THE DREAM AIN’T OVER

Despite failing to nab an expected Best Picture nod at this week’s Oscar nominations, the Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax album maintains its hold on #1, barely edging out RCA/RMG American Idol rocker Daughtry by a little more than a thousand sales.

Dreamgirls logs in 66.3k, while Daughtry comes in at 65k in the nip-and-tuck race that wasn’t decided until the fat lady sang.

Disney’s Corbin Bleu vehicle, the soundtrack to the cable movie Jump In, continues at #3, but the big story this week is Capitol’s Corinne Bailey Rae. The Grammy nominee for Best New Artist goes #26-4 with a huge 123% gain, thanks to a performance on Oprah which builds up some incredible momentum for Andy’s gang at the Tower. That can only be a good sign in her race to win the coveted award.

SRC/Universal Motown’s Akon lands at #5, followed by Jive/ZLG superstar Justin Timberlake (#6), Sony Label Group’s Now 23 (#7), Roadrunner’s perennial Nickelback (#8), Arista/RMG’s Carrie Underwood (#9) and Disney’s Hannah Montana soundtrack (#10), giving the surging House of Mouse two in the Top 10.

Sire/WB’s alternative fave Regina Spektor is the week’s highest newcomer at #21, followed by Manhattan diva Diana Ross (#36) and a new Capitol compilation of Frank Sinatra love songs (#44).

Geffen’s Mary J. Blige (#24), Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Birdman & Lil’ Wayne (#40), BNA/SBMG Nashville’s Idol alum Kellie Pickler #45), Virgin’s resurgent Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (#48) and MCA Nashville’s Josh Turner (#49) all re-enter the Top 50.

Aside from Corinne, the week’s double-digit movers include Daughtry (+33%), Jump In (+17%), Apple/Capitol’s The Beatles (#29-12, +33%) and Curb’s Rodney Atkins (#41-34, +11%).

Sub Pop’s The Shins and Atlantic rapper Pretty Ricky hit the streets today and will chart next week. The eagerly awaited Norah Jones album on Blue Note comes out a week from Tuesday (1/30), with the Grammys and Valentine’s Day promising to provide more sales spikes in the weeks ahead.