FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 3, 2001

DEAR JERRY: Just a few days ago, one of those entertainment news TV shows mentioned that a new CD album by Michael Jackson made its chart debut at the No. 1 position. I don't recall the title because, quite frankly, the material is absolutely of no interest to me — but the trivia note is.

The story also mentioned that this was not the first time Jackson accomplished this feat, but they didn't mention the previous title. I suppose it was “Thriller,” since that is supposedly the biggest-selling album of all time.

Didn't the “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” by the Beatles, also debut at No. 1?

What about either of the first two Monkees' albums? It seems they were No. 1 forever.

Lastly, Elton John's Princess Diana tribute single, “Candle in the Wind,” must have done this, since it sold a trillion the moment it came out.
—John Harrigan, Huntsville, Ala.

DEAR JOHN: You really are a trivia buff, aren't you? Then let us work our way through this hodgepodge.

The title of the current chart-topping Michael Jackson CD is “Invincible,” and it did indeed debut at the top spot — not just in the US, but all over the planet.

According to Sony Music, “Invincible” debuted at No. 1 in France, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, England, and at least six other countries. With sales of nearly 3.7 million so far, I'd say it's a hit.

Michael's last album that opened at the top spot is “HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1,” a summer 1995 release.

“Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” made its chart entry at the No. 8 position, June 24, 1967. The very next week it jumped to No. 1.

“The Monkees,” their first LP, took about six weeks to work its way to the top. “More of the Monkees,” however, moved much faster.

The boys' second album debuted at No. 122, then zoomed to No. 1 the following week, February 11, 1967.

You are absolutely right about “Candle in the Wind,” well, except for that part about selling a trillion. The Princess Di homage, along with the extremely popular flip side, “Something About the Way You Look Tonight,” did debut at No. 1, October 11, 1997.

If Mr. Cranbarook will travel east on I-64, toward Louisville, to the Highway 231 exit, near Dale, Indiana, he will find a museum there that may be able to help him with those turn of the century records.

As for the machines needed to play those 1/4 inch, 75 rpm records, I know where there are two. We have one and my sister has another one. Both are Edison Disc Phonographs and we have about 25 records for each.

Our selections are all the way from the black embossed labels (Rachmaninoff playing Listz) to “Bill's Visit to St. Peter,” with a black and white paper label.
—Austin Maddux, Evansville, Ind.

DEAR AUSTIN: Thank you for a tremendous suggestion, complete with travel planner!

Even if all of the information he seeks is not available there, it sounds like a fascinating place to visit.

IZ ZAT SO? Just about two years before release of Elton John's 1997 version of “Candle in the Wind,” Michael Jackson's “You Are Not Alone” shot from out of nowhere — nowhere, in this example, being off the charts — to the No. 1 position.

Surprisingly, with all that lift-off, “You Are Not Alone” topped the charts for just that one week (September 2, 1995), and it then began the downward slide.