Michael Jackson's new album Xscape hits UK number one as Rita Ora tops singles chart

The King of Pop is back and he's knocked Lily Allen's Sheezus off the top spot

Michael Jackson performs during his 'Dangerous' tour in Bangkok (AP)

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, rules the charts once again nearly five years after he died.

Xscape, the second posthumous album of previously unreleased tracks by the late star, has gone straight to the top of the album chart, shunting last week's number one, Sheezus by Lily Allen, off the top spot.

The album features eight previously unavailable songs originally recorded between 1983 and 1999, which have been given extra sparkle by well-known producers such as Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins and Stargate.

The boss of Epic Records in the US, LA Reid, was given unlimited access to a collection of recordings on which the singer had completed his vocals and then brought in a series of studio wizards to rework the songs. The original versions also feature on a deluxe edition of the album.

Jackson died in June 2009 as a result of an overdose of the anaesthetic propofol as he prepared to make a live comeback with a string of shows at London's O2 Arena.

Some unreleased material came out the following year on an album called Michael.

In the singles chart, celebrity favourite Rita Ora's new release, "I Will Never Let You Down", debuted at number one while "bearded lady" drag artist Conchita Wurst was straight in at number 17 with "Rise Like A Phoenix", fresh from her success at last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest.

The only other new entries in the top 20 singles chart were Australian boy band 5 Seconds Of Summer with "Good Girls" at number 19 and singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran's latest offering, "One", at number 20.

"Waves" by Dutch hip-hop star Mr Probz, "All Of Me" by soul singer John Legend, "Summer" by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris and Canadian artist Kiesza with "Hideaway" made up the top five singles chart.

There was another new entry at number two in the top-selling albums, with Turn Blue by American rockers the Black Keys.

Flame-haired songstress Paloma Faith's A Perfect Contradiction was at number three while Scottish singer Paolo Nutini's A Caustic Love was at number four. Then there was another new entry at number five in the form of Glorious by new girl on the block Foxes.

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Last week's number one album by Allen was relegated to number six while there was a new entry at number 10 for English musician Nick Mulvey with his debut release as a solo artist, First Mind.

PA