Like a true diva, Whitney Houston returns to the Billboard 200 in grand style. "I Look To You" becomes Houston's fourth No. 1 album on the chart, debuting with 305,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.

It's by far Houston's best opening sales week since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991. Her previous best opening week since that year came when 2002's "Just Whitney" bowed at No. 9 in the thick of the Christmas holiday shopping season with 205,000.

"I Look To You" is also the singer's first chart-topper since the Houston-fueled "The Bodyguard" soundtrack spent 20 weeks at No. 1 in 1993. "Look" and "Bodyguard" are joined by Houston's two previous toppers: her self-titled set in 1986, and her 1987 sophomore set, "Whitney." The latter was also the first album from a woman to debut at No. 1, which it did did on the Billboard 200 chart dated June 27, 1987.

In addition to Houston's return, five other new albums grace the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Trey Songz's "Ready" is the second-biggest bow of the week, starting at No. 3 with 131,000, while rap act Insane Clown Posse captures its second top 10 album as "Bang! Pow! Boom!" crashes in at No. 4 with 50,000. Rock band Chevelle sees its "Sci-Fi Crimes" effort enter at No. 6 with 46,000, while Pitbull's "Rebelution" starts at No. 8 with 41,000. Rounding out the top 10's new entries is the Used's "Artwork," which debuts at No. 10 with 35,000.

Miley Cyrus' "The Time Of Our Lives" EP scoots up one spot to No. 2 with 153,000 (up 146%) after its first full week of sales. It debuted last week with just three days of sales after it hit stores on Friday, Aug. 28 -- three days earlier than expected.

Last week's No. 1, Colbie Caillat's "Breakthrough," falls to No. 5 with 47,000 (down 56%), while Kings of Leon's "Only By The Night" slips three rungs to No. 7 with 45,000 (down 14%). Taylor Swift's "Fearless" continues its remarkable chart run, holding at No. 9 with 35,000 (up 4%).

Overall album sales in this past chart week (ending Sept. 6) totaled 6.29 million units, up 8% compared to the sum last week (5.82 million) and down 7% compared to the same sales week of 2008 (6.75 million). Year to date album sales stand at 237.4 million, down 14% compared to the same total at this point last year (277.6 million).

Well, if this doesn't enable her crack cocaine habbit, I don't know what will.


Congratulations old girl!

I wonder how many copies Vainandy bought.

phunkdaddy said:

He got:

The Regular Edition
The CD/DVD combo
The "I Don't Wantchu Bobbay!!!" Edition
The Japanese Limited Edition with the gold plated pipe

bboy87 said:

Don't forget the "Don't Let Me Meet You Outside" extra inside the "I Don't Wantch Bobbay!!!" edition.

Don't forget about the R.Kelly I look to piss on you mix.

You guys...a mess.

this album was dull even for her

awwwww, good for her

I just realized ILTY is only her third solo studio release since 1987 to hit #1!

Timmy84 said:

well it's really only her 4th solo studio release since then, so it's not really surprising.

errant said:

True.

You damn heathern you. I hope she gets her some crack with her money too. She's been back to her old dull self lately. She needs something to liven her up again and give us some comedy.

That one sounds tempting but not quite.

Now, that's the one! I'd definately buy that one and then I'd use the artwork to pick up dog shit in the front yard.

How bout "Bobby Said Knock You Out"?

Happy for her

vainandy said:

Its Whitney Houston!



Of course she was gonna be number one.

Anything old school is gold over the new school.

eff you all

go whitney!

I bought the CD and it's very good

I never expected those kinds of numbers, Wow!

That should have been Donna Summer's Crayons, but, hey, Whit's more popular. Here are some reasons I think it did so well:

1. Whitney fans are committed and will buy anything Whitney releases. I'm a Donna fan, so I would too:)

2. Some people loved Whitney from the olden days and they bought I Look To You expecting to hear the old Whitney. This, never having heard even a snippet of the new stuff.

3. As a result of hearing snippets and/or streamings of I Look To You, some decided to buy it.

4. Due to what she's been through, Whitney's life has generated people who would want to buy her new stuff just to have it and hear what she sounds like now after having gone through what she's gone through.

5. To some, Whitney's voice is still considered one of the best despite the changes in her voice and, thus, I Look To You is seen as a good set of recordings.

6. Great promotion on behalf of Whitney's record company.

7. Word of mouth by those who already bought it or heard it helps. Some who bought I Look To You as a result of word of mouth loved it. Some were not impressed.

8. Other factors that I am not aware of.

Who really knows why some sell better than others. Being at the top doesn't really mean you sing all that well, It just means you sold more than the rest. I like 3 tracks on I Look To You: Million Dollar Bill, Call You Tonight, and Nothin' But Love. Her voice has indeed changed, but it's not bad. Congrats, Whitney. Good job.
[Edited 9/10/09 4:22am]

luv4u said:

I wanted to get it last week- i'll pick it up today. I loved whitney back in the day.

leecappella said:

maybe.

I haven't listened to Whitney's album yet, but the problem I had with Donna Summer's album is that it sounded so bland. Straddling the line between dated club tracks and dated pop songs. It sounded like she spent 20 years making it and didn't go back and bother to update anything she'd been working on in that time and just stuck it on there.

I know that's not how the album was recorded/produced, but I was very underwhelmed with it.

good for her!

vainandy said:

check out For The Lovers and tell me what you think vain..it is not like 80's funk and all that but I really am digging this tune.

I am so happy for Whitney.

good for her ,the main songs I like is call you tonight and worth it

errant said:

Different ears, I guess. Bland can mean good, but if meant negatively, it means not highly flavored, tasteless, lacking in special interest or liveliness, insipid, dull, unemotional. I find nothing bland about Donna Summer's Crayons. Maybe if it was a set of songs that all sounded the same with no emotion in the delivery, I would call it bland. Different ears, I guess. Crayons has been referred to many times as a very modern sounding collection of songs from a vocalist whose counterparts have opted to do standard songs. Maybe you were expecting more from Donna. I never expect more from her. I just love what she does, regardless. I guess that's the difference between us.
[Edited 9/10/09 16:23pm]