Isleys take top spot
Hip-hop guests boost Bros.' disc into first
|
Drawing strength from a host of guest appearances from some of hip-hop's biggest stars, the Isleys managed to sell more than 155,000 units of their "Body Kiss" (DreamWorks), according to SoundScan data.
Album features collaborations with such acts as R. Kelly (who produced and wrote as well as guested on several tracks), and rappers Lil' Kim and Snoop Dogg. "Eternal," which went platinum, featured contributions from Kelly, Jill Scott and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Still Jones-in'
Coming in just below the Isleys was Norah Jones, whose blockbuster debut, "Come Away With Me" (Blue Note), moved ahead three places to second. Album, which got a substantial push over Mother's Day weekend, sold nearly 139,000 copies.
Professional surfer-turned-rock songwriter Jack Johnson bowed in third place with his second LP, "On and On" (Universal). Johnson, who has toured extensively with fellow bluesy rocker Ben Harper over the past year, sold more than 132,000 discs in his first outing.
A pair of releases from veteran divas logged substantial sales gains in the top 10. Cher's greatest hits package "The Very Best of Cher" (Warner Bros.) held on to fourth, but boosted sales by 24% to 121,000 copies. Meanwhile, sales of Celine Dion's "One Heart" (Epic) enjoyed a gain of nearly 50% to 96,000, as the singer climbed from 13th to seventh.
The soundtrack to mega-actioner "The Matrix Reloaded" (Maverick/Warner Bros.) logged a respectable bow at eighth, with 94,000 discs sold. The "Lizzie McGuire Movie" soundtrack (Buena Vista) boosted sales by 30%, despite slipping to 10th from ninth.
Bigscreen fave
Also making a big gain was the soundtrack to the hit Miramax musical "Chicago" (Epic). The cast recording, which has scanned more than 1.3 million units to date, climbed six spots to 21 on a hefty 38% sales gain.
The only other new releases to crack the top 50 were "War on Errorism" (Fat Wreck) from veteran San Francisco Bay Area punk act NOFX at 44, with 26,000 units sold, and the soundtrack to TV skein "American Dreams" (Hip-O) at 48, selling just under 23,000 discs.
Next week will see the resurgence of shock-rock maven Marilyn Manson -- his latest effort, "The Golden Age of Grotesque" (Interscope), is expected to crack the top 10 with ease. Also on deck is new material from rockers Cold and Third Eye Blind.
