USHER STANDS ALONE

The LaFace/ZLG superstar’s new album, Here I Stand, debuts at #1 this week with 445k, the second-highest total of the year behind IDJ superdiva Mariah Carey’s E=MC2, which bowed with 476k back in April.

New Line’s Sex and the City soundtrack, coming on the heels of the movie’s $55 million-plus box office opening, surpassed expectations with 69k, good for #2.

Al Green’s new Blue Note album, Lay It Down, produced by The Roots’ ?uestlove, is the week’s other Top 20 newcomer at #11, while the deluxe edition of Fergie’s platinum-plus A&M/Interscope album, The Dutchess, returns at #13.

Last week’s chart-topping album from Universal Republic rockers 3 Doors Down dips to #3, followed by Reprise/Rhino’s Frank Sinatra retrospective (#4), J/RMG’s Leona Lewis (#5), Mercury’s Duffy (#6 and off just 15% from the week before), Island’s Mariah Carey (#7), Rap-a-Lot/Asylum’s Bun B (#8), Atlantic’s Death Cab for Cutie (#9) and WB’s Madonna (#10).

Other Top 50 newcomers include Machete Music’s Wisin & Yandel (#30), Epic’s Cyndi Lauper (#45) and Tooth & Nail’s Underoath (#46).

Atlantic’s Kid Rock album, Rock N Roll Jesus (#27-19, +18%), is the week’s biggest gainer, with Brushfire/Universal Republic’s Jack Johnson (#24-20, +9%), Walt Disney’s Disneymania 6 (#32-24, +7%), Hollywood’s Jonas Brothers (#42-31, +7%), Razor & Tie’s Alvin & the Chipmunks soundtrack (#36-25, +5%), Walt Disney’s Hannah Montana Best of Both Worlds (#45-34, +5%), J Records’ Alicia Keys (#46-41, +5%) and Columbia’s Lyfe Jennings (#38-27, +3%) also in the black.

Interscope’s OneRepublic (#32), Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland (#39), Arista Nashville’s Alan Jackson (#42) and Geffen’s Keyshia Cole (#50) all re-enter the HITS Album Sales chart.

Next week, look out for WB’s Disturbed to lead the debuts, with Capitol's Now 28, DGC/Interscope’s Weezer, The Inc./Universal Motown’s Ashanti and a new deluxe edition of Chris Brown’s Jive/ZLG album Exclusive to hit the charts.