Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe , July 19 (UPI) -- NELLYVILLE IS THE PLACE TO BE Rapper Nelly's red-hot summer jam, "Nellyville," staved off the challenge of several newcomers to hold its place atop the Billboard 200. "Nellyville" (Fo' Reel/Universal) remained at No. 1 for a third-straight week after selling 340,000 units. Advertisement "By the Way," the latest from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, debuted at No. 2 after selling 280,000 units. "The Eminem Show" (Web/Aftermath/Interscope) slipped to the No. 3 spot but has sold more than 4 million units to date. "Nellyville" has sold more than 1.5 million copies and also tops Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for a third consecutive week. The single "Hot in Herre" is No. 1 on the Hot 100, Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, and the Hot Rap Tracks tally. "Hard Candy" by the Counting Crows (Geffen/Interscope) debuted at No. 5. "A Gangster and a Gentleman," by rapper Styles of the Lox was No. 6, with sales of 135,000 units. Advertisement DR. JOHN PRODUCES SHEMEKIA COPELAND Blues diva Shemekia Copeland currently is finishing work on a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated compact disc, "Wicked." The still untitled album was recorded in New York and produced by Dr. John, and is to be released on Sept. 17. The CD features members of both Dr. John's and Copeland's touring bands. Copeland was named Best Blues Artist (Female) in the 2002 Living Blues Readers Poll, less than two months after winning the W.C. Handy Blues Award for Contemporary Female Artist Of The Year. 8X10 CLUB TO CLOSE WITH A BANG Baltimore's historic music venue the 8 x 10 Club will close its doors for good on Aug. 3 but not before some of the greatest musicians to play there over the years return for one more party. The club's "Farewell Celebration Month" is a 12-night party with shows from The Radiators (Aug. 1), Baltimore's top blues band The Kelly Bell Band (Aug. 2) and a grand finale on Aug. 3 starring the Jarflys, featuring Jimi Haha of Baltimore's Jimmie's Chicken Shack and a host of special guests. The runup to the last weekend features performances by Baltimore's Lake Trout, George Porter Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, June Yamagishi, Deep Banana Blackout, Acoustic Syndicate and Mambo Cambo. Advertisement MANZAREK OPENS DOORS Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek has collaborated with British musician and actor Darryl Read on a project combining poetry and music entitled, "Freshly Dug." The album features 16 new poems by Read, performed by the author, accompanied on piano, organ and keyboards by Manzarek. The compact disc package includes photography by Gered Mankowitz (Rolling Stones, Kate Bush, Giles Giles and Fripp) and an essay by journalist Pete Feenstra of Soundcheck magazine. The session took place in Los Angeles. Manzarek taped Read's poems to his music stand and improvised off basic themes he created for each of Read's works. "I'm glad this CD is finally available in the U.S.," Manzarek said. "Darryl and I had a great time recording together. He is down, funky and a very Beat poet! All in all, I think of this as a very cool disc." Manzarek also is working on a concert scheduled for Los Angles in the fall reuniting the surviving members of the Doors. Ian Astbury is slated to provide vocals for the group. PITTSBURGH BLUES FEST Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Sean Costello, John Hammond, Keb' Mo', Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys and Sugar Ray & the Bluetones featuring Monster Mike Welch will be the featured acts at this weekend's Pittsburgh Blues Festival. Advertisement The eighth annual event, which runs from July 19-21, also includes The Pawnbrokers, Ana Popovic, Eugene & the Night Crawlers, Rude Mood, Erin Burkett & the Mean Reds, the Pittsburgh All-Stars, Jill West & Blues Attack, The Love Dogs and Memphis Mike & the Legendary Tremblers. More information is available on the Web site PghBlues.com.
