Bruce Springsteen lands eleventh #1 album in America

Bruce Springsteen notched up his 11th number one album on the Billboard 200 this week. High Hopes sold almost 100,000 units in its first week and entered at #1. Of these, 72,000 were sold on the compact disc format.

Comparatively, The Rising from 2002 landed a total 525,000 units in its first week.

Billboard reported that this achievement means that Springsteen pulls ahead of Elvis Presley to stand alone as the act with the third-most No. 1s in the history of the Billboard 200. Ahead of both acts on the all-time list are the Beatles (with 19 No. 1s) and Jay-Z (with 13).

Springsteen has had #1 albums in America in the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s and ‘10s, with 2012’s Wrecking Ball bringing him into the latest decade.

Last week, Springsteen made a surprise appearance at the 14th Light of Day benefit in Asbury Park, New Jersey, which raises money to combat Parkinson’s Disease. A capacity crowd braved freezing weather to attend the Paramount Theater and were rewarded when The Boss walked on during Jesse Malin’s set to run through 1980 Ramones classic Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio? He later joined his close friend Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers for a 90 minute set of his songs including Adam Raised a Cain and Hearts of Stone which The Boss gave Southside Johnny in 1978 and rarely performed himself, and finished the night with an acoustic solo rendition of Thunder Road.

In other news, Bruce’s youngest son Sam, 20, has joined the Colts Neck Fire Department in New Jersey. He was one of 42 who graduated last week after 188 hours of instruction on rescue, fire extinguishment, hazardous materials response, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, electrical safety, and the care of hoses, ladders and other equipment. His chief called him “very smart, he enjoyed what he was doing.”

One wonders if Bruce’s album about the 9/11 attacks on The Rising, including songs lauding the bravery of firemen who went into save lives while risking their own, affected junior’s decision. He was eight years old when the album was released.