‘Mariah’ Climbs the Chart

Pop-soul singer Mariah Carey, often billed as the new Whitney Houston, is a strong candidate for the Biggest New Star of the Year award. Her debut album, “Mariah Carey,” moved up two notches to No. 4 on the Billboard pop album chart. Her “Vision of Love” single tops the pop singles chart for the third week in a row. Anita Baker’s “Compositions” climbed three places to No. 6. One of the hottest new albums on the chart is “After the Rain” (No. 35), by the pop-rock duo Nelson--the twin sons of the late Ricky Nelson.

* “In the Heart of the Young,” the eagerly awaited new one by the pop-metal band Winger, should easily make the Top 10 and possibly the Top Five. After debuting last week at No. 43, it jumped up to No. 18.

POP ALBUM CHART

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em” 1 1 24 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 2. “Flesh and Blood” 3 12 4 Poison (Enigma) 3. “Wilson Phillips” 2 2 9 Wilson Phillips (SBK) 4. “Mariah Carey” 6 10 8 Mariah Carey (Columbia) 5. “Step by Step” 4 3 9 New Kids on the Block (Columbia) * “In the Heart of the Young” 43 ... 2 Winger (Atlantic)