The biggest winners on the Billboard 200 for the last week? Compilations.
Two top the charts this week. First, there's the Guardians of The Galaxy soundtrack, comprised of a list of '70's pop songs featured on protagonist's Peter Quill's mixtape. The album debuted at no. 3 last week but jumped up to no. 1 by selling 109,000 copies in its second week. That makes it the second soundtrack to top the Billboard 200 this year (following Frozen), making this the first year since 2009 that two film accompaniments have placed at no. 1. Notably, Guardians of The Galaxy doesn't feature any original music, a draw that Frozen possesses.
Now 51 is the second compilation, coming in at no. 2 with 91,000 in sales. Every record released in the series has debuted in the Top 10 so far. The new version features tracks such as Iggy Azalea's "Fancy," Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" and Ariana Grande's "Problem."
Those who want to hear some new music on their new albums will have to wait for no. 3, where Godsmack and 1000HP come in with 58,000 units moved. It's the band first album since 2000 not to debut at no. 1, but those sales still ain't bad. Spoon also delivers an album of originals, as They Want My Soul debuts at no. 4 with 39,000 in sales.
Then come a few returnees: 5 Seconds of Summer stays in the Top 5 for a third week, moving 36,000 more copies of its self-titled album. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers sold another 34,000 copies of last week's no. 1, Hypnotic Eye, good enough for no. 6 this week. The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale by Eric Clapton and friends falls to no. 7 with 29,000 copies sold.
The aforementioned Frozen compilation may finally be on its way out, two weeks after ending a 31-week streak in the Top 5. This week the soundtrack falls to no. 8 with 28,000 copies sold. Smith can thank Now 51 for bringing him some more royalties as his In The Lonely Hour also seems to be fading after 8 weeks in the top 10. That album settled at no. 9 with 27,000 copies sold this week.
The last debut, and last album, in the Top 10 this week is The Vamps, which debuts with EP Something To You, which sold 20,000 copies. The entry is interesting as its the fifth EP to debut in the Top 10 this year, compared to zero up to this point during 2013.
