In a week featuring debuts in the first four slots of The Billboard 200, Ludacris' "Release Therapy" bows at No. 1 with 309,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The DTP/Def Jam effort is the rapper's third chart-topper, following 2003's "Chicken 'N Beer" and 2004's "Red Light District."
Janet Jackson's "20 Y.O." enters at No. 2 with 296,000, Jackson's eighth straight top three debut. The effort also debuts at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally. However, it's her smallest debut sales week since "The Velvet Rope" started at No. 1 with 202,000 in 1997.
Tony Bennett earns his highest charting album ever with the star-studded RPM/Columbia set "Duets: An American Classic," which starts at No. 3 with 202,000. Bennett has only impacted the top 10 twice before, when 1962's "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" and 1963's "I Wanna Be Around" peaked at No. 5.
Alan Jackson celebrates his ninth top 10 album on The Billboard 200 and 11th No. 1 on Top Country Albums with "Like Red on a Rose" (Arista Nashville). The set opened at No. 4 on the big chart with 149,000 units. Jackson's last entry, March's "Precious Memories," also started at No. 4 but with 107,000.
After spending two weeks on top, Justin Timberlake's Jive release "FutureSex/LoveSounds" slips to No. 5 with 147,000, a sales decrease of 36%. John Mayer's "Continuum" (Aware/Columbia) moves 91,000 (-32%), falling 5-6.
In its 35th week on the chart, Hinder's "Extreme Behavior" (Universal Republic) climbs 10-7 with 77,000 copies, a 10% sales increase. Clay Aiken's RCA set "A Thousand Different Ways" takes a 65% sales hit in its second week, sliding 2-8 with 74,000. Black Eyed Peas member Fergie's solo debut "The Dutchess" follows suit, also moving 74,000 (-53%) and descending 3-9.
At No. 10, pop parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic scores his best chart position ever on The Billboard 200 with "Straight Outta Lynwood" (Volcano/Zomba), which sold 73,000. The album also debuts at No. 1 on the Top Comedy Albums chart.
With 47,000, Christian artist Chris Tomlin's "See The Morning" (EMI CMG) enters at No. 15 and at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums tally, his first chart-topper there. Other big debuts on The Billboard 200 this week include the Scissor Sisters' sophomore album "Ta-Dah" (Universal Motown) at No. 19 with 42,000, Saosin's self-titled debut (Capitol) at No. 22 with 35,000, Vanessa Hudgens' "V" (Hollywood) at No. 24 with 34,000 and Jerry Lee Lewis' duets set "Last Man Standing: The Duets" (Artists First) at No. 26 with 34,000.
Five albums sold more than 100,000 copies this week and an equal number of albums debuted in the top 10. Overall CD sales are up 2.9% from last week's count and down 3.8% compared to the same week a year ago at 9.90 million units. Sales for 2006 are down 5% compared to 2005 at 393.6 million units.