It’s straight to the top for Jay-Z’s ‘Kingdom’

JAY-Z reclaims his throne this week as his “Kingdom Come” debuts at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with 680,000 copies sold in its first week, the third-highest one-week sales total of 2006.

While Jay-Z’s return from “retirement” fell short of the totals posted this year by Rascal Flatts and Justin Timberlake, Hova’s still in rarified company. Billboard reports that he now has nine No. 1 albums, tying him with the Rolling Stones for third place behind the Beatles (19) and Elvis Presley (10).

The worshiping of “American Idol” contestants continues as Chris Daughtry makes his debut at No. 2 on the national charts fronting a band that takes his last name. The CD “Daughtry” sold 304,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

“Love,” the George Martin project that reimagines the Beatles’ music, debuts at No. 4 this week, selling 272,000 copies. The sonic collage created by the Fab Four’s longtime producer and his son, Giles, is the soundtrack to a Cirque du Soleil show.

Last week, rapper the Game had his debut at the top of the charts a few days after getting arrested. Perhaps that’s the new West Coast version of an album-release party. Snoop Dogg debuts at No. 5 this week with his “Tha Blue Carpet Treatment” (it sold 264,000 copies) but was arrested Tuesday in Burbank on weapon and drug charges.

2Pac was gunned down a decade ago but his recording career lives on. His sixth posthumous release, “Pac’s Life,” enters the chart at No. 9 (160,000 copies).

Tasty coincidence of the week: Fergie’s “Dutchess” falls to No. 25 this week, one spot ahead of the soundtrack to “Cheetah Girls II”; the former features the single “Fergalicious,” the latter has the Radio Disney anthem “Cheetahlicious.”

geoff.boucher@latimes.com