Norah Jones leads U.S. pop charts

File photo shows Norah Jones performing at the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit in New York, September 17, 2005. Jones' first album in three years opened at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday, but its first-week sales were less than half those of its predecessor, according to Billboard. [Reuters/Chip East]

LOS ANGELES  - Jazz singer/pianist Norah Jones' first album in three years opened at No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts Wednesday, but its first-week sales were less than half those of its predecessor, according to Billboard.

Observers had hoped that "Not Too Late" would provide some rare good news for the ailing music business given Jones' broad appeal to both connoisseurs as well as to casual fans who might make their increasingly rare CD purchases at a Starbucks than at a traditional outlet; instead, its early performance is another sign that things are not about to improve anytime soon for the piracy-ravaged industry.

The Blue Note Records release sold 405,000 copies in the week ended February 4, according to data collected by Nielsen SoundScan. Jones' last album, "Feels Like Home," debuted at No. 1 in February 2004 with 1.02 million copies; her 2002 debut, "Come Away With Me" reached the top the following year.

Right behind Jones was last season's "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee with her self-titled debut, which sold 116,000 copies. Fellow "Idol" contestant Chris Daughtry remained at No. 3 with his eponymous band's self-titled debut, which sold 77,000 copies.

New at No. 4 was Celtic Woman's "A New Journey" with 71,000 copies. The album becomes the group's third No. 1 on Billboard's Top World Albums chart.

Last week's No. 1, Pretty Ricky's "Late Night Special," dropped to No. 5 with 62,000. Akon's "Konvicted" inched up one to No. 6 with 56,000, while the Shins' "Wincing the Night Away" slid six places to No. 8 with 53,000.

Robin Thicke's "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" slipped one to No. 9 with 52,000. The "2007 Grammy Nominees" album fell six to No. 10 with 48,000.

Harry Connick, Jr.'s "Oh, My Nola" arrived at No. 11 with 44,000 and also opened at No. 1 on the Top Jazz Albums chart, his ninth chart-topper there. Right behind at No. 12 was Jill Scott's "Collaborations," which sold about 100 fewer copies than "Oh, My Nola."

In a week filled with debuts, Madonna's "The Confessions Tour" CD/DVD began at No. 15 with 40,000, while the "Totally Country Vol. 6" compilation started at No. 18 with 37,000. U.K. newcomer Lily Allen landed at No. 20 with her "Alright, Still," which sold 34,000.

Indie rock band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-released sophomore album, "Some Loud Thunder," debuted at No. 47 with 19,000 copies. The group's self-titled 2005 debut never appeared on the big chart but went on to sell 126,000 copies.

Album sales were up 10% from last week's total at 9.37 million units, but down 14.6% from the same week in 2006.