‘Jacked Up’ right to the top

GRETCHEN Wilson’s new album, “All Jacked Up,” entered the national pop chart at No. 1 on Wednesday, leading another flood of new releases into the Top 10.

Wilson’s stylish collection of rowdy and melancholy barroom tunes suggests that the Illinois native could be one of country music’s most valuable figures over the next few years. The album sold 264,000 copies in its first week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Typical of the album’s catchy, upbeat side is “California Girls,” a good-natured slap at Hollywood-model types who strut around in their “size zero” dresses. The tune’s singalong chorus: “Ain’t you glad we ain’t all California girls / Ain’t you glad there’s still a few of us left / That know how to rock your world / Ain’t afraid to eat fried chicken and dirty dance to Merle.”

“All Jacked Up” was one of six new releases to enter the Top 10. In each of the last two weeks, seven new releases did so.

This week’s newcomers also include Sheryl Crow’s “Wildflower,” which finished No. 2 with first-week sales of 140,000. Other artists breaking into the Top 10 this week: Three 6 Mafia (No. 3, sales of 115,000), Toni Braxton (No. 4, sales of 114,000), Lil’ Kim (No. 6, sales of 109,000) and Sean Paul (No. 7, with 107,000). Neil Young’s “Prairie Wind” fell just one place short of the Top 10 after selling 72,000 copies in its first week.

That leaves Kanye West’s “Late Registration” as the only album to remain in the Top 7 this week. The hip-hop collection finished No. 5, selling another 110,000 copies. The CD’s total sales: more than 1.5 million.

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Hilburn, pop music critic of The Times, can be reached at Robert.hilburn@latimes.com