will tell if a couple of years away have knocked some sense into him.

(Of course, the reason why he’s back now is because the X Factor live shows are running again.  But the days when it had an impact on the chart by prompting downloads of the original songs are behind us.)

5.  Calvin Harris – “My Way”

The highest new entry is a new song from Calvin Harris, presumably set to join the previous three on some future album – it’s an approach that worked well for him on the last album.  This time, Calvin seems to have discovered tropical house, and it does bring a bit of variation to his usual formula.  It’s also one of his occasional ventures into doing his own lead vocals.

6.  Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Miinaj – “Side to Side”

Climbing another couple of places, though I still suspect Nicki Minaj is the driving name here.

12.  Ellie Goulding – “Still Falling For You” 

This has moved 25-26-19-21-12 – the sudden jump is presumably because the Bridget Jones film actually came out.

22.  Emeli Sandé – “Hurts”

It’s been a couple of years since Emeli Sandé was last on the chart even as a guest singer, and over four years since the release of her last album “Our Version of Events”.  You know, that’s the one had included her collaboration with Professor Green.  That’s how long it’s been.  Obviously, this is the lead single from her next album.  Traditionally number 22 would have been a bit low for a comeback single by someone like her, but she really is an artist from the pre-streaming era and you’d expect her to take some time to build up momentum there.  (On a pure sales chart, this would have been number 10.)

25.  Digital Farm Animals & Cash Cash – “Millionaire”

Moving 38-25 on its third week on chart.  It’s pretty wretched but it’s gaining momentum.

26.  Zara Larsson – “Ain’t My Fault”

Up 32-26, which isn’t much, but it’s something.  Still no official video for this – they’re going out of fashion, quite honestly – but hey, here’s a Radio 1 live performance.

33.  Matoma & Becky Hill – “False Alarm”

Rebounding from 40 to reach (just) a new peak.  Tracks are hanging around the lower end these days too.

40.  Hailee Steinfeld & Grey featuring Zedd – “Starving”

Blimey, that takes an odd turn at the one minute mark, arrangement-wise.  What is it with 2016 and screechy noises being used as hooks?  Mind you, Zedd’s obviously looking to earn his fee on what would otherwise be a gentle little acoustic number.  Hailee Steinfeld is the actress from True Grit – she signed a record deal after singing in Pitch Perfect 2, and this is her first hit in the UK.  Another single, “Love Myself”, did modestly well in some countries last year, but it bombed out at number 180 here.  This one is better.  Grey are brothers from California; they’re not particularly known for anything else.

On the album chart:

• “Wild World” by Bastille gets a second week at number 1.
• “The Complete BBC Sessions” by Led Zeppelin at 3, which is self-explanatory.  Number 3 makes it (just) their highest placed album since 1979’s “In Through The Out Door”.  Single: “What Is And What Should Never Be.”
• “Hard II Love” by Usher at 7.  This came out on Tidal in June but nobody uses Tidal so it didn’t chart.  If it doesn’t go further, it’ll be his lowest-charting album since his 1998 debut (and given that the current album chart favours legacy acts…)  Single: “Crash”.
• “Ballads of the Broken Few” by Seth Lakeman at 18.  Nominated for the Mercury in 2005!  This is about where he tends to wind up this decade.  Single: “Meet Me In The Twilight”.
• “Echoes of our Times” by Shakin’ Stevens at 22, because nothing says zeitgeist like Shakin’ Stevens.  He’s gone a bit country.  It’s his first new album in nearly a decade, and his highest chart placing (not counting greatest hits compilations) since 1983.  No singles online, but here’s the album on Spotify.
• “Sing My Heart Out” by Sam Bailey at 33.  She won X Factor in 2013!  As recently as that!  2013!  And now this.   Here’s the title track, a video which I’m sure anyone competing in X Factor this year will find inspiring.
• “Fingers Crossed” by Ian Hunter & The Rant Band at 36.  The former frontman of Mott the Hoople.  Single: “Dandy”.
• “Echoes” by Young Guns at 40.  Rock.  The last two albums got to 19 and 21, so.  Singles: “Mad World”.