This week, The Beach Boys returned to the Billboard 200 album chart with their highest debut ever, for their new album That’s Why God Made The Radio. The album came in at No. 3 and sold 61,000 copies in its debut week – enough to make it their highest-charting album since their greatest hits compilation, Endless Summer, reached No. 1 in 1974.

But that’s not all. This week, The Beach Boys also bested a band that they spent their early career competing with, specifically during the Pet Sounds / Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band era. The Beach Boys now pass The Beatles as the band with the longest stretch of time spent in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart, reports Billboard. Translation: The Beach Boys have been consistently charting top 10 albums for more years than any other band, a longevity award of sorts.

The Beach Boys first hit the top 10 on the album chart 49 years and one week ago, with sophomore album Surfin’ USA. The Beatles previously held the record with 47 years, seven months and three weeks of top 10 dominance, first charting top 10 on the album chart with Meet The Beatles in February 1964 and most recently appearing in the top 10 with hits compilation 1 in October 2011.

With The Beatles now at No. 2, The Rolling Stones trail them by roughly two years for the No. 3 title. The Stones kicked off a 45-year, six-month top 10 span on the Billboard 200 album chart with 1964′s 12 x 5 and end it with their classic album Exile on Main St. , which last chart in the top 10 in June 2010.

Additionally, That’s Why God Made The Radio is the Beach Boys’ highest-charting album since 1965′s Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), which reached (but did not debut at) No. 2. The new album’s strong opening week can, in part, be attributed to a big QVC pre-order that moved nearly 20,000 copies. However, the appeal of the new album also stems from the fact that all surviving members of “America’s band” – Brian Wilson included – have reunited to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

- Jillian Mapes, CBS Local