MONTANA TOPS MANILOW

Walt Disney’s soundtrack to the hit cable series edges out the Copacabana guy himself, topping Arista/RMG’s Barry Manilow by less than 2,000 copies with a total of 202k.

Manilow’s collection of ‘60s classics—and no, it doesn’t include “Satisfaction”—is one of six debuts in this week’s Top 10.

Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Dirty South rap duo Birdman & Lil’ Wayne bow at #3, with Universal Republic legends The Who’s Endless Wire, the Hall of Fame band’s first new studio album in 24 years, landing at #6 with 88k in first-week sales.

BNA/SBMG Nashville’s American Idol contestant Kellie Pickler enters at #8, Maverick/Warner Bros.’ Deftones debuts at #9 and Virgin’s Meat Loaf returns with the final part of his Bat Out of Hell trilogy, The Monster Is Loose, at #10.

Other Top 50 newcomers include TVT’s Pitbull (#16), with strong sales in Puerto Rico, Def Jam/IDJ U.K. rapper Lady Sovereign (#44) and Broken Bow’s Craig Morgan (#47). Disney’s High School Musical and Capitol’s Grammy hopeful for Best New Artist Corinne Bailey Rae (#49) both re-enter the chart.

A&M/Interscope’s Fergie (#23-14, +49%) and Columbia’s Beyonce (#18-13, +48%) are the week’s biggest gainers, with Arista/RMG’s CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood (#24-20, +23%), Lyric Street’s Rascal Flatts (#25, +13%), Disney’s Cheetah Girls 2 soundtrack (#36-29, +12%), Bad Boy/Atlantic’s Danity Kane (#44-37, +11%), Def Jam/IDJ’s Rick Ross (#47-39, +14%) and Virgin’s 30 Seconds to Mars (#50-43, +15%) all showing double-digit increases.

Also noteworthy was the performance of the KISSology DVD set on Fontana-distributed VH1 Classic Records, which debuted at north of 40k despite a list price of almost $30.

Hitting the streets today are Sony Music Group’s Now 23, Capitol Nashville’s Keith Urban, Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland, 143/Reprise’s Josh Groban, RCA’s Dave Matthews Band and Decca/Universal Classics’ Andrea Bocelli.