INXS Prevent Pharrell From Scoring Number One Chart Spot

8 March 2014 | 7:00 pm | Staff Writer

G I R L doesn't quite top the charts in its first week.

More Pharrell Williams More Pharrell Williams

Not even the all-conquering Pharrell Williams could knock Aussie rock veterans INXS from the top spot on the ARIA Albums Chart this week, as that band's The Very Best collection just pips out Williams' G I R L, hotly tipped to be one of the biggest pop albums of 2014. G I R L was released on Monday – giving it three fewer sales days than a regular album released on a Friday – which will no doubt have impacted on the first week's sales figures.

Williams has managed to hold onto the top spot on the singles charts though, with his smash hit Happy enjoying its ninth week in the number one position. It is unlikely he will be moved from there next week as well, given he kicks off his Australian tour as part of the Future Music Festival this weekend. Sales have slowed for INXS singles, the classic Never Tear Us Apart plunging 20 positions to number 35 this week, Need You Tonight dropping from number 36 to number 69 and six of their songs have dropped out of the top 100 completely. But INXS' Live Baby Live remains the number one music DVD.

Touring artists have enjoyed some sales spikes as expected this week. Bruno Mars' Unorthodox Jukebox rockets up 19 spots to settle in fifth position this week, his four-times platinum Doo-Wops & Hooligans re-entering the charts at number 29 for its 101st week on the ARIA album charts. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' The Heist is in 28th spot this week, following the first of their Future Music and Good Life festival appearances, while fellow Future festival fiends Rudimental have also improved on last week's position, climbing five spots to number seven with their album Home.

Sally Seltmann's new album Hey Daydreamer has just managed to creep into the Top 100, debuting in 100th position this week, though unfortunately the strong first week of sales for fellow Aussies The Holidays and Papa Vs Pretty haven't been replicated this week, with both bands' albums dropping out of the list this week.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

As our midweek figures suggested, Katy Perry's Prism is back in the top five at three, ScHoolboy Q's Oxymoron debuts at 11 and singles from Sara Bareilles (Brave – three) and David Guetta and Skylar Grey (Shot Me Down – four) have risen sharply.

The new single from Coldplay, Magic, spends its first week on the singles chart in 17th spot, the second highest debut of the week after Aussie pop star Nathaniel's You're Beautiful which opened its account three spots higher.