Music

More than 45 years after releasing his debut album, Taylor earns his first chart-topper on the chart with 'Before This World' which outsells Lambert's 'The Original High'.

• Jun 25, 2015

AceShowbiz - James Taylor has just earned his first No.1 album on Billboard 200. More than 45 years after he released his self-titled debut album in 1968 and visited the chart for the first time in March 1970 with his "Sweet Baby James", he had his latest LP "Before This World" landed atop the list.

Arriving on June 16 through Concord Records, Taylor's new effort opens with 97,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. With around 96,000 copies of pure album, the project marks the singer's best first-week sales since 2002's "October Road" which launched at No. 4 with 154,000.

Next on Billboard 200, Taylor Swift's "1989" keeps its position steady at No. 2 with another 57,000 units. Behind the former country darling is Adam Lambert, whose "The Original High" launches at No. 3 with 47,000. This is the "American Idol" alum's first LP since departing RCA Records and joining Warner Bros. Records, and his third top 10 effort following 2009's "For Your Entertainment" and 2012's "Trespassing" which peaked at No. 3 and No. 1 respectively.

At No. 4, Ed Sheeran's "X" climbs from No. 6 to No. 4 with 39,000. Hilary Duff is the next newcomer in the top 10 as her first full-length in eight years, "Breathe In. Breathe Out.", debuts at No. 5 with 39,000. Her other top 5 albums include 2007's "Dignity" (No. 3), 2005's "Most Wanted" (No. 1), her 2004 self-titled set (No. 2) and 2003's "Metamorphosis" (No. 1).

Sam Hunt's "Montevallo" is at No. 6, going up from last week's No. 7, with 32,000. Fun.'s frontman Nate Ruess follows at No. 7 as his first solo album "Grand Romantic" arrives with 31,000.

Rounding out the top 10 are Meghan Trainor's "Title" which sits at No. 8 with 27,000, Maroon 5's "V" that stays at No. 9 with 27,000 and former No. 1 Mumford & Sons' "Wilder Mind" which jumps from No. 19 to No. 10 with 27,000.

1. "Before This World" - James Taylor (97,000)
2. "1989" - Taylor Swift (57,000)
3. "The Original High" - Adam Lambert (47,000)
4. "X" - Ed Sheeran (39,000)
5. "Breathe In. Breathe Out." - Hilary Duff (39,000)
6. "Montevallo" - Sam Hunt (32,000)
7. "Grand Romantic" - Nate Ruess (31,000)
8. "Title" - Meghan Trainor (27,000)
9. "V" - Maroon 5 (27,000)
10. "Wilder Mind" - Mumford & Sons (27,000)