'Bridge Over Troubled Water' cover for Grenfell Tower victims hits No.1 in the singles charts

Song was recorded by UK artists a day after the tragedy

Robbie Williams recording his part on the 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' cover (Nic-Serpell Rand)

Simon Cowell’s Grenfell Tower charity single has soared to the top of the singles chart just two days after its release.

Fifty of Britain’s biggest musical names contributed to the cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, which has now been declared the second fastest-selling single of the year, according to the Official Charts Company.

The song is second only to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You, which notched up 227,000 copies in its first week of release in January. Performed by Artists for Grenfell, the lineup includes Robbie Williams, Liam Payne and Rita Ora.

An emotional opening rap verse by grime star Stormzy was praised by listeners when the track debuted on radio stations on Wednesday morning. It was followed later that evening by a video which includes footage from the aftermath of the fire at the residential tower in west London that has killed at least 79 people.

The cover was recorded over the weekend at Sarm studios, half a mile from Grenfell.

According to the Official Charts Company, a total of 170,000 sales have been recorded across digital and streaming.

The single has also claimed the 10-year record for sales on an opening day with 120,000 units sold.

After six weeks at the top of the singles chart, Despacito – by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber – has now slipped to second.

DJ Khaled and Rihanna’s new single, Wild Thoughts, has entered the singles chart in third position.

Rock duo Royal Blood, who will perform on Friday on the main Pyramid stage at Glastonbury festival, have claimed the top position on the album charts with How Did We Get So Dark, their sophomore effort.

“Wow. Just wow … can we just say, thank you so much,” they told the Official Charts Company.

Sheeran’s Divide has retained its unflinching grip on a position in the top five album spots, sitting in second position.

New Zealand singer Lorde is a new entry on the albums chart in fifth position with her second album, Melodrama, which was released on 16 June.

Press Association