March 29, 2006 10:30

Gnarls Barkley set to make UK chart history

Will their download be Number One?

Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’ is tipped to make UK chart history on Sunday (April 2) – by becoming the first single to go Number One as a download only.

The Official UK Charts Company recently altered the rules on chart eligibility for singles. Until a few weeks ago sales of a particular single would only count towards a chart position if it was also available as a physical release.

However in recognition of their growing popularity, it was decided that downloaded singles could count towards a chart position provided a physical release was made available the following week.

Since the ruling came into effect, the single to have gained the most so far was Ne-Yo's 'So Sick', which entered the charts at Number 18, based on its downloads, rising to Number One last week, once the song also became available as a physical release.

However Gnarls Barkley looks set to go one better, as it is currently ahead of Morrissey’s comeback single ‘You Have Killed Me’ in the race for the top slot.

"There's every chance that Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy' will go straight to Number One this week based purely on the level of downloaded tracks," explained HMV's chart expert Gennaro Castaldo. "This would not only represent a significant landmark in charts history, but would show that legal downloads have truly arrived.