ELVIS LICKS STONES!!!

This week’s chart battle was a heavyweight rumble between a pair of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. In this corner, in the white, spangled jumpsuit, weighing in at 250 some-odd lbs., from Memphis by way of Tupelo, Mississippi, is the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, and his RCA compilation, 30 #1 Hits.

In the other corner, in black leather and snakeskin boots, from London, England, the World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band, the Rolling Stones and their Virgin double-CD retrospective, 40 Licks.

And the winner is, by a hound dog hair and less than 10k units…

Elvis!

Well, at least Mick Jagger has his acting career to fall back on.

Hastings’ Mike Fuller took a bite out of his peanut butter and fried banana sandwich and proclaimed: "The highly anticipated Rolling Stones release joins Elvis to continue bringing a throng of adults into our stores. I haven’t seen so many bald, paunchy, middle-aged fans since the last Rush album hit the shelves."

Aside from Elvis and the Stones, there were Top Five chart debuts by Loud/Columbia/CRG rapper Xzibit (#3) and RCA’s American Idol: Greatest Moments (#4), giving Nipper two of the top four albums.

Added Fuller: "The Kelly Clarkson phenomenon is propelling the new American Idol compilation, with no end in sight to her rising star, and Xzibit had another solid hip-hop debut. Any word when the Justin Guarini solo album comes out?"

Open Wide/Columbia/CRG’s Dixie Chicks (#5) gave Columbia two in the Top Five, while Epic twin rockers Good Charlotte were the other Top 10 newcomers (#6).

Effused Fuller: "The story of the week had to be the Good Charlotte follow-up, which stands out as one of the great artist development jobs of the year. At least that’s what I read in Billboard."

The rest of the Top 10 included Arista’s Avril Lavigne (#7), Fo’ Reel/Universal’s Nelly (#8), Aftermath/Interscope’s Eminem (#9) and Reprise’s Disturbed (#10). Nine of the Top 10 soared over 100k in sales, a hopeful sign things are finally turning around as the fourth quarter picks up steam.

Other chart newcomers included Curb/Atl. G’s LeAnn Rimes (#13), Verve’s Diana Krall (#14), DreamWorks’ Floetry (#28), WB’s Mark Knopfler (#29) and Hollywood’s Sweet Home Alabama soundtrack (#43).

Double-digit sales increases were demonstrated by Murder Inc./IDJ’s Ashanti (23-19). Geffen’s Beck (#15) and Peter Gabriel (#16) each topped 47k in sales in their second weeks at retail, hanging tight.

Next week, look for WB’s Tom Petty, Island/IDJ’s Jon Bon Jovi and Epic’s Chevelle to enter the chart fray.