DOLLY WOULD: Dolly Parton’s new album is the highest-debuting set of her career on The Billboard 200. “Those Were the Days” (Blue Eye/Sugar Hill), a collection of cover songs of Dolly’s favorites from the 1960s, enters the album chart at No. 48. That’s especially impressive when you consider that this living legend has been charting for 36 years, seven months and one week.
She made her first appearance on this survey the week of March 22, 1969, when “Just the Two of Us,” recorded with Porter Wagoner, made its debut. “Those Were the Days” is Parton’s 39th album to chart on The Billboard 200.
Her highest-charting solo title is “9 to 5 and Odd Jobs,” which debuted the week of Dec. 6, 1980, and peaked at No. 11. The highest-charting album of Parton’s career is “Trio,” recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris, which reached No. 6 in 1987.
In its first week on the chart, “Those Were the Days” is Parton’s highest-ranking solo album since “Slow Dancing with the Moon” peaked at No. 16 in 1993.
On the Top Country Albums list, “Those Were the Days” debuts at No. 9. Parton’s chart span is slightly longer than her Billboard 200 span. She made her debut on this tally the week of Nov. 11, 1967, with “Hello, I’m Dolly.” That gives her a chart span of 37 years, 11 months and two weeks.
IN THE MODE: Depeche Mode is back on The Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in over four years. That’s the longest gap between chart entries since the group made its debut on this list the week of May 25, 1985, with “People Are People.”
“Precious” (Sire/Mute), new at No. 99, marks Depeche Mode’s first Hot 100 entry since “Dream On” peaked at No. 85 in May 2001. The group’s highest-charting single is “Enjoy the Silence,” No. 8 in July 1990.
While “Precious” is just beginning its chart life on the Hot 100, it is already No. 1 on two other Billboard lists: Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Singles Sales. On Club Play, this is the sixth Depeche Mode title to reach pole position. On Singles Sales, “Precious” opens at No. 1 this week, to become Depeche Mode’s fifth chart-topper on this tally. It is the third consecutive Sales No. 1, following “Freelove” in 2001 and “Enjoy the Silence…’04” in 2004.
Debuting at No. 2 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart is “Crazy” (Sanctuary), the first solo hit for Erasure’s Andy Bell. The other half of Erasure is former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke.
‘RUN’ AWAY: A move of 8-2 on The Billboard Hot 100 makes Chris Brown’s “Run It!” (Jive) a contender to succeed “Gold Digger” (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam) by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx at No. 1. If “Run It!” does move up next week, it will be the first time in 2005 that two exclusively male songs have been No. 1 back-to-back.
On the Hot Singles Sales chart, “Run It!” is No. 1 for the second week. It is only the second No. 1 this year by a solo male artist, following Bio Bice’s “Inside Your Heaven” / “Vehicle.”
KELLY, KELLY, KELLY, KELLY: Randy Jackson used to say her name three times in succession during the first season of “American Idol,” but perhaps he should have repeated Kelly Clarkson’s name four times in a row. That’s how many titles she has on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, where her latest, “Because of You” (RCA), enters at No. 40. “Breakaway” maintains at No. 3, “Behind These Hazel Eyes” moves up to No. 16 and “Since U Been Gone” holds at No. 27.
This is only the second time this decade that one artist has four simultaneous AC chart entries. Earlier this year, Clay Aiken had four holiday songs on the list in the same week. Before Clarkson, the last time a female artist had four titles on the chart was in October 1999, when Shania Twain had a quartet of simultaneous AC hits.
IF IT’S ‘TUESDAY,’ IT MUST BE SHERYL: It’s been 12 years since Sheryl Crow released her album “Tuesday Night Music Club,” but one of the songs on that set makes chart news this week. “I Shall Believe” (Black Shoe) by Matt Brouwer debuts on both of Billboard’s Christian airplay charts, giving Crow her first songwriting credit on both tallies.
Brouwer makes his first appearance on both charts as well, debuting at No. 37 on the Hot Christian Songs list and the same position on Hot Christian Adult Contemporary tally.
SPEED RACERS: Two songs entering the top 10 of Billboard’s Adult Top 40 chart have not taken much time to reach the upper echelon. “I’m Feeling You” (Arista) by Santana featuring Michelle Branch & the Wreckers moves 11-9 in its fifth week. The Goo Goo Dolls race 17-10 with “Better Days” (Warner Bros.) in that song’s fourth chart week. These two songs are the third and fourth to reach the top 10 of this chart in five weeks or less in 2005.
Earlier in the year, Green Day’s “Wake Me Up Before September Ends” (Reprise) reached the top 10 in its fourth chart week, and Rob Thomas’ “Lonely No More” (Melisma/Atlantic) was in the top 10 by its third week on the chart.
“Better Days” is the 10th top 10 hit for Goo Goo Dolls on the Adult Top 40 chart. That puts the group in a three-way tie with Sheryl Crow and Matchbox Twenty for the most top 10 hits on this tally.
Elsewhere on Adult Top 40, Alanis Morissette debuts at No. 35 with her remake of Seal’s “Crazy” (Maverick). This is Morissette’s 14th entry on this survey, tying her with Madonna for second place among artists with the most appearances on the Adult Top 40 chart. Only Sheryl Crow, with 16, has charted more often.
HE’S BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK: Jordan Knight makes his first appearance as a solo artist on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, debuting at No. 37 with “Where Is Your Heart.” Knight was a member of New Kids on the Block, a group that placed three songs on the AC chart in the late 1980s.
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