David Cook's New Album Debuts in Top 10

It's been over three years since David Cook won "American Idol" Season 7. It has been nearly three years since his first major label album release, which has sold over 1.3 million copies to date. This week Cook saw his sophomore effort, "This Loud Morning," debut in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.

Although "This Loud Morning" did not debut with quite the same power as his eponymous first release (which fed off his "American Idol" win), it did make the Top 10, dropping in at No. 7 after selling 46,000 copies. "David Cook" bowed in at No. 3, selling 280,000 copies.

Of course, part of the problem with sales may have been the extremely long wait between albums. Another factor could have been the weak reception of the album's first single, "The Last Goodbye." Cook debuted the song live on "American Idol" during the Top 7 results show in April, just two days after its release. The song peaked at No. 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 29 on the Adult Pop Songs chart. It peaked at No. 5 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, which equates to No. 105 on the Billboard Hot 100.

It could also be the "sophomore slump," that odd transition period that many artists experience in their careers where the second album sees a major drop-off in sales and/or charting singles. And it could also be a "sleeper," an album that quietly and unceremoniously simply accumulates steady sales.

Time will tell.

Still, Cook had plenty of company from the Season 10 finalists he sung off the show (his recording of Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" was the farewell song) -- and one he didn't. According to USA Today's "Idol Chatter," four Season 10 EPs debuted inside the Billboard 200, with season winner Scotty McCreery's debuting at No. 10. Also debuting inside the Top 50 albums was Lauren Alaina (No. 24), James Durbin (No. 31), and Haley Reinhart (No. 37).

Season 3 finalist and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson continued her stay on the Billboard chart as well, landing at No. 114. Her latest release, "I Remember Me," is her sophomore studio album as well, but she seems to have not been hit with the same sales malaise as Cook. Her album debuted at No. 2, selling 165,000 copies its first week out, and has sold nearly 400,000 copies to date.

Cook is expected to tour in support of "This Loud Morning" later in the year, although dates and venues are as yet unavailable.

Other "American Idol" alumni scheduled to release albums in 2011 are Season 9's Casey James, Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson, Season 5's Kellie Pickler and Daughtry, Season 8's Adam Lambert, and Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks.

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Sources:

Keith Caulfield, "Beyonce Notches 4th Billboard 200 No. 1 Album With '4'," Billboard.com

Brian Mansfield, "David Cook, Scotty McCreery Get Top 10 Debuts," USAToday.com