Latest news with #ContemporaryJazzAlbums
Forbes
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Joni Mitchell Scores Her First Billboard Hits On Charts She's Never Seen Before
Joni Mitchell's 1976 US Tour debuts at No. 2 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. ... More 10 on Jazz Albums list, marking her first placements in the jazz genre. SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Joni Mitchell performing at "California Celebrates the Whales" at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California on November 20. 1976. (Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael) Joni Mitchell is known as one of the most influential folk musicians in history. She helped popularize the genre during its resurgence in the 1960s and early 1970s, crafting deeply personal tunes that eventually redefined what confessional songwriting could look and sound like. But Mitchell's discography has never fit neatly into one category. After reaching superstar status, she began exploring new sounds, including pop, rock, and eventually jazz. Decades after she first ventured into that more experimental territory, Mitchell has scored a long-overdue chart win in the jazz space. Mitchell took part in Record Store Day this spring with a special release aimed directly at her most devoted followers. The newly-unveiled 1976 U.S. Tour was made available as a triple LP, and it features live recordings captured throughout her trek across America that year. The material, most of which had never been shared before, was selected from hours of tape and carefully assembled into a cohesive collection. As is typically the case with anything connected to Mitchell's name, the set sold well upon arrival. The project, which is officially credited to both Mitchell and the L.A. Express, the backing band that joined her on tour, immediately earned a spot on a pair of Billboard rankings. 1976 U.S. Tour launches at No. 2 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. That's a huge win for Mitchell, considering that none of her past releases have ever been sent to this specific tally. It comes frustratingly close to the summit, though Mitchell is blocked from the top spot by Sade's The Best of Sade, a compilation that has long been a juggernaut on the ranking. That title debuted 38 weeks ago and has never left No. 1. While 1976 U.S. Tour misses out on a No. 1 opening, it does manage a second notable debut. The live set also opens at No. 10 on the Jazz Albums chart. That's a slightly more competitive space, as it includes all forms of jazz, not just contemporary material. Her latest offering may be the highest debut on the Contemporary Jazz Albums ranking, but on the all-genre jazz tally, it ranks as the fifth-best start of the week. Half the spots inside the top 10 belong to brand new entries, as Record Store Day was busy for the style. 1976 U.S. Tour gives Mitchell her first placements on both the Jazz Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums charts. While she's landed on many Billboard rankings throughout the decades — including several genre-specific tallies — none of her previous work was formally categorized as jazz by the company.
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Santana's New Album Is A Surprise Hit On Charts Few Fans Would Expect
Santana's The Sentient debuts on Billboard's jazz charts, scoring the band new top 10 placements and ... More proving the group still knows how to surprise fans. KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 14: Musician Carlos Santana performs at Sprint Center on August 14, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Squires/WireImage) For decades now, Carlos Santana has helped shape the sound of rock and Latin music with an unceasing stream of innovative albums and truly unforgettable guitar riffs. The Grammy winner's namesake group, Santana, has appeared on countless Billboard charts over the years, with several of its most popular releases reaching impressive heights. Even with such an accomplished discography, the band is still finding new ways to surprise and succeed. This week, Santana's latest release, Sentient, debuts on several of Billboard's rankings. The compilation, which features largely material already familiar to longtime listeners, is a minor hit with fans, and it even manages to bring the group back to a tally that few would expect the rockers to have reached at any point. Part of what makes Sentient's quick success unique is how Billboard has chosen to classify it. Rather than slotting it into a rock, Latin, or even the world category — all of which would be appropriate given the band's long history — the chart company instead labeled it as a jazz release. That designation brings it to tallies that Santana isn't as familiar with. On the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, Sentient starts at No. 2. The set almost gives Santana its first leader on that specific tally – almost. Over on the broader Jazz Albums list, which encompasses all kinds of jazz releases, the compilation opens at No. 6, giving the band another top 10 — and a brand new career high point. Sentient earns Santana the band's second appearance and second top 10 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The only other time the band reached that list was more than a decade ago, with a live album recorded in 2011 at Montreux. That special release peaked at No. 4. The newly-released Sentient also represents a milestone for the group on the Jazz Albums chart. While Santana has placed on the ranking a few times before, this is the collective's first appearance inside the top 10. The musicians hit a new peak as the band's total number of appearances on the all-encompassing jazz list advances to three. While it's clearly a success in the jazz space, Sentient also performs well enough to reach a more competitive and wide-reaching Billboard ranking. This week, the new release lands at No. 31 on the Top Album Sales chart, which tracks the bestselling titles in the U.S. each frame based solely on purchases. The project opens with 3,000 copies purchased, according to Luminate. The purchase-only list is familiar territory for Santana. With Sentient now included in the group's discography, 18 of the outfit's releases have found space on the Top Album Sales chart.
