NE-YO BATS 300, HEIGHTS CLIMB TO 110K, JACKSON, KID ROCK TO BOW IN TOP 10

Although it’s hard to isolate a single factor in his success, aside from the success of “So Sick,” it would appear the label’s decision to withhold the release of the single as an iTunes download prior to release had at least something to do with its impressive showing.

Victory’s Hawthorne Heights looks posed to nab the #3 spot with a very impressive 110k sales week, good enough to finish just behind Walt Disney Records’ still-growing High School Musical soundtrack, which will be up to between 115-120k this week, thanks to Disney Channel and Radio Disney exposure.

Arista Nashville country superstar Alan Jackson’s gospel album will bow at #4, with between 95-100k, followed by holdover Geffen’s Mary J. Blige (85-90k) at #5.

Thanks to the release of the Walk the Line DVD, Columbia/Legacy/Island/UME’s The Legend of Johnny Cash appears set to re-enter the Top 10 at #6, with more than 80k in sales, almost a 50% rise from the previous week, and may track even higher, thanks to Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar for Best Actress.

Jack Johnson’s Brushfire/Universal Curious George soundtrack is slated for a #7 slot, with approximately 76k in sales, followed by Decca/Universal Classics’ Andrea Bocelli (70k), Custard/Atlantic’s James Blunt (64k) and final Top 10 newcomer Kid Rock’s Atlantic effort, Live Trucker (55-60k).

Among the releases hitting stores tomorrow are new albums from New Orleans rapper Juvenile, his Atlantic debut, Or Music/Epic’s Matisyahu with his major-label studio debut and Columbia’s David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.