ONE-DAY SALES: CREED ROCKS, GOD WILLING

Our nation has weathered its most trying hours, and despite terrible losses, we are carrying on. The wheels of industry continue to turn, and thanks to zero-percent financing, automakers are keeping America moving.

Now, Creed's Weathered, released Tuesday, has a shot at the Holy Grail of a million in-first week sales.

According to early reports from national accounts, God's gift to Wind-up Records will sell 800k easily, and depending on how the holiday weekend shapes up, could take that number into seven-digit territory. Much as we are thankful that, lo these many years ago, the Pilgrim settlers were able to peaceably interact with native Americans and share in their bounty, we bow our heads in gratitude that four upstanding Florida citizens can sell buttloads of little round things in a down market.

Indeed, Creed is likely to double Garth Brooks' #1 showing this week. His Scarecrow (Capitol Nashville) sold north of 472k to nab the top chart berth.

Also shifting major units after one day in the streets is volume eight of the "NOW" compilation series (Virgin), which looks on track to sell over 350k by week's end. And much as we look back with humility and gratitude at those who many years ago crossed the Atlantic in a tiny vessel known as the Mayflower in order to lay claim to North America and eventually displace millions of its native people, we give thanks that Pop compilations still turn the kiddies on.

Meanwhile, Kid Rock's latest, Cocky (Atlantic) should break 200k in sales on next week's chart, and Pink's Missundaztood (Arista) could reach 200k as well.

The wildcard in all of this, of course, is the big Thanksgiving weekend, which could push sales up as shoppers begin to shop in earnest. And while we've never seen a Thanksgiving weekend like this one, given the horrific events of the past months, the fact that several major retailers will be discounting front-line product to $9.99 for at least part of the weekend should inspire some consumer confidence--or at least some serious consumer spending.

In these times, that's definitely something to be thankful for.