Santana’s ‘Supernatural’ Gets Grammy Nods Boost

In a smooth move, Santana’s “Supernatural” reclaims the top spot on the nation’s album charts--just in time for the Grammys. The collection, which garnered an armful of Grammy nominations and appears to be the favorite to win best album, climbs a notch to No. 1 with sales of 217,000 copies last week, and the disc is closing in on 6 million in total sales. Last week’s No. 1, D’Angelo’s “Voodoo,” slides down to No. 4 after logging two weeks at the top.

Dr. Dre is also enjoying chronic success with “Dr. Dre 2000,” which sold 180,000 units on the week and climbs to No. 2 after dipping as low as No. 18 shortly after its debut in December. The album has sold 2.8 million copies to date and is defying the tendency of rap albums to arrive on the charts with a bang and then slide quickly.

The highest debut of the week (No. 7) was claimed by Wu-Tang Clan stalwart Ghostface Killah, whose new album, “Supreme Clientele,” features guest turns from Redman, Method Man and Cappadonna.

The impact of the looming Grammys, which will be held at Staples Center on Wednesday, can already be charted throughout this week’s tally of the best sellers, which are compiled from SoundScan sales data. For instance, soul singer Macy Gray’s disc “On How Life Is” was unable to crack the Top 40 before her best new artist nomination was announced last month, but sales juice from the nod helped her climb nine more notches this week to land at No. 18. Debuting right behind her, at No. 19, is a sampler of this year’s nominees called “2000 Grammy Pop Nominees.”

On the singles chart, Mariah Carey’s “Thank God I Found You” holds strong at No. 1 for the third consecutive week, while Santana’s collaboration with Wyclef Jean, “Maria Maria,” lands at No. 2. Surging 70 spots to land at No. 3 is “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart,” the newest offering from Britney Spears, another Grammy nominee for best new artist.