TWILIGHT SCARES UP SALES

The movie, based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling series of books, opens Nov. 21 in theaters nationally and is expected to be one of the holiday season’s big box office hits.

The album beats out two-time champ AC/DC’s Columbia album, Black Ice, still flying out of Wal-Mart locations nationwide, this week to the tune of 160k, good for #2.

Walt Disney’s High School Musical: Senior Year soundtrack is the only other entry to break six figures, scoring 107k, which places it in third.

Universal Republic red state rockers Hinder are one of three other debuts in the Top 10, landing at #4, with 82k, as their new album tries to Take it to the Limit. Decca’s Andrea Bocelli (#7) and Arista Nashville’s Brad Paisley (#9) are the other newcomers to the front ranks.

LaFace/ZLG’s P!nk (#5), Columbia’s John Legend (#6), Grand Hustle/Atlantic’s T.I. (#8) and Lyric Street’s Rascal Flatts (#10) round out the leader board.

One-time A Tribe Called Quest rap icon Q-Tip returns with his Universal Motown album, Renaissance, which enters at #12.

Other Top 50 first-timers include Manhattan’s Sarah Brightman (#38), Universal Motown’s Shiny Toy Guns (#47) and Columbia’s Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Album (#48).

Sony Classical’s Yo-Yo Ma (#20) re-enters the chart, thanks to its first week of availability at Starbucks retail outlets.

Double-digit gainers include Warner Bros. Nashville’s Faith Hill (#36-26, +37%), Big Machine’s Taylor Swift (#33-23, +30%) and Hollywood’s Miley Cyrus (#48-40, +30%).

Others in the black: Hollywood’s Jonas Brothers (#21, +9%), Decca’s Mamma Mia! (#33, +9%), Def Jam/IDJ’s Young Jeezy (#24, +8%), Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Lil Wayne (#18, +7%), Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland (#27, +6%), RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon (#36, +6%), Word’s Wow Hits 2009 (#34, +5%) and 19/Arista/RMG’s Carrie Underwood (#44, +2%).

Hitting the streets today are Big Machine’s Taylor Swift, Jive/ZLG’s T-Pain and David Archuleta, UMe’s Now, Warner Bros.’ Enya and RCA/RMG’s Christina Aguilera greatest hits, a Target exclusive title.