Chesney album tops chart

New York Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” had no problem beating the competition for the top spot on the album chart.

The country singer’s latest release made its at No. 1 for the week ending April 28, according to industry figures released Wednesday.

Chesney sold 235,000 copies, ending the three-week reign of R&B singer Ashanti’s self-titled debut album. “Ashanti” has gone platinum after having sold 143,000 copies this past week.

Baldwin takes on the classroom

New York Alec Baldwin will teach a theater class this summer at Southampton College.

The actor will serve as a distinguished professor, teaching a master class at the college, which is part of Long Island University.

Baldwin grew up in Massapequa, Long Island, and lives near the college in Amagansett.

Dean James Larocca praised the 44-year-old actor as “a true artist.”

“Like our other distinguished professors, Alec Baldwin is a Renaissance person,” Larocca said in a recent statement.

Baldwin’s films include “The Hunt for Red October,” “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Pearl Harbor.”

Lennon recordings fetch top price

London Two tape recordings of John Lennon improvising songs and telling stories to his young stepdaughter sold for $195,000 at an auction by Christie’s.

On one tape recorded in the summer of 1969, Lennon is heard improvising songs and relating the tale of a dwarf who lived in the garden to Kyoko, his 6-year-old stepdaughter by Yoko Ono. The cassette brought $110,000.

The second tape is a 25-minute recording of Lennon developing the melody and lyrics of the song “She Said She Said,” which was later released on the Beatles’ “Revolver” album. The tape, which contained lyrics that never made it into the finished version, sold for $85,200.

A private collector from the United States bought both recordings at Tuesday’s auction.

Clothing model denies knowledge of unfair labor practice claims

New York Colombian singer Shakira said she would not have supported the teen clothing line Delia’s had she known it was caught up in accusations of unfair labor practices.

Shakira, who models clothing for the company in its spring catalog and on posters, said she did not know Delia’s made clothes in a Brooklyn factory caught in a wage dispute until it was reported in the Daily News.

“I would never knowingly wear any clothes or support any company who produced clothing with alleged wage and labor violations,” Shakira said.