Bolton Bolting Up the Charts

Michael Bolton may be the one who finally cracks the Abdul-Jackson stranglehold on the top two positions on the Billboard pop album chart. In the last few weeks, Bolton’s album bolted up to the Top Five--No. 4 this week--buoyed by Grammy recognition and a new hit single, “How Can We Be Lovers,” a fast-rising No. 28 on the pop singles chart. If Bolton doesn’t break the dance-music divas’ lock on the Top Two, then Bonnie Raitt might do it with her “Nick of Time” album, which has been racing up the chart since it won the best-album Grammy a few weeks ago. Alannah Myles has her first No. 1 pop single with “Black Velvet,” which unseated Janet Jackson’s “Escapade,” now No. 3.

* English white-soul singer Lisa Stansfield is making a big splash on the pop chart with her “Affection” album, which has climbed to No. 32 in just three weeks. The album’s big attraction is her red-hot single, “All Around the World,” which is No. 7 on the pop singles chart--with No. 1 potential.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Forever Your Girl” 1 1 88 Paula Abdul (Virgin) 2. “Rhythm Nation 1814” 2 2 25 Janet Jackson (A&M;) 3. “...But Seriously” 3 3 17 Phil Collins (Atlantic) 4. “Soul Provider” 6 9 36 Michael Bolton (Columbia) 5. “Cosmic Thing” 5 4 36 The B-52’s (Reprise) * “Affection” 39 139 3 Lisa Stansfield (Arista)