POP ALBUM CHART : Whitney Houston May Melt Ice

Whitney Houston’s album, “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” shot up to No. 5 on the Billboard magazine pop chart in just two weeks. Her single of the title song is the new No. 1 pop single. Look for Houston to unseat Vanilla Ice, the current pop-chart kingpin, in the next week or two. Guy, the hip hot young soul group headed by Teddy Riley, debuted at No. 50 with “The Future.” Two albums that will wind up in many Christmas stockings this year are Phil Collins’ “Serious Hits . . . Live!” (No. 23) and Madonna’s greatest-hits package, “The Immaculate Collection” (No. 32). Paul McCartney’s live collection, “Tripping the Live Fantastic” (No. 26), is destined to be a popular stocking-stuffer too.

* Clint Black--part of the male triumvirate (with Garth Brooks and Randy Travis) that’s ruling country music these days--has one of the hottest new albums on the pop chart. Unlike other country artists, these guys are making big waves in the pop mainstream. It’s possible that Black’s “Put Yourself in My Shoes,” which rocketed to No. 18 in two weeks, may crack the pop Top 10--rare for a country collection.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1.”To the Extreme” 1 1 11 Vanilla Ice (SBK) 2.”Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” 2 2 39 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 3.”Mariah Carey” 3 3 23 Mariah Carey (Columbia) 4.”Rhythm of the Saints” 4 5 5 Paul Simon (Warner Bros.) 5.”I’m Your Baby Tonight” 22 ... 2 Whitney Houston (Arista) *”Put Yourself in My Shoes” 48 ... 2 Clint Black (RCA)