Craig David is set to return to the top of the U.K. albums chart after 16 years.
David, 35, who has sold 13.5 million records, is heading back to the top with his sixth album Following My Intuition, on Speakerboxx Recordings, according to the Official Chart Company. The collection’s songs include “When The Bassline Drops,” a return to the star’s garage roots.
The singer’s career was kick started by his debut Born To Do It in 2000, which went platinum in six countries including the U.S. It went six-times platinum in the U.K. and was his last chart-topper, debuting at No. 1 in 2000. The album, the home of hits such as “Fill Me In” – a song he is now revisiting – had total sales of more than eight million and mixed R&B with rap, garage and dance.
After the millennium, David was one of the biggest stars in Britain and was relaxed in interviews, as if success was the easiest thing in the world. The singles such as “7 Days” sound tracked those years for many. David, with his closely-cropped beard, went from icon to figure of fun when the Leigh Francis comedy show, Bo’ Selecta!, caricatured his look and voice.
The albums that followed were less of easy successes, even though there were some fine singles – “Rise & Fall” in 2003 featured Sting and it was a No. 2 in the U.K., though it did not chart in the U.S. David was criticized for some cheesy ballads and experimented with new sounds as a result.
David’s last album was six years ago. Signed Sealed Delivered, on Universal Motown, and took the label’s hits as inspiration. The 2010 album stalled at No. 13 in the U.K. Official Chart and despite its origins, it provided even less successful in the U.S.
The Official Charts Company said that at the “midweek” point, David is 3,500 combined sales in front of U.S. band Bon Iver’s album 22, A Million (on Jagjaguwar records). They are followed by British duo The Shires – showing a demand for country music – while a deluxe edition of Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool has sent it back up the chart to No. 4.
Among others heading for the Top 10: Van Morrison, Slaves, Pixies and Opeth. The volume of sales mean the chart is volatile and the final count will be clear on Friday, Oct. 7.
