IT’S D12’S WORLD
The band’s sophomore album bows at #1 this week, with 550k+ in sales, quite a gain over the 370k their debut rolled up three years ago, back in June ’01, on its way to 2 million sold OTC in the U.S.
Hastings’ George Deahl, denying he’d ever lusted for the Olsen twins, admits: "Eminem has created one of the most rabid fan bases in the country and the huge first-week sales on D12 just shows the power of that base. The anticipation for this release was intense. And with that big multi-format smash on the radio, don’t expect it to go away any time soon."
LaFace/ZLG soul star Usher’s five-week reign at the top ends, but he finishes second, with nearly 260k in sales, which represents a 1% increase over the week before.
Verve chart newcomer Diana Krall’s Girl in the Other Room bows at #3,with 124k in sales, undoubtedly picking up sales since her marriage to Elvis Costello, who contributes several songs to the new album.
Adds Deahl: "It’s a solid start for the chanteuse, who really took a chance with this record departing somewhat from her songbook of standards, but it seems to have paid off. Now we know who wears the pants in the Costello family."
The rest of the Top 10 includes Bad Boy/Universal’s Mario Winans (#4), NPG/Columbia’s Prince (#5), Capitol’s Now 15 (#6), Island/IDJ’s Hoobastank (#7), Roc-A-Fella/IDJ’s Kanye West (#8), Wind-up’s Evanescence (#9) and LaFace/ZLG’s OutKast (#10).
Other chart newcomers includes RCA/RMG’s American Idol Vol. 3 Greatest Hits (#13), Interscope’s critically acclaimed Loretta Lynn collaboration with Jack White (#25), Hollywood’s 13 Going on 30 soundtrack (#36) and Capitol Nashville’s Mary Chapin Carpenter (#47).
Hoobastank (+7%) and 143/Reprise’s Josh Groban (#23-18, +5%) registers the week’s top sales gains, while Blue Note’s Norah Jones returns to the charts with her Grammy-winning debut and Republic/Universal’s Godsmack re-enters with their acoustic album.
