Bob Seger have set a new career record with a number 3 debut for his new album, Ride Out.
Seger has peaked higher (1980’s Against the Wind went to number 1) and equaled Ride Out’s position (1981’s Nine Tonight, 1986’s Like a Rock) but all three of those albums debuted lower and worked their way up to their peak position, something that albums rarely do in this day and age.
Barbra Streisand continues to sell strong, dropping only 3 to 5 in the fifth week of release for Partners, lending credence to the theory that the album will stay a strong seller through the Christmas season; however, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga fall from 4 to 11 in its fourth week, leading to questions as to whether their set will have significant legs.
Also debuting in the top ten is U2 with Songs of Innocence. The early prediction saw it possibly coming in just outside the ten biggest albums but, when final numbers were published, it squeaked in at 9. Of course, it is hard to compare this album’s position with others based on the fact that the band and Apple gave away free copies to anyone who wanted to download them for a month, but this is their first studio album to not debut in the top 3 in thirty years.
Thrash metal band Exodus hits a career best, by one position, with their new album Blood In, Blood Out. Their number 38 start is one better than their 1989 set Fabulous Disaster. Overall, only six of their ten albums have made it to the Billboard Top 200.
Gospel singer Dorothy Norwood makes it to the Top 200 for the first time in her career with An Incredible Journey. The album, which starts at 57, is the sales highlight of a recording career that started in 1960 and has included over 35 albums.
Ozzy Osbourne’s new career compilation, Memoirs of a Madman, only gets a number 90 premier, below his last three hits sets, The Ozzman Cometh (1997 / #13), The Essential Ozzy Osbourne (2003 / #81) and Prince of Darkness (2005 / #36).
Sanctuary’s first studio album since 1990, The Year the Sun Died, debuts at 125. Their previous albums, 1987’s Refuge Denied and 1990’s Into the Mirror Black, failed to chart.
Another band from the 80’s, The Melvins, also make their Top 200 Albums debut with Hold It In, premiering this week at 187. Unlike Sanctuary, the Melvins have a lengthy discography of 24 studio albums.
Finally, Sammy Hagar and Vic Johnson start at 188 with Lite Roast, an acoustic album with Wabos guitarist Johnson that covers a number of songs from Sammy’s past.
The top five albums this week in the U.S.:
Anything Goes – Florida Georgia Line
Old Boots, New Dirt – Jason Aldean
Ride Out – Bob Seger
rose ave. – You+Me
Partners – Barbra Streisand
The top five singles:
All About That Bass – Meghan Traynor
Shake It Up – Taylor Swift
Bang Bang – Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
Black Widow – Iggy Azalea Featuring Rita Ora
Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo
