'Chicago' Soundtrack climbs higher on charts!

NEW YORK (Top 40 Charts) - The soundtrack to hit musical "Chicago" moved up two places to No. 2 in an otherwise languid week for the USA album charts.

The Epic Records disc managed a sales gain of nearly 11% to just under 92,000 units in the week ended Jan. 26. After two weeks, it has sold nearly 176,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data issued on Wednesday.

But "Chicago" fell short of unseating sultry singer Norah Jones' debut release, "Come Away With Me." The Blue Note recording enjoyed its third consecutive week at the top, lipping a miniscule 2% to 112,000 discs in the latest period. Its 48-week total rose to 3.1 million.

Making a substantial jump in the latest frame was Lava Records' Kid Rock, whose latest effort, "Cocky," jumped eight spots to No. 7 on a 22% sales gain -- in its 62nd week. The rocker got a boost from promos for his upcoming film appearance in "Biker Boyz," as well as a performance with Sheryl Crow last week on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

Also making substantial gains were gospel compilation "Worship Together: I Could Sing of Your Love," which rose 64 places to No. 39, and "Guess Who's Back" (Full Cup), from Eminem protege 50 Cent, which soared 29 spots to No. 43.

The highest-placing debut of the session came from contemporary R&B songstress Solange. Her Columbia Records debut, "Solo Star," which features guest spots from N.O.R.E., B2K and Lil' Romeo, bowed at No. 49 with just under 19,000 copies sold.

Further down, a pair of easy-listening titans made a modest splash on this week's chart: "Romantic Melodies" (American) from Nebraska's Mannheim Steamroller opened at No. 72, while "Ultimate Yanni" (Windham Hill), from the Greek keyboardist of the same name, hit the ground at No. 74.

Next week, keep an eye out for Zwan - the latest rock project from Smashing Pumpkins founder Billy Corgan - which is likely to break well into the top 10.