Sony Classical's Hairspray bursts back onto the chart at No. 6, and Angel's The Color Purple makes its way back at No. 13. The recordings reach their 56th and 53rd weeks on the chart, respectively.

Decca Broadway's Wicked maintains its stronghold on the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Cast Album chart. Rhino's Jersey Boys is followed by Mamma Mia! and Spring Awakening (both on Decca Broadway) for a second week in the same positions with the Decca Broadway original 1982 Dreamgirls release edging up two spots to round out the top five.

Along with Wicked and Mamma Mia!, the cast recordings of Avenue Q and Monty Python's Spamalot have remained on Billboard's Top Cast Album Chart for the full 60 weeks since the chart's inception.

The release of Stephen Schwartz's Wicked has topped the chart for 54 of the 60 weeks the chart has been published. The recording has dominated the spot, only being toppled by the Columbia Records two-disc "Harry On Broadway" release (with Broadway's The Pajama Game revival and selections of Connick, Jr.'s Thou Shalt Not) and The Color Purple for one week each. Jersey Boys had a four-week run at No. 1 following its big Tony win and reclaimed the top spot for the week of Feb. 8.

* Billboard added the Top Cast Albums chart to its listings Jan. 12, 2006. Stephen Schwartz' Wicked — which opened on Broadway in October 2003 (album released Dec. 16, 2003) — appeared at the top of the first chart. The chart measures sales of albums from stage musicals. Broadway recordings mostly fill the 15-slot table, but cast albums from other locales are also eligible. The addition of the chart to Billboard's 112 charts generates exposure for the genre which does not often chart on the Billboard 200.

Billboard can be found on the web at www.billboard.com. Full charts are available by subscription at www.billboard.biz.