Hilary Duff still ‘Most Wanted’ on US charts
Margo Whitmire

LOS ANGELES (Billboard)—Teen pop star Hilary Duff found her “Most Wanted” greatest hits set atop the U.S. album charts for a second week Wednesday. The Hollywood Records release sold 101,000 copies in the week ended August 28, according to data collected by Nielsen SoundScan.
The 19th instalment of “NOW! That’s What I Call Music” (EMI Group/Universal/Sony BMG/Zomba/Capitol) compilation series rose two places to No. 2 with sales of 96,000 units, while Mariah Carey’s “The Emancipation of Mimi” (Island/Def Jam) held at No. 3 for a second week with 89,000. The Black Eyed Peas’ “Monkey Business” (A&M/Interscope) rose two places to No. 4 with 85,000 copies.
A quiet week for debuts saw Jim Jones’ “Harlem: Diary of a Summer” (Koch) the only top tier entry this week. The rapper earned his highest Billboard 200 chart position with a No. 5 bow, based on a career-best sales week of 74,000 copies, which also puts “Harlem” on top of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list.
Jones, who is a member of hip-hop collective the Diplomats, last year debuted and peaked at No. 18 with the solo effort “On My Way to Church.” That album moved 44,000 units in its first week and has so far sold 200,000. Back on the big chart this week, Brad Paisley’s “Time Well Wasted” (Arista Nashville) slid four places to No. 6 with 70,000 copies, while Young Jeezy’s “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101” (Def Jam) rose three to No. 7 with 61,000.
Rounding out the top 10, Gorillaz’s “Demon Days” (Parlophone/Virgin) motored six places to No. 8 with 52,000; Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” (RCA) held the No. 9 slot for a fourth week with 51,000; and Green Day’s “American Idiot” (Reprise) rebounded three to No. 10 with 51,000 units. Although both Clarkson and Green Day have matching rounded totals, the former “American Idol” trumps the punk trio by about 200 copies.
Crazy Frog, the computer animated character that has caused a sensation overseas, is staking its claim on U.S. shores. “Crazy Frog Presents Crazy Hits” (Next Plateau/Universal) entered the Billboard 200 at No. 19 with sales of 40,000 copies. The set includes a reworked version of Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F,” a former U.K. chart-topper. Trick Pony’s “R.I.D.E.” sold 34,000 copies to open at No. 20 on The Billboard 200 and No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The trio’s third disc and first for Curb after two Warner Bros. releases netted its career-best placing on either chart, as well as its first top 10 on the country tally.
Also starting out in the big chart’s top 50 were Neal McCoy’s “That’s Life” (903 Music, No. 32); Jack’s Mannequin’s “Everything in Transit” (Maverick, No. 37); and Fear Factory’s “Transgression” (Calvin, No. 45). Indie rock act the New Pornographers also made a big splash with the Matador album “Twin Cinema” at No. 44; the Canadian group’s last set, “Electric Version,” peaked at No. 196 in 2003.