Michael Jackson will hold down the top 3 spots on the American chart this week.
‘The Essential Michael Jackson’, ‘Number Ones’ and ‘Thriller’ are expected to make up the top 3 spots when the chart is released later this week.Outside of the top 10, ‘Off The Wall’ is tracking well for a top 20 position, while ‘Bad’ and ‘Dangerous’ will be in the Top 30.
Although Jackson will be clearly the biggest seller of the week it will not be reflected in the Billboard chart. Billboard will register the sales as "catalogue" sales and not include them in the general chart ever though the Jackson titles will outsell their published number 1.
Stores have reported sales of Jackson albums not seen since the death of John Lennon. Lennon’s murder in 1980 prompted fans to stock up on holes in their collection and the Jackson death is having a similar impact at retail.
In the USA, iTunes has 5 Michael Jackson albums in the top 10.
The Essential Michael Jackson (1)
Number Ones (2)
Thriller (3)
Off The Wall (4)
Thriller 25th Anniversary (10)
The iTunes singles chart features
Man In The Mirror (1)
The Way You Make Me Feel (4)
Billie Jean (5)
Black Or White (7)
Smooth Criminal (8)
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough (10)
Meanwhile at Amazon.com, Michael Jackson owns the Top 10:
Thriller 25th Anniversary (1)
Off The Wall (2)
Bad (3)
The Ultimate Collection (4)
Number Ones (5)
Dangerous (6)
The Essential Michael Jackson (8)
History Vol 1 (9)
Invincible (10)
