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JANET’s Y.O. is O.K.
Oprah Appearance Helps Boost Album to #1 Bow, Ludacris, Tony Bennett, Alan Jackson Eye Top 5 Debuts

Never underestimate the Oprah effect. Janet Jackson’s new Virgin Records album, 20 Y.O., is feeling the love from Winfrey’s audience after her appearance on Monday and, based on one-day sales reports from those retailers who haven’t lost our e-mail address, the album could top next week’s HITS chart with a total anywhere between 340-360k. All that and a 60-pound weight loss to boot. Her last album, Damita Jo, which was released in March 2004, bowed with 381k in sales.

The renaissance man known as Luda, Dirty South rapper Ludacris’ Release Therapy is offering just that to shop owners nationwide with a 290-310k total, which will put him in the running for #1 if Janet’s totals begin to fall off, and a certain #2.

Columbia’s 80-year-old crooning legend Tony Bennett comes strong with his new duets album, Duets: An American Classic, buttressed by a national Target TV spot that features the singer and some of his co-stars on the album, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, k.d. lang, John Legend, Diana Krall and Tim Mc Graw, among others. His estimated 140-150k total gives him a shot at the #3 spot, where he’ll be vying with young whippersnapper Justin Timberlake, this week’s chart-topper.

Sony BMG Nashville’s Alan Jackson is right behind, with a total just this side of 150k for his album, Like Red on a Rose. Rock’s leading satirist, Volcano/ZLG’s Weird Al Yankovic could notch a Top 10 debut for his Straight Outta Lynwood, right now hovering in the 60-70k range.

Universal Motown international sensation Scissor Sisters’ Ta Dah could go to 35k, with an appearance on the popular Dancing with the Stars tonight, though the ongoing Trans World controversy over pricing could well dog them.

Capitol metallurgists Saosin are looking at a nice first-week total of between 25-30k plus or minus for their Howard Benson-produced/Chris Lord-Alge mixed release.

Hollywood Records High School Musical alum Vanessa Ann Hudgens’ debut V could also sneak in with between 25-35k.

Overall, there wasn’t a whole lot to write home about, or even post on this website. The market was down over 3.5% from last week, down over 1.5% vs. same week last year and now down over 5% to date.