Usher’s ‘Confessions’ outsells 2004 competitors

Sun., Jan. 2, 2005

Robert Hilburn Los Angeles Times

So how good a year was it for Usher?

The R&B singer’s “Confessions” album not only outsold the competition during 2004, but it also had more than double the sales of the runner-up, Norah Jones’ “Feels Like Home.”

“Confessions,” which has been nominated for album of the year in the Grammy competition, sold almost 8 million copies, while “Feels Like Home” checked in with just under 4 million.

Eminem’s “Encore” returned to the top of the weekly sales chart Wednesday after selling 430,000 copies. That pushed its total sales to 3.3 million, enough to claim the No. 3 position on the yearly list.

That’s especially impressive because “Encore” was released only in November. “Confessions” came out in March, and “Feels Like Home” was released in February.

Country artists did well in 2004, with albums by Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Tim McGraw finishing No. 4 through No. 6, respectively, on the yearly chart.

Volumes 16 and 17 in the “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilation series ranked No. 10 and No. 16, respectively, on the year’s tally.

Other artists in the 2004 Top 20: Evanescence, No. 7; Maroon 5, No. 8; Ashlee Simpson, No. 9; Josh Groban, No. 11; Kanye West, No. 12; Avril Lavigne, No. 13; Nelly, No. 14; OutKast, No. 15; Shania Twain, No. 17; Jessica Simpson, No. 18; Alicia Keys, No. 19; and U2, No. 20.

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