GARY ALLAN'S FREE AT FIRST

Veteran California-born country singer-songwriter Gary Allan has been putting out records since he was signed by Decca in 1996, but his eleventh album, Set You Free, this one for Mike Dungan’s MCA Nashville, finally hit the jackpot, debuting at #1 with 103k in sales.

There’s a long drop off after that to Dualtone’s The Lumineers, which climbs to #2, with an impressive 29% rise, and a cumulative sales total now at 872k, giving it all the momentum heading into next week’s Grammys.

Capitol’s Grammy Nominees 2013 compilation album is the next highest debut at #4, sandwiched between UMe’s sleeper Pitch Perfect soundtrack (#3) and Atlantic’s Bruno Mars (#5).

RCA’s A$AP Rocky, last week’s chart-topper, dips to #6, followed by Razor & Tie’s Kidz Bop 23 (#7), Big Machine’s Taylor Swift (#8, 3.3 million), Republic’s Les Miserables soundtrack (#90) and Glassnote’s Mumford & Sons (#10, 1.6 million) rounding out the Top 10.

Stoney Creek country artist Randy Houser enters at #11. Other Top 50 newcomers include Epitaph’s Bad Religion (#22), the physical edition of Columbia’s 12/12/12 Concert for Sandy Relief live album (#25), Provident’s Casting Crowns Acoustic Sessions Vol. 1 (#28), Blue Note’s Aaron Neville (#41), FOF’s Trapt (#42) and Atlantic’s Joy Formidable (#49).

Warner Bros.’ Muse (#37), Nonesuch’s The Black Keys (#44) and Atlantic’s Zac Brown Band (#47) all re-enter.

RCA’s P!nk (#21-13, +29%) ties The Lumineers for the week’s biggest double-digit increase, followed by A&M/Octone’s Maroon 5 (#29-23, +25%), Fueled by Ramen’s fun. (#28-26, +19%), RCA’s Alicia Keys (#23-18, +14%) and the self-released Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (#18-14, +11%).

Island/IDJ’s Justin Bieber acoustic album tops this week’s release slate, along with Verve’s Andrea Bocelli, Warner Bros.’ Tegan & Sara, Columbia/Legacy’s Destiny’s Child, Razor & Tie’s Hatebreed and Republic’s The Voice winner Cassadee Pope.