Strong Sales Put Chris Stapleton’s “Starting Over” on Top
The momentum behind Chris Stapleton continues as his latest record Starting Over soars to the top of the charts off the back of strong physical sales and streaming numbers. Released on November 13th, the album debuts at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart this week with an impressive number of 102,733 in album sales and streaming equivalents.
Starting Over sold 74,726 physical albums and downloads on the week, and songs from the record were streamed a total of 31.5 million times. There were also over 28,000 in individual song downloads on the week. This was not only good enough for #1 in country, but Starting Over also reached #3 in all of music, edged out just barely by the new AC/DC album Power Up, which ended up at a total of 117,000 albums and equivalents, along with Future and Lil Uzi Vert at #2 with 105,000.
Starting Over gives Chris Stapleton his 4th #1 album in country, with all four of his solo releases now topping the charts. It also comes as Stapleton’s 2015 breakout album Traveller continues to remain near the top of the charts as well. This week the album comes in at #7, with 14,830 in album sales and equivalents, with songs from the album being streamed some 11.8 million times.
Also a big player on the charts recently has been Dolly Parton with her recent Holiday release, a Holly Dolly Christmas. Though it was released back on October 8th, sales continue to be brisk. The title sold another 22,252 copies this week, good for #3 in country. It debuted at #1 when it was first released with 27,000+ in album sales. Luke Combs comes in at #2 in country this week with his most recent album What You See Is What You Get, which sold 42,303 copies in albums and streaming equivalents.
Breaking the 100,000 sales barrier is very rare in the streaming era, as is racking up physical sales nearing 75,000. Starting Over was produced by Dave Cobb, and recorded at Studio ‘A’ in Nashville, with additional recording work done at Muscle Shoals Sound and Compass Sound Studio.
hoptowntiger94
November 25, 2020 @ 10:22 am
It’s a good album. Living with it for awhile, I would have done somethings differently instrumentation wise. Hillbilly Blood just screams some banjo riffs and other songs could use some subtle steel (and maybe less generic R&B sounds in other songs), but that’s just my taste.
Wuk
November 25, 2020 @ 10:51 am
Great album. Maybe his best to date.
Thom's Country Bunker
November 25, 2020 @ 11:11 am
I may have misjudged this LP on first listen. Sure, it ain’t as country as I’d like but scrape away the pop and there’s some fine gumbo underneath.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
November 25, 2020 @ 11:54 am
I am going to take a detour and note the AC/DC reference. Pretty crazy after all of these years for them to have a #1 albeit nothing like their Back in Black numbers which sold 50 million (yes, 50 million!) copies. Angus Young provided one of my favorite music quotes of all time when he said “I am sick and tired of people saying we’ve made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact, we’ve made 12 albums that sound exactly the same”
albert
November 25, 2020 @ 4:21 pm
one of my favourite quotes ever
Kevin Smith
November 25, 2020 @ 6:46 pm
🤣 good quote.. on the AC/DC
Brett Dale
November 25, 2020 @ 2:28 pm
Any word on Garth’s fun numbers?? Haven’t seen them mentioned anyway
at all on any of the sites that follow the numbers.
Trigger
November 25, 2020 @ 2:31 pm
Those will not be available until next week. And because it’s exclusive to Amazon, building charts, iTunes etc. don’t really give us any good indication.
Brett Dale
November 25, 2020 @ 3:03 pm
Oh, hits daily double still include amazon numbers in their final tally though?
Trigger
November 25, 2020 @ 3:11 pm
Amazon numbers will be included in any final tally, but we won’t have that until next Monday. Not sure how dialed in Hits Daily Double is with Amazon.
Buck O'Brien
November 25, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
I’d be surprised if they were very high. Considering the last single from the album left the charts over a year ago, and it’s a fairly mediocre album at that.
Brett Dale
November 25, 2020 @ 3:59 pm
Yeah I don’t expect massive numbers, but will be shocked if he cant sell at least around the 40-50K mark.
wayne
November 25, 2020 @ 2:42 pm
I know it’s props on stage and video, but it seems Chris and his wife really enjoy singing together.
Brett Dale
November 25, 2020 @ 4:01 pm
Well done to Stapleton, always puts out good solid work. One of the best voices for a while in country music.
J
November 25, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
Loving the tunes
Tom Smith
November 25, 2020 @ 4:22 pm
Listening to this a lot over the past couple of weeks.
Team "Hey Arnold"
November 25, 2020 @ 7:53 pm
Wow, Dolly’s 12th Christmas album is beating Carrie Underwood’s only Christmas album?! I will admit, Carrie’s album is super boring, no distinct personality. Nothing about it will be revered for years to come. The 3 originals read like Hallmark cards – Let there be Peace & Hallelujah.
Such a huge let down. Carrie is all voice, but no creativity these days…
– Team “Hey Arnold”
JAH
November 26, 2020 @ 8:36 am
I agree! I have been waiting for a Carrie Underwood Christmas album for years! I just knew she would deliver. Sadly it did not. As you said, very boring.
Team "Hey Arnold"
November 26, 2020 @ 9:34 am
The Brett Eldredge holiday album is incredible!! It’s not country, it’s all Jazz, Swing, big Band. Highly recommended
– Team “Hey Arnold”
wayne
November 26, 2020 @ 2:39 pm
Par for course.
Stefan
November 26, 2020 @ 12:35 am
I don´t know if anyone ist interested, but the album entered the German album charts at #61 We will see if it can beat Traveller, which peaked at #53.
He is the only musician from the Country realm who seems to have a broader appeal over here (if you don´t count Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles ;-))
Daniele
November 26, 2020 @ 7:20 am
saw him in Berlin years ago, traveler tour…..feels like ages ago.
Robert's Country Blog
November 26, 2020 @ 9:03 am
That is very interesting. I’ve seen Chris Stapleton many times here in the US, including a very cool small-venue show he did with Jamey Johnson and others this February. I made a German Country Music playlist that includes some examples from decades ago of American country stars like Johnny Cash, Bobby Bare, Wanda Jackson, and Willie Nelson attempting to sing German versions of their songs. Tom Astor did an album of collaborations with big American acts. If anyone knows some more German country acts to add to my list, please let me know. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkY8-UOMZQ0-1bOAxEBq0vrR8wpoQTFX7
Stefan
November 27, 2020 @ 2:23 am
Wow, I didn´t know that Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson recorded songs in German.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 27, 2020 @ 1:33 am
Must have been his fake assed “cowboy” hat and duster. He has a good voice for rock and R&b. So does Rod Stewart, but do we call him country? No. And neither is Stapleton. (Not saying he shouldn’t be covered here, since he is a darling of Nashville)
Benjamin
December 3, 2020 @ 10:09 am
While I agree that Stapleton is not straight-forward country, he definitely is moreso country with other elements infused than the other way around. I firmly believe he belongs in the genre.