Morissette Races Grammy Winners

Alanis Morissette’s “Under Rug Swept” entered the national album sales chart at No. 1 on Wednesday, barely holding off a post-Grammy charge by the “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack.

Morissette’s album sold 215,000 copies during its first week in the stores, which gave it an approximately 6,000 sales edge over the traditional country and bluegrass of “O Brother,” which won an armload of Grammys last week, including best album of the year.

Thanks to the Grammy exposure, the soundtrack’s sales increased from 58,000 two weeks ago to 209,000 last week. That surge pushed “O Brother” from No. 15 on the sales chart to No. 2, the album’s highest position since its release in December 2000. The album’s total sales are now more than 4.2 million.

Other Grammy winners who enjoyed dramatic sales increases last week included Alicia Keys (who won five Grammys, including best new artist), U2 (four Grammys, including best record for “Walk On”), Nelly Furtado (female pop vocal) and Bob Dylan (contemporary folk album).

Keys’ “Songs in A Minor” jumped from No. 20 to No. 4; U2’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” moved from No. 28 to No. 10; Furtado’s “Whoa Nelly!” streaked from No. 63 to No.38; and Dylan’s “Love and Theft” soared from No. 175 to No. 72.

Though R&B; singer India.Arie, who had seven nominations, didn’t win an award, the Grammy night exposure still spurred enough interest for her album, “Acoustic Soul,” to jump from No. 32 to No. 14.

Besides Morissette, new albums by Kylie Minogue and Cher also entered the Top 10 this week. Minogue’s “Fever” was No. 3, with sales of 115,000, while Cher’s “Living Proof” was No. 9, based on sales of 82,000.

The remaining positions in the Top 10 were held by Linkin Park (5), Alan Jackson (6), Jennifer Lopez (7) and Ludacris (8).

Of all the albums in the Top 40, Linkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” continues to be the leader in total albums sold with 6.4 million after 54 weeks on the chart. It is trailed by Enya’s “A Day Without Rain” (5.6 million, 67 weeks) and “Songs in A Minor” (4.7 million, 36 weeks).

The nation’s best-selling single is B2K’s “Uh Huh,” followed by Mr. Cheeks’ “Lights, Camera, Action!”