Fans of deceased singer Michael Jackson have been flooding into record stores in the United States, with the icon set to hold nine of the Top Ten places on the Billboard chart.
Michael Jackson remains a global phenomenon, in spite of years of mystery, rumour and allegations. The singer emerged from the Motown stable to become the biggest star in the United States, shattering the colour barrier with his incredible pop.
Teaming up with Quincy Jones for a stunning series of albums, the pair would dominate the musical landscape like few before them. After the success of ‘Thriller’ Jackson became an icon on the scale of Elvis Presley, with his inventive use of video breaking new ground.
Since then, however, fans have had little else to cheer. Jackson’s behaviour became odder, more unpredictable with the singer locking himself away in the Neverland ranch. Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday (June 25th) ended a career that was unjustly frittered away.
Already in Britain we have seen the sensational sales figures prompted by grief for Michael Jackson. Fans have bought his back catalogue, with Jackson occupying 43 positions on the Top 200.
Over on the albums chart, the singer raced back to number one with his greatest hits collection ‘Number Ones’. With the charts in the United States set to be released today, it seems inevitable that Jackson’s success will be replicated in his homeland.
Early reports suggest that Michael Jackson will occupy nine of the spaces in the Top Ten. ‘Number Ones’ is due to be top, after selling a total of 108,000 copies since his death. All told, eight studio albums and a compilation are set to crash into the Top Ten.
The only non-Jackson related album in the Billboard Top Ten is a re-issue of the ‘Woodstock’ soundtrack.
Currently, ‘Thriller’ is the best selling album of all time in the United States. Due to re-enter the charts at number two, Jackson’s solo albums have sold in excess of 415,000 in the United States since the singer’s death.
The full Billboard charts are due to be released later today (July 1st).
