According to Soundscan ...

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

Davíd 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