The 24th edition of Now That's What I Call Music (Capitol) experienced a 7% drop in sales but rose to #1 in its second week of release. The hits collection easily held off a long list of debuts. Martina McBride's Waking Up Laughing (RCA Nashville) sold 143,000 (6% digital) in its first week. Hillary Duff's Dignity (Hollywood) sold 140,000 (8% digital) in its debut week. Timbaland Presents Shock Value (Univeral) moved 138,000 (18% digital). Paul Wall's Get Money Stay True (Swishablast/Atlantic) sold 92,000 (2% digital). Alison Krauss' A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection (Rounder) was the last debut in the Top 10 and had sales of almost 73,000 (less than 1% digital).

It was a strong week for albums. Sales were up 16% over the previous week and were only 5% lower than the same week last year. Yes, only 5% lower. In 2007, that is as narrow a margin as we've seen. The increase was too large for any handful of debuts to be responsible. (The top debut sold only 143,000.) No, album sales were simply up overall. Country albums were especially strong. Other than debuts, only four albums in country's Top 50 sold less than the previous week. Hard rock albums had a similar, overall increase.

Second-week fades: Prodigy fell 65%, Redman was down 62%, Young Buck slid 61%, Good Charlotte dropped 59%, Lil' Flip sank 58%, Macy Gray slid 55%, Clutch slid 55%, Kaiser Chiefs stumbled 49%, Tim McGraw was down 46%, Mims slipped 41% and Mika dropped only 12%.

Virgin's much-heralded Sick Puppies debut at #181 with 6,100 units sold of their debut, Dressed Up As Life. That album sounds like a radio-driven project, so wait for EMI's radio department to push that one.

New York University is seeking a Department Chair for The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.