A little over three years since Evanescence completed an aggregate seven weeks at the top of European Top 100 Albums with “Fallen,” the American band is back at No. 1 on the region’s composite chart, as “The Open Door” (Wind-Up) starts in pole position.
The album makes two individual No. 1 starts, in Germany and Switzerland, plus no fewer than five entries at No. 2, in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Holland and Austria. Opening U.K. sales are 94,000 units, according to charts compiler the Official U.K. Charts Company.
“Fallen” started at No. 98 on Top 100 Albums, before making its remarkable run to the pinnacle. After its first success in 2003, it went on to be the fifth bestselling album on the year-end European chart for 2004. The new set also bows at No. 3 in Norway and Ireland, No. 4 in Portugal, No. 5 in Spain, Denmark and Finland, and climbs 28-5 in the Belgian region of Wallony. The single “Call Me When You’re Sober” is down 4-10 on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.
Evanescence’s collection of European chart debuts is enough to prevent the Killers from a No. 1 pan-European arrival with their sophomore set “Sam’s Town” (Vertigo). In the United Kingdom, that’s part of an impressive chart double-header for the Universal label, as the album debuts at No. 1 on sales of 268,000 copies, while labelmates Razorlight jumps 15-1 on the singles chart with “America.” The Killers’ album also starts at No. 1 in Ireland, but falls short of any other chart-topping debuts, entering at No. 5 in Austria and No. 6 in Germany.
Katie Melua’s “Piece By Piece” (Dramatico) consolidates a revival prompted by the release of an augmented version including three new songs and a bonus DVD. After jumping 36-6 overall last week on the Europe-wide listings, it’s up again to No. 4, after a 9-4 climb in Holland and 5-4 in Germany. It’s also No. 1 again in Poland.
Pink’s “I’m Not Dead” (LaFace/Zomba) is also on the move again, back into the top ten 13-8 after improving 10-7 in Germany. The album dips 14-16 in its 27th chart week in the United Kingdom, where the current single “U & Ur Hand” maintains a top 20 place in its seventh week, falling 13-19. That track races 33-11 on the Eurochart following debuts of No. 4 in Germany and No. 5 in Austria.
“Rouge Sang” (Virgin), by French chansonier Renaud, makes the Top 100 Albums list at No. 11, thanks to arrivals at No. 1 in France and Wallony and No. 3 in Switzerland.
British breakthrough artist James Morrison is up 25-13 on the pan-European chart with his debut set “Undiscovered” (Polydor), as his single “You Give Me Something” becomes a substantial hit in Holland, up 8-5. The follow-up “Wonderful World” is physically released in the United Kingdom next Monday (Oct. 16).
Morrison’s Polydor labelmate Scissor Sisters loses the top berth on Top 100 Albums as “Ta-Dah” falls 1-3. However, the U.S. act’s “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin'” leads the Eurochart for a second week. The track moves 2-1 in Germany and is also No. 1 in Norway and Austria.
“Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)” (Yellow Production), by Bob Sinclar featuring Cutee, is up 10-4 on the Eurochart. It’s No. 1 in Flanders and Wallony and up 21-5 in the United Kingdom and 8-7 in France. The track is based around C+C Music Factory’s 1990 dance standard “Gonna Make You Sweat” (Everybody Dance Now).
