It took over 45 years, but James Taylor is finally king of the music industry, at least for a week. The legendary singer/songwriter has finally earned his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.
Taylor’s Before The World only moved 97,000 units - with 96,000 actual copies sold - in its first week, but it was enough to earn the top slot on this week’s chart. According to Billboard, that’s also the second best start for Taylor after 2002’s October Road. While that debuted with 154,000 copies sold, it only peaked at No. 4.
Before The World is also Taylor’s first album of original material since October Road. Between the two releases, he did put out a covers album, titled Covers, in 2008.
Taylor earned the second-longest wait for a No.1, beating Black Sabbath’s 43-year wait. Tony Bennett still holds the record, waiting 54 years before he finally scored a No. 1 album with Duets II in October 2011.
Taylor first charted on the Billboard 200 with Sweet Baby James in March 1970.
There are three other debuts on the Top 10 this week. Adam Lambert’s Original High started its run at No. 3 with 47,000 units. Hilary Duff’s Breathe In. Breath Out. started with 39,000 units, which was good enough for the No. 5 slot.
Lastly, Nate Ruess’ solo debut Grand Romantic started at No. 7 with 31,000 total units. Ruess is the lead singer for fun.
Last week’s No. 1, Muse’s Drones, completely fell out of the Top 10.
Here’s the full Top 10 (*new release)
James Taylor, Before the World* (97,000 units)
Taylor Swift, 1989 (57,000)
Adam Lambert, The Original High* (47,000)
Ed Sheeran, X (39,000)
Hilary Duff, Breathe In. Breathe Out.* (39,000)
Sam Hunt, Montevallo (32,000)
Nate Ruess, Grand Romantic* (31,000)
Meghan Trainor, Title (27,000)
Maroon 5, V (27,000)
Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind (27,000)
image courtesy of INFphoto.com