Brooks' Album Is Best Country Debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Garth Brooks' new disc, ``Scarecrow,'' which debuted at the top of the charts last week, was the best debut of a country music project since his live album three years

Thursday, November 29th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Garth Brooks' new disc, ``Scarecrow,'' which debuted at the top of the charts last week, was the best debut of a country music project since his live album three years ago.

``Scarecrow'' was released on Nov. 13 and sold approximately 466,000 in its first week. Brooks' ``Double Live'' sold just over 1 million its first week in 1998.

Sales of country music have been flat for the past five years.

``Considering business conditions for country music, obviously (the Brooks) record stands head-and-shoulders above the rest,'' said Wade Jessen, the editor of the country chart for Billboard magazine. ``This is a very big opening week.''