Madonna Leaves ‘em ‘Breathless’

Propelled by her recent No. 1 single “Vogue” and all the hype about her role in “Dick Tracy,” Madonna’s “I’m Breathless” album rocketed from No. 44 to No. 3. Most likely next week, she’s going to hammer M.C. Hammer’s “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em” out of the No. 1 spot that it’s held for two straight weeks. Controversy certainly isn’t hurting rapper Ice Cube’s new album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” which vaulted to No. 27 in just three weeks--without, of course, much help from radio. Debuts: Milli Vanilli’s “The Remix Album” (No. 47) and Soul II Soul (No. 53). The new No. 1 pop single is Roxette’s “It Must Have Been Love.”

* Hard-rock guitarist Steve Vai has the second hottest album on the chart with “Passion and Warfare,” which jumped from No. 85 to No. 21.

POP ALBUM CHART

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em” 1 2 15 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 2. “I Do Not Want ... Haven’t Got” 2 1 11 Sinead O’Connor (Chrysalis) 3. “I’m Breathless” 44 ... 2 Madonna (Sire) 4. “Pretty Woman” 4 4 11 sound track (EMI) 5. “Brigade” 3 3 9 Heart (Capitol) * “Passion and Warfare” 85 ... 2 Steve Vai (Relativity)