Springsteen’s ‘Devils’ bows at No. 1 on U.S. charts
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Bruce Springsteen notched his seventh No. 1 album on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday with “Devils & Dust,” which was released in DualDisc format with the full album on one side and DVD content on the other side.
The Columbia Records release bowed on top of the Billboard 200 after selling 222,000 copies in the week ended May 1, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “The Boss” last debuted at No. 1 with 2002’s “The Rising,” which opened with sales of 525,000 and has sold 2.1 million to date. His first album to reach the top of the chart was 1980’s “The River.”
Just over a week ago, Springsteen launched a solo U.S. tour in support of “Devils & Dust” in Detroit. The outing next visits Oakland, Calif. Thursday. A European leg opens May 24 in Dublin.
After making history last week as the first male artist from a pop or rock group to bow at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 with his debut solo effort, Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas’ “… Something To Be” (Melisma/Atlantic) fell to No. 4 with 145,000 copies.
In between, Mariah Carey’s former chart-topper “The Emancipation of Mimi” (Island/IDMJ) held steady at No. 2 with sales of 197,000 copies, taking its total to 828,000.
Newcomer Bobby Valentino, the first R&B act on rapper Ludacris’ Def Jam-based Disturbing Tha Peace label, entered the chart at No. 3 with a 180,000-copy debut for “Disturbing Tha Peace Presents: Bobby Valentino.”
Buoyed by the success of the former Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart-topper “1 Thing,” Amerie’s sophomore Rise/Columbia/Sony Urban Music set, “Touch,” opened at No. 5 with sales of 124,000. The singer’s 2002 debut, “All I Have,” started at No. 9 with 89,000 and has sold 623,000 to date.
50 Cent’s “The Massacre” (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope) slipped one to No. 6 on a 10% slide to sales of 114,000 copies, taking its haul to 3.4 million.
Jo Dee Messina’s “Delicious Surprise” (Curb) landed at No. 7 with 99,000 copies, giving the country singer the first Billboard 200 top 10 title of her career. Messina’s last album, 2000’s “Burn,” opened at No. 19 on the big chart with 61,000 units; it has sold 1.2 million to date.
Mike Jones’ “Who Is Mike Jones?” (Swishahouse/Asylum/Warner Bros.) dropped five to No. 8 with 81,000 copies, while Il Divo’s self-titled Sony bow also fell five, to No. 9, with 74,000. Gwen Stefani’s “Love, Angel, Music, Baby” (Interscope) fell four positions to close out the top 10 after selling 71,000 copies.
Among other notable debuts on the chart were Ben Folds’ “Songs for Silverman” (Epic), which moved 50,000 copies to give the artist his career-best debut on The Billboard 200 at No. 13. First season “Nashville Star” winner Buddy Jewell scored a No. 31 entry with his sophomore Columbia effort “Times Like These,” which opened with 26,000 units.
After a six-year absence, Mint Condition returned to The Billboard 200 with “Livin’ the Luxury Brown” (Image) at No. 45. Sales of 20,000 copies gave the group its highest placement on the list.
Just one slot back on The Billboard 200, New Order debuted at No. 46 with “Waiting For the Sirens’ Call” (Warner Bros.), which also shot straight to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums tally.
Overall U.S. album sales were up 3.6% over the previous week at 10.6 million units, about 0.5% lower than the same week last year. Sales for 2005 trail last year by about 9% at 186 million units.
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