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"It was a great first week for Velvet Revolver. We had big expectations and it didn’t disappoint. The BMG label group is having an amazing run right now."
——Jerry Suarez, Virgin Entertainment Group
Tuesday, June 15, 2004

VELVET LOVE!

RCA Superstar Rockers Blow Up at #1, with 256k+ in Sales, as Usher, Avril, Gretchen and Hoobastank Remain In Top 5
The ex-Guns went for the roses this week, as the Scott Weiland-led, Josh Abraham-produced Velvet Revolver grabs the top spot on this week’s HITS album chart, smuggling Contraband, their RCA Records debut, to #1.

Virgin Entertainment Group’s Jerry Suarez took time from tracking down Buckethead to enthuse: "It was a great first week for Velvet Revolver. We had big expectations and it didn’t disappoint. The BMG label group is having an amazing run right now."

The all-star rockers topped nine-time champ, LaFace/ZLG’s Usher, who grabbed #2, with Arista/RMG’s Avril Lavigne (#3), Epic/Sony Nashville’s Gretchen Wilson (#4) and Island/IDJ’s Hoobastank (#5) rounding out the Top 5.

Volcano’s 311 was the week’s other highest-charting newcomer, with its greatest hits album bowing at #6.

Shady/Interscope’s D12 (#7), Roadrunner/IDJ’s Slipknot (#8), DreamWorks’ Shrek 2 (#9) and A&M/Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas (+16%, #19-10 on the strength of their "Let’s Get It Started" NBA Finals promos, included on the album as "Let’s Get Retarded") were the other records in this week’s Top 10.

Other chart bows were registered by Lyric Street’s Shedaisy (#13), SideOneDummy’s 2004 Warped Tour Compilation (#19), Island/IDJ’s P.J. Harvey (#23), Sony Discos’ Marc "Mr. J.Lo" Anthony (#27), RCA/RMG’s The Calling (#41), Atlantic/Atl G’s The Corrs (#44) and Verity gospel star Fred Hammond (#45).

Biggest double-digit gainer of the week was Epic’s Los Lonely Boys (+27%, #26-12), followed by Warner Bros. Nashville’s Big & Rich (+19%, #34-25) and Epic’s Franz Ferdinand (+19%, #50-42).

Next week, it’s all about Capitol’s Beastie Boys, yo, as they fight for their right to debut at #1.

Added Suarez: "We’re hoping they take full advantage of the Father’s Day weekend. In fact, I’m sending a copy to my dad."

 
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