Lionel Richie Keeps Jason Mraz And Train At Bay On Album Chart

Lionel Richie easily fends off new releases Jason Mraz, Train and Future on Billboard‘s Top 200 chart this week, as Tuskegee maintains its #1 position following another 114,000 copies sold. As mentioned last week, Tuskegee marks Richie’s first chart-topper on the main album roundup since Dancing On The Ceiling waltzed its way to the peak position in 1986. And the singer’s renaissance has arrived just in time, too, given his recent woes with unpaid taxes.

Meanwhile, it’s hardly doom and gloom for Mraz, whose Love Is A Four Letter Word arrives in the runner-up position on the strength of 102,000 copies sold. It’s now his highest chart position on the Top 200, after previously peaking at #3 four years ago with We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Likewise, Train’s sixth album California 37 (#4, 76,000) has now bested the chart positions of 2001’s Drops Of Jupiter and 2003’s My Private Nation, both of which peaked at #6 on the Top 200.

Elsewhere, Pluto, the debut from 22-year-old Georgia rapper Future, enters at #8 (41,000).

The Top 10 Of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart

1. Lionel Richie, Tuskegee *2 weeks* 2. Jason Mraz, Love Is A Four Letter Word *new* 3. Adele, 21 4. Train, California 37 *new* 5. One Direction, Up All Night 6. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 7. Gotye, Making Mirrors 8. Future, Pluto *new* 9. Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream 10. Luke Bryan, Tailgates & Tanlines