Week Ending Feb. 21, 2010: A Top Three With A Twist
Paul Grein's Chart Watch
For the first time in chart history, the top three albums on The Billboard 200 are all by mixed-gender groups. Sade's Soldier Of Love holds at #1 for the second week, Lady Antebellum's Need You Now holds at #2 for the second week and the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. rebounds from #8 to #3. Helen Adu fronts Sade, Hillary Scott is the female member of Lady Antebellum and Fergie is a key Pea.
By holding at #1 for a second week, Soldier Of Love equals the mark set in February 1986 by Sade's sophomore album, Promise.
Pop Quiz: What was the most successful album ever by a mixed-gender group?
Quiz Answer: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is the most successful album ever by a mixed-gender group. The blockbuster logged 31 weeks at #1 in 1977-1978. In second place: Prince & the Revolution's Purple Rain, which spent 24 weeks at #1 in 1984-1985. In third: No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom, which had nine weeks on top in 1996-1997.