Dr. Dre’s ‘Chronic’ Getting Stronger

Rapper Dr. Dre continues to prove that Ice Cube isn’t the only ex-N.W.A. member to crack the pop Top Five. Dre’s “The Chronic,” which seemed like it might do a fast fade after a fast start, gets stronger every week, this time climbing three notches to No. 4. Incidentally, after reaching the No. 1 spot just after it was released, Ice Cube’s “The Predator” has settled into the 30s (No. 30 this week), selling steadily but not in the Top 10 class. Heavy D’s “Blue Funk,” which debuted at No. 48 and seemed on the verge of a huge leap up the chart, moved up a meager eight places to No. 40. Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” has been No. 1 for 10 weeks on the pop singles chart and is a few weeks away from topping the record set last year by Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.”

* A tribute to the power of TV, 10,000 Maniacs’ album jumped from No. 47 to No. 28. The group’s lengthy TV performance at one of the inaugural concerts last week undoubtedly triggered this sales surge. This is the four-month-old album’s highest chart position. Its previous peak was No. 34. Pop Album Chart

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1.”The Bodyguard,” 1 1 10 soundtrack 2.”Breathless,” Kenny G. 2 6 10 3.”Unplugged,” 3 4 22 Eric Clapton 4.”The Chronic,” Dr. Dre 7 12 6 5.”Some Gave All,” 4 3 36 Billy Ray Cyrus 6.”If I Ever Fall in Love,” 8 11 5 Shai 7.”Timeless,” 6 5 17 Michael Bolton 8.”Aladdin,” soundtrack 11 22 11 9.”Hard or Smooth,” 10 14 9 Wreckx-n-Effect 10.”Ten,” Pearl Jam 9 7 58 * “Our Time in Eden,” 47 56 17 10,000 Maniacs

Source: Billboard/SoundScan