Charlie Puth Reaches a New Vinyl Chart Peak

This week, Whatever’s Clever! debuts at No. 14 on the Vinyl Albums chart. Billboard publishes the rundown each week to show which wax records sold the most copies in the most recent closed tracking frame. Puth collects only his second placement on the tally, and he establishes a new high point. Whatever’s Clever! beats the No. 21 peak of Voicenotes, as that project debuted in that slot back in the fall of 2018.

Kesha, Melanie Martinez, Raye and Slayyter Debut

It’s a very busy frame on the Vinyl Albums chart. Normally, a No. 14 start would ensure that any artist earns one of the top debuts, but that is not the case. This frame, Puth claims the ninth-loftiest entry. The roster is ruled by Ye – formerly known as Kanye West – who launches Bully at the summit. Melanie Martinez, Slayyyter, Yeat, Kesha, and Raye also debut projects within the top 10.

Whatever’s Clever! sits just outside that uppermost tier, and just-shared sets from Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Swedish pop singer Robyn beat him by only a space or two. Several other titles from musical acts such as Black Label Society, Melissa Etheridge, Nas, and even Frank Sinatra kick off their time beneath Whatever’s Clever!

Whatever’s Clever! Debuts Lower on the Sales Chart

As Whatever’s Clever! enters as Puth’s highest-rising win on the Vinyl Albums chart, it becomes his new career low on another similarly-composed roster. Whatever’s Clever! debuts on the Top Album Sales chart at No. 9. All four of Puth’s releases have broken into that top 10 space, but before this week, a pair of efforts – Nine Track Mind and Charlie, which both stalled at No. 5 – stood out as his worst performers. He nearly ruled the ranking with Voicenotes, which lifted as high as No. 2.

Charlie Puth Falls Short on the Billboard 200

Puth’s latest fares even worse on the Billboard 200, the most important albums chart in America. Previously, his three proper albums have all pushed into the top 10, with Voicenotes climbing as high as No. 4, Nine Track Mind peaking at No. 6, and Charlie barely sneaking into that region as it settled at No. 10.

Whatever’s Clever! marks a new low for Puth on the Billboard 200, taking into account not only his four traditional studio LPs, but also one additional early career release. The singer-songwriter’s Some Type of Love EP debuted on the Billboard 200 in July 2015. It would hold on for 20 frames and help introduce the then-rising talent to Americans. Some Type of Love eventually peaked at No. 37.

Whatever’s Clever! is Puth’s first composition of any kind to fail to break into the chart’s top 40.

None of the Singles from Whatever’s Clever! Hit the Hot 100

For several years. Puth was a pop hitmaker who could be counted on, but it seems that is no longer the case. None of the singles pushed from Whatever’s Clever! – “Changes,” “Beat Yourself Up,” “Home” with Hikaru Utada, or “Sideways” with R&B artist Coco Jones – have landed on the Billboard Hot 100, though he has enjoyed some minimal success on a handful of pop radio tallies.