USHERING IN A #1

The LaFace/ZLG soul superstar's Here I Stand is on track to debut at #1 on next Tuesday's HITS Album sales chart, with a one-week total of 435-450k, which would bring it in range of Mariah Carey's 476k on her Island/IDJ album E=MC2 for the year's best debut.

That'll be more than enough to turn back last week's chart-topper, Universal Republic's 3 Doors Down, which will settle in at 65-70k at #2.

New Line's Sex and the City soundtrack will be the week's other top debut, with a total of between 40-45k, good for #3, as the much-hyped film version of the hit HBO series opens nationwide tomorrow.

Reprise/Rhino's Frank Sinatra best-of compilation, Nothing But the Best, remains in the Top 5, with 35-40k at #4.

J's Leona Lewis is in at #5, at 33-38k, while Mercury/IDJ Brit pop diva Duffy drops only 15-20% in her third week with Rockferry, moving up to #6 in the 33-38k range.

Remaining UGK member Bun B's Rap-a-Lot/Asylum solo effort, II Trill, is right behind that with 33-38k, the same as Madonna's WB album, Hard Candy, and Island/IDJ's Carey with E=MC2 approaching one million in sales.

Atlantic's Death Cab For Cutie continues in the Top 10 with 30-35k in sales, followed by the week's other debut, Blue Note's Al Green collaboration with The Roots'
?uestLove, Lay It Down, in the same ballpark.