Bruce Springsteen's Western Stars outshines Madonna's Madame X to take Number 1 album

The Boss sees off the Queen of Pop, plus new entries including Bastille, Joy Division, and Kate Tempest.
madonna-madame-x-bruce-western-stars.jpg

It was The Boss vs The Queen of Pop in the race to Number 1, but of the two American music icons, it's Bruce Springsteen who takes the glory in this week's Official Albums Chart.

Bruce's 19th studio album Western Stars is his first album of new material since 2012 and becomes his eleventh UK chart-topper, finishing an impressive 25,000 combined sales ahead of nearest rival Madonna.

Western Stars shifted over 45,400 copies on CD and vinyl this week, making it the fastest selling album on physical formats of the year so far. View Bruce Springsteen's Official UK Chart history so far here.

MORE: Acts with the most Number 1 albums on the UK's Official Chart

Bruce's victory means Madonna must settle for runner-up position with her 14th studio album Madame X. She can take comfort from the fact she still holds the record for the most Number 1 albums by a female artist, with 12 chart-toppers under her belt.

Bastille are new at 4 with third album Doom Days, and 40 years after its original release, an anniversary reissue gives Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures a Top 40 placing for for the very first time – the album's previous peak was Number 71 in 1980 following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, but today it goes straight in at Number 5.

Jack Savoretti's Singing to Strangers gets a boost thanks to Soccer Aid and other TV appearances, rocketing 28 slots to 18, while a re-release of two orchestral albums by Roy Orbison, A Love So Beautiful/Unchained Melodies, is at 22.

Poet and rapper Kate Tempest lands a second UK Top 40 album with The Book of Traps and Lessons, new at 30, and a limited edition red vinyl edition of Queen's Greatest Hits – already the biggest selling album of all time in the UK – lifts the album back up to 31.

Scottish band LaFontaines start at 33 with third album Junior, and US singer-songwriter Bill Callahan scores a first UK Top 40 with Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest at 37.

See the full Official Albums Chart Top 100

Related artists

Join the conversation by joining the Official Charts community and dropping comment.

Already registered?

Log in

No account?

Register

avatar

Rob Parkinson

1

No mention of Fleetwood Mac returning to the top 10 with their 50 years dont stop and another gain for the oldest studio album in the chart rumours but state all the other climbs like Jack savoretti, queen, Roy orbison mentioned. But as ever more comments than usual here because of madonna releasing an album

BF

Brian Fletcher

1

Western stars, brilliant album 👍

avatar

Martina Nugent

0

Im disappointed she didnt hit the top spot,but at least she lost to somebody iconic.

JR

John Ramirez

2

I honestly do not care if Madame X is number one or not, that is irrelevant because the album is incredibly pleasant, freak and fabulous so that is what I really care. Not many artists risk to make music like this these days and what I love the most is the fact that Madonna never gives us what we expect but what we really need so who is the real boss???

avatar

de Sascha

0

Word! Totally agree! It is just something else but I like it:)

avatar

Jack fitsy

-2

Lady Gaga’s Joanne debuted and peaked at number 3 and fell out of the top 20 within 2 weeks. Katy Perry’s last effort did similar. These are meant to be Madonna’s replacement! 😂 She gets zero airplay and her fanbase is pure sales driven. The collapse of the music industry and piracy is what’s killing music, not Madonna. Madame X is more inventive and foreword thinking than this whole top 40 combined. She has nothing to stress about. Its a remarkable return to form unlike Bruce who’s relying on the same dad rock he’s peddled for 40 years.

NN

Nu No

0

Madonna gets her 6th album at #02 in UK, having already 12 albums that peaked #01 it's quite an impressive achievement. There isn't probably other acts with 18 TOP 2 albums in UK.

avatar

Piran

1

The only artist I've found with more Top 2 albums is Elvis Presley with 21 (13 #1s, 8 #2s).
Still very impressive for Madonna though! :)

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

-3

Even after all the hype (and desperately featuring young and more successful artists throughout the album) she can not manage to hit #1. And her single with that Maluma dude was a massive flop. Bruce didn't even need to promote his album to beat her at the game. Madge needs to retire.

avatar

julesin09

2

She is confirmed as number 1 in the US. So it up buttercup.

And Springsteen is rock music. It will always sell well and it benefited from Fathers day.

GC

Graham Clarke

3

Why on earth should she retire.

avatar

julesin09

4

Even after 35+ years Madonna still makes the haters blood boil lol

NN

Nu No

4

I think #02 is fantastic for any artist, especially Madonna (that has been around for 35 years). It's her 18th album to be TOP 2, her 6th album too hit #02 (and second this decade). Bruce is also a great artist and had record sales this week in UK (thanks to Father's Day) so there is no shame to Madonna to be #02. Besides, the young artists she had on this album are not successful in UK and are mostly latin (the first single is a latin song) so that wouldn't change a thing for her (in fact, being latin should do her more harm in UK than good). Her first single from her previous album did chart higher and was a solo Madonna song.

avatar

Vegas Broadway

-1

Can a CANCER get cancer?

avatar

Hana

-2

oh wow. another sexist and ageist comment..

avatar

Tiago Lisboa Rodrigues

3

She needs to retire because she's debuting at #2 and not #1? Oh boy 99% of this industry should retire then. After almost 40 years and all her albums have debuted at #1 or #2 in the UK. If anything...no one has ever done such an impressive feat.

PB

Paul Beaton

1

Exactly the sort if ageist attitude from the likes of you that we could do without. It’s attitudes like yours that prevent her from getting radio and tv airplay. Maybe you should retire your ageist out- dated ideals.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

-1

My comment is neither. I couldn't care less about Springsteen's album. She's been making bad music for quite a while. Even Camila Caballo could beat her both in quality and sales.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

Whatever that is supposed to mean. Right back atcha boo boo.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

Cause her last four albums have been trash. I don't hate her. In fact, I love her old stuff all the way up to COAD. But this tripe is ruining her legacy.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

-2

The only thing boiling is the water for my tea, silly queen.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

1

Good for her. Let us predict where it will fall on week two. Outside the top 20? Top 40?

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

1

And how many hits has she had since "Celebration"? You fools need to actually buy her music instead of getting your all bunched up.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

1

Nah. It's the fact that she hasn't recorded a good song since 2009.

avatar

Hana

3

Camila debuted at number 2 in the UK with 21,561 units just as Madame X. In the US at number 1 with 119,000 album-equivalent units, with 65,000 coming from pure album sales.
"Madame X" is predicted to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 95-105K copies. So it did quite the same as Camila's *debut* album which had 'Havana', biggest hit of the year. Madge still got it.

avatar

LARA

2

She doesn't need hits, she's 60 years old. She just need her fans to still see her live, which they do. Even with concert prizes over £250 a ticket people still go and see her. You're incredibly aggressive, it's only pop music.

avatar

julesin09

2

Will still have been a number 1 album.

avatar

julesin09

1

Oh please yes you do hate her. It so funny she can still get an reaction after these years.

avatar

julesin09

-2

And you haven’t posted a good comment since 2003

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

OK

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

Excellent.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

Do I know you? Didn't think so.

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

Nooooo!!!! It is ART!!!!!!

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

1

Her lowest selling and streamed throughout a remarkable career. But yeah, sure.

GC

Graham Clarke

1

That is your opionion, fair enough. But stop these retirement comments. No mention that Bruce is almost a decade older....but men are allowed to carry on. On a side note, Madame X is a genius album. I hope in time you see that.

avatar

Jack fitsy

-1

You need to retire. Basic millennials & Gaga stans shouldn’t be allowed near social media. Idiots! Look at Madonnas so called replacements, Beyaaawnce, Britney, Gaga whos last studio album failed to outsell Madonna’s leaked Rebel Heart! Because it was truly uninspiring and a mess! Madonna isn’t making music to please you retards or basics, she’s doing it because she can. She remains the only artist out there who’s making music on her own terms. This is just another chapter to her illustrious career. Gaga meanwhile 😂 3 cancelled tours under her belt and studio albums nobody cares about. That’s failure honey

avatar

de Sascha

1

Well what about Bruce Springsteen then?
He's been around since the 70s far longer than Madonna herself.
He's going to debut at #2 in the United States and Madonna at #1.
Should he retire as well according to your logic?
It's been quite a while since both of them had a hit on the single charts too?
Should the Stones retire, Paul McCartney and all the others too?
Swae Lee, Anita and Maluma more successful artists? You better do your research because they never had any hit or topped the charts in the UK!
BESIDES MADONNA IS A LEGEND!

avatar

Jack fitsy

0

All albums crunch massively in the second week! That’s the music industry today you idiot! Look at Gagas Flopanne, peaked at number 1 in only 6 countries WW and didn’t even hit number 2 in the U.K. it fell off the top 20 in 3 weeks. She’s only been around 9 years! 😂

avatar

julesin09

0

No but I can read your comments over the years on disqus.

avatar

julesin09

1

Most legacy acts don’t have high streaming numbers and sales are plummeting for everyone bar a handful of acts. Go educate yourself on the music industry.

PB

Paul Beaton

0

Why are you even here commenting? You clearly hate her.

avatar

David Toussaint

0

Why are you so invested in bringing down Madonna? Seems like it would be easier just to let it go, let people who enjoy her have their moment, let her continue to make music that her millions of fans obviously love? I mean, why invest all this time on your keyboard hating on her when you could be doing something productive--maybe write a song or something. Just a thought.

avatar

Piran

4

I really like how we have two legendary artists in the Top 2 this week! :)

I've not heard Bruce Springsteen's new album yet, but Madonna's was definitely a pleasant surprise ('Medellin', 'Future' & 'Crave' are my favourites so far).

Next week, I imagine it'll be Lewis Capaldi vs Mark Ronson vs Will Young for #1!

avatar

Yolanda Merkel

0

LMAO... she is NOT at #1. By far.

avatar

Piran

1

Oops... I meant to say the Top 2! :P

avatar

Anna Nekrylova

-1

ROCco must be very happy! Just kidding) ROC is Russian Orthodox Church. Just sayin'
HAMLET: You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you.
QUEEN: What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me? Help, !

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/048b67d3fdd0f4d26ef067e5d382f1da055723ec37497bb425428e8736f35822.jpg