POP CHART ACTION

Whitney Houston’s “Whitney” is the No. 1 album on the Billboard magazine pop chart for the third straight week. The only album likely to topple it in the next few weeks is Heart’s “Bad Animals,” which inched up one notch to No. 4. Want proof? Heart’s single, “Alone,” did knock Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” out of the top spot on the singles chart. Rapper L. L. Cool J. made his debut in the pop Top 10 with his album, “Bigger and Deffer” (No. 8), which has been on the chart just four weeks. Randy Travis’ huge country hit, “Always & Forever,” is big on the pop album charts too--it’s at No. 19. “Let it Loose” (No. 27), by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, is one of the fastest-rising albums. Their single, “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (No. 12), is climbing so fast that it’s a sure bet to crack the Top Five. George Michael may have another No. 1 single with his red-hot “I Want Your Sex” (No. 11), and watch out for newcomer Richard Marx, whose single “Don’t Mean Nothing” jumped 10 notches to No. 33.