“Compton” is the first new album by Dr. Dre in 16 years. Last week, tied to the release of “Straight Outta Compton,” the hit movie, the album sold 286,000 copies and finished second on the charts to country’s Luke Bryan.

But this last week, “Compton” collapsed. It dropped 85% in sales. That may be the biggest drop ever, beating even Madonna’s famous fall from grace a few years ago with “MDNA.” Compton sold just 42,732 copies.

Even worse: offered digitally as an exclusive on AppleMusic, which made Dr. Dre (real name Andre Young) a fortune buying his Beats headphones company, “Compton” scored only around 9,000 streams for listening. That brought “Compton”‘s total to 52,000 copies.

Part of the problem could be directed at Dr. Dre himself. In the last few days he’s been forced to apologize for his violent behavior against women from years ago. He told the New York Times in a statement:
“Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again…I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”

There are numerous stories coming out from women whom Dr. Dre abused years ago. One woman, Dee Barnes, a hip hop journalist, wrote on Gawker: “I suffer from horrific migraines that started only after the attack. My head does ring and it hurts, exactly in the same spot every time where he smashed my head against the wall.” She called the movie revisionist history.

So while the movie “Straight Outta Compton” continues to do very well at the box office with a fictional Dr. Dre, real person is finding it hard to sell his own related merchandise. Will it also affect the unfortunately named Beats headphones and brand? That remains to be seen.

What have you been doing all summer? Tony Bennett, who turned 89 on August 3rd, has made a new album. Didn’t he just have a new album with Lady Gaga? Think about it– while Adele naps and Macklemore looks for change in cushions, Tony Bennett went back into the studio.

The result is “Silver Lining: Songs of Jerome Kern,” recorded with Bill Charlap. The new album hits stores and digital whatevers on September 25th, just in time for–wait for it– the Grammy Awards deadline. We’ll be seeing Tony in February at the afternoon ceremony.

OK, I don’t get it. It’s some kind of trick, isn’t it? Tony’s never sounded better. His show with Lady Gaga was beyond great. And now, this, a real jazz combo album. It’s no Bieber, but it will do!

TONY BENNETT & BILL CHARLAP
THE SILVER LINING: THE SONGS OF JEROME KERN
Musicians:
Vocals: Tony Bennett
Pianos: Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes
Bass: Peter Washington
Drums: Kenny Washington

Arranged by Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap

Tracks in Alphabetical Order (14 total)
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (single piano)
DEARLY BELOVED (trio)
I WON’T DANCE (trio)
I’M OLD FASHIONED (trio)
LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING (piano duet)
LONG AGO AND FAR AWAY (piano duet)
MAKE BELIEVE (single piano)
NOBODY ELSE BUT ME (trio)
PICK YOURSELF UP (trio)
THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS (piano duet)
THE SONG IS YOU (piano duet)
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT (single piano)
THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE ME (trio)
YESTERDAYS (trio)

*Single piano is Bill Charlap
*Piano duet is Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes

So: One Direction’s PR machine responded to my story from the other day in an interesting way. It seems the reason “Drag Me Down” isn’t a hit is that it doesn’t have a video. Tomorrow a video may arrive and that will change everything.

I like One Direction. I liked their “Four” album. But “Drag Me Down” isn’t happening. It’s number 17 on the Top 40 radio airplay chart. On iTunes, it’s number 12. Forget Amazon. And on Billboard, they dropped it from number 3 to number 26.

My friend Michael Zilkha, who helped put Madonna on the charts and nurtured Kid Creole and the Coconuts, was very wise about hits. He used to say a hit “had the sound of triumph.” He was right. The sound of a hit is assured, confident, upbeat 99% of the time. One Direction’s “Story of My Life” was like that. “Drag Me Down” is a big negative. It’s not ebullient. It’s a drag.

Just something to chew. Maybe that video will turn the tide.

Here’s a Kid Creole video I love: