Pop Album Chart : Brooks Keeps Tight Rein on Top Spot

Garth Brooks continues to monopolize the No. 1 spot on the Billboard magazine pop album chart, with “Ropin’ the Wind” leading for the 16th week. But he has a serious challenger in Natalie Cole, whose “Unforgettable” shot up the chart again, jumping from No. 16 to No. 2--the latest sales surge resulting from her recent Grammy exposure. Grammy winners Bonnie Raitt and Marc Cohn jumped up the charts too, with Raitt’s “Luck of the Draw” rising from No. 12 to No. 4 and “Marc Cohn” bounding from No. 78 to No. 38. Ugly Kid Joe’s “As Ugly as They Want to Be” is still hot, climbing 16 rungs to No. 20.

* Fans who see “Wayne’s World,” the No. 1 box-office hit, have obviously been inspired to buy the soundtrack album, which debuted last week at No. 14 and then moved up to No. 11.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Ropin’ the Wind,” Garth Brooks 1 1 25 2. “Unforgettable,” Natalie Cole 16 12 38 3. “Nevermind,” Nirvana 3 3 23 4. “Luck of the Draw,” Bonnie Raitt 12 11 36 5. “No Fences,” Garth Brooks 4 4 78 6. “Dangerous,” Michael Jackson 2 2 14 7. “Time, Love, Tenderness” Michael Bolton 5 5 45 8. “Cooleyhighharmony,” Boyz II Men 6 9 42 9. “C.M.B.,” Color Me Badd 7 6 32 10. “Metallica,” Metallica 11 13 29 * “Wayne’s World” soundtrack 14 ... 2

Source: Billboard