Barbra Streisand fans are certainly a devoted bunch. Today they’ve put Babs atop the Billboard 200 with a healthy 180,000 copies sold of her jazz standards album Love Is the Answer, according to Nielsen SoundScan, beating a host of new releases by buzzier artists. By way of comparison, that’s equivalent to every one of the die-hard fans who attended Barbra’s recent gig at NYC’s Village Vanguard club going out and buying 1,800 copies of her new record. Not bad at all.
This week’s list of distinguished also-rans begins with Paramore, whose pop-punk star will no doubt continue to rise now that they’ve taken No. 2 on the chart by selling 175,000 copies of their acclaimed brand new eyes. At No. 3, it’s Mariah Carey, with 168,000 copies sold of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. That result might be the most noteworthy thing on this chart, actually — 168K is a nice number, to be sure, but I wonder how Mariah must feel about coming in third place to Paramore and Barbra.
Pennsylvania rock dudes Breaking Benjamin bowed at No. 4 with 134,000 of the painful-sounding Dear Agony. Alice in Chains rounded out the top 5 with 126,000 copies sold of Black Turns to Blue, their first album in 14 years and their first with a new lead singer to replace the late Layne Staley. Madonna landed at No. 7 with 72,000 copies sold of her greatest-hits set Celebration. Nashville star Miranda Lambert found 66,000 volunteers to join her Revolution at No. 8. Disney’s Selena Gomez & the Scene nearly tied her with Kiss & Tell, making it to No. 9 with a slightly smaller number that also rounds to 66,000. No. 12 went to AFI, who sold 52,000 of Crash Love. Adult Swim spin-off band Dethklok scored a No. 15 finish with 45,000 of Dethalbum II. The Avett Brothers‘ Rick Rubin-produced I and Love and You won No. 16 with 40,000. Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s God & Guns snuck into the top 20 at No. 18 with 34,000.
That’s a total of 12 debuts in the top 20. Are you surprised to see Barbra best ‘em all? How about Paramore edging out Mariah? Or were there any other Sept. 29 releases you expected to chart higher or lower than they did? Sound off in the comments, below.
More from EW’s Music Mix:
Pearl Jam tops the albums chart
Barbra Streisand at the Village Vanguard: Quite a scene!
Backstreet Boys Q&A: Swine flu can’t keep them down
Exene Cervenka’s country-folk album: EW exclusive stream
Let’s review, shall we?
You said that Bab’s 180K debut is not bad; you even say that Mimi’s third place debut of 168K is a nice number. But you have the gall to complain about Whitney’s debut at number one, where her totals are 1.5x greater than Barbara’s and almost two times greater that Mariah? You’re a hack!
I was thinking the same thing. Just weeks ago Whitney topped these numbers considerably and it was a big disappointment according to EW. Mariah sold nearly 500k her first week out just a few years ago, but her 168k this time is somehow a “nice number, to be sure”. Just goes to show that even numbers can be spun. EW either needs to get a writer who knows more about sales and chart and trends and can keep perspective or not bother at all with these kinds of articles.
I “third” that. What a big bag of contradictions.
Thank you! They review the chart almost arbitrarily.
Whitney only did that high a number since she appeared on Oprah. It certainly wasn’t because of that horrendous GMA appearance. Oprah can sell anything….and Whitney proves it. I dare you to say that Whitney would have sold just as many if the Oprah factor was not there.
Whitney sold over 350,000 copies before she went on Oprah. Get your facts straight bud. At least she don’t have to be a slut to sell her records like some artist.
Apparently you’re unaware that Barbra also appeared on Oprah to promote her album. Additionally her album was sold on QVC and Starbucks.
So what if Barbra did all of that? Mariah has been whoring her album around for months and had two advance singles… and apparently no one really cares.
Whitney appeared on Oprah on the 3rd week of sales. You LOSE, just like Mariah! She sold 311K her first week without Oprah. By the way, if Oprah’s Show can sell anyone, then how come it didn’t help Mariah? In case you forgot, Mariah also appeared on Oprah with her boy toy, Nick Cannon. Maybe Oprah did help Mariah’s sales? She might have barely sold 100K had she not promoted on Oprah.
Whitney Houston found out her album was # 1 while sitting on Oprah’s couch. You need to get your facts right or just shut up .
The show was taped before it aired. The interview aired on September 14th and 15th. Whitney’s album was released on August 31st. Check your facts, before typing stupidity.
One more thing for ya genius. Even ignoring the facts and going by your statement that she found out on the show, wouldn’t that still lead one to conclude that the album was released BEFORE the appearance on the show? If she found out sitting on the couch, then the interview wasn’t what helped her first week sales of 310K. THINK nimrod!!!
I will say Whitney would have sold that many without Oprah. Ok I took your dare, now what? LOL
She is so overrated, if you want to listen to a young talented jazz singer, listen to renee olstead.
I like Renee Olstead alright but where is she now? And also just as a matter of personal taste, I prefer the vocals of Babs over Renee. Renee is precocious but needs years to refine and hone the phrasing and tonal quality. Thanks for bringing her up, just the same.
I think David Foster is holding Renee back from her true potential. Babs really doesnt offer anything new
Another renee fan here, and she is SOOOOOOO better than babs, check it
Yeah, maybe Mariah FLOPPED because she hired EW STAFF to spin negative press on Whitney. Karma is a b@#$*.
Yeah because that sounds like Mariah. *eye roll* I don’t think she has the time or desire to do something like that to someone she calls a “friend.” Remember when she and Whitney dueted? Vivid imagination, though.
Though I do agree with you that it a big of a contradiction, I must also point out that being a ‘disappointment’ and a ‘decent number’ are two very general listings. Sure Whitney did very well with her album, especially in the first week; however, from what I have heard, she and her marketing team were expecting to do much better. Mariah, on the other hand, was somewhat of a loose cannon in terms of expectations. So I’m sure they are just very happy that they aren’t being forced to relive the ‘Glitter’ days. So I think that Simon’s viewpoints are based on the industry standard in terms of success and ‘disappointment.’ However, as mentioned before, I fully understand where you are coming from and agree to a certain degree – just wanted to point out the difference between the two artists and their album’s expectations.
Well, Barbra Streisand is an icon over 5 decades and is still artistically relevant and strong.
Whitney Houston’s album success was due to her many fans hoping this would be her return to her former greatness (which was so long ago in the 90′s BEFORE she made a joke of herself and her talent). Unfortunately, Miss Houston’s voice isn’t what it used to be or even close. A sad disappointment and reality for many of her fans that were hoping for a Whitney-miracle.
Streisand’s career is a legendary example of stars who work hard, don’t destroy themselves and respect their fans. All the other diva’s should take note. Where will they be when they’re in their 50′s or, for that matter, thier late 60′s like Barbra Streisand?
Are you kidding about Whitney’s sales??? The ONLY reason anyone bought her new album is because she’s been a crack addict and it was sheer curiousity and pity. She hasn’t had a hit album in 15 yrs, and she’s only been in the business for 24… so this was a fluke for poor whitney. Additionally, Barbra Streisand is nearing 70 yrs old… when she was 45 (whitney’s age) she had #1 albums about every 5 yrs.
I think this makes Barbra the only artist to have a #1 album in 5 successive decades. No one is more deserving.
Your girl is lovely, Hubbell.
Excellent!
I totally called this last week! I think Barbra has such a huge fan base, she went on Oprah, she did that live small club show, and her album was a jazzy affair produced by Diana Krall. So she had a lot going for her. I’ve heard the album, it’s a really nice jazz album for sure. Congrats to Babs, the grand dame of music.
Now Simon it’s time for some more Thom Yorke news…ha.
Well Adam Lambert topped Barbara and everyone else over on Amazon. He didn’t do any TV show, no media, no record company talking about his album, it was word of mouth from devoted fans. So take that all of you. LOL
Luv Adam but let’s be real. He topped Barbra only for about a week.. after her CD was out and only in NON-CUMULATIVe sales. The Amazon bestsellers are listed hourly, and they are ONLY for the sales in that previous hour. Adam will probably sell more than 180,000 his first week, but let’s keep things in perspective about the Amazon numbers. Barbra is ranking above Adam again on the chart, meaning she’s now selling more per hour.
It’s sad that Mariah’s entire album leaked over a week before its release. That thing was everywhere–I found the entire album many times when I wasn’t even looking. I think Mariah would have sold double that figure if her CD hasn’t been all over the internet. I did end up purchasing it myself after hearing just because it was so good–I thought she deserved my money.
You do realize pretty much everyone’s album leaks to the internet sometimes weeks before the release and it dosen’t seem to hurt them at all. Mariah can’t blame the album leaking on the not so great sales. Try putting out a great album. Thats why other albums that leak still sell alot.
Sue is totally right. Every album leaks and it has nothing to do with sales, people will buy an album when say album is good, that’s all that is and mariah needs to stop making mediocre music and stop acting like some nympho teenage girl if she ever wants her albums to sell.
http://theninthdragonking.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/report-card-mariah-carey-or-how-talent-gets-wasted/
I’m sure since Mariah’s last album opened with almost 500,000 it’s first week out she isn’t considering it a “nice number”. She is, in fact, already planning a re-release of the album with all the songs re-worked. Congrats to Babs. She deserved it.
I’m not surprised by Mariah’s numbers. I am a casual fan, as I find her songs hit or miss. For her albums, I wait until we’re two or three singles in before I commit to her album. And thus far, I have been highly disappointed in her first two songs. “Obsessed” is not a good song and her remake of “I Want to Know What Love Is” is, well, boring. There’s nothing new to it.
Go Mimi!!!
Go M.O.A.I.A.!!!
Go Angels Cry!!
Booo haterz!!
Booo partial EW!!!
…should have been tied for #1.
Fugly, overrated hound.
…and exactly what do you look like since you think it’s clever and funny to make disparaging comments about people’s looks? You’re just a douche nozzle, aren’t you?
… who millions all over the world find beautiful and who has somehow remained at number one for over 45 years.
The hypocrisy of this magazine kills me. When Janet Jackson debuted at number 1 with 189K you all dogged her out … Mariah comes in at 3 with 168K – a 70 percent dip from her last album – and that’s a “nice number” … you all are unbelievable. Just proves this magazine plays favorites.
I agree. Although not a fan of Babs but to assume that only her fans will buy the album neglects the fact that there are more casual fans to her type of music than is realized.
EW sucks. They have been pushing Mariah for weeks, ignoring Barbra and slammed Whitney who outsold all of them with 1st week sales. EW has been in a slow decline the past two years!
Go Avett Brothers! Is EW going to review their lovely album or what?
Yay! An Avette Bros. fan here too. Glad they are getting some love from the critics and general audience.
Yay! An Avett Bros. fan here too. Glad they are getting some love from the critics and general audience.
Streisand’s number one is an historic (five number ones in five decades!!!), astounding achievement, and I hope EW gives her the appropriate attention in the magazine, and not its usual snarky comments about her. Here’s a 67 year old singer with a slow-paced, lush album of standards who has topped Mariah and Madonna in the same week! Extraordinary!
I’m glad she topped the chart. Mimi’s idiotic music and Parramore’s fake *punk* didn’t deserve it. As for Babs topping Madonna? It was a greatest hit album, and a pricier double cd at that, so it really doesn’t count. Had it been a new studio album it would have never happen. Babs is an amazing vocalist but she can’t touch Madonna’s genius.
http://theninthdragonking.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/celebration-cd-review-or-madonna-the-beatles-and-elvis-presley/
Madonna’s a “genius” and Mariah’s music is “idiotic?” What planet are you living on? Obviously not the one where Mariah’s the greatest-selling female artist ever.
Madonna’s talent can’t even be compared to Barbra Streisand! Barbra’s talent is real and she’s won every major award in the industry–Tony, Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, People’s Choice, etc. She was a huge box office success at the movies through the 60′s to the early 90′s (then she did MEET THE FOCKERS in 2005 and it was a # 1 box office for 3 weeks). Barbra also has had number #1′s in 5 consequtive decades and proves she’s still artistically relevant like other icons like Sinatra, Elvis, Beatles and a few others.
MADONNA is an aging trollop, who’s being bested by youner rivals like Katie Perry and Lady GaGa to name a few. MADONNA gets no respect because the mass public doesn’t take her seriously. AND, her movie career has mostly been a trainwrek! Barbra Streisand is 67 years-old and still selling #1 albums and huge tours. Where will Madonna be in 16 years?? Or Mariah? Or Whitney? None of them have the staying power or talent of Barbra Streisand. To believe otherwise is to just fool yourself.
Regarding Gina below (sorry, no reply option):
Did you know that Barbara has more number one albums than any other female singer? Can’t discount that, I think. Nor, being the ONLY singer with a number one album each of the last five decades. Impressive.
That news is shambolic
u know I love Ms.Streisand and would never dream of hating on talent so immense and deserving of a number one début… And in all honesty I do think that MC should not have pushed back the album so many times and she has hardly done that much promotion… but that figure is bleeeeeeeak considering the album is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im sad and disappointed cos Memoirs is a freakin great album and it deserved to do better…
Whitney did OVER 300,000 in her first wk propelled for the most part by that great, widely seen and (in my opinion) not entirely honest account of her drugs past etc that she did on Oprah.
MC deserved better the album is too good to come behind some random punk band no one has ever heard off…
BLEAK-FILLED SHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wasn’t Paramore on the Twilight soundtrack?
Great song, too. I wish they included it on their new record.
actually the Whitney/Oprah interview came a week AFTER her 305,000 chart debut.
Whitney did not appear on Oprah until her THIRD week out. Her 305k debut happened before Oprah came into the picture!
Paramore isn’t “some random punk band no one has ever heard off” (btw, it’s spelled OF), their last album was certified platinum, and this is looking to be their most successful album yet, it made the top ten in 8 countries, 4 of them at #1. So obviously, they can’t be “some random punk band no one has ever heard of” and have this much success. Would “some random punk band no one has ever heard of” come behind a legend like Barbra Streisand on the charts and beat out Mariah Carey? I think not. Don’t be mad because Paramore’s lead singer didn’t have to resort to taking her clothes off and sing crappy pop songs and engage in stupid feuds with rappers she used to date. Mariah is a 40-year-old attempting to cling to the success she had at her peak by dressing like she’s 18 again. She also sings songs that sound like they were written for an 18-year-old. She’s so pathetic. At least you don’t see Barbra Streisand reducing herself to such mediocrity to sell records. Her talent speaks for itself, REGARDLESS of her age.
LOL Mariah is da bomb. Errrr…I mean her album bombed. Her last album debuted with over 600,000 copies sold. Boooooom goes da bomb LOL couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.
Jake, every album is all over the internet before its released. Mariah wasn’t a special case. It’s solid sales, but the reality is, no one sells big in their first week anymore. It’s all about longevity.