Michael Ellis, N.Y.; Todd Martens, L.A.
Bon Jovi boundes onto The Billboard 200 as "Bounce" (Island) bows at No. 2 on first week sales of 160,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. While it was enough to earn the group its highest debut since SoundScan was initiated in 1991, it was not enough to dethrone Elvis Presley. The King extends his reign to a third-straight week as his "ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits" (RCA) sold another 205,000 units, pushing the set past the 1 million mark in just three weeks.
The second place opening for "Bounce" is the highest debut in Bon Jovi's 18-year chart career, besting the No. 5 entry for 1992's "Keep the Faith." It's also Bon Jovi's highest chart position since "New Jersey" clocked four weeks at No. 1 in 1988. A flurry of pre-release hype, including a Sept. 5 appearance at season-opening festivities for the NFL, and trips to "The Late Show With David Letterman," "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," and "Live With Regis and Kelly," helped fuel Bon Jovi's debut. The album's first single, "Everyday," is No. 31 in its fourth week on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks tally.
Another veteran rock artist, Tom Petty, lands at No. 9 on The Billboard 200 on the strength of 74,000 copies sold of his latest, "The Last DJ" (Warner Bros.). That's one place higher than the opening rank of his last new studio album, 1999's "Echo," but that set had slightly better first week sales at 81,000 units. The new album's title track is up four positions to No. 25 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks tally.
Australian-born Keith Urban's self-titled solo debut entered The Billboard 200 at No. 188 in 2000, and peaked at No. 145. His second set, "Golden Road" (Capitol), is off to a considerably better start, entering the chart at No. 11 on sales of 67,000 copies. The album also rockets all the way to No. 3 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, where Presley continues to hold onto No. 1. Urban's strong debut is fueled by "Somebody Like You," which is No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for a second week.
Chicago-based hard rock act Chevelle notches an impressive entry at No. 14 on The Billboard 200 on sales of 61,000 copies of its latest, "Wonder What's Next" (Epic). This the band's first appearance on The Billboard 200; its single, "The Red," is No. 12 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks tally.
Jurassic 5 marks a career peak as 60,000 copies sold of its "Power in Numbers" (Capitol) paved the way for an arrival at No. 15 on The Billboard 200. The old school hip-hop act's last album, "Quality Control" (Interscope), peaked at No. 43. The new album performed similarly in urban markets and lands at No. 13 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Other notable entries on The Billboard 200 include actress/singer Jennifer Love Hewitt's "BareNaked" (Jive) at No. 37, Broadway actress-turned-recording artist Heather Headley's "This is Who I Am" (RCA) at No. 38, Kottonmouth Kings' "Rollin' Stoned" (Suburban Noize/Capitol) at No. 51, and Ben Folds' concert set "Ben Folds Live" (Epic) at No. 60.
Last week's top debut, "Forty Licks" by the Rolling Stones (ABKCO/Virgin) slid 53% in its second week to 147,000 units and drops 2-3 on The Billboard 200, while Xzibit's "Man vs. Machine (Loud/Columbia) suffered a 45% sales hit to 85,000 units and dips 3-8 on the chart. Xzibit, however, maintains his place at the summit of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, withstanding a 9-2 surge from the Fox/MCA soundtrack to "Brown Sugar."
Meanwhile, Nelly's "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland holds onto the No. 1 post on Billboard's Hot 100 for a ninth week, but yields the No. 1 spot on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart to "Luv U Better" by LL Cool J (Def Jam). LL has placed 27 singles on the R&B Singles chart since his last No. 1, "I Need Love" in 1987. "Luv U Better" is also at No. 8 on the Hot 100.
The hype surrounding Eminem's film debut in "8 Mile" is in full swing and the Detroit rapper's "Lose Yourself" continues to benefit, earning a 9-6 boost on the Hot 100, where it is the fastest-growing track at radio. The cut is also No. 13 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart and No. 30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks tally.
The Hot 100's fastest-growing track at retail is Erick Sermon's "React" featuring Redman, which springs 79-74. The single also scoots 21-19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks roundup.
The top debut on the Hot 100 is Jay-Z's "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" featuring Beyonce Knowles at No. 56. Other new entries are Norah Jones' "Girl Talk" at No. 71, Isyss' "Single for the Rest of My Life" at No. 97, Hudley's "He Is" at No. 98, and Paulina Rubio's "The One You Love" at No. 99.
Nirvana's "You Know You're Right" jumps to No. 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks tally, where it replaces Puddle Of Mudd's heavily Nirvana-influenced cut "She Hates Me." On the Mainstream Rock Track chart, however, "She Hates Me" jumps up from No. 4 to take over the No. 1 post from Nickelback, whose "Never Again" slides to No. 2.
