POP LP CHART : Bangles, Duran Duran on Way Up

U2’s “Rattle and Hum” will probably be the next No. 1 album on the Billboard magazine pop album chart. It’s already No. 5 after a mere two weeks on the chart. Luther Vandross’ “Any Love,” easily his fastest-rising album, is No. 16 and ticketed for the Top Five. Three other albums debuted low on the chart but should take giant steps into the upper levels next week--the Bangles’ “Everything” (No. 100), Duran Duran’s “Big Thing” (No. 109) and the Pet Shop Boys’ “Introspective” (No. 118). That John Lennon media blitz is undoubtedly helping the sound-track album to “Imagine,” which is No. 32 after three weeks, and it looks like Kenny G will have a Top 10 album with “Silhouette” (No. 18). The Beach Boys have the No. 1 pop single with “Kokomo,” another hit from the “Cocktail” sound track.

* Pop-jazz balladeer Anita Baker shocked the pop world by selling over 4 million copies of her last album of love songs, “Rapture.” Was that a fluke? Apparently not. Her new one debuted on the pop chart at No. 22 and should be in the Top 10 in the next few weeks.

Rank Rank2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “New Jersey” 1 1 5 Bon Jovi (Mercury/PolyGram) 2. “Appetite for Destruction” 2 2 63 Guns N’ Roses (Geffen) 3. “Cocktail” 3 4 13 Sound track (Elektra) 4. “Hysteria” 4 3 64 Def Leppard (PolyGram) 5. “Rattle and Hum” 14 -- 2 U2 (sound track) (Island) *”Giving You the Best That I Got” -- -- 1 Anita Baker (Elektra)