MAYER IS MAJOR

The singer-songwriter-guitarist-Twitterer debuts at #1 with Battle Studies, his fourth Columbia Records studio album and first since 2006’s Continuum, with 301k in sales.

Decca’s Andrea Bocelli continues to be the season’s gift that keeps on giving, as My Christmas remains at #2, up 39%, with 192k and ready to dominate the holiday landscape.

Blue Note’s Norah Jones is the next-best debut at #3, with The Fall bowing at #3, nabbing 177k, followed by three newcomers in Shady/Aftermath/Interscope rapper 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct (#4), Provident/Reunion Christian stalwarts Casting Crowns’ Until the Whole World Hears (#5) and Island/IDJ teen superstar and heartthrob Justin Bieber’s My World (#6).

Alex Patsavas’ Chop Shop/Atlantic Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack is up a whopping 112% at #7, with 107k, giving this week’s chart seven albums in six figures.

19/Jive/ZLG Idol winner Kris Allen is the other Top 10 debut, at #10, while Epic’s Michael Jackson This Is It (#8) and 19/Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood (#9) round out the leaders.

Other Top 50 bows are registered by Interscope inter-generational rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures (#12), J Records/RMG’s Leona Lewis (#13), Hear Music’s Paul McCartney live CD/DVD Good Evening New York (#17), Interscope’s OneRepublic (#21), A&M/Interscope’s Janet Jackson Number Ones (#22), American Gramaphone Christmas perennials Mannheim Steamroller (#28) and KTCZ’s Cities 97 Sampler (#31).

Provident/Reunion’s Casting Crowns see their previous album move to #14, up 85%, followed by double-digit gainers Josh Groban (#32-23, +67%), Mercury Nashville’s Sugarland (#36, +65%) and Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean (#42, +10%).

Hitting retail this past Monday were big guns like Columbia’s Susan Boyle, 19/RCA/RMG’s Adam Lambert, Def Jam/IDJ’s Rihanna, Interscope’s Lady Gaga EP and Epic’s Shakira.