Nick Lachey might be hot, but he’s not red hot like the Peppers.
After nearly 23 years together, the Red Hot Chili Peppers finally landed a number one album with the double-disc Stadium Arcadium. Three other albums also opened in the Top Five, including Lachey’s latest, but it was Stadium Arcadium’s first-week sales of more than 442,000 copies, according to recent Nielsen SoundScan numbers, that earned it the top spot.
The disc’s lead single, “Dani California,” had opened at number one on the Modern Rock chart last month, a feat not previously accomplished since by a lead single since R.E.M.’s “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth” in 1994. The Peppers also hold the record for the longest single-song run (“Scar Tissue” at 16 weeks) and the most total weeks (over 60) in the Modern Rock top spot.
The Peppers’ last studio album, 2002’s By The Way, sold 282,000 copies to open at number two–setting band highs for debut sales and chart position at the time–behind Nelly’s powerhouse Nellyville. The band’s all-time bestsellers, 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik and 1999’s Californication, both peaked at number three.
Across the pond, Stadium Arcadium also opened at number one, yet this marked the band’s third U.K. chart topper. They previously hit the top spot with By the Way and 2004’s Live In Hyde Park.
Lachey and estranged wife Jessica Simpson still share one thing in common: both have reached the runner-up spot, but neither has ever topped the Billboard 200. Lachey’s second solo effort, What’s Left of Me, opened at number two with nearly 172,000 copies. (Coincidentally, this bests his ex-wife’s single-week record, 160,000 copies, for 2004’s In This Skin reissue).
Lachey previously reached number two with 98 Degrees and the foursome’s last studio album, Revelation, in 2000. However, the singer’s solo debut, 2003’s SoulO, crashed and burned with a number 51 bow despite his newfound popularity on MTV’s Newlyweds.
Last week’s chart leader, Tool’s 10,000 Days, slipped down to number three on 157,000 copies. The R&B pop quartet Jagged Edge sold 115,000 copies of its new self-titled disc to cut in behind Tool in fourth place, while the Isley Brothers’ Baby Makin’ Music loved its way to number five on 111,000 first-week copies sold.
In its 32nd week, James Blunt’s unstoppable Back to Bedlam climbed back into the Top 10 at number 10.
Considering there were 15 Top 10 bows in the past three weeks, only the strongest selling albums could keep their places in the chart’s upper echelon. They include Rascal Flatts’ Me and My Gang at six, the High School Musical soundtrack at seven, Pearl Jam’s self-titled album at eight and Now That’s What I Call Music! 21 at nine.
The chart’s next best bows pitted two legends against each other. Separately by just over 500 copies, Paul Simon’s Surprise topped Neil Young’s Living With War at numbers 14 and 15, respectively. Surprise sold just under 61,000 discs.
Gnarls Barkley–a collaboration between Danger Mouse (Gorillaz, The Grey Album) and Cee-Lo (Goodie Mob)–followed at 20 with its debut disc St. Elsewhere selling a gnarly 50,000 copies. Teena Marie’s Sapphire entered at number 24 and Snow Patrol’s Eyes Open made it to 34, while Korn’s meaty Live and Rare disc stalked the competition at 51.
Other notable debuts included the retrospectives Best of Chris Isaak and Diamond Rio’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 at 54 and 62, respectively, and Harry Connick Jr.’s curtain-raising Harry on Broadway Act 1 at 97.
The Top 10 albums for the week ended Sunday included:
1. Stadium Arcadium, Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. What’s Left of Me, Nick Lachey
3. 10,000 Days, Tool
4. Jagged Edge, Jagged Edge
5. Baby Makin’ Music, Isley Brothers
6. Me and My Gang, Rascal Flatts
7. High School Musical soundtrack, various
8. Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam
9. Now That’s What I Call Music! 21, various
10. Back to Bedlam, James Blunt
Credit: E! Online