As expected, ‘Stardust – The Great American Songbook Volume 3’ has entered the US Billboard charts at No. 1 – his first ever entry at the summit and his first album to top the US charts for over 25 years! First week sales of the album closed at an incredible 245,517, some 33,000 ahead of first week sales of last years volume.
“Best of all for me is how much the public loves these albums, but I cannot deny that being No. 1 has put a big smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye,” Rod said in a statement.
“I feel boundlessly grateful that these miraculous songs continue to thrill, and tip my hat to the great talents who wrote the songs “
Rod’s last No. 1 album was his 1978 set ‘Blondes Have More Fun,’ which sat at the top for three weeks in February 1979. The Warner Brothers album boasted the Transatlantic No. 1 hit ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’
Rod’s first ‘Great American Songbook’ album, 2002’s ‘It Had to Be You…,’ opened at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, while 2003’s second instalment, ‘As Time Goes By…’ bowed at No. 2. Together, they have sold 4.7 million copies in the US alone. This week, ‘It Had to Be You…’ soared 50 places to No. 83 on a 57% sales increase to 14,000 copies. Meanwhile, ‘As Time Goes By…’ rose 42 places to No. 66 on a 55% jump to 17,000.
In Britain, ‘Stardust’ enjoyed first week sales of just over 34,117. Second week sales are expected to be stronger following the broadcast of the Royal Albert concert on BBC last Saturday. So far the first Songbook set has sold 515,000 copies in the UK, whilst the second has sold 501,000 copies.
Sadly it is unlikely that ‘Stardust’ will topple Robbie Williams from the top spot whose first week sales of his greatest hits set were over 240,000. However, it does look certain that Rod will have at least three albums on the UK charts next week as both 2001’s ‘The Very Best Of Rod Stewart’ and last years ‘Changing Faces – The Best Of Rod Stewart & The Faces’ are currently the subject of television advertising campaigns.
Rod now plans to record a fourth volume in the Great American Songbook series!