John Hlavaty ([email protected])
Thu, 12 Nov 1998 00:10:19 -0500
Two weeks ago and for those who care, R.E.M.'s new album,
"Up", sold 117,000 copies its first week in the U.S. This
was good enough for a #3 debut on BillBoard.
The #1 album sold 170,000 copies. ("Up" debuted
at #2 in Canada and the U.K., it dropped to #11 in
the U.K. its second week).
The "Best Of" album debuted at #1 in the U.K.
It has already gone Platinum there. Alanis Morrisette
debuted at #3 in the U.K. with her new album,
"Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie". The #2
spot went to Oasis's b-side album "The Masterplan".
U2's "Best Of" also debuted at #1 in Ireland, with advanced
orders of over 100,000 copies, and in Australia.
I predicted that U2 might just beat out Alanis
Morrisette in Canada, but that U2 would bow
to her in the U.S. This prediction proved to
be correct.
U2's "Best Of" sold a very impressive 86,210
copies in Canada its first week, debuting at
#1. Alanis sold 71,235 copies for a #2 ranking.
In the U.S., U2's "Best Of" sold 237,400 copies
for a #2 debut. Alanis sold 469,00 copies for
a #1 ranking. Despite Alanis's success, insiders
had predicted sales of over 500,000 copies
in the U.S. and over 100,000 copies in Canada for
her new album.
All told, U2 debuted at #1 in Ireland, Australia,
the U.K. and Canada and at #2 in the U.S.
To compare U2's "Best Of" sales with their previous albums,
"Achtung Baby" sold 295,000 its first week.
"Zooropa" sold 377,000 copies and "POP" sold
350,000 copies their respective first weeks. Considering
the "Best Of" is "old material", its success is inspiring.
The timing of the release is excellent as well.
Insiders predict that both Alanis and U2 will sell
well throughout the holiday season.
It should be noted though that this might be
the first U2 album since "The Unforgettable Fire"
that did not hit #1 in the U.S.
In other news, "The Sweetest Thing" has also had
a successful run, questioning U2's decision not
to release the single in the U.S. "The Sweetest
Thing" debuted at #3 in the U.K., holding steady
at #4 the following week and slipping to #10 this
week. Its 3 weeks in the top 10 and it's #3 ranking
are higher than U2's last three singles from "POP".
"Last Night on Earth" and "Please" debuted at
#10 and #7, respectively, on the U.K. charts.
Each spent just one week in the U.K. top 10.
"If God Will Send His Angels" debuted at #12
on the U.K. charts (temporarily ending U2's string
of top 10 hits) and fell from the top 40 the
following week.
In Canada, the two versions of "The Sweetest Thing"
single charted separately. "Part I" debuted at #1,
giving U2 their second #1 single in that country
("Discotheque" was the first). "Part II" debuted at
#3. This week, the singles dropped slightly, but
held steady at positions 3 ("Part I") and 4 ("Part II")
on the charts.
In Australia, "The Sweetest Thing" debuted at #6.
It dropped to #10 this week.
Last week, on the U.S. Modern Rock charts, "The
Sweetest Thing" reached #17. This was higher
than R.E.M.'s "Daydreamer" and just a few notches
below Alanis's "Thank U". Considering that type
of company, its #17 ranking isn't that low.
That's it for this week!
Ciao,
John
John J. Hlavaty, Ph.D. Tel: 978-927-5054, ext. 360
New England BioLabs, Inc. Fax: 978-921-1350
32 Tozer Road e-mail: [email protected]
Beverly, Ma 01915
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