Keys’ new ‘Diary’ opens big

Alicia Keys’ “The Diary of Alicia Keys” entered the national album sales chart at No. 1 on Wednesday after selling 618,000 copies in its first week, the third-highest first-week total of the year.

The album, whose “You Don’t Know My Name” is shaping up as a major radio single, is the follow-up to the young New York singer-songwriter’s 2001 debut, “Songs in A Minor,” which earned her five Grammys and has sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S.

The only albums to have higher first-week showings this year are rapper 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” (822,000 copies in February) and Linkin Park’s “Meteora” (810,000 copies in March).

Meanwhile, Britney Spears’ “In the Zone” continues to slip down the chart. The album, which entered at No. 1 two weeks ago after selling 609,000 copies in its first week, fell to No. 3 in its second week when sales slipped to 251,000. It sold 150,000 last week to drop to No. 7.

The only other new release to make the national Top 40 this week is country singer Trace Adkins’ “Comin’ on Strong,” which finished No. 31 after selling 62,000 copies.

OutKast’s two-disc package “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” climbed five spots to No. 5, presumably because of publicity generated by the Atlanta hip-hop duo’s nominations last week for album of the year and record of the year Grammys.