James Morrison Tops U.K. Album Chart; Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris' Rises Again

British singer-songwriter James Morrison made it two U.K. No. 1 albums from three releases on Sunday (2) as "The Awakening" (Universal Island) debuted at the top of the new chart. Spanish DJ-producer Sak Noel's European hit "Loca People" (3 Beat/All Around The World/Universal) opened at the top of the singles survey.

Morrison's first album "Undiscovered" was a U.K. chart-topper in 2006, after which "Songs For You, Truths For Me" reached No. 3 in 2008. Worldwide sales of the two releases are placed by Universal at some 4.5 million. "The Awakening" sold 62,000 copies last week, compared to 34,000 for last week's No. 1, Kasabian's "Velociraptor" (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment). The tally was also an improvement on the opening 53,000 for his sophomore album.

Morrison today (Monday) announced a British tour for next January and February. The first single from the new set, "I Won't Let You Go," fell one place from last week's No. 5 debut, and will be followed up with Morrison's collaboration with Jessie J, "Up," as a U.K. single on Nov. 27.

With Kasabian down to No. 2 in the Official Charts Company's new data, Ed Sheeran's "+" (Asylum/Warner Music) and Adele's "21" (XL Recordings) also dipped one place each to Nos. 3 and 4 respectively. The 20th anniversary remastered reissue of Nirvana's "Nevermind" (Geffen/Universal) saw the 1991 classic sell 27,000 new units to race back into the U.K. top 75 at No. 5, up from last week's No. 157, while Blink 182's "Neighborhoods" (Universal Island) opened at No. 6.

EMI's expansive repackaging and remarketing of the entire Pink Floyd catalogue also bore chart fruit this week, with "The Dark Side of the Moon" back on the official countdown at No. 11 (with 13,000 new sales), "Wish You Were Here" at No. 43 and "The Wall" at No. 44. That's the first showing in the top 75 for "Dark Side" since 2006 and the highest U.K. ranking for the redoubtable 1973 album since 1993, when a 20th anniversary re-release peaked at No. 4. On first release "Dark Side," which has never topped the U.K. chart, debuted and peaked at No. 2.

Also new in the album top 20 were Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts at No. 17 with "Cinderella's Eyes" (A&M/Universal) and Atlanta metal band Mastodon's "The Hunter" (Roadrunner) at No. 19. On the compilation chart, one branch of the "Now!" family replaced another, as "Now That's What I Call R&B" (EMI TV/Rhino/UMTV) debuted at No. 1 to end the ten-week reign of "Now! That's What I Call Music 79" (EMI/Virgin/UMTV).

Sak Noel's chart-topping debut with "Loca People," with sales of 75,000, comes after the single has already been a No. 1 in Belgium, Holland and Denmark. It's also been a top five hit in Sweden and Switzerland. Noel comes from the village of La Callera de Ter in the province of Girona in the north-east of Spain.

Last week's U.K. No. 1 single, Dappy's "No Regrets" (All Around The World/Universal Island), fell to No. 4, which allowed "Moves Like Jagger" (Octone/A&M/Universal), by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera to continue its remarkable run. The track has now been at No. 2 for five weeks, after two initial weeks at No. 3, and last week's sales of 73,000 put it only 2,000 copies behind Sak Noel.

Goo Goo Dolls' 1998 song "Iris," which peaked at No. 50 in the U.K. on first release and then No. 26 the following year, stormed to No. 3 on the new chart, after the song was performed by two contestants on "The X Factor." Meanwhile "Lighters" (Interscope/Universal) by Bad Meets Evil featuring Bruno Mars climbed 13-10.