BY GEORGE, HE’S GOT IT

His latest MCA Nashville album, Twang, bows at the top of the HITS sales chart with 157k. His last release, Troubadour, also entered at #1 with 168k in sales back in April, 2008.

Strait displaces the late Michael Jackson from the top spot, as Number Ones dips to #2, with 81k, while Essential remains the only other King of Pop entry in the Top 10 at #6.

Columbia’s Neil Diamond CD/DVD, Hot August Night/NYC, takes the momentum from Friday night’s primetime CBS showing to debut at #3 with an impressive 60k for this Wal-Mart exclusive.

Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic pop-rock band Cobra Starship’s Hot Mess takes the heat from its hit single, “Good Girls Go Bad,” with Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, to bow at #5, the only other newcomer to the Top 10.

Interscope’s Black-Eyed Peas (#4, +3%), RCA/RMG’s Kings of Leon (#7), 19/RCA/RMG’s Daughtry (#8), Sony Music’s Now 31 (#9) and Columbia’s Maxwell (#10) round out the leader board.

Counting the two Jackson albums, Columbia/Epic Label Group boss Rob Stringer boasts a very nifty five of the Top 10.

Other chart bows this week go to Valory Music Group/Big Machine’s Country singer/songwriter Justin Moore (#12), E1 Entertainment rap supergroup Slaughterhouse (#21), Mercury country-pop pin-up Jessie James (#24) and Concord’s Creedence Clearwater Revival Starbucks compilation, Opus Collection (#37). Epic’s The Fray (#40) and Capitol Nashville’s Keith Urban (#49) both re-enter.

Walt Disney’s Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack is up 19% as the week’s leading gainer, with Fox's Teen Choice Awards and today's DVD release both factors—not to mention Miley Cyrus’ much-YouTubed pole dance. Sire’s (500) Days of Summer soundtrack (#48, +11%) and Motown’s Jackson 5 compilation (#47, +10%) are also up double-digits.

This week’s major releases include Valory Music Group’s Reba McEntire, VP/Atlantic’s Sean Paul, RED Distribution’s Third Eye Blind, Verve’s former Grammy Best New Artist nominee Ledisi and Victory's OTEP.