Who'da thought Santana would be able reclaim the No. 1 spot just one week after 'N Sync's astounding 2.4 million selling debut week? No one, and with good reason. Though sales of 'N Sync's record-breaking No Strings Attached dropped sixty-six percent its second week in stores, that still left the boy band's sophomore release with more than enough units sold -- 811,000 -- to remain firmly entrenched at the top of the SoundScan album chart.

The success of a new No. 1 single, "Maria Maria" (featuring Wyclef Jean), did help Santana's Supernatural move 212,000 copies. The album stayed put at No. 2 for a second week and held off a solid debut from the Aaliyah-led soundtrack to Romeo Must Die (203,000 copies). Also debuting in the Top 10 was Opposite of H20, the debut from Ruff Ryder rapper Drag-On. Sales of 151,000 landed Drag-On at No. 5, smack between Sisqo's Unleash the Dragon (No. 4) and Dr. Dre 20001 (No. 6). Albums from Ice Cube, Destiny's Child, Macy Gray and DMX round out a nearly hip-hop solid Top 10. Chicago rapper Common scored the only other Top 20 debut, coming in at No. 16 with his fourth album Like Water for Chocolate.

The only other debut in the Top 100 belonged to country diva Trisha Yearwood's No. 27 pop crossover bid, Real Live Woman. Farther down the line, Phil Collins' Best Original Song Oscar win helped the soundtrack to Tarzan swing from No. 62 back to No. 46. Also making a significant leap was Better Life, the debut from Mississippi rockers 3 Doors Down. Fueled by the No. 1 mainstream rock track "Kryptonite," Better Life leapt from No. 45 to No. 34. Meanwhile, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony could use another jolt of life: BTNHResurrection tumbled from No. 11 to No. 18 it's fifth week in stores.

From the top, it was 'N Sync's No Strings Attached, followed by Santana's Supernatural, Romeo Must Die, Sisqo's Unleash the Dragon (160,000 copies sold), Drag-On's Opposite of H20, Dr. Dre's Dr. Dre 2001 (120,000), Ice Cube's War & Peace Vol. 2 (Peace) (108,000), Destiny's Child's Writing's on the Wall (105,100), Macy Gray's On How Life Is (101,000) and DMX's And Then There Was X (100,000).

RICHARD SKANSE
(April 6, 2000)