Norah Rebounds To No. 1 In Post-Grammy Week

[Damien J.]

In a week where the top nine albums moved more than 100,000 units, Norah Jones' "Not Too Late" tops The Billboard 200 for a second time. The Blue Note effort crowned the list when it debuted two weeks ago with 405,000 copies. This week, the album moved 211,000 in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan, sliding up 2-1 despite an 11% sales drop.

Late R&B singer Gerald Levert's "In My Songs" (Atlantic) bows at No. 2 with 165,000, his highest charting album ever and his best sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. Like Jones, Levert's sales were likely fueled in part by Valentine's Day gift purchases.

While the romantic holiday encouraged buyers into stores, the Grammy Awards also had a major impact on sales this week. The "Grammy Nominees 2007" compilation rises 7-3 this week with 131,000 and 116% surge in sales, while Grammy performer and nominee Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled Capitol debut ascends 9-4 with 120,000 and a 132% increase. Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" (Jive) climbs 10-7 with a 123% increase to 108,000, following his two performances during the show.

Unsurprisingly, the Dixie Chicks' "Taking the Long Way" (Columbia) experiences the biggest increase on the chart this week. The album, which spawned five Grammys last Sunday, rockets 72-8 with a 714% sales boom to 103,000 copies. It sold 12,700 the week before.

Other Grammy performers that earned sales increases this week include John Mayer's "Continuum" (29-10, 80,000, 182%), Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadium" (39-12, 194%), Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts" (19-13, 60%), Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" (57-21, 161%), John Legend's "Once Again" (51-23, 138%), Beyonce's "B'Day" (stays at No. 25, 13%), Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics" (58-41, 66%), Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere" (111-44, 192%), Tony Bennett's "Duets: An American Classic" (95-45, 147%), Ludacris' "Release Therapy" (65-48, 64%) and T.I.'s "King" (152-137, 25%).

Back in the top tier, last week's chart-topper, Fall Out Boy's "Infinity on High" (Island), falls to No. 5 with 119,000 (-54%). Robin Thicke's "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" (Star Trak/Interscope) stays put at No. 6 despite a 90% increase to 116,000. Daughtry's self-titled RCA debut slips 3-9 with a 34% jump to 102,000.

Country veteran Lucinda Williams scores her best charting effort with the Lost Highway album "West," which bows at No. 14 with 57,000. Her last studio set, 2003's "World Without Tears," started at No. 18 with 54,000. A compilation of Van Morrison songs utilized on the big screen, the aptly titled "Van Morrison at the Movies" (EMI), debuts at No. 35 with 29,000.

Album sales are up 12.7% from last week's total at 11 million units but down 10.5%% compared to the same week in 2006. Overall albums sales for the year are down 15% from the year before at 64.3 million units.