The latest news in the world of Billboard's definitive sales and airplay charts.
HOLIDAY SPIRIT: Elvis Presley returns to Hot Country Songs for the first time in almost 11 years. Paired with Carrie Underwood on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (RCA) from his "Christmas Duets" album, Presley makes his 67th appearance on this tally, expanding his chart span to 53 years and five months. Presley made his country chart debut while he was still with Sun Records, before he made his pop singles debut on RCA. The first Presley 45 to appear on the country singles chart was "Baby Let's Play House" / "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" in July 1955.
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" is the first Presley title to show up on Hot Country Songs since "Blue Christmas" re-entered and peaked at No. 55 in January 1998.
This is Underwood's 13th chart entry and her first with another artist since her debut single teamed her with Rascal Flatts on a remake of the group's "Bless the Broken Road." Underwood's chart span is slightly shorter than Presley's, at three-and-a-half years.
VIVA LAS VEGAS: Presley isn't the only star who has played the Las Vegas Hilton to have a chart debut this week. Current showstopper Barry Manilow is new at No. 14 on The Billboard 200 with "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties." This is Manilow's 34th album to chart in 34 years and three weeks. He made his album chart debut with "Barry Manilow II" the week of Nov. 23, 1974.
WHAT HAPPENED IN VEGAS: Tom Jones headlined at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, but there are photos of him visiting Elvis Presley in his suite at the Las Vegas Hilton. So make that three Sin City-related debuts this week, as Jones comes roaring back onto The Billboard 200 with "24 Hours" (S-Curve), his highest-charting album in 31 years.
"24 Hours" is new at No. 105. It is Jones' first appearance since "Reloaded – Greatest Hits" landed at No. 127 in November 2003. To find a higher-ranking set than "24 Hours," you'd have to go back to "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow," which peaked at No. 76 in 1977.
"24 Hours" is Tom Jones' 20th album to chart. His newly revised chart span is 43 years, five month and one week, harking back to the debut of "It's Not Unusual" in July 1965.
NO. 1 'SINGLE': Beyonce scores the fifth No. 1 of her solo career on the Hot 100 with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." That ties her with Rihanna for being the solo female artist with the most chart-toppers this decade. Here is a list of Beyonce's first four No. 1 songs:
"Crazy in Love," eight weeks (2003) [Beyonce featuring Jay-Z] "Baby Boy," nine weeks (2003) [Beyonce featuring Sean Paul] "Check On It," five weeks (2006) [Beyonce featuring Slim Thug] "Irreplaceable," 10 weeks (2006)
Beyonce also had four No. 1 songs as a member of Destiny's Child, so she now has more chart-toppers on her own than she did as part of that trio. The four No. 1s by Destiny's Child were:
"Bills, Bills, Bills," one week (1999)
"Say My Name," three weeks (2000)
"Independent Women Part I," 11 weeks (2000)
"Bootylicious," two weeks (2001)
STATE OF INDEPENDENCE: Paul McCartney makes his first appearance on Top Independent Albums as "Electric Arguments" (MPL/ATO), recorded under his identity as the Fireman, debuts at No. 1. This is McCartney's third outing as the Fireman, but this is his first album under that name to chart.
Even if the two previous Fireman sets had charted, they weren't on an independent label. Both were released by Capitol.
"Electric Arguments" also brings the Fireman to The Billboard 200 for the frst time, as the album enters at No 67. Counting all of McCartney's work, this stretches his chart span to 44 years, 10 months and two weeks, dating back to the debut of "Meet the Beatles" in February 1964.
