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BEST OF THE BIGGEST: Chart fans the world over know the name Joel Whitburn. The resident of Menomonee Falls, Wisc. started publishing books that track the Billboard charts some 43 years ago and any chart fanatic worth his or her salt has a library of Whitburn books, including the brand-new 14th edition of Top Pop Singles, which distills stats from the Billboard pop singles chart into an easy-to-look-up format.
At the back of Top Pop Singles, Whitburn compiles a list of the top 500 artists of all time, updating it with each new edition. The just-released 2013 volume lists three American Idol alums among the top 500, each one improving upon their ranking in the previous edition.
The highest-ranked Idol on the list is Kelly Clarkson, who moves up from No. 166 to No. 105. That places her just below Christina Aguilera (No. 100) and Alicia Keys (No. 102) and above the Black Eyed Peas (No. 106), Santana (No. 107) and Johnny Cash (No. 108).
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Also rising on the list is Carrie Underwood, who was No. 205 last time and now ranks No. 150, right below an also-rising Lady Gaga (No. 149) and above Eric Clapton (No. 151), Genesis (No. 152) and LL Cool J (No. 153).
Appearing on the top 500 for the first time is the group Daughtry, named after Chris Daughtry, which debuts at No. 486. That’s one rung below Crosby, Stills and Nash and right above another Nash — Johnny Nash, of “I Can See Clearly Now.”
There are some judges on the top 500 list, too, starting with Mariah Carey at an impressive No. 5, and Steven Tyler is No. 96 as a member of Aerosmith. Jennifer Lopez moves up from No. 147 to No. 118 while Keith Urban climbs from No. 157 to No. 141. Paula Abdul is No. 168. Like Daughtry, Nicki Minaj makes her first appearance on the top 500 at No. 300.
Topping the list are Elvis Presley (No. 1), the Beatles (No. 2) and Madonna (moving up from No. 4 to No. 3).
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THE BIG JUMP: Fantasia is the Idol with the biggest-rising single of the week. “Without Me,” featuring Kelly Rowland and Missy Elliott, takes a big hike up the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, jumping from No. 40 to No. 26. The song also breaks into the top 10 of the R&B Songs chart, advancing two spots, 11 to 9. On Adult R&B, the track jumps from 24 to 19. On the Hot 100, “Without Me” is a new entry at No. 74. All this activity on the single is boosting the parent album, Side Effects of You, which rebounds eight spots, from 59 to 51 on The Billboard 200.
NEWS OF ‘THE WORLD’: For the second week in a row, Phillip Phillips’ The World from the Side of the Moon moves back up the charts. On Top Rock Albums the set returns to the top 10 with a five-spot jump of 14 to 9. On The Billboard 200, the album rebounds 39 to 34. Album sales are being fueled by the popularity of the second single, “Gone, Gone, Gone,” which is up five spots, as well, from No. 29 to No. 24 on Hot 100 Singles Airplay. On the Adult Contemporary tally, “Gone” breaks into the top 10 with a move of 12 to 9. The song makes the greatest airplay gain of any title on the AC list. Phillips now has two songs in the AC top 10, as “Home” slides one spot, 9 to 10.
BITS AND PIECES: Jordin Sparks is close to earning her first Billboard No. 1 as a songwriter. “The Way,” by Ariana Grande, and featuring Mac Miller, marches from No. 4 to 2 on the Rhythmic chart … Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” reverses course on Hot Country Songs, rising a spot, from 12 to 11 … On that same chart, Scotty McCreery’s “See You Tonight” picks up steam, climbing six spots to No. 43 … Mandisa’s “Overcomer” continues its chart conquest, with a 16 to 15 move on the Christian Songs list.
Twitter: @Idol_Worship
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