JUVENILE’S CHECK CASHES IN AT #1, BLUNT SMOKES

The legendary label boasts the top two finishers on the chart this week, as New Orleans rapper Juvenile’s Reality Check grabs the #1 spot with 175k-plus in sales, followed by surging U.K. Custard/Atlantic crooner James Blunt, who soared to #2 and 171k (a whopping 174% rise) thanks to singing “You’re Beautiful” to the countless millions of housewives who tune into Oprah, where he performed last week.

Walt Disney Records’ still-strong High School Musical was #3, selling 136k, followed by Or Music/Epic Hasidic reggae toaster Matisyahu, who proves kosher with record buyers after an impressive #4 bow for his studio debut, as Youth racks up almost 120k in sales.

Last week’s chart-topper, Def Jam/IDJ’s Ne-Yo slipped to #5, with a still-healthy 112k in sales, followed by Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, whose Columbia Records solo album entered the charts at #6 and 95k in one-week figures.

The rest of the Top 10 featured perennials like Arista/RMG’s Carrie Underwood (#7), Island/IDJMG’s Johnny Cash compilation (#8), Brushfire/Universal’s Curious George and Wind-Up’s Walk the Line soundtrack (#10).

Aside from Blunt and High School Musical, the only other Top 50 finisher to register double-digit rise in sales was Epic’s Natasha Bedingfield (#47-40, +21%).

Other chart newcomers included Rap-A-Lot/Asylum’s legendary hip-hop icon Scarface (#11), Lost Highway’s Van Morrison (#22), Fueled by Ramen’s Panic! at the Disco (#43), Walt Disney Records’ That’s So Raven Too! soundtrack and Milking Bull/EMI’s Norah Jones-led The Little Willies project (#50). In addition, Virgin’s hot new artist KT Tunstall storms back onto the charts at #44 with her debut Eye to the Telescope.

Albums in-store today that will look to chart next week include Lyric Street/Hollywood’s country-rockers SHEdaisy, Island’s limited edition Fall Out Boy, Warner Bros. rapper E40, Geffen’s Dave Chappelle’s Block Party soundtrack, Reprise’s Donald Fagen and Rhino’s Prince greatest hits compilation.