Gnarls Barkley makes British pop chart history

LONDON, Apr 3 (Reuters) Gnarls Barkley's ''Crazy'' made British pop chart history when it became the first song to reach number one based solely on sales of computer downloads, the Official UK Charts Company said.

The song by Barkley, a made-up character and in reality a collaboration between U.S. hip-hop producer Brian Burton and singer Thomas Calloway, entered the charts in top spot even though it will only be released in shops today.

Downloads from Internet Web sites were included in the national charts for the first time last April in a bid to make them more relevant as traditional single sales fell to record low levels.

New rules brought in last month also mean that download sales can now be counted a week before the single is physically available.

''It does represent chart history in the making,'' said Gennaro Castaldo yesterday from the music retailer HMV.

''It shows the download market has really taken off.'' Although the song has been HMV's biggest-ever selling download, Castaldo said it was unlikely its success would be regularly repeated with other songs topping the charts based just on downloads.

In the past, the marketing of singles had been so successful that songs would enter the charts in their highest position before rapidly dropping out again, he added.

However, the greater emphasis on downloads would now keep songs in the charts for longer, increasing exposure and boosting sales, Castaldo said.

''It does seem to be having a stabilising effect on the charts,'' he told Reuters.

Despite only being available as a download, ''Crazy'' was able to see off last week's chart topper ''So Sick'' by American R&B singer Ne-Yo and a new release by Morrissey.

The ex-Smiths frontman's ''You Have Killed Me'', taken from his new album '' Ringleader Of The Tormentors'', debuted in third.

Rock band Embrace, chosen last week to record England's official World Cup song this summer, dropped two places to number four with ''Nature's Law''.

However there was good news elsewhere for the band as their new album with the same title entered the album charts in top spot.

Other notable entries in the singles top ten included the Kooks who climbed 22 places to number six with ''Naive'' and rapper Mike Skinner's The Streets who debuted in eighth with ''When You Wasn't Famous''.

Massive Attack's greatest hits was the other major new entry in the album chart, debuting in second place, with ''Show Your Bones'' from the critically-acclaimed indie pop group the Yeah Yeah Yeahs the only other new entry in the top ten.

Reuters SY DB0827