Norah Jones leads US chart

22.02.2007

Comeback ... Norah Jones / supplied

NORAH Jones returned to the top of the US pop album charts today, a week after the jazz pianist lost the crown to rock band Fall Out Boy, Billboard reported.

Meanwhile, Grammy glory propelled the Dixie Chicks up 64 places to No.8, the biggest increase on the Billboard 200 in the week ended February 18.

The country trio, which took home five Grammys on February 13, sold 103,000 copies of its album of the year winner Taking the Long Way, an increase of 714 per cent from the previous week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The Grammy Nominees 2007 compilation rose four places to No.3 with 131,000 copies (up 116 per cent), while Grammy performer and best new artist nominee Corinne Bailey Rae`s self-titled debut jumped five places to No.4 with 120,000 (up 132 per cent).

Two-time performer/winner Justin Timberlake`s FutureSex/LoveSounds climbed three to No.7 with 108,000 (up 123 per cent). John Mayer, another double-winner, jumped 19 places to No.10 with Continuum, which sold 80,000 copies (up 182 per cent).

As for Jones, a Grammy darling in past years, Not Too Late sold 211,000 copies in its third week, and moved up one from last week.

Late R&B singer Gerald Levert`s In My Songs opened at No.2 with 165,000 copies, his highest charting album ever and his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. Like Jones, Levert`s sales were likely fueled in part by Valentine`s Day gift purchases.

Fall Out Boy`s Infinity on High fell to No. 5 with 119,000. Robin Thicke`s The Evolution of Robin Thicke stayed put at No.6 with 116,000. Rock band Daughtry`s self-titled debut fell six to No.9 with 102,000.

Among other Grammy winners, the Red Hot Chili Peppers` Stadium Arcadium jumped 27 places to No.12; Carrie Underwood`s Some Hearts rose six to No.13; Mary J. Blige`s The Breakthrough jumped 36 to No.21; John Legend`s Once Again rose 28 to No.23; Gnarls Barkley`s St. Elsewhere jumped 67 places to No.44; Tony Bennett`s Duets: An American Classic jumped 50 to No.45; and Ludacris` Release Therapy jumped 17 to No. 48.

Roots-rock veteran Lucinda Williams scored her best charting effort with West, which bowed at No.14 with 57,000 copies. Her last studio set, 2003`s World Without Tears, started at No.18 with 54,000. A compilation of Van Morrison songs used on the big screen, Van Morrison at the Movies, debuts at No.35 with 29,000.

Album sales were up 12.7 per cent from last week`s total at 11 million units but down 10.5 per cent compared to the same week in 2006. Overall albums sales for the year are down 15 per cent from the year before at 64.3 million units.

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