David Bowie's anticipated new album "Blackstar," which was released Jan. 8, two days before the artist's death at age 69, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Top 200 most popular albums chart, selling 181,000 units.
The album's track list includes "Lazarus," the title song from his acclaimed Off-Broadway musical of the same name – a collaboration with Tony-winning playwright Enda Walsh. Michael C. Hall sings the number in the stage show, but Bowie sings it on "Blackstar."
The milestone comes just two months after the Broadway cast album of Hamilton hit No. 1 on Billboard's rap chart and No. 12 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart.
"Blackstar" is also Bowie's first No. 1 album in the U.S. The original Off-Broadway cast album of Lazarus was recorded Jan. 10, but no release date has been set.
The "Blackstar" album is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and more. Visit DavidBowie.com for more information. Lazarus' star, "Dexter" and Hedwig actor Michael C. Hall, performs "Lazarus" in the sold-out show, which concludes its sold-out run Jan. 20. He recently appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to perform the track. Watch the clip below:
You can listen to Bowie's "Lazarus" on Youtube here.
Lazarus features new songs specially composed by Bowie as well as new arrangements of previously recorded songs. Inspired by Walter Tevis' best-selling 1963 novel "The Man Who Fell to Earth," the story follows Thomas Newton – played by Hall – a human-looking and lovelorn alien who has been abandoned on the planet.
The Off-Broadway production, which officially opened Dec. 7, is helmed by Obie winner Ivo van Hove and has received numerous extensions due to high ticket demand. There has been talk of a possible Broadway transfer, but no concrete plans have been announced.
Along with Hall, the cast includes Cristin Milioti (Once), Michael Esper, Krystina Alabado (American Idiot), Sophia Anne Caruso (The Nether), Nicholas Christopher (Whorl Inside A Loop), Lynn Craig (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Bobby Moreno (Year of the Rooster), Krista Pioppi (Spring Awakening national tour), Charlie Pollock (The Wild Party) and Brynn Williams (Bye Bye Birdie).
For more information, visit NYTW.org.
