POP ALBUM CHART : Selling to the Extreme

Vanilla Ice’s “To the Extreme” is one of the fastest-selling albums in many years. Though out less about four months, it’s already sold more than 5 million units and is still going strong. For the last eight weeks, it’s been the No. 1 album on the Billboard magazine pop chart. M.C. Hammer’s “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em”--a fixture at No.2 after months on top--is still a big seller, but it’s just not selling at the phenomenal rate of Ice. The Simpsons’ album, “The Simpsons Sing the Blues,” is the hot newcomer, barreling up to No. 10 in just two weeks. Madonna’s “Justify My Love” moved up to No. 1 on the pop singles chart.

* This album of remixed versions of New Kids’ hits is shooting up the chart, jumping from No. 30 to No. 19. It won’t be as popular as the group’s Christmas album last year, but it may make the Top 10.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1.”To the Extreme” 1 1 15 Vanilla Ice (SBK) 2.”Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em” 2 2 43 M.C. Hammer (Capitol) 3.”The Immaculate Collection” 3 5 5 Madonna (Sire/Warner Bros.) 4.”I’m Your Baby Tonight” 4 4 6 Whitney Houston (Arista) 5.”Mariah Carey” 5 3 27 Mariah Carey (Columbia) *”No More Games/Remix Album” 30 35 4 New Kids on the Block (Columbia)