Mariah sets solo record

Music purists probably wouldn't equate Mariah Carey with legendary acts such as Elvis and the Beatles, but when it comes to chart-topping records, she's now outstripped the King -- and she's on pace to take down the Fab Four.

Carey's latest single, "Touch My Body," made music history this week as she surpassed Elvis Presley as the solo artist  with the most No. 1 singles in the modern pop era.

The cut is her 18th No. 1 song and the first single from her "E=MC2" album, due April 15.

Carey bests a tally Presley has held for 40 years. He last topped the singles chart with "Suspicious Minds" in 1969.

Carey's 2005 comeback, "The Emancipation of Mimi," spawned two No. 1 hits, "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us." Should the new album meet with the same degree of success, she could tie or even best the Beatles' 20 No. 1 singles, a record for any pop group.

Billboard's associate director of charts, Silvio Pietroluongo, noted that "Touch My Body" would have hit No. 1 sooner if it had been made available digitally at an earlier date. Finally released online last week, "Touch My Body" had been the only single in the top 75 of Billboard's Hot 100 that was not available at digital retailers.

“Touch My Body” sold 286,000 downloads in its debut week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, breaking the 277,000 record set last year by Rihanna's "Umbrella." “Touch My Body” rocketed to No. 1, up from No.15 last week.

Despite the impressive digital number, Pietroluongo stresses that Carey's milestone has nothing to do with the state of the industry in 2008. Sales of digital singles may be soaring and album sales in 2008 are trailing those of 2007 by about 15%, but most of Carey's single successes came in the 1990s, when radio weighed more heavily on the Billboard Hot 100.

"This has more to do with longevity and popularity than anything else," Pietroluongo said. "She's only had four No. 1 singles this decade, so it can't be portrayed as anything to do with the state of the music industry. Mariah has been popular for about 20 years."

Presley scored the majority of his No. 1 singles in an era when the chart was based almost entirely on sales, Pietroluongo said.

But Carey isn't the only diva to start challenging the King this week. Madonna, returning with her "Hard Candy" on April 29, has overtaken Presley as the artist with the most Top 10 singles in the modern pop era. Her "4 Minutes," featuring Justin Timberlake, gives the artist her 37th Top 10 hit.

Madonna's "4 Minutes" also experienced a boost from digital sales, having sold 217,000 copies in its first week of wide release at digital retailers (prior to last week, the cut had been available only through Verizon). The sales  pushed "4 Minutes" to No. 3, up from No. 68.

And late last year, rapper Jay-Z tied another Presley record. His "American Gangster" was his 10th No. 1 album when it was released  in November. Again, only the Beatles have had more chart-topping albums, with 19.

There's some non-diva news on the charts. Reality TV proves again to be a healthy supplier of chart-toppers, as Day26 from MTV's "Making the Band 4" debuts at No. 1.

The act's self-titled debut sold 190,000 copies in its first week, displacing another "Making the Band"-built artist, Danity Kane, who led the chart last week. Danity Kane falls to No. 4 this week.

Meanwhile, rock act Panic at the Disco lands at No. 2, as its "Pretty. Odd." opens with 139,000 copies. It's the best sales week for the Fall Out Boy pals, who saw their debut, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out," top out at No. 13.

Alt-rock survivors Counting Crows enter at No. 3 with a fifth studio album, "Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings," which sold 106,000 copies. It's the band's highest-charting album since "Recovering the  Satellites" bowed at No. 1 in 1996.

Jack White side-project the Raconteurs lands at No. 7 with "Consolers of the Lonely." The album's release had been announced only one week in advance, but it still sold 42,000 copies. Also, the first new album in more than 15 years from the B-52's, "Funplex," enters at No. 11 with 30,000 copies.

todd.martens@latimes.com

Photo courtesy Associated Press

Comments

[Ed C.]

Quite funny. The Beatles did it in 7 years time, No one will ever top THAT!!!

[Mozart]

Mariah and Madonna could never surpass the King if Billboard would give credit to him for his real chart toppers. They did not begin listing all his #1s until later and not from the beginning of his career.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

Wow, what a utter waste of creative potential.

A truly gifted vocalist, who relegated her talent to pure
commercialism.

Innovative? No.
Original? No.
Then again, unlike Elvis or The Beatles, she'll never be considered an artist, just another Pop Star.

[Stan Walker]

Now all she needs is 21 more number 1 hits to top the real king - Bing Crosby - who is recognized to have had 38 number 1 hits. I guess since it was stated that this is for the "modern pop era" he doesn't count.

[Jon]

You go Mariah. Stick it to that Elvis. Besides, most of Elvis big hits were sung by other artist before. Ask Little Richard

[no fan of mariah]

It will be a true shame- indeed, a tragedy- if this unoriginal and highly uninspiring artist breaks the Beatles' record. "Touch My Body," in particular, sounds like so many songs that I've heard again and again, all rolled into one. It really shows the dismal direction that popular music is taking nowadays-- incomprehensible wailing masked by raunchy lyrics and teeny-bopper beats.

[TheRealCritic]

NO ONE COMPARES TO MARIAH!! HER VOICE IS ONE IN A NATION... SHE WILL BE THE BEST THERE EVER WAS!!!

[keller]

I'm guessing half of the downloads were to the same people, too stupid to figure out the technology the first time. Seriously, has any "achievement" been less instructive?

[Tristan]

Ok, i'm NOT a huge Mariah fan, so my opinion is not biased or anything, I say "Good for Her!" She's definitely had a great career. Why do these message boards turn into something to RIP PEOPLE TO SHREDS and try to discredit them for anything they do??? Geez guys, let's lighten it up a bit.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

Jon, I've got a bit of bad-news for
you bro: One of your girls biggest hits "Fantasy"? You know that
killer Tom Tom Club sample, that really MADE the track?
I don't know how to tell you this, but, It was straight RIPPED-off from
a performer/producer in Orange County. MANY are aware of this.
Bro, maybe now YOU should
"Ask Little Richard"?

[jenglisbe (aka fionalive)]

She may have 18 #1 hits, but only about 2-3 MEMORABLE CLASSICS. 50 years from now, people will STILL remember Elvis and Beatle songs, but Mariah songs are forgotton. She's not a legend. She's just a successful entertainer who never strayed from her safe formula.

[Armando (Caracas, Venezuela)]

Posted by: jenglisbe (aka fionalive)

She may have 18 #1 hits, but only about 2-3 MEMORABLE CLASSICS. 50 years from now, people will STILL remember Elvis and Beatle songs, but Mariah songs are forgotton.

2-3 classics? How about 1? Her first hit back in 19something. Make that 100 years and add Madonna's Like A Virgin and Material Girl.

[MCFan4ever]

Mariah does not even think she should be compared to Elvis or the Beatles. She is "the Voice" of the MTV generation. Everyone of the MTV generation knows who she is. She truly is a legend of her era.

[Mike]

Any talk of the new M83 record?

[no1 important]

Elvis didn't have the means to sell like Mariah does. There was no downloads, or cd's, like that. Only records and radio. She is very good but does not compare to the King. Try putting her back in his time and see how well she performs.