SHOCKING NEWS! NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 20 DEBUTS AT #1

Wow! What a surprise—not. The latest addition to the Now That’s What I Call Music series—this one released via UTV and featuring the numeral 20 in its title—tops this week’s chart, with the numeral 364k. Memorize it, folks. Say it again. Now That’s What I Call Music 20. You’re going to be seeing it over and over again in the weeks and months to come.

Carlos Santana and his army of guest vocalists (Arista/RMG) debuts in the #2 slot, with 133k, while Roadrunner/IDJ’s Nickelback drops only one slot to #3, with 94k, proving that critics may not know but the little rock fans understand. A&M/Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas jump yet again, moving from #5 to #4, with 82k, fueled by the latest single, “My Humps.” And Sony Urban/Columbia’s Destiny’s Child drops to #5, with 78k.

In the #6 spot is the week’s only other Top 10 debut—a greatest hits package from Geffen’s tattooed punkers Blink-182, with 71k copies sold. Rounding out the bottom four spots are tried-and-true stalwarts Martina McBride, still lookin’ mighty fine and timeless, at #7, with 57k; J Records/RMG’s Rod Stewart crooning into #8, with 57k; Roc-A-Fella/IDJ’s Kanye West at #9, with 52k; and Geffen’s Ashlee Simpson (she still is she) at #10, with 51k

Other notable debuts include Fantasy’s John Fogerty (bet you never thought you’d see those three words together again!) at #12, with 47k; Roadrunner/IDJ’s always-pleasant Slipknot at a lucky #13, with 46k; Columbia Nashville’s Montgomery Gentry at #16, with 41k; Geffen’s Nirvana at #18, with 40k; Verve’s Diana Krall Christmas album at #21, with 38k; and Mercury Nashville’s Terri Clark at #28, with 32k.

Watch for debuts next week from Kenny Chesney, 50 Cent’s soundtrack to Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, Neil Diamond (produced by Rick Rubin), Bob Marley, Floetry and the Beastie Boys.