Alicia’s #1

Alicia Keys storms The Billboard 200 this week with “As I Am” (J), which debuts at No. 1 after selling 742,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That’s the best sales week for a solo female artist since Norah Jones’ “Feels Like Home” shifted 1 million copies in 2004. In a week where every top 10 album shifted more than 100,000 units, Josh Groban’s “Noel” (143/Reprise) zooms 6-2 with a 93% increase to 223,000. Celine Dion’s “Taking Chances” (Columbia), her first new pop album in four years, opens at No. 3 with 214,000. The multi-label, multi-artist “Now 26″ collection is new at No. 4 with 208,000, the third lowest opening tally for the “Now” line.

Here’s the full list:
1 ALICIA KEYS – AS I AM 742,426
2 JOSH GROBAN – NOEL 223,306
3 CELINE DION – TAKING CHANCES 214,381
4 NOW 26 – 208,043
5 GARTH BROOKS – ULTIMATE HITS 203,591
6 EAGLES LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN 197,491
7 LED ZEPPELIN – MOTHERSHIP 136,368
8 JAY-Z – AMERICAN GANGSTER 130,577 424,959
9 CARRIE UNDERWOOD – CARNIVAL RIDE 113,234
10 CHRIS BROWN – EXCLUSIVE 109,601