After the Holidays

The Christmas albums that dominated the Top 10 for the past month have faded but the chart-topping “Bodyguard” soundtrack shows no such signs. It’s still outdistancing the competition, with a strong boost from the love theme, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” continuing its long run as the top pop single. Nirvana’s latest collection, “Incesticide,” is still the hot new title on the hard rock chart, ranking No. 6, and may challenge the lengthy reign of Pearl Jam’s “Ten.”

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Bodyguard, soundtrack (1) 1 2 Unplugged, Eric Clapton (2) 3 3 Breathless, Kenny G (3) 2 4 Timeless, Michael Bolton (4) 4 5 Ten, Pearl Jam (6) 9 6 The Chase, Garth Brooks (5) 5 7 3 Years 5 Months. . ., Arrested Dev. (18) 13 8 The Predator, Ice Cube (20) 19 9 Love Deluxe, Sade (15) 11 10 What’s the 411?, Mary J. Blige (14) 17

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 I Will Always. . ., Whitney Houston (1) 1 2 Rump Shaker, Wreckx-N-Effect (2) 2 3 Ditty, Paperboy (18) 3 4 In the Still of the Night, Boyz II Men (4) 5 5 If I Ever Fall in Love, Shai (3) 4 6 Homies, Lighter Shade of Brown (34) 6 7 Back to the Hotel, N2Deep (11) 7 8 Saving Forever for You, Shanice (8) 8 9 What About Your Friends, TLC (6) 10 10 I’d Die Without You, PM Dawn (5) 9

TOP 10 HARD ROCK ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Ten, Pearl Jam (1) 1 2 Dirt, Alice in Chains (3) 3 3 Metallica, Metallica (2) 4 4 What Hits?, Red Hot Chili Peppers (4) 2 5 Greatest Hits, Queen (6) 5 6 Incesticide, Nirvana (5) 7 7 Countdown to Extinction, Megadeth (11) 8 8 Blood . . ., Red Hot Chili Peppers (12) 10 9 Use Your Illusion I, Guns N’ Roses (7) 9 10 Temple of the Dog, Temple of the Dog (16) --

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending Dec. 27