Noah Kahan tops the singles and albums chart following the release of an expanded version of Stick Season.



Noah Kahan extends his run at the top of the singles chart to seven weeks. A new edition of Kahan’s Stick Season album is among three albums battling for first place.

Noah Kahan’s Stick Season gets a seventh week at number one, once again beating all opposition by a comfortable margin. If the release of a new edition of the album of the same name has led to an increase in streams for the song, its move on to the Accelerated Chart ratio will be delayed for a further three weeks, meaning that it could yet get ten weeks at number one. Lower down the singles chart, Kahan’s Northern Attitude has been replaced by Forever which enters at number 31. Homesick (with Sam Fender) remains at number eleven.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder On The Dancefloor remains at number two. Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things climbs to a new peak of number three. Teddy Swims sinks to number four with Lose Control. YG Marley climbs to number five with Praise Jah In The Moonlight.

Beyonce released a new song on Monday, ahead of the release of her Renaissance Act II album at the end of next month. Such is her popularity that she can go for a change in direction and still enjoy success. If Beyonce wants to do country, then country she will do. Texas Hold ‘Em enters at number nine.

Wesley Nelson appears to have largely made his name on various so-called “reality shows”, shows which bear about as much resemblance to reality as a Marvel film. Having appeared on the totally unrealistic Love Island in 2018, he had a top three hit in 2020 with See Nobody. He has now teamed up with the rather better-known Craig David on Abracadabra, not a cover of the Steve Miller Band song. Despite being rather dull, it is a new entry at number 37.

Tracy Chapman’s original, and best, version of Fast Car re-enters at number 38 after she performed the song at the Grammy Awards ceremony. The song reached number five on its original release in 1988 before returning to the chart and peaking one place higher in 2011.

The first albums chart update suggested that there were two contenders for the top spot - Declan McKenna and, following the release of a new edition of Stick Season, Noah Kahan. However, somebody else had released a new album after the usual Friday release date. That album had done enough by Sunday to indicate that it too was going to be a contender for the top spot.

When Noah Kahan released albums in 2019 and 2021, the public response was generally one of total indifference. It is fair to assume that very few people even noticed their existence. The initial response to the release of album number three, Stick Season, in October 2022 was equally underwhelming. The idea that it would eventually be part of a chart-topping double was utterly fanciful. However, the album eventually entered the chart last June with the title track going on to be a massive hit.

The album has spent the last six weeks in the top five and has been given a fresh boost this week with the release of a new edition featuring additional tracks, including new versions of original tracks with featured vocalists. That highly improbable chart double has actually happened. In its 36th week in the chart (22 of them in the top forty), Stick Season, the album, is at number one.

Many artists choose to try to establish themselves musically before expressing strong political opinions. Declan McKenna, by contrast, included several political tracks on his first two albums but has chosen to withdraw from the soapboxing (his word) for album number three, What Happened To The Beach? The result is a generally high-quality album, even though there are a couple tracks which could have been omitted. His second album, Zeroes, reached number two. His new set is at number three.

There has long been an argument about whether a person’s political views should lead to a boycott of their music. Some people are undoubtedly all too ready to take offence and “cancel” someone they disagree with. However, it is rather harder to decide not to do anything which might increase the personal fortune of someone who has frequently made anti-Semitic remarks and has denied the Holocaust. Kanye West, for it is he, cannot be ignored entirely for the purpose of this commentary, but I shall merely note that his new album, a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign, is at number two. while three tracks from the album are in the singles chart.

The Weeknd’s Highlights collection is at number four. Last Dinner Party fall to number five after a week at number one.

Two acts which have been away for a while have high new entries in this week’s albums chart. Dizzee Rascal, whose last album was released nearly three-and-a-half years ago is at number 27 with Don’t Take It Personal.

Usher’s last solo album was Hard II Love, released in 2016. Any hope that he might have retired have been dashed with the release of Coming Home last week. The album is at number 24. Among many credited writers is Billy Joel who, at the beginning of the month, released his first single since 2007.

Zara Larsson’s albums are making for a nice little progression, albeit in the wrong direction from her point of view. Her debut So Good reached number seven. Album number two finished four places lower at number eleven. No, her third set, Venus, finishes another four places lower, at number fifteen.