Bruce Springsteen tops UK album chart

Springsteen says Wrecking Ball is "as direct a record as I ever made"

Bruce Springsteen has topped the UK album chart for a ninth time with his new collection Wrecking Ball, the Official UK Charts Company has said.

He beat fellow new entrants the Military Wives, with In My Dreams, into second place while Lionel Richie's Tuskegee opened at number seven.

Katie Melua's fifth studio album, Secret Symphony, entered at eight.

Belgian-Australian Gotye still has the number one single with Somebody That I Used To Know, featuring singer Kimbra.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Springsteen said Wrecking Ball was "as direct a record as I ever made".

He said the album, which features tape loops and samples, "basically started out as folk music - just me and a guitar singing these songs".

There were also new entries in the album chart for crooner Gilbert O'Sullivan's The Very Best Of, at 12, and Barton Hollow, by US folk-country duo The Civil Wars, at 13.

Children's album Hands Up, by CBeebies favourite Justin Fletcher, was a new entry at 16, Dry The River's Shallow Bed went in at 28 and Sinead O'Connor's How About I Be Me (and You Be You), entered the chart at at 33.

There were also new entries for Doris Day's Ultimate Collection, at 36, Andre Rieu's You Raise Me Up - Songs for Mum, at 38, and former X Factor contestant Mary Byrne's With Love, at 40.

In the singles chart, Emeli Sande stayed at number two, with Next to Me, and Nicki Minaj's Starships climbed two to three.

There was also a new entry for Love Me by R&B trio StooShe, featuring US singer Travie McCoy, at five.

Bright Lights, by rapper Tinchy Stryder, featuring Pixie Lott, was a new entry at seven while X Factor runner-up Marcus Collins went in at nine with his cover of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army.

Hangover, by Taio Cruz featuring Flo Rida, was a new entry at 34.