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Madonna notches 8th No. 1 album: Fellow '80s superstar Lionel Richie


High-profile promotion of Madonna's "MDNA" pushed the singer's new album to its widely expected No. 1 debut on the U.S. album chart last week.

The vocalist's eighth No. 1 album, and first under her association with Live Nation and Interscope, took the top position with a 359,000-copy debut frame, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ended April 1.

"MDNA" was launched with a flourish during the Super Bowl halftime show in February, and the ramp-up to release continued at the Winter Music Conference in Miami late last month. Set also got a promotional lift: Ticket buyers for Madonna's upcoming U.S. tour had the option of receiving the album as part of their purchase.

Another familiar name from the '80s, Lionel Richie, reappeared in the album top five for the first time in more than 25 years with "Tuskegee" (Mercury Nashville). The collection entered at No. 2 with 199,000 sold.

The set, on which Richie essays his old hits with such country partners as Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Blake Shelton and Tim McGraw, got a boost when it shifted 20,000 during Richie's pre-release Home Shopping Network appearance in mid-March.

"Tuskegee" is the pop-R&B vocalist's highest-charting release since "Dancing on the Ceiling" reached No. 1 in 1986. His biggest album since then, 2006's "Coming Home," peaked at No. 6.

Though it dropped one post to No. 3, Adele's still-puissant "21" (Columbia) maintained a 121,000-unit clip, off just 7% in its 55th week. Collection has sold just shy of 8.5 million domestically to date.

Florida rock unit Shinedown hit its all-time chart peak with its fourth studio album "Amarylis" (Atlantic), which arrived at No. 4 with 106,000 sold. Group's previous high water mark was 2008's "The Sound of Madness," which reached No. 8.

"The Hunger Games" soundtrack (Universal Republic) slid four positions to No. 5 after debuting at No. 1 last week; collection shifted 64,000 in its sophomore stanza. Brit boy band One Direction's "Up all Night" (Columbia) drifted down two slots to No. 6, moving 46,000 (down 16%).

"Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection" (Capitol), an enhanced edition of Katy Perry's hit-filled 2010-11 smash, rose 24 chart positions and reappeared in the top 10 at No. 7, with 33,000 sold and a big 190% gain.

Utah rock quartet the Used's "Vulnerable" bowed at No. 8 with 32,000 sold. It's the group's fourth top-10 album and first since exiting Warner Music Group for indie Hopeless Records. Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball" (No. 9, 28,000 sold, down 26%) and the "Now 41" compilation (No. 10, 25,000, off 18%) completed the top 10.

Titles by Nicki Minaj, Rascal Flatts, Dr. John and Wilson Phillips will contend for top chart placement in the coming frame.

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