Briefly: System of a Down, Alicia Keys, Bono, Jerry Garcia, Elektra rarities
With more than 320,000 copies of their new release, "Hypnotize," sold during its initial week in stores, rockers System of a Down have topped the U.S. album charts for the second time this year.
The showing on The Billboard 200 follows the band's No. 1 bow for "Mezmerize" this May, and marks SOAD's third No. 1 album overall.
Kenny Chesney 's "The Road and the Radio" climbs one spot to No. 2 on the chart, followed by the hits compilation "NOW! That's What I Call Music Vol. 20," which is up from No. 5 last week.
Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance Floor" falls from No. 1 to No. 4, while the soundtrack to the 50 Cent biopic "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" rounds out the top 5.
U2 frontman Bono and R&B singer Alicia Keys have collaborated on the track "Don't Give Up (Africa)," which will be available exclusively via iTunes beginning Dec. 6.
All proceeds from sales of the single will be donated to Keep a Child Alive, a program that provides medicine to families infected with AIDS and HIV.
The song was originally titled "So," and first appeared on Peter Gabriel's 1986 album of the same name.
Home appliances and other items from the former Nicasio, CA, home of late Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia will be auctioned off next month by the Sophia Foundation, a San Francisco-area nonprofit organization.
Among the items that will be available for bidding on eBay Dec. 18-24 are Garcia's dishwasher, cupboards and toilets.
The loot reportedly has been appraised at $75,000, but the foundation hopes to raise more than $100,000. The foundation's leader purchased Garcia's former home in 1997, two years after Garcia died.
Fifteen albums containing rarities from the vaults of Elektra Records will be reissued by the Collectors' Choice Music label on Feb. 21. The collection was curated with the input of Elektra founder Jac Holzman.
Included in the series is the 1966 anthology "What's Shakin'," featuring The Lovin' Spoonful, Eric Clapton's Powerhouse (with Steve Winwood), Manfred Mann and Paul Jones, and produced by Joe Boyd), Al Kooper, Tom Rush and The Butterfield Blues Band.
Other highlights include the two-CD reissue of comedian David Frye's "I Am the President/Radio Free Nixon," as well as a pair of Phi Ochs albums ("All the News That's Fit to Sing" and "I Ain't Marching Anymore").
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