Hammer’s Hot Pursuer

If anybody is going to pry M.C. Hammer out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart, where he’s been camped for 17 weeks, it’s George Michael, whose new album bolted up to No. 5 in only two weeks. Michael’s single, “Praying for Time,” is No. 2 on the pop singles chart. Country singer Garth Brooks’ “No Fences” continues to shoot up the chart, landing at No. 23 after just three weeks--a remarkable performance for an album by a relative unknown, particularly an unknown in the country genre. Maxi Priest’s “Close to You” is the new No. 1 pop single.

* Probably the raunchiest, most sexist rap albums in the business are made by Too Short, who makes some of the more celebrated X-rated rappers seem tame. But “Short Dog’s in the House” is one of the hottest albums on the chart, jumping to No. 28 in just two weeks.

POP ALBUM CHART

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” 1 1 31 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 2. “Wilson Phillips” 2 2 26 Wilson Phillips (SBK) 3. “Mariah Carey” 3 4 15 Mariah Carey (Columbia) 4. “Blaze of Glory” 4 3 7 Jon Bon Jovi ((Mercury) 5. “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1” 22 ... 2 George Michael (Columbia) * “Short Dog’s in the House” 58 ... 1 Too Short (Jive/RCA)