[09.12.09] Australian Idol winner Stan Walker album released early, Susan Boyle still at Number 1

Australian Idol winner Stan Walker album released early, Susan Boyle still at Number 1

SONY has rush-released Australian Idol winner Stan Walker's debut album.

Introducing Stan Walker hit stores yesterday, three days ahead of its planned release.

The album was quickly recorded the week after Walker won Idol.

It contains rerecorded versions of songs Walker performed on Idol, including Miley Cyrus's The Climb, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Prince's Purple Rain and Queen's We Will Rock You.

Walker's single, Black Box, remains stuck at No. 2 on the ARIA chart.

Black Box sold 17,493 copies last week. Ke$ha's Tik Tok sold 20,452 copies.

Walker's album will have to beat the sales juggernaut of Susan Boyle to hit No. 1 on the charts.

Boyle's album, I Dreamed a Dream, has rocketed to No. 1 in Australia, the US, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

Molly Meldrum interviewed the 48-year-old Britain's Got Talent discovery last week.

Meldrum flew to Glasgow for the sit-down chat with the international singing sensation.

Walker's album has also been released in New Zealand, the first time an Australian Idol winner's album has been simultaneously released in Australia and the Shaky Isles.

His Black Box single is expected to debut at No. 1 on the NZ single's chart today.

Ataahua wrote:

Walker's album has also been released in New Zealand, the first time an Australian Idol winner's album has been simultaneously released in Australia and the Shaky Isles.

Simona7 wrote:I saw S.Boyle album today in prime position on the promotion shelves... plenty of copies in display.

Our Stan was kept in the usual racks, hidden away between the others.... couldn't find it, had to ask for it.

Hope the charts will show his position soon and give us good news