‘Bad Boys II’ makes it three

The “Bad Boys II” soundtrack held on to the No. 1 position on the nation’s album sales chart for the third consecutive week after selling 156,000 copies last week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album, which features tracks by Jay-Z and 50 Cent, easily outpaced the week’s runner-up collection -- Volume 13 in the “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilation series, which sold 114,000 in its second week in stores.

Only one new release -- the latest album from the R&B; trio LSG -- sold enough in its first week, 66,000 copies, to enter the national Top 10.

Three albums slipped out of the Top 10 after only one week: Jane’s Addiction, Brad Paisley and 311.

The year’s two biggest-selling albums -- 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” and Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” -- continue to sell strongly. Both reentered the Top 10 this week, with 50 Cent moving from No. 12 to No. 7 and Jones climbing from No. 13 to No. 10.

-- Robert Hilburn