This is a sure sign that the apocalypse is at hand. How in the world did Barry Manilow score the #1 album on Billboard this week? Did we get suck into a time vacuum, and sent back to 1977? Freakin' unbelievable.....
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Who has the No. 1 album? Barry Manilow
'Greatest Songs of the Fifties' his first chart-topper since 1977
NEW YORK (Billboard) -- Barry Manilow topped the U.S. pop charts for the first time in nearly 29 years Wednesday with an album of pop evergreens released in time for Valentine's Day.
"The Greatest Songs of the Fifties" (Arista), featuring versions of such tunes as "Unchained Melody" and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," sold 156,000 copies in the week ended February 5, according to Nielsen SoundScan data.
His lone prior chart-topper came in July 1977 with the double LP "Live." His last album, "Scores: Songs From Copacabana and Harmony," released on the Concord jazz label, peaked at No. 47 in 2004.
"It's not only a genuine thrill to see the album enter the charts at Number One, but it's truly an historic occasion for both of us," said a statement from Arista Records founder Clive Davis, who first worked with Manilow in 1974 on the Grammy-nominated "Mandy."
Added Manilow, "I've had some pretty amazing experiences in my career, but this one tops them all ... I swear, if you live long enough, anything is possible!"
Last week's champion, pop-opera quartet Il Divo's "Ancora," fell five places to No. 6 with 93,000 copies.
Mary J. Blige's "The Breakthrough" jumped two places to No. 2 with 123,000 copies. The album has for weeks been dueling for No. 1 honors with Jamie Foxx's "Unpredictable," which slipped one place to No. 4 with 95,000 units.
Earning his highest Billboard 200 chart position ever, Italian singer Andrea Bocelli took the No. 3 slot with "Amore," which sold 113,000 copies. The album features duets with Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera.
Heather Headley's "In My Mind" debuted at No. 5 to become the Tony Award-winning performer's first top 10 album on The Billboard 200. The album sold a couple hundred fewer copies than Foxx's "Unpredictable" at 95,000, but unseated that set from the No. 1 slot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart due to stronger sales in the stores that make up that chart's contributing panel. Headley's previous release, "This Is Who I Am," peaked at No. 38 on The Billboard 200 in 2002.
The Eminem retrospective "Curtain Call: The Hits" rose one to No. 7 with 78,000 copies, switching places with Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts," which sold 74,000 copies.
English balladeer James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" rebounded two places to its previous peak position of No. 9, selling 71,000 copies in its 18th week on the chart.
Train's "For Me, It's You" bowed at No. 10 with 62,000 copies, considerably lower than the 87,000 sold by "My Private Nation," when it opened at No. 6 in 2003.
Other debuts included the compilation "Monster Ballads: Platinum Edition" (No. 18), the collection "WOW Gospel 2006" (No. 20), She Want's Revenge's self-titled album (No. 38), the Temptations' "Reflections" (No. 80) and Jamey Johnson's "The Dollar" (No. 87).
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/09/music.sales.reut/index.html
FEBRUARY 17--This country, as you know, is filled with the deranged. And then there's Travis Frey, a 33-year-old Iowa man who is facing charges that he tried to kidnap his own wife (not to mention a separate child pornography rap). Frey, prosecutors contend, apparently is a rather demanding guy. In fact, he actually drew up a bizarre four-page marriage document--a "Contract of Wifely Expectations"--that sought to establish guidelines for his spouse in terms of hygiene, clothing, and sexual activities. In return for fulfilling certain requirements, Frey (pictured right) offered "Good Behavior Days," or GBDs. Each GBD, Frey wrote, could be redeemed by his wife to "get out of doing the things" he requested daily. A copy of the proposed contract, which Frey's wife never signed and later provided to cops, can be found below. While we normally point out the highlights of most documents, there are so many in this demented, and very graphic, contract, we really can't do it justice. So set aside ten minutes--and prepare to be repulsed. (4 pages) 
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