"Weathered," the third album from Creed [ tickets ], outsold all of the competition during its first week in stores, and will debut at the top of the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart, according to industry sources. Also debuting in the Top 10 this week is the "Now That's What I Call Music! Vol. 8" compilation and new albums from Kid Rock and Pink.

First-week sales of "Weathered" (Wind-up) totaled about 887,000 copies, which--though shy of the 1-million mark that some in the industry predicted--is enough to garner Creed the second-highest first-week sales figure of 2001. That top honor is held by 'NSync's July release, "Celebrity" (Jive), which sold about 1.8 million copies during its inaugural week.

"My Own Prison," Creed's 1997 debut, entered the chart at No. 174, while "Human Clay," the group's 1999 sophomore effort, snagged the group its first No. 1 debut.

Creed's chart-topping debut leaves the eighth volume of the "Now That's What I Call Music!" (Virgin) compilation series in the No. 2 spot; Vols. 6 and 7 both debuted in the top slot, as did Vol. 4. The latest edition features previously released hits from a number of artists, including Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Destiny's Child, U2, Gorillaz and Sum 41.

The newcomers at the top of the chart push Britney Spears' "Britney" (Jive) down one notch to No. 3 during its third week out, and Garth Brooks' "Scarecrow"--which the country star claims will be his final album--down from its No. 1 debut of last week to No. 4.

Joining "Now! Vol. 8" in the Top 10, meanwhile, is the first-ever "Now That's What I Call Christmas!" (Universal) compilation, a two-disc set that features traditional holiday favorites by artists such as Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Diana Krall and Frank Sinatra on the first disc, and more contemporary tracks from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Harry Connick Jr., Britney Spears and 'NSync on the second disc. The release, which jumped from No. 23 to No. 15 last week, leaps into the No. 5 spot this week.

Now entering its second year on the chart, meanwhile, is Enya's "A Day Without Rain" (Reprise), which, after spending the previous three weeks at No. 5, dips to No. 6 this week.

Trailing Enya is the No. 7 debut of Kid Rock's "Cocky" (Atlantic) and the No. 8 debut of Pink's "Missundaztood" (Arista). It is a downtrend for Rock, whose previous release--last year's "History of Rock"--debuted at No. 2. Pink, meanwhile, is headed in the other direction; "Can't Take Me Home," her 2000 debut, entered the chart at No. 26, its highest placement.

Enrique Iglesias' "Escape" (Interscope) and Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" (Warner Bros.), meanwhile, close out the Top 10 at Nos. 9 and 10, respectively.

Debuting further down this week's chart is Timbaland & Magoo's "Indecent Proposal" (Virgin) at No. 29, Smashing Pumpkins' "Greatest Hits" (Virgin) at No. 31, Ghostface Killah's "Bulletproof Wallet" (Epic/RZA) at No. 34, Jill Scott's "Experience: Jill Scott 826+" (Epic) at No. 38, Mick Jagger's "Goddess in the Doorway" (Virgin) at No. 39 and Sting's " ... All This Time" (Interscope/A&M) at No. 40.