Country king Alan Jackson rules album chart
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Country star Alan Jackson replaced Janet Jackson at the top of the U.S. pop album chart Wednesday, while rock bands Flogging Molly and the Black Crowes cracked the top five with their latest releases.
Jackson's "Good Time," the fourth No. 1 of his career, sold 119,000 copies during the week ended March 9, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
It marks the first album on which he is the sole songwriter, and a return to his traditional country sound. In 2006, he took a step back from his roots by releasing the gospel collection "Precious Memories" and the Alison Krauss-produced "Like Red on a Rose," which both debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
He last hit No. 1 with the 2004 release "What I Do," which sold 178,000 copies in its first week.
Janet Jackson's "Discipline" slid to No. 3 with 57,000, while Jack Johnson's former chart-topper "Sleep Through the Static" rose one to No. 2 with 65,000.
Flogging Molly earned its highest charting album and its best sales week ever as "Float" started at No. 4 with 48,000. Its last album, "Whiskey on a Sunday," debuted and peaked at No. 67 in 2006 with 14,000. The group's previous high-water mark was set when "Within a Mile of Home" landed at No. 20 in 2004 with 38,000.
The Black Crowes achieved their highest charting album since 1992 as "Warpaint" debuted at No. 5 with 46,000. The independent release is the veteran act's first studio full-length in seven years -- the last was "Lions," which started with 53,000 at No. 20. In 1992, their second album "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" opened at No. 1.
Women rounded out the top 10: "4th World War," the first half of Erykah Badu's double album series "New Amerykah," fell four to No. 6 in its second week; Sara Bareilles' "Little Voice" climbed two to No. 7; Alicia Keys' "As I Am" fell three to No. 8; Taylor Swift's self-titled debut rebounded three to No. 9; and Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" held at No. 10.
Other new releases included Michael McDonald's covers album "Soul Speak" at No. 12, and Jackson Browne's "Solo Acoustic Vol. 2" at No. 24.
Overall sales were down 3.5% from the previous week at 7.68 million units, and down 11.3% from the same week last year.
Reuters/Billboard
