Although there’s a few surprises on the report card below, it’s not so shocking anymore that the raw sales data for releases from Austin’s Class of ’98 (or any class before them, for that matter) is once again something of a reality check. The numbers speak for themselves, but remember, these SoundScan figures — number of albums sold, the same numbers that drive the Billboard charts — don’t include many of the small so-called “mom ‘n’ pop” record stores that have proven so instrumental in breaking Texas music. And by the way, if you’re wondering why Fastball shows only 934,528 units sold — rather than the million the Platinum hoopla would lead you to believe — know that Platinum awards are given on units shipped, not sold. And given the 812,000-unit gap between Fastball and the local trio’s closest local competitor, a newcomer named Willie Nelson, what’s it really matter anyway? — A.L.
Marcia Ball, Tracy Nelson, Irma Thomas,
Sing It! (Rounder): 35,605
Junior Brown, Long Way Back (Curb):32,623
Mary Cutrufello, When the Night Is Through (Mercury): 8,814
Kacy Crowley, Anchorless (Atlantic): 9,668
Joe Ely, Twistin’ in the Wind (MCA):19,063
Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy
(Hollywood): 934,528
Dav�d Garza, This Euphoria (Lava/Atlantic): 15,181
Willie Nelson, Teatro (Island): 122,340
Pushmonkey, Pushmonkey (Arista): 8,823
Charlie Robison, Life of the Party (Lucky Dog/Columbia): 4,163
Bruce Robison, Wrapped (Lucky Dog/Columbia): 4,536
Sixteen Deluxe, Emits Showers of Sparks
(Warner Bros.): 2,061
Spoon, A Series of Sneaks (Elektra): 3,330
Storyville, Dog Years (Atlantic): 34,756
Ugly Americans, Boom Boom Baby (Capricorn): 9,859
Vallejo, Beautiful Life (TVT): 4,365
Jimmie Vaughan, Out There (Epic): 35,207
Don Walser, Down at the Sky-Vue Drive-In (Sire/Watermelon): 10,660
This article appears in January 15 • 1999 and January 15 • 1999 (Cover).