THE OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHART TOP 75.

CHART COMMENTARY

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We could not be further away from the record industry's favourite season but the chart is filling up with compilations in a manner usually only seen in December. Two legendary Bobs -- one live, one dead -- have new entries to the Top 10 this week with best of sets, while the Top 15 includes similar sets from Eddy Grant, Billy Joel and Wings as well as a live best of from Bon Jovi.

The Bobs we refer to are, of course, the late Robert Nesta Marley and Bob Dylan, whose 60th birthday excited a media frenzy last week. In response to the great man's milestone, Columbia unleashed The Essential Bob Dylan, a double album set which debuts this week at number nine after selling more than 22,000 copies. It is the 41st chart album of Dylan's career and comes hot on the heels of Greatest Hits (1995), The Best Of Bob Dylan (1997), and The Best Of Bob Dylan Volume 2 (2000). Of these, The Best Of Bob Dylan fared best, reaching number six. The Essential Bob Dylan is his 27th Top 10 album, a total surpassed only by Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard, the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra.

REM's Reveal suffered a 52% decline in sales last week but the 53,000 copies it did sell were enough for it to retain pole position, finishing up 7,500 sales ahead of Shaggy's Hot Shot.

With airplay for the upcoming single Angel still increasing at a rapid rate, Hot Shot jumps 4-2 this week, the highest position of its career. Its sales increased 24% week-on-week against a 7% decline in the market overall, and it has now topped the 250,000 sales mark.

Last week we implied that the resurgence of S Club 7's 7 was due to the addition of Don't Stop Movin' to the set. Our information was incorrect, as the track has most definitely not been grafted on, and we apologise to our friends at Universal for suggesting it had. Nevertheless, 7 continues its upward spiral, moving 40-27 this week, with sales up 36% week-on-week. The album is now just 20,000 short of its millionth sale.

MARKET REPORT