Jack Johnson makes a winning start across Europe with his new release “Sleep Across The Static” (Brushfire/Universal Island), debuting at No. 1 on European Top 100 Albums as he does on the new Billboard 200. “Apologize” (Mosley/Blackground/Interscope) by Timbaland presents One Republic racks up week 13 atop Eurochart Hot 100 Singles, a run stretching back to November.
Johnson’s 2005 album “In Between Dreams” peaked at No. 4 on Top 100 Albums in March 2006, in the week the title reached the top of the U.K. chart, its 44th on that survey. While “Dreams” nears U.K. sales of 1.4 million units, “Static” debuts there with 53,000 copies sold. It also starts at No. 1 in Ireland, No. 2 in Germany and Switzerland, No. 3 in Austria and Portugal, No. 4 in Holland, No. 5 in Denmark and No. 6 in France.
In the week of her Grammy triumphs, Amy Winehouse thus loses her pan-European album supremacy, as “Back To Black” (Universal Island) falls to No. 2 after seven weeks on top. That’s despite a 2-1 move, ahead of Johnson, in Germany, and climbs of 4-3 in Greece and 17-9 in Portugal.
Nearly 18 years after he first made the pan-European sales chart, Lenny Kravitz returns to Top 100 Albums at No. 3 with “It Is Time For A Love Revolution” (Virgin). That follows a No. 1 start in Switzerland and debuts of No. 2 Holland, No. 3 in Germany and Italy, No. 4 in Austria, No. 5 in France, No. 6 in Spain, plus a 22-5 rise in the Belgian region of Flanders. The album debuts much less impressively at No. 42 in the United Kingdom, but even that’s an improvement on the No. 74 peak there of 2004’s “Baptism.” Kravitz’s current single “I’ll Be Waiting” moves 20-19 on the Eurochart and 14-9 in Italy.
Leona Lewis’ “Spirit” (Syco Music/Sony BMG) falls back 2-4 on the pan-European chart, losing its No. 1 rankings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Good Girl Gone Bad” (SRP/Def Jam) by Rihanna dips 4-5 overall, while U.K. breakthrough artist Adele holds at No. 6 with “19” (XL Recordings), as it falls 1-2 in her home market. Mika’s “Life In Cartoon Motion” (Casablanca/Island) is down 5-7, having last week completed its first year on Top 100 Albums.
British electronic act Hot Chip is new at No. 8 on the Europe-wide survey with “Made In The Dark” (Virgin), which opens there on sales of 27,000 after last week’s top ten singles debut for its lead song “Ready For The Floor.”
Nickelback’s 2005 album “All The Right Reasons” (Roadrunner) continues its U.K.-led resurgence, climbing 12-9 as the single “Rockstar” edges up 3-2 there. The single looks to be on course to complete an 18-week run to No. 1 in the United Kingdom on Sunday.
Mary J.Blige rounds out the pan-European album top ten with a No. 10 debut for “Growing Pains” (Geffen). That’s thanks largely to a No. 6 debut in the United Kingdom, on sales of 21,000.
“Apologize” continues to repel all competition for the Eurochart crown, holding at No. 2 in Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland, No. 4 in Flanders, and climbing 4-3 in Norway. Britney Spears’ “Piece Of Me” (Jive/Zomba), which reached No. 6 on the Eurochart a month ago, rebounds 15-8 thanks to a No. 7 debut in Germany.
