The Billboard 200's top four albums are all debuts this week, led by Drake's "Nothing Was the Same," which launches at No. 1 with 658,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Last Friday, industry sources forecast that the set would start with around 660,000-670,000.

As reported last night (Oct. 1), "Nothing Was the Same" tallies the second-largest sales week of 2013. The only album to sell more this year (so far) is Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience," when it bowed at No. 1 with 968,000 following its release in March.

"Nothing Was the Same" — Drake's third No. 1 album — also marks his personal best sales week. His last album, 2011's "Take Care," started at No. 1 with 631,000. His full-length debut, "Thank Me Later," launched at No. 1 with 447,000 in 2010. The year before that, his debut EP, "So Far Gone," bowed and peaked at No. 6 with sales of 73,000 copies.

This week marks the fourth week in a row that the Billboard 200's top three albums are debuts. It’s the first time that that’s happened in a year. It last occurred on the four charts dated Sept. 22, 2012, through Oct. 13, 2012.

Coming in at No. 2 this week is Kings of Leon's "Mechanical Bull," selling 110,000. It marks the band's third top 10 album, following 2010's "Come Around Sundown" (No. 2 debut and peak with 184,000) and 2008's "Only by the Night" (a No. 5 debut with 74,000 that later peaked at No. 4).

At No. 3, Cher's notches her highest debut ever — and highest-charting solo album — as her new set "Closer to the Truth" bows with 63,000 sold. It’s her first album since 2002's "Living Proof."

Until this week, Cher had never gone higher than No. 4 with her solo albums, reaching that peak with both "Believe" in 1999 and "The Very Best of Cher" in 2003. As one-half of Sonny & Cher, she only went higher once, with 1965's No. 2-peaking "Look at Us." It was stuck in the runner-up slot for eight weeks behind the Beatles' "Help!"

Right behind Cher is another entertainment icon that has been charting for decades: Elton John. His new studio album, "The Diving Board," jumps in with a debut at No. 4 with 47,000 sold. It’s his 18th top 10 album.

Last week's No. 1 album, Jack Johnson's "From Here to Now to You," falls to No. 5 with 37,000 (down 69% in its second week). Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" holds at No. 6, selling 36,000 (down 24%).

Next up: We have three more debuts at Nos. 7, 8 and 9.

Progressive rock band Dream Theater logs its third consecutive top 10 album as its new self-titled set opens at No. 7 with 34,000. It follows 2011's "A Dramatic Turn of Events" (No. 8 debut and peak with 36,000) and 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" (No. 6 debut/peak with 40,000).

Dance trio Krewella arrives at No. 8 with its debut set, "Get Wet," selling 27,000. The act has notched two songs on the Billboard Hot 100 thus far: "Alive" (No. 32 peak) and "Live For the Night" (No. 100).

Metallica is back in the top 10 for the first time since 2008, as its new live album/soundtrack to the movie "Metallica: Through the Never" bows at No. 9 with 26,000. The set is the group's ninth top 10 set overall. The band previously reached the region with "Death Magnetic" (No. 1, 2008), "St. Anger" (No. 1, 2003), "S&M" (No. 2, 1999), "Garage, Inc." (No. 2, 1998), "Reload" (No. 1, 1997), "Load" (No. 1, 1996), "Metallica" (No. 1, 1991) and ". . . And Justice for All" (No. 6, 1988).

Closing out the top 10 is Justin Moore's "Off the Beaten Path," which slips 2-10 in its second week, selling 25,000 (down 74%).

http://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...-billboard-200

Effortlessly snatching pop weaves.

Ew @ Drake.

So happy for my Cher.

I can't believe Cher never went #1. I didn't know

Amazing Drake

Crash My Party

#1. Drake - Nothing Was The Same - 659,000 (659,000)

#15. 2 Chainz - B.O.A.T.S. II #MeTime - 17,000 (115,000)

#19. MMG - MMG Presents: Self Made Vol. 3 - 16,000 (66,000)

#21. The Weeknd - Kiss Land - 15,000 (137,000)

#26. Tamar Braxton - Love & War - 14,000 (183,000)

#27. Jay Z - Magna Carta...Holy Grail - 14,000 (1,004,000)

#47. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady - 9,000 (72,000)

#49. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Heist - 9,000 (1,089,000)

#62. Juicy J - Stay Trippy - 7,000 (114,000)

#67. Elvis Costello & The Roots - Wise Up Ghosts And Other Songs - 6,000 (25,000)

#66. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city - 6,000 (1,046,000)

Yasss Cher, she outdid my predictions

Magna Charta platinum

At No. 3, Cher's notches her highest debut ever — and highest-charting solo album — as her new set "Closer to the Truth" bows with 63,000 sold. It’s her first album since 2002's "Living Proof."



almost 60 years into her career

Magna Carta...Holy Grail PLATINUM .clap3:

Some R&B/Hip-Hop Sales from this week

Blurred Lines gold

Congrats Drake! Does anyone know how much UJ sold this week?

10/1 HITS chart:
(26) 34 BRUNO MARS ATLANTIC 12,701 -3%
UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX

Tamar's album is done.

This week sales of albums from Alternative/Rock bands:

7.(NE) Dream Theater Dream Theater - 33,948
9.(NE) Metallica: Through The Never (Soundtrack) Metallica - 25,354
22.(17) Hail To The King Avenged Sevenfold 15,200 - 256,300
23.(NE) Sammy Hagar & Friends Samy Hagar - 14,874
41.(NE) Rise A Skylit Drive - 10,425
57.(30) Hesitation Marks Nine Inch Nails 8,000 - 150,150
63.(43) The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell: Volume 1 Five Finger Death Punch 6,975 - 238,775
71.(NE) Unblackened Black Label Society - 5,775
83.(NE) Is Survived By Touche Amore - 5,000
104.(20) 8:18 The Devil Wears Prada 3,950 - 20,050
110.(98) Save Rock And Roll Fall Out Boy 3,800 - 404,800
113.(NE) Countdown To Extinction: Live Megadeth - 3,625
128.(129) Paramore Paramore 3,000 - 247,850
131.(114) Rise Skillet 2,900 - 162,950
152.(41) Surgical Steel Carcass 2,400 - 10,900
171.(128) ...Like Clockwork Queens Of The Stone Age 2,150 - 185,250
172.(166) The Strange Case Of... Halestorm 2,125 - 284,150
181.(153) 13 Black Sabbath 2,025 - 316,425
182.(162) Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies Volbeat 2,020 - 130,420
183.(132) Rebel Soul Kid Rock 2,000 - 561,200 (G)
188.(164) From Death To Destiny Asking Alexandria 1,875 - 67,025
190.(100) Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers 2000 - 2013 Rise Against 1,870 - 22,300
194.(173) Sempiternal Bring Me The Horizon 1,850 - 109,175
197.(149) Love Lust Faith + Dreams Thirty Seconds To Mars 1,825 - 107,825

Who else this far into their career?

I am curious about Nelly's "M.O." sales