What’s the chart scoop this week? Sam Smith debuts robustly at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with his sophomore album, ‘The Thrill of it All.’

In a loaded week on the Billboard 200, Sam Smith triumphs, earning his first no. 1 album.  After Lana Del Rey beat him out for the top spot in 2014, Smith easily takes The Thrill of It All to the penthouse. The Thrill of it All moved 237,000 units, of which 78% of those units were album sales.  Smith performs better commercially on album no. 2, even in regards to pure sales.

Sam Smith was always expected to be the victor, but who bowed behind him? Maroon 5 have found themselves in a familiar spot, no. 2. Red Pill Blues moved just more than half the units of The Thrill of it All at 122,000.  Of that total, a respectable 77% were album sales. Blake Shelton lands at no. 4 with Texoma Shore, which moves an okay 63,000 units (87%+ album sales).  Kelsea Ballerini starts at no. 7, was Unapologetically moves 44,000 units, with nearly 80% being album sales. Kid Rock launches at no. 8 with Sweet Southern Sugar, moving 43,000 units (95%+ album sales).

On the Billboard Hot 100, Post Malone and 21 Savage maintain the no. 1 spot for a fifth consecutive week. Here are some takeaways from both charts.

Billboard 200 Takeaways

1. Sam Smith debuts at no. 1 with his sophomore album, The Thrill of It All. Had he not debuted at no. 1, it would’ve been a shocker.

2. Maroon 5 settles for the runner-up spot on the Billboard 200 with Red Pill Blues.

3. Chris Brown sees Heartbreak on a Full Moon remain at no. 3 in its first full week of availability.

4. Blake Shelton secures the no. 4 spot with Texoma Shore.

5. 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin slip just one spot with Without Warning (slips from no. 4 to no. 5).

6. Kenney Chesney sees Live in No Shoes Nation slip five spots from no. 1 to no. 6.

7. Kelsea Ballerini launches at no. 7 with Unapologetically.

8. Kid Rock starts at no. 8 with his country album, Sweet Southern Sugar.

9. Despite all the TV advertisements, Now 64 debuts outside of the top-10 at no. 12.

10. Kelly Clarkson sees Meaning of Life deep 16 spots from no. 2 to no. 18.

11. Grace VanderWaal debuts at no. 22 with her full-length debut, Just the Beginning.

12. Yo Gotti sees I Still Am fall from no. 6 to no. 29 in its second week.

13. Chris Stapleton flies up the charts with From a Room: Volume 1 (no. 70 to no. 31).

14. Ty Dolla $ign sees Beach House 3 dip from no. 11 to no. 35 in its second week on the charts.

15. Lee Brice debuts quietly at no. 36 with Lee Brice.

16. Big K.R.I.T. plummets 43 spots with 4eva is a Mighty Long Time (no. 7 to no. 50).

17. Joji debuts at no. 58 with his In Tongues EP.

18. Shawn Mendes debuts at no. 71 with MTV Unplugged.

19. Kygo debuts at no. 73 with Kids in Love.

20. Cannibal Corpse lands at no. 95 with Red Before Black.

21. Jessie James Decker reenters the Billboard 200 at no. 126 with Southern Girl City Lights. This marks the set’s second week on the Billboard 200.

22. Theory of a Deadman plummets down the charts with Wake Up Call. The album free falls from no. 24 to no. 131.

Billboard Hot 100

1. Post Malone & 21 Savage don’t budge from the no. 1 spot on the Hot 100. “Rockstar” is still king.

2. Sam Smith ascends to no. 4 on the Hot 100 with hit single, “Too Good at Goodbyes.”

3. Ed Sheeran ascends from no. 11 to no. 8 with “Perfect.”

4. Maroon 5 and SZA see “What Lovers Do” ascend from no. 12 to no. 9.

5. G-Eazy breaks into the top-15 with “No Limit,” which ascends from no. 24 to no. 13.

6. Dua Lipa continues her ascent with “New Rules,” which moves from no. 26 to no. 21.

7. Taylor Swift debuts at no. 27 with “Call It What You Want.”

8. 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin, assisted by Travis Scott, sees “Ghostface Killers” ascend from no. 57 to no. 35.

9. N.E.R.D. & Rihanna launch at no. 65 with “Lemon.”

10. Big Sean & Metro Boomin launch at no. 94 with “Pull Up N Wreck.”

Photo Credit: Capitol