Jimi Hendrix Set For Highest-Charting Album in 44 Years

The Associated Press, Friday, March 8, 2013, 4:00pm (PST)

Billboard -- Rock legend Jimi Hendrix's new archival album, "People, Hell and Angels," is set to debut at No. 2 on next week's Billboard 200 chart -- so say industry sources. The album might sell around 70,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, March 10.

The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Wednesday, March 13.

The new album contains 12 previously unreleased studio recordings completed by Hendrix between 1968 and 1970. The singer/songwriter/guitarist died on Sept. 18, 1970.

If the title opens at No. 2, it will mark Hendrix's highest-charting album since 1968, when "Electric Ladyland" spent two weeks at No. 1. Hendrix most recently visited the top 10 of the chart when another from-the-vaults album, 2010's "Valleys of Neptune," debuted and peaked at No. 4.

As for who will be No. 1 next week: We earlier reported that country star Luke Bryan is on course for his first chart-topper. His new compilation "Spring Break . . . Here to Party" may sell around 120,000 copies.

Bryan and Hendrix look like they'll be the only new entries in the top 10 next week. The week after that, we'll see perhaps significant bows from David Bowie ("The Next Day"), Bon Jovi ("What About Now"), the "Sound City" soundtrack and Mindless Behavior's "All Around the World."

On SoundScan's Building chart (below), Bryan is No. 1 while Hendrix is No. 2. The Building tally is a precursor to the final Billboard 200 ranking -- reflecting the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week as reported by six major merchants.

As for the rest of the Building chart's top 10: Josh Groban's "All That Echoes" is No. 3, followed by Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox," the "Now 45" album and Tim McGraw's "Two Lanes of Freedom" at Nos. 4-6, respectively. In the No. 7 slot is Mumford & Sons' "Babel," followed by Rihanna's "Unapologetic," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "The Heist" and Florida Georgia Line's "Here's to the Good Times" at Nos. 8-10.

Nielsen SoundScan Building ChartRankLW BB 200ArtistTitle1NEWLuke Bryan"Spring Break . . . Here to Party"2NEWJimi Hendrix"People, Hell & Angels"38Josh Groban"All That Echoes"41Bruno Mars"Unorthodox Jukebox"56Various Artists"Now 45"621Tim McGraw"Two Lanes of Freedom"73Mumford & Sons"Babel"84Macklemore & Ryan Lewis"The Heist"99Rihanna"Unapologetic"1018Florida Georgia Line"Here's to the Good Times"The Building Chart reflects the first four days (Monday through Thursday) of SoundScan's tracking week (which ends Sunday) as reported by six major merchants: iTunes, Trans World Entertainment, Best Buy, Starbucks, Target and Anderson Merchandisers. Billboard estimates that they make up about 85% of all U.S. album sales.

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Find more online: Billboard.com