Previous Next Latest

On the Charts: AC/DC Leave Competition Thunderstruck

10/29/08, 12:05 pm EST

The Big News: As predicted, AC/DC stormed to the top of the charts as Wal-Mart registers were ablaze with the beeps of 784,000 copies of Black Ice sold. The total ranks second to only Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III in terms of best first week sales this year. For AC/DC, it was their biggest-selling first week in their history on the sales charts and the first time they sat atop the Billboard chart since 1981’s For Those About To Rock (We Salute You). High School Musical 3 enjoyed a good week, first topping the box office and then selling 296,000 copies of the soundtrack to land at number two. Rounding out the top five were T.I.’s Paper Trail, last week’s champ Kenny Chesney and Metallica’s Death Magnetic.

Debuts: Judging by the weak slate of debuts, record companies opted to avoid the bulldozing Black Ice and High School Musical franchise. Hank Williams III took 18 with Damn Right Rebel Proud, Of Montreal’s Skeletal Lamping grabbed 38 and, in a sign that Christmas is just around the bend, Manheim Steamroller had two albums chart: Candlelight Christmas at 121, Christmasville at 135.

Last Week’s Heroes: There weren’t really any heroes last time around thanks to a slow-selling week. Ray Lamontagne was the biggest victim as Gossip in the Grain dropped from three to 17. Keane’s Perfect Symmetry followed a similar path, tumbling from seven to 48. Next week, we’ll find out if Pink, Snow Patrol, John Legend and Queen are enough to unseat AC/DC.

Related Stories:

The New Issue of Rolling Stone: AC/DC

AC/DC’s Black Ice Tops 29 Charts Worldwide

Album Review: AC/DC, Black Ice


Previous Next Latest

Comments

CARTY, WILLIAM X. | 5/26/2009, 11:32 am EST

thunderstruck is the best song that i ever heard

CARTY, WILLIAM X. | 5/26/2009, 11:26 am EST

i think angus rocks

Amanda | 12/1/2008, 10:01 pm EST

WOOOTT THERE BACK!!!!
ac/dc rocks

msantos | 11/27/2008, 5:17 pm EST

im going to ssee them at san antonio!! im sooo sad because they aarent coming to mexico:( but i will go to their concerrt to san antonioo i l-o-v-e ac/dc !!!!!! b-e-s-t band e-v-e-r !!!!

long live brian!
long live angus!
long live malcolm!
long live cliff!
long live phil!

long live ac/dc!

i..i.

Luis | 11/11/2008, 6:45 pm EST

Ac/Dc is one of the best bands ever!!!
I got to go see them on Nov.1 in Chicago,Il..They are legends

rockandroll | 11/1/2008, 4:15 am EST

Ac/dc are Underrated fool

The soulcollector | 10/31/2008, 5:44 pm EST

AC/DC is number 1 with 784000 copies while Metallica celebrates their 7th week in the Top 5…

That’s great!

Big Jack | 10/30/2008, 6:34 pm EST

God said let there be AC/DC

Best new album i’ve heard in years just can’t stop playing the rockin little disc over and over. It’s in my head 24-7 and I can’t get to sleep with the chorus of “Wheels” permanently burnt on my brain.

Geez these lad’s are legends and can’t wait when they bring the tour back home down under. It’s gonna be MASSIVE!!!!!!!

Keep “Rocking All The Way” boys.

Rickie | 10/30/2008, 6:26 pm EST

Black Ice has sold 5,000,000 in the world so far in its first week.

boatman | 10/30/2008, 5:00 pm EST

At first hearing it’s easy to put off by AC/DC’s sound. It’s the craft behind it that makes it so satisfying with repeated listens.

Lover of Rock | 10/30/2008, 3:45 pm EST

same riffs same beats same sounds …..same silly fans thinking this defines rock te he

jboy | 10/30/2008, 11:20 am EST

Does it say anything about the nature of ‘rock’ music these days? Thank god these guys put something decent out cause there sure is NOTHING out there now that should be considered ROCK!!!

Travis | 10/30/2008, 10:44 am EST

AC/DC “Black Ice” album did way better in first week sales than Lil’ Wayne in my book. Lil’ Wayne album was sold everywhere while AC/DC “Black Ice” is only sold on their website, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. AC/DC first week sales is impressive for only being sold in 3 stores. Can’t wait for Guns N’ Roses “Chinese Democracy” sales for first week only at Best Buy. It will sell more than Lil’ Wayne “Cartar III”!

atlanticcanuck | 10/30/2008, 9:53 am EST

G. Olsen

Yes! AC/DC does sound the same. But that is what makes them so successful; you get what you pay for. In the same way we look for bands like U2 to mix it up and explore new directions, we look to Ac/Dc to stay the course.
Check out AC/DC in concert sometime. You will leave converted. They even blew away the Stones When I saw them together. PURE ENERGY. PURE ROCK!

g mann sjc | 10/30/2008, 2:21 am EST

G. olsen what are u like 14.

g mann sjc | 10/30/2008, 2:17 am EST

The best pure live rocken roll band period.Nobody sits down at a ac/dc show. A must for any music fan!

The Truth Commission | 10/30/2008, 12:12 am EST

AC/DC picked the right time, place and way to sell their new disc. “Rock” is as homogenized and gimmick-soaked as it was during the 50’s in the era of Elvis and Buddy Holly. But most Guitar Hero and Rock Band addicts don’t know how they’re being played like a Fender Rhodes.

I’m guessing very few AC/DC fans are ideological anti-Wal-Mart human rights crusaders. So AC/DC isn’t losing any sales by picking only one store to sell their new album.

Any Wal-Mart has a Rock Band station set up where you can play Wal-Mart-only Rock Band AC/DC. “Rock” has become less about sales (duh!) and almost all about marketing, commercial monopolies and selling old material in a new medium.

No one should be surprised that Rock Band and Guitar Hero arrive at a time when file sharing has obliterated CD sales. Get kids to pay for the the music in new packaging (i.e. video games.) AC/DC don’t change their music, but they sure as shit adapt to the times. More power to them.

bom bom bum | 10/30/2008, 12:02 am EST

check out the song Anything Goes, its the best of the new record

Mandela | 10/29/2008, 11:57 pm EST

I think they’ll drop into the the bottom five of the top ten, then linger in the top twenty for a couple of weeks, and finally dwell somewhere around the thirties and fourties for a month. My guess would be 1, 700,000 this time next year, max.

G. Olsen | 10/29/2008, 11:03 pm EST

AC/DC are overrated, it all sounds the same

YEAAAAAHH MANN | 10/29/2008, 5:02 pm EST

AC/DC IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLDDDD

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement