POP LP CHART

INXS’s “Kick” is one of the hottest new albums on the Billboard pop album chart, shooting up 42 places to No. 28. Sting’s “Nothing Like the Sun” rose five places to No. 9 on the Billboard chart. It appears to have enough strength to at least crack the Top Five. Belinda Carlisle is surprising everyone with the rapid rise of her “Heaven on Earth” album, which is up to No. 18. Her No. 3 single, “Heaven Is a Place on Earth,” may boost the album into pop chart heaven--the Top Five. Hot teen albums: Tiffany’s “Tiffany” is No. 20, and Debbie Gibson’s “Out of the Blue” jumped eight places to No. 45. Michael Jackson’s “Bad” just crossed the 3-million mark in units sold. Singles: Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony” is the new No. 1 pop single. R.E.M’s “The One I Love” (No. 12) and Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional” (No. 19) look like candidates for the Top 10 next week.

* Fresh out of Wham!, George Michael, now solo, has a new album, “Faith,” that looks like it could be in the Top 10 in a few weeks. It debuted at No. 41. His fast-rising single of the title song jumped nine notches to No. 10. It’s a good bet to reach No. 1.

TITLE RANK RANK WEEKS LAST 2 WKS ON WEEK AGO CHART 1 Dirty Dancing 1 3 10 Sound Track 2 Tunnel of Love 2 1 5 Bruce Springsteen 3 Bad 3 2 9 Michael Jackson 4 Whitesnake 4 4 32 Whitesnake 5 A Momentary Lapse of Reason 5 5 9 Pink Floyd * Faith -- -- 1 George Michael