POP LP CHART : Reaching for the Stars

Edie Brickell’s album, “Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars,” continues to surprise. It’s up to No. 4 on the Billboard magazine pop chart. When it came out, this album was a good bet not to make the Top 100 or sell 100,000 or even get any airplay--too quirky and not mainstream enough, industry observers insisted. Recently it passed the million-units sold mark. Debbie Gibson’s “Electric Youth” album charged up to No. 11 in just two weeks. Fast-rising albums: Rick Astley’s “Hold Me in Your Arms” (No. 19) and New Order’s “Technique” (No. 41). “The Trinity Session,” by the critical favorites Cowboy Junkies, jumped 12 notches to No. 58. Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up “ is still the No. 1 pop single.

* The late Roy Orbison’s last album is off to an impressive start, debuting on the pop album chart at No. 55.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Don’t Be Cruel” 2 1 31 Bobby Brown (MCA) 2. “Appetite for Destruction” 1 2 78 Guns N’ Roses (Geffen) 3. “Traveling Wilburys” 3 3 15 Traveling Wilburys (Warner Bros.) 4. “Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars” 6 9 22 Edie Brickell (Geffen) 5. “G N’ R Lies” 4 5 10 Guns N’ Roses (Geffen) *”Mystery Girl” ... ... 1 Roy Orbison (Virgin)