Keeping up with Jones is tough for chart rivals

Norah Jones’ “Feels Like Home,” the second collection of tasteful, restrained pop by the New York native, tops the national album chart for the fifth consecutive week, the longest any album has been No. 1 since Shania Twain’s “Up!” in late 2002.

Jones’ album, which had one of the biggest opening weeks ever when it sold 1.02 million copies during its first week in stores in February, sold 183,000 more copies last week to bring the CD’s five-week total to 2.1 million.

Meanwhile, Jones’ Grammy-winning debut collection, “Come Away With Me,” also sold 32,000 copies last week to earn the No. 28 position on the chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That album, which has been on the chart for 106 weeks, is nearing 8.3 million in total sales.

Because there was no high-profile album released this week, Jones’ No. 1 streak could easily stretch to seven, which would make it the longest No. 1 run since Creed’s “Weathered” album spent eight weeks at the top of the chart about two years ago.

Retailers don’t expect “Feels Like Home” to match the Creed mark, however, because R&B-pop; star Usher’s new album, “Confessions,” will be released Tuesday, and it seems a cinch for No. 1 on the chart that will be announced March 31.

There should be lots of anticipation for the Usher album because “Yeah!” the first single from the CD, has already raced to No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles list. It features guest spots by hip-hop stars Lil Jon and Ludacris.

The only album to enter the national Top 10 on this week’s chart was the 10th anniversary compilation from Bad Boy Records. Featuring tracks by Notorious B.I.G. and others, it sold 149,000 copies. The only other newcomer in the Top 50 was Tesla’s “Into the Now,” which finished No. 31 with sales of 30,000 last week.