Music Sales: Red, White, Blue, Green

America has patriotism on its mind and in its ears, judging by the enthusiasm with which people are gobbling up patriotically minded records issued since Sept. 11.

“As far as consumers are concerned, there’s a huge demand right now,” says Scott Levin of the Musicland-Sam Goody retail chain. “I have the feeling the country will continue to be very patriotic, even through Christmas. Music’s been a big part of our heritage for hundreds of years, and that’s not going to change.”

Still, retailers and record executives will be watching this week’s sales figures closely to see what happens with two records that have been big sellers recently.

Whitney Houston’s newly reissued 1991 recording of “The Star Spangled Banner” debuted at No. 2 on the national singles sales chart last week, after selling 19,000 copies. Country singer Lee Greenwood’s “American Patriot” album, which includes his 1984 recording of “God Bless the U.S.A.,” is keeping everyone at Capitol Nashville scurrying to keep up with demand. It sold 51,000 copies last week, more than double the previous week’s figure of 22,000. Compare that to the week before Sept. 11, when Greenwood’s album sold 258 copies, according to SoundScan.

Consumers will have several more releases to choose from as the holiday season approaches. Sony Music is releasing the Houston and Greenwood tracks with 13 others on a compilation album arriving next week. A new version of “America the Beautiful” just recorded by Celine Dion will be complemented by Frank Sinatra’s 1945 recording of the same tune. John Mellencamp contributes a previously unreleased live acoustic version of his song “Peaceful World.”

Among the other songs on Sony’s album are two that appeared on Clear Channel Communications’ list of “potentially offensive” songs circulated to radio programmers at more than 1,000 Clear Channel-owned stations in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks: Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” (although Clear Channel cited the Peter, Paul & Mary version on its guide sheet) and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

“Bridge” also figures to be part of the album still being assembled from the Sept. 21 all-star multi-network telethon “America: A Tribute to Heroes.” A label deal hadn’t been completed as of Friday, but there is apparently thought of a double CD featuring both music from the show and comments by some of the actors who served as hosts.

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Compiled by Times Staff Writers