Slipknot is going to ruin Neil Diamond’s chance at scoring only the second number 1 of his career.
Up until 2008, Diamond had never had a number 1 album, only making it to number 2 in 1973 with the soundtrack to Johnathan Livingston Seagull. Then he released Home Before Dark in 2008, his second introspective album produced by Rick Rubin, and he hit the top.
There were many signs that he might be able to do it again with Melody Road, released on Tuesday, but the early week estimates from Hits Daily Double tell a different story. They show Slipknot’s new album at the top with sales of 100,000 to 110,000 and Diamond in second with 75,000 to 80,000.
Things can still change between now and Sunday night when the chart week closes, but that is quite a large gap to make up and it looks like Neil may have to settle for the second number 2 record of his career.
Two albums by veteran artists released last month continue to sell well. Barbra Streisand’s Partners is estimated at 40,000 to 45,000 putting her at about number 7 and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga have a chance of returning to the top ten with Cheek to Cheek, projected at 28,000 to 32,000.
Further down are debuts from two veteran female vocalists. Annie Lennox’ trip back in time, Nostalgia, is looking at opening week sales of between 24,000 and 27,000 while Aretha Franklin’s divas set is at 20,000 to 23,000. Both could be in the high teens, which would be especially significant for Franklin who hasn’t been that high on the charts since, at least, 1985’s Who’s Zoomin’ Who? That album went to number 13 and, should the singer exceed that number, you have to go all the way back to 1972 when Young, Gifted and Black went to number 11.
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