It's been a long-time-coming for James Taylor as his newest album, Before The World, took the no. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, making it the first record in the songwriter's 45-year career to do so (that span, measuring from the release of Taylor's first album to this one, is the second longest span in chart history, behind only Tony Bennett, who went 54 years without a no. 1). Before The World sold 97,000 copies...far from Taylor's best but plenty enough to take the top spot.
It's coincidental that the no. 2 spot on this week's Top 10 comes from a performer who was herself named after Taylor. That's right: Taylor Swift's parents named her after the iconic songwriter (and she's since sold many more no. 1 albums than he). This week's no. 2 is once again 1989, which sold 57,000 equivalent copies.
Outside of Taylor, the rest of the Top 5 was dominated by pop music this week. Following Swift at no. 3 is Adam Lambert, who sold 47,000 copies of his new set The Original High. Following him, Ed Sheeran reaches a recent high by placing no. 4 with x, which sold 39,000 copies. Finally, Hillary Duff makes her reappearance on the charts with Breathe In, which debuted at no. 5 with 39,000 equivalent copies sold.
Sam Hunt may have released Montevallo during October, but he's looking to see if he can get his country debut to an even higher place nearly a year later. The album rose another spot, from no. 7 to no. 6, having sold more albums than the previous week for the fourth consecutive frame (this week it moved 32,000 copies). Following that is the last debut in the Top 10, as fun. frontman Nate Ruess premieres his solo breakout, Grand Romantic, at no. 7 with 31,000 copies moved.
The last three spots go to three albums that all sold around 27,000 copies, respectively: Meghan Trainor's Title, Maroon 5's V and Mumford & Sons' Wilder Mind.
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