The PS Classics Xanadu CD had debuted on the Dec. 20, 2007 chart (at No. 10), solely from pre-sales on the company's website and in the Helen Hayes Theatre lobby. The album — featuring Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Curtis Holbrook, Anika Larsen, Kenita Miller and Andre Ward — officially hit stores Jan. 8.
Decca Broadway's Wicked tops this week's chart with Rhino's Jersey Boys cast recording placing at No. 2.
The new Mel Brooks-Thomas Meehan Broadway musical Young Frankenstein (also on Decca Broadway) and Legally Blonde's original Broadway cast recording (on Ghostlight/Sh-K-Boom) round out the top five.
Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's musical tale Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street — no doubt enjoying a new life because of the Tim Burton film — has remained on the chart for a month. The original Broadway cast recording (Masterworks Broadway), with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou, holds the No. 8 position, while the new Broadway cast recording (Nonesuch), with Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, charts at No. 14.
Along with Wicked, the cast recordings of Mamma Mia! (Decca Broadway), Avenue Q (RCA Victor) and Monty Python's Spamalot (also on Decca) have remained on Billboard's Top Cast Album Chart for the full 107 weeks since the chart's inception. *
Legally Blonde recently joined the company of those that have unseated the release of Stephen Schwartz's Wicked — which has topped the chart for 88 of the 107 weeks the chart has been published. The only other recordings to topple the stronghold are Spring Awakening, 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 has held the top spot on the chart for the most times (15 total weeks) other than constant chart-topper Wicked. The Four Seasons musical had previously enjoyed a four-week run at No. 1 following its Tony Award win as Best Musical and also reclaimed the countdown's lead position the week of Feb. 8. Then prior to its recent four-week streak, it also held the top spot for a six-week run (ending Nov. 8, 2007).
Billboard can be found on the web at www.billboard.com. Full charts are available by subscription at www.billboard.biz.
