The reliably astounding George Strait has done it again. This week his
new album, Twang, tops not only Billboard's country chart but also the trade magazine's all-genre Billboard
200 list. Twang sold just over 155,000 copies its first seven days out, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Another
prize performer, Taylor Swift, enjoys her second week at No. 1 on Billboard's
country song chart via her co-penned "You Belong With Me."
Newcomer
Justin Moore scores a very impressive debut with his self-titled
CD. It screeches in at No. 3. The week's third and final new album is Willie
Nelson's Lost Highway, which bows at No. 29.
There are five first-time songs: Lady
Antebellum's "Need You Now" (popping in at No. 50), Jamey Johnson's
"My Way to You" (No. 56), Big Kenny's "Long
After I'm Gone" (No. 57), Steel Magnolia's "Keep
On Lovin' You" (No. 58) and Blaine Larsen's "It Did" (No. 59).
Albums
returning to the chart are Bill Gaither Presents: Country Bluegrass Homecoming volumes one and two resurfacing at No.
49 and No. 52, respectively, Jimmy Wayne's Do You Believe Me Now
(No. 70), Ronnie Milsap's Then Sings My Soul: 24 Favorite Hymns and
Gospel Songs (No. 72) and Hank Williams III's Damn Right Rebel Proud
(No. 74).
Rounding out this week's Top 5 albums are Swift's Fearless (No. 2), Sugarland's
Live on the Inside (No. 4) and the Zac Brown Band's The Foundation
(No. 5).
The No. 2 through No. 5 songs, in that order, are Darius
Rucker's "Alright," Jason
Aldean's "Big Green Tractor," Rascal
Flatts' "Summer Nights" and Billy
Currington's "People Are Crazy."





