THE CURRENT HITS

The post-Christmas blahs have hit the videocassette market. Business will probably be slow for the next few weeks. There will be fewer releases and probably no major chart surges by any of the videocassettes in release. For the next few weeks, the biggest new videocassette will most likely be “Police Academy,” the unheralded movie that became one of the smash hits of 1984.

Prince’s “Purple Rain,” a solid No. 1, is certainly safe from challenges for a while. The “Purple Rain” soundtrack is an even more solid No. 1 on the Billboard pop album chart. Needless to say, it’s quite a feat for an artist to have both the best-selling videocassette and the top pop album. Which will last longer at No. 1? Probably the videocassette, since it was released long after the soundtrack. With all the money he’s making, Prince’s favorite color may change from purple to green.

“The Natural,” featuring Robert Redford as a baseball star, was a hit movie but, as a videocassette, has been just a mild seller. This week it’s No. 17. . . . Parents aren’t rushing out to buy Disney’s “Robin Hood” for their kids. The $79.95 price tag for this 1973 animated movie is certainly a deterrent. This week, its second on the chart, it’s No. 27, up from No. 29.

RENTALS: Don’t get the wrong idea about “The Natural.” Just because it’s not a sizzler on the sales chart, don’t think it’s a flop as a videocassette. Renters are wild about it. In just four weeks, it’s climbed to No. 3 on the rental chart. . . . “Dreamscape,” the Dennis Quaid-Kate Capshaw movie, is off to a good start--rising to No. 13 in two weeks. . . . Debuts: “Robin Hood” (No. 23), “The Neverending Story” (No. 26) and “Top Secret” (No. 29). “Police Academy” premiered at a relatively modest No. 16. Look for it to be Top 10--maybe even Top Five--next week.

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, SALES 1. “Purple Rain” (Warner Bros.).

2. “The Empire Strikes Back” (CBS-Fox).

3. “Star Wars” (CBS-Fox).

4. “Jane Fonda’s Workout” (Karl Video).

5. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Paramount).

6. “Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan” (Paramount).

7. “An Officer and a Gentleman” (Paramount).

8. “48 HRS.” (Paramount).

9. “Prime Time” (Karl Video).

10. “The Last Starfighter” (Universal).

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, RENTALS

1. “The Empire Strikes Back” (CBS-Fox).

2. “Purple Rain” (Warner Bros.).

3. “The Natural” (RCA/Columbia).

4. “Romancing the Stone” (CBS-Fox).

5. “The Last Starfighter” (Universal).

6. “Conan the Destroyer” (Universal).

7. “Splash” (Touchstone).

8. “Greystoke: the Legend of Tarzan” (Warner Bros.).

9. “Against All Odds” (RCA/Columbia).

10. “Moscow on the Hudson” (RCA/Columbia).