Say Her Name: LeToya No. 1

08/02/2006 8:17 PM, E! Online
David Jenison

Not even Pharrell can top a date with destiny.

In a showdown with Destiny's stepchild LeToya, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes and N*E*R*D fame came up empty. The R&B bombshell's self-titled debut finished at number one for the week ended Sunday, selling 165,000 copies, according to latest Nielsen SoundScan.

A founding member of Destiny's Child, LeToya (last name Luckett) shared a Grammy with her band mates for the 1998 hit "Say My Name," which she cowrote. But LeToya and LaTavia Roberson were bounced from the band after clashing with manager Matthew Knowles, otherwise known as Beyonce's dad. They tried to form their own R&B group, Anjel, but it failed to take flight. Proving she's an independent woman, she's back on the charts, powered by the hit singles "Tom" and "She Don't."

Though many thought Pharrell had a shot at the top spot, he actually opened in third place behind LeToya and Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 22. The producer's solo debut, In My Mind, sold 142,000, trailing LeToya by 23,000 copies and Now! 22 by 9,000. Still, Pharrell's album has already spawned the Gwen Stefani-assisted hit, "Can I Have It Like That," and is currently working the dial with the title track.

The week's third and final Top 10 bow belonged to Tom Petty's Highway Companion, which moved 112,000 copies at four. The Heartbreaker-less album is technically Petty's third solo effort and it comes 30 years after his self-titled debut, which broke in the U.K. before Stateside fans warmed up to songs like "American Girl."

Elsewhere, the L.A. rap group Jurassic 5 made a strong showing with its fourth full-length album, Feedback, selling nearly 34,000 copies at 14. Country newcomer Jake Owen, who already landed a big hit with "Yee Haw," sold 23,000 copies of Startin' with Me at 31, while Sammy Hagar & the Wabos checked in at 50, selling 16,000 copies of Livin' It Up!.

Other noteworthy debuts included Flogging Molly's Whiskey on a Sunday at 67, the excruciating alt-rock compilation Buzz Ballads at 77, Trae's Restless at 87 and the Gym Class Heroes' As Cruel As School Children at 93.

Here's a recap of last week's Top 10 albums:

1. LeToya, LeToya
2. Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 22, various
3. In My Mind, Pharrell
4. Highway Companion, Tom Petty
5. St. Elsewhere, Gnarls Barkley
6. High School Musical soundtrack, various
7. Girl Like Me, Rihanna
8. Loose, Nelly Furtado
9. PCD, Pussycat Dolls
10. Me & My Gang, Rascal Flatts