Everything was right for Red Hot Chili Peppers’ latest album, “Unlimited Love”, which opened at number 1 on the Billboard chart, the band’s second time at the top.
The Chili Peppers reunited with their former guitarist, John Frusciante, for the album. He has been in and out of the band since 1988 – with his most recent departure coming after the tour for “Stadium Arcadium” (2006), the group’s last album to go to number 1. “Unlimited Love” also put the band back in the studio with Rick Rubin, who has produced most of the Chili Peppers’ albums since 1991, but not the most recent, “The Getaway” (2016, with Danger Mouse).
And if there were an award for the most unusual promotional appearances, it might go to a recent one from Flea, the band’s inimitable bassist, who performed a lunge, psych-funk solo instrumental version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” offered for the Lakers-Nuggets game on April 3 (Did it result in sales or streams of “Unlimited Love”? Who knows, but it’s a must-see for any Chili Peppers fan.)
In its first week of release, “Unlimited Love” had the equivalent of 97,500 sales in the United States, according to tracking service Luminate, formerly known as MRC Data. That total includes 19 million streams – modest for a number 1 album these days – and 82,500 copies sold as a complete package, including a hefty 38,500 copies on vinyl. (Next week’s chart-topping track is also expected to see Jack White’s “Fear of the Dawn” hit a major vinyl track.)
Also this week, “7220”, by Chicago rapper Lil Durk, is No. 2. The “Encanto” soundtrack is No. 3, Morgan Wallen’s “Dangerous: The Double Album” is No. 4 in its 65th week on the chart — only one of those times in the Top 10 every week — and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” is number 5.