NEARLY AS DULL AS DISHWATER...BUT NOT QUITE!

Now that’s what we call a hit! Little surprise, but Capitol’s version of Now That’s What I Call Music 19 maintains its hold on the #1 spot on this week’s HITS chart, with the virtual jukebox of summer hits selling 234k copies. Keeping the charts from being as dull as dishwater, however, are the four debuts in this week’s Top 10: Def Jam South/IDJ’s Young Jeezy grabs the #2 spot, with 165k units sold (his elderly aunt, Old Weezy, failed to chart, alas); the sophomore release of Jason Mraz on Elektra/Atlantic’s hitting the chart at #6, with 67k, and J Records/RMG’s Babyface (who, like us all, continues to age but has yet to rename himself Matureface) taking the #10 position, with 55k.

But the biggest surprise/success story of the week is the chart debut of L.A.-based comedian Dane Cook (Comedy Central Records), who was neck-and-neck, sales wise with Mariah Carey (Island/IDJ) all week. Ms. Carey finally edged him out, coming in at #3, with 99k—but Cook came in #4, with a healthy 96k. Remember: this is a comedy record, folks. We may be talking Sam Kinison and George Carlin kinda success here!

“A number of releases debuted near the top of our chart this week,” says Tower’s Kevin Hawkins. “Young Jeezy was impressive. And Jason Mraz did very well, as did Babyface and Lil’ Rob. But the surprise of the week had to be Dane Cook, who easily took the top honors with us this week. Very strong.”

Rounding out the Top 10 are summer stalwarts Coldplay (Capitol), who came in #5, with 75k; A&M/Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas at #7, with 66k; Virgin’s Gorillaz at #8, with 61k fueled by play of “Feel Good Inc.” in five formats, and Jive/ZLG’s R. Kelly at #9, with 58k.

Other notable debuts: Atlantic/ATLG’s Trey Songz at #15, with 44k; Upstairs’ Lil’ Rob at #21, with 37k; Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean at #38k, with 26k, and Artemis’ Ruff Ryders out of the box at #41, with 24k. Look for chart debuts next week from Faith Hill, Teairra Mari (now try spelling that one without looking), Rock-a-Fella Presents and Natasha Bedingfield. Now, feel free to throw out that dishwater...