Iceman Hits the Hammer

Has Hammer finally had it? After nearly half a year at the top of the Billboard magazine pop album chart, M.C. Hammer’s “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” slipped to No. 2. The Hammer killer? Rapper Vanilla Ice, whose album “To the Extreme” went to the max--No. 1. But Hammer’s single “Pray” is No. 2 and appears destined to rise one more rung. That single may be strong enough to lift Hammer’s album back to No. 1. Paul Simon’s latest, “Rhythm of the Saints,” shot up to No. 11 in just two weeks. Mariah Carey’s “Love Takes Time” is the new No. 1 pop single.

* Led Zeppelin’s retrospective, “Led Zeppelin,” must be one of the most expensive albums ever to reach the Top 40--debuting at No. 40. It’s selling in tape format at $55; around $65 for the CD set.

POP ALBUM CHART

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1.”To the Extreme” 2 5 8 Vanilla Ice (SBK) 2.”Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” 1 1 36 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 3.”The Razor’s Edge” 3 3 6 AC/DC (Atlantic) 4. “Mariah Carey” 4 4 20 Mariah Carey (Columbia) 5.”Wilson Phillips” 7 7 31 Wilson Phillips (SBK) *”Led Zeppelin” ... ... 1 Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)