Britney Spears' comeback success

Oct 29, 2007, 12:30 GMT

Britney Spears as she arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court, before her hearing as part of her ongoing child custody case, 26 October 2007. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

Britney Spears' new album is set to be a huge success, despite the controversy surrounding her personal life.

The singer's LP, 'Blackout', goes on sale worldwide tomorrow (30.10.07) and although Britney's public image has taken a battering with accusations of drug use, bad parenting and excessive drinking, the album is being predicted to match the success of her past multi-million-selling records.

Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts, said: "You almost have to throw out the rule book when you evaluate her. You might think the attention she has got does not bode well, but the first single has been very well received."

Britney's comeback single 'Gimme More' is currently riding high at number six in the UK singles chart, and peaked at number 17 in the US Billboard chart.

'Blackout' is the singer's first studio album since 2003. Her previous four releases have all been number one hits and have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide.

The 12-track LP is predominantly produced by Timbaland protégé Nate "Danja" Hills and the Swedish duo Bloodshy and Avant, who also produced her Grammy-winning hit single 'Toxic'.

Barry Weiss, the President of Jive Records' parent company Zomba Label Group, emphasised the label is doing its best to keep the focus on Britney's music, not her turbulent personal life.

He said: "The sound is a maturation from her prior albums. "With so much noise out there about her, we are trying to keep the focus on the music as much as possible."

Britney - who recently lost custody of her two sons, Sean Preston, two, and 13-month old Jayden James to ex-husband Kevin Federline - will promote the album, but bosses are wary about how many live appearances she will be able to do.

Weiss said: "She will do her part to promote the record but we will be very selective about what she's asked to do."

(C) BANG Media International