Album Chart: Toby Keith scores No. 1 debut
Maybe it was patriotism, or maybe a simple love of country music; either way, music buyers bought more copies of Toby Keith’s “Unleashed” last week than any other album.
Maybe it was patriotism, or maybe a simple love of country music; either way, music buyers bought more copies of Toby Keith’s “Unleashed” last week than any other album.
“Unleashed" sold about 338,000 copies during its first week out, according to industry sources, which places it at No.1 on the forthcoming Billboard 200 chart. The album’s sales were propelled by its post-Sept. 11 anthem “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” as well as by the buzz created when ABC-TV pulled Keith’s performance of the song from the network’s Fourth of July special.
“Now That’s What I Call Music! 10,” the latest installment in the successful compilation series, narrowly missed grabbing the franchise’s fifth U.S. No. 1 debut. Falling about 50,000 copies shy of “Unleashed“‘s total, “Now! 10"--which features previously released hits from Britney Spears, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Vanessa Carlton, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, ‘NSync and the Baha Men--debuts at No. 2.
The newcomers push Nelly’s “Nellyville” down one spot, Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” down two spots and the Dave Matthews Band’s “Busted Stuff” down three spots to Nos. 3, 4 and 5, respectively. “Busted Stuff,” which debuted at No. 1 last week with first-week sales of about 621,000 copies, saw that total drop to about 211,000 copies during its second week, according to industry sources.
Cash Money Millionaire Lil’ Wayne--not to be confused with Lil’ Bow Wow or Lil’ Romeo--rides the youngster-rap wave to a No. 6 debut with his third album, “500 Degrees.”
Avril Lavigne’s “Let Go” and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “By the Way” dip to Nos. 7 and 8, respectively, while Mario’s self-titled first album and Boyz II Men’s “Full Circle” debut at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.
The first album from rock quartet Trust Company, “The Lonely Position of Neutral,” just misses a Top 10 debut, and enters the chart at No. 11.
Albums debuting further down the chart include compilation album “Monsta Jamz” at No. 22, “Mack 10 Presents Da Hood” at No. 40, Joe Nichols’ “Man with a Memory” at No. 107 and Public Enemy, Revolverlution, and Public Enemy’s “Revolverlution” at No. 110.
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