SOMEWHERE OVER IN RAINBOWS

The physical edition of the disc, available on their own TBD label through Coran Capshaw’s ATO (distributed by RED), sold 116k, enough to make it #1 on HITS’ first Album chart of the year.

Ironically, almost 25% of that total came at digital retail, strange since the album has been available in MP3 form from its original, revolutionary “pay-what-you-want” online release last fall.

That was more than enough to turn back J Records’ diva Alicia Keys, whose As I Am is at #2, with 110k in sales, followed by fellow songstress, Geffen’s Mary J. Blige, at #3 and 80k.

EMM’s Now 26 (#4) and Big Machine’s Grammy New Artist nominee, country teen phenom Taylor Swift (#5) rounds out the leader board.

Rhino’s Juno soundtrack is turning into this year’s Garden State, debuting at #7, largely on the strength of digital sales, since the physical copy is just hitting retail.

The rest of the Top 10 includes Pearl’s Garth Brooks (#6), ERC’s Eagles Wal-Mart exclusive (#8), Universal Republic new artist MySpace success story Colbie Caillat (#9) and Jive/ZLG’s high-stepping Chris Brown (#10).

Juno leads a number of soundtracks in the Top 25, including Razor & Tie’s surprise breakthrough Alvin & the Chipmunks (#11), Nonesuch’s Sweeney Todd (with a #12 debut), Disney’s Hannah Montana 2 (#17) and High School Musical 2 (#21).

Other strong movers include Interscope’s OneRepublic (#14), riding holiday airplay for their smash single, “Apologize,” Fueled by Ramen’s Grammy New Artist nominee Paramore (#23), Hollywood’s Jonas Brothers (#24) and Epic’s Sara Bareilles (#27). Rounder’s critically kudoed Robert Plant & Alison Krauss collab, Raising Sand, also retains its momentum into the new year. (#30).

A couple of the year’s biggest breakthroughs, Universal Republic’s Amy Winehouse (#42) and Interscope’s Feist (#47), continue to rebound, as does RCA Best Album candidate Foo Fighters (#49).

Circle Feb. 5 as the next big release date on tap, with Brushfire/Universal Republic’s Jack Johnson, Interscope’s Sheryl Crow and Virgin’s Lenny Kravitz scheduled to hit the streets.