The Eagles Take No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums with New Rules While Britney Underperforms

The Eagles haven't released an album in 28 years. Long Road Out of Eden marks for them a strong comeback as they take No. 1 this week on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, selling over 711,000 copies. This also marks the second highest debut of the year, following Kayne West's opening week of 960,000, a feat rarely seen on Billboard anymore. Their victory comes as Billboard change their charting rules to allow exclusive retailer albums to place. Their record is available only through Wal-Mart and Sams Club stores as well as their website.

In the past, exclusive titles were not eligible to chart on the top charts of Billboard. They were however able to place on the Top Comprehensive Albums that include catalog albums and sales that are reported by retailers willing to report them. The revision also affects the Top Country Albums. Because of the new policy, the Eagles also debut at the top of the country chart as well.

The last charted studio album by The Eagles was their 1979 No. 1 album The Long Run which went 7x platinum in the U.S. Their two albums before that, Hotel California and One of These Nights, also peaked at No. 1. 1994's live album Hell Freezes Over peaked at No. 1 and went on to go 8x platinum.

Britney Spears came in No. 2, her first record of the five to debut lower than first place. However, she is the first woman to have all five albums back to back debut in the first two positions. She sold a much lower than expected number, only 289,791 copies. With the hype built around the album and her messy disasters created daily, sales were anticipated to skyrocket to see if Britney still "had it." An album covered with underground electronic music and poorly mixed synths, the album doesn't have the competing power necessary for today's market. Sales next week for her bleak Blackout.

Carrie Underwood couldn't hold on after debuting last week at No. 1 with 527,000 copies sold for her sophomore debut Carnival Ride. She drops to No. 3 with 170,000 copies sold, almost a 70% drop in sales. However, it is a solid week for her as many albums drop below 100,000 copies in their following weeks.