Pop Album Chart : Skid Row No. 1 in New Chart System

The heavy metal band Skid Row’s “Slave to the Grind” is the first album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine chart since Michael Jackson’s “Bad” in 1987. Led by outrageous lead singer Sebastian Bach, Skid Row does have a large following, but this startling debut is largely due to Billboard’s new method of figuring chart positions. Are rapper Vanilla Ice’s fans giving him the cold shoulder? His live album, “Extremely Live,” debuted at No. 48 but moved up only to No. 36--not a big jump for an expected smash hit. Paula Abdul’s “Rush, Rush” is still the top single.

* Natalie Cole’s album of her father’s music, done with big-orchestra backing, jumped onto the chart at No. 25.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1.”Slave to the Grind” ... ... 1 Skid Row (Atlantic) 2.”Spellbound” 2 1 5 Paul Abdul (Virgin) 3.”Niggaz4life” 1 2 3 N.W.A (Priority) 4.”No Fences” 8 8 41 Garth Brooks (Capitol) 5.”Gonna Make You Sweat” 4 5 25 C+C Music Factory (Columbia) *”Unforgettable” ... ... 1 Natalie Cole (Elektra)