The Decca Broadway release of Stephen Schwartz's Wicked has topped the chart for 26 of the 31 weeks the chart has been published. The recording has dominated the spot, only being toppled before by the two-disc "Harry" recording and The Color Purple for one week each. Rhino's release of Jersey Boys, following the Four Seasons musical's Tony win, took hold of the top slot for four weeks.

Decca Broadway's Mamma Mia!, Walt Disney Records' recording of the Phil Collins musical Tarzan and The Color Purple (on Angel) rounds out the top five.

Remaining on the chart since its inception (along with Wicked and Mamma Mia!) are the recordings of Monty Python's Spamalot, Hairspray and Avenue Q.

This past season's hits The Drowsy Chaperone (Ghostlight Records), The Wedding Singer (Masterworks Broadway) and Sweeney Todd (Nonesuch) also placed alongside two other Walt Disney Records releases: The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast.

* A recent addition to Billboard's listings, the Top Cast Albums chart debuted in Billboard on 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.

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