Ludacris Controls Janet

Wed., Oct. 4, 2006 3:05 PM PDT by David Jenison

Something funny happened on Janet Jackson's way back to number one. Make that something Ludacris...

The rapper-actor's fifth album, Release Therapy, edged out Jackson's 20 Y.O., to lead four albums in the top five and end the two-week reign of Jackson's partner in wardrobe malfuction, Justin Timberlake.

Release Therapy sold 309,000 copies to 297, 000 copies of 20 Y.O for the week ended Sunday, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures.

Ludacris, who will perform next month on Saturday Night Live, ruled the Billboard 200 on the strength of his new smash single, "Money Maker," which itself topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Mainstream Songs and Rhythmic/Top 40 radio charts. Since his last album, 2004's chart-topping Red Light District, the Atlanta-based rapper also made an impact on the big screen with roles in the acclaimed films Crash and Hustle & Flow.

Early predictions had Jackson topping Ludacris, in large part because her Oprah appearance last week gave the singer an early sales boost. But a late charge by Ludacris wound up extending Janet Jackson's streak as a runner-up.

Both of her albums released after the Super Bowl XXXVIII have opened at number two--all her previous studio albums debuted at number one stretching back to 1986's Control. Her last album, 2004's Damita Jo sold 381,000-in its first week. Her last number one album, 2001's All for You, had given the singer a career-best 605,000-copy first week.

Tony Bennett, meanwhile, sold 202,000 copies of Duets: An American Classic to open at number three. The disc pairs the 80-year-old master with the likes of Elvis Costello, Celine Dion, Paul McCartney and Tim McGraw.

Another Jackson, country singer Alan Jackson, saw his Alison Krauss-produced Like Red on a Rose bloom at number four on 149,000 copies, just beating Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds, which fell to number five with 147,000.

The week's fifth and final Top 10 entrant was Weird Al Yankovic's Straight Outta Lynwood, which moved 73,000. Yankovic waxes satiric on such cuts as "White & Nerdy" and "Canadian Idiot," though a James Blunt-approved parody of "You're So Beautiful" got a late axe from Blunt's record label, Atlantic Records.

Outside the Top 10, Christian music purveyor Chris Tomlin praised his way to 15 with See the Morning selling 47,000. New York disco-glam act Scissor Sisters checked in at 19, selling 42,000 copies of their sophomore album, Ta-Dah (which has already topped the U.K. charts ).

Also notching strong first weeks: Saosin's self-titled selling 35,000 copies at 22 and High School Musical graduate Vanessa Anne Hudgens' debut, V, selling just under that amount at 24.

Other notable chart newcomers included Jerry Lee Lewis' Last Man Standing at 26, Luny Tunes & Tainy's Los Benjamins at 30, the Dave Matthews Band's Live Trax Vol. 6 at 37, James Boney's Shine at 44 and American Idol finalist Mario Vazquez's eponymous debut at 80.

Here's a rundown of the Top 10:

1. Release Therapy, Ludacris
2. 20 Y.O., Janet Jackson
3. Duets: An American Classic, Tony Bennett
4. Like Red on a Rose, Alan Jackson
5. FutureSex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake
6. Continuum, John Mayer
7. Extreme Behavior, Hinder
8. A Thousand Different Ways, Clay Aiken
9. The Dutchess, Fergie
10. Straight Outta Lynwood, Weird Al Yankovic