Rapper Young Jeezy leads volatile U.S. album chart

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop album charts Wednesday, while "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks' self-titled debut sold opened at No. 2.

Meanwhile, last week's top three albums -- from Ciara, Eminem and

Gwen Stefani -- all tumbled out of the top 10 in their second round.

Young Jeezy's "The Inspiration" sold 352,000 copies in the week ended December 17, according to Nielsen SoundScan. By contrast, his 2005 debut, "Let's Get It: Thug Motivation," started with 172,000 units.

Hicks' release sold 298,000 copies in its first week. That's a drop-off from 2005 winner Carrie Underwood's debut week with "Some Hearts," which sold 315,000. That album jumped four places to No. 6 in its 57th week on the chart with 199,000 units. It also paled against the 304,000-unit debut last month for 2006 finalist Chris Daughtry. His namesake band's self-titled album held at No. 7 with 181,000 copies.

The news was worse for another "Idol" veteran: Fantasia's self-titled sophomore album debuted at No. 19 with 133,000 copies. Her first set, "Free Yourself," started at No. 8 in 2004 with 240,000 copies, on its way to 1.7 million to date.

The Disney soundtrack to "Hannah Montana" inched up one place to No. 3 with 274,000 units, while the multi-artist "NOW! 23" compilation rose one to No. 4 with 235,000.

Josh Groban's "Awake" jumped six places to No. 5 with 222,000. The Beatles' "Love" remained at No. 8 with 178,000, followed by

Mary J. Blige's "Reflections (A Retrospective)," which was new at No. 9. The set sold 171,000 units. Il Divo's "Siempre" fell four to No. 10 with 167,000.

Last week's No. 1, Ciara's "The Evolution," plummeted to No. 11 with 164,000, while the Eminem-reared compilation "Eminem Presents: The Re-Up," tumbled 11 places to No. 13 with 151,000. Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" slid 11 to No. 14 with 149,000 units.

The only other debut inside the top 50 this week was Tyrese's "Alter Ego," which landed at No. 23 with 116,000 copies.

Ghostface Killah managed only a No. 71 debut with his second album of the year, "More Fish," which sold 36,000. In April, "Fishscale" started at No. 4 on the big chart with 110,000.

Overall, album sales were up 24% from last week's count, but down 5.6% compared to the same week a year ago, at 23.39 million units. Sales for 2006 are down 4.6% compared to 2005 at 543 million units.

Reuters/Billboard