Etta James Posthumous Album Sales Soar, Set Record

Legendary singer Etta James has set a new record on the Billboard charts.

Following her death Friday, Billboard reports the “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” singer’s “Best Of” collection became her highest-charting album to date!

Titled “The Best of Etta James – 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection,” the set rose from no.162 on the Billboard 200 to no.46.

According to Nielsen Soundscan, that is impressive considering the chart only reflected two days of sales after her death.

Until this week, James had never gone higher than no.68, when “At Last” rose to that spot in 1961.

The “Best of Etta James” collection moved 8,000 copies in those two days. It is likely those numbers will be eclipsed on next week’s chart, when actual sales from this week are counted.