By Marc Pollack / Hollywood Reporter
Garth Brooks, named country artist of the year at last week's 1998 Billboard Music Awards, continued his winning ways at the nation's music retailers, holding strong atop the album sales list for the third straight week.
Brooks' Double Live sold another 423,000 copies to remain firmly at No. 1, according to SoundScan. The country superstar has surpassed 2.1 million in sales of his new double CD since its release Nov. 17.
Brooks' dominance has kept Celine Dion's holiday collection, These Are Special Times, from the top of the heap. Dion's album sold 367,000 copies for the week ending Dec. 6.
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, boys group 'N Sync saw its self-titled debut album enjoy its biggest sales week. The album sold more than 245,000 copies to land at No. 3 in its 37th chart week. The group's holiday album, Home for Christmas, also enjoyed a sales bump to more than 153,000 copies, landing at No. 9.
Following up her huge-selling Pieces of You, Jewel has a hit with her sophomore release. Spirit sold 242,000 copies to come in fourth.
Dropping to No. 5, heavy metallers Metallica still sold an impressive 205,000 copies of Garage Inc. The double disc of covers bowed at No. 2 last week.
Deceased rapper 2Pac's Greatest Hits set pops in at No. 6, selling 184,000 copies. Pop diva Mariah Carey continues her success with the hits compilation (NU) 1's, which sold 177,000 copies to come in at No. 7.
Backstreet Boys' debut release won't go away. The five-piece singing and dancing troupe sold another 171,000 copies of its self-titled album. Rounding out the top 10 is country music's divine Shania Twain, whose six-times-platinum Come on Over sold another 143,000 copies.
Here are Billboard's top albums and singles for the week:
Albums
1. Double Live, Garth Brooks.
Capitol (Nashville).
2. These Are Special Times, Celine Dion. 550 Music.
3. 'N Sync, 'N Sync. RCA. (Platinum)
4. Spirit, Jewel. Atlantic. (Platinum)
5. Garage Inc., Metallica. Elektra.
6. Greatest Hits, 2Pac. Amaru.
7. (NU) 1's, Mariah Carey. Columbia.
8. Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys. Jive. (Platinum)
9. Home for Christmas, 'N Sync. RCA.
10. Come on Over, Shania Twain. Mercury. (Platinum)
Singles
1. "I'm Your Angel,"
R. Kelly & Celine Dion. Jive.
2. "Nobody's Supposed to be Here," Deborah Cox. Arista.
3. "Lately," Divine. Pendulum.
4. "From This Moment On," Shania Twain. Mercury
(Nashville).
5. "Doo Wop (That Thing)," Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse.
6. "Because of You," 98 Degrees. Motown.
7. "Love Like This," Faith Evans. Bad Boy.
8. "... Baby One More Time," Britney Spears. Jive.
9. "Lullaby," Shawn Mullins. SMG.
10. "Have You Ever?," Brandy. Atlantic.
Mainstream rock tracks
1. "Turn the Page," Metallica.
Elektra.
2. "Fly Away," Lenny Kravitz. Virgin.
3. "Kickin' My Heart Around," The Black Crowes.
American.
4. "Slide," Goo Goo Dolls. Warner Bros.
5. "Psycho Man," Black Sabbath. Epic.
6. "Dragula," Rob Zombie. Geffen.
7. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)," The Offspring.
Columbia.
8. "Celebrity Skin," Hole. DGC.
9. "Still Rainin,' " Jonny Lang. A&M.
10. "What's This Life For," Creed. Wind-up.
Modern rock tracks
1. "Never There," Cake.
Capricorn.
2. "Fly Away," Lenny Kravitz. Virgin.
3. "What It's Like," Everlast. Tommy Boy.
4. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)," The Offspring.
Columbia.
5. "Got You (Where I Want You)," The Flys. Delicious.
6. "Slide," Goo Goo Dolls. Warner Bros.
7. "Celebrity Skin," Hole. DGC.
8. "Circles," Soul Coughing. Slash.
9. "Sweetest Thing," U2. Island.
10. "Every Morning," Sugar Ray. Lava.
Country singles and tracks
1. "Husbands and Wives," Brooks
& Dunn. Arista Nashville.
2. "Let Me Let Go," Faith Hill. Warner Bros.
3. "You're Easy on the Eyes," Terri Clark. Mercury.
4. "Someone You Used to Know," Collin Raye. Epic.
5. "We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This," George Strait.
MCA Nashville.
6. "You're Beginning to Get to Me," Clay Walker. Giant.
7. "Right on the Money," Alan Jackson. Arista
Nashville.
8. "It Must Be Love," Ty Herndon. Epic.
9. "Wrong Again," Martina McBride. RCA.
10. "Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks. Monument.
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