Check out this weeks New Zealand music chart which premieres Saturday nights at 6pm on C4.
Surf’s Up
Hawaii-born surfer / singer / songwriter Jack Johnson does what he does best here, open on top with a new studio album. To The Sea is Johnson’s fifth studio set and sixth New Zealand #1 album.
In total he’s had seven albums make our charts, kicking off in 2002 with Brushfire Fairytales, with just last year’s live En Concert failing to make the Top10, placing at #32 for a solitary frame.
It sees Johnson draw level with Eminem, the Bee Gees, Pearl Jam, Rod Stewart and Elton John as the third most capped Album Chart-topping acts here. Two acts (Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson) share second place with nine penthouse dwellers apiece but it will be a while before any act gets close to all-time champ, Irish supergroup U2 and their 13 chart-toppers here.
Johnson is currently preparing for a world tour that includes Godzone later in the year.
Veterans On Tour
As the nature of income earning from music evolves, veteran acts are well represented on the live touring front these days and, often, as a consequence they also make a reappearance on the charts.
Steven Georgiou, better known by his stage name Cat Stevens – and now known as Yusuf Islam – plays in Auckland and Christchurch at the end of the month. Although having previously played live in Australia 36 years ago, incredibly these are his very first New Zealand shows.
Chart album number eight returns him to the list for the first time in 10 years as 2003 compilation The Very Best Of Cat Stevens, repackaged with a DVD, lands at #17.
Stevens charted two albums on the very first Official NZ Album Chart in May 1975 (Teaser And The Firecat and Tea For The Tillerman), giving him a chartspan of 35 years and one month.
Five of Cat’s eight chart albums have been compiles (Greatest Hits, #10 in 1975, Greatest Hits Volume 2, #9 in 1982 and a different Very Best Of, his sole #1 in 1990 and Remember Cat Stevens: The Ultimate Collection, #5 in 2000). The latter has the same tracks as the new issue.
Recent tourists James Taylor and Carole King place Live At The Troubadour at #37 this week. That show, reprising a 1970 gig they played together at the legendary LA venue, was the springboard for the shows here. It gives Rock N Roll Hall of Famer King just a second charting album here and Taylor a fifth.
The New Singles
#15 Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me
Twenty-two-year-old American newcomer Mike Posner looks Justin Timberlake-ish in his Cooler Than Me vid. He brings the track into this week’s hit list at #15, higher than any other new entry.
#38 Adam Lambert – If I Had You
American Idol series eight runner up Adam Lambert makes it a hit trio as If I Had You joins the list at #38. His For Your Entertainment debut album has just had a makeover and sits at #6 on the Albums survey this week. His second hit, Top10er Whatya Want From Me?, sits at #27 in its 17th week in the Top40.
The New Albums
#1 Jack Johnson – To The Sea
See story above.
#9 Original Soundtrack – The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Preceding the movie by three weeks, and just as the final book in the series hits stores, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse debuts at #9. All Twilight soundtracks have gone Top10 here. Franchise lead set Twilight topped the charts in 2008 while The Twilight Saga: New Moon made #2 last year. Twilight was a big winner at the just-held MTV Movie awards.
#17 Cat Stevens – The Very Best Of Cat Stevens
See story above.
#24 Katie Melua – The House
It’s fifth time into the Albums Chart for Russian-born, English-domiciled Katie Melua. Four have been studio albums while last time out the comp The Katie Melua Collection made #27 18 months back. This week The House is new at #24. Melua’s highest charter here remains the 2004 #4 Call Off The Search.
#37 Carole King And James Taylor – Live At The Troubadour
See story above.You can contact Andrew at:
andrewmiller@radioscope.co.nz