SADE SOLDIERS ON

The Epic diva, whose Soldier of Love debuted with 500k in sales, will spend a third week at #1, thanks to those retailers still brave enough to keep their shelves stocked and their credit card machines oiled. Now if only getting a health care plan passed was that simple.

The mysterious chanteuse's total next week will exceed 100k, meaning the #1 record through the first two months of the new year have all been in six figures.

Hey, we take the good news where we can get it, bub.

American VI: Ain't No Grave, the sixth and final edition of the late Johnny Cash's American Recordings/Lost Highway collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, tops the week's new releases with a projected total of 35-40k. A chilling voice from beyond the grave, it documents the last few months before the music superstar's death in Sept., 2003.

Epitaph's veteran Illinois punk-rockers Alkaline Trio return with their indie label debut, This Addiction, which should debut with a total between 25-30k.

Sony Music Latin performer Chayanne is set for an impressive first-week total between 20-25k, while Island/IDJ's Texas post-emo-rocker Bryce Avery's The Rocket Summer nabs 12-16k for his sophomore effort, Of Men and Angels, the follow-up to his 2007 debut, Do You Feel. Columbia Nashville tout Josh Thompson should bow with around the same total for the Wisconsin-born country singer's debut, Way Out Here.

The market was down 17% vs. last week, down 12% vs. same week last year and now down 7% year to date. And you thought curling was a bore.