Brooks, Carey: 1 & 2

There was never any doubt that the new Garth Brooks and Mariah Carey albums, both released on the same day, would instantly take over the first two spots on The Times’ Southern California pop album chart. The only question was which would be No. 1. Brooks seemed the likely leader, though Carey’s album had an extra edge--a boost from a No. 1 pop single, “Dream Lover.” Well, Brooks’ “In Pieces” did open on top but don’t be surprised if Carey’s “Music Box” (No. 2) catches him in the next few weeks.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 In Pieces, Garth Brooks (1) ... 2 Music Box, Mariah Carey (2) ... 3 Sleepless in Seattle, soundtrack (5) 1 4 Promises and Lies, UB40 (9) 2 5 janet., Janet Jackson (6) 4 6 Blind Melon, Blind Melon (4) 3 7 Black Sunday, Cypress Hill (8) 5 8 River of Dreams, Billy Joel (3) 7 9 The Bodyguard, soundtrack (10) 6 10 Core, Stone Temple Pilots (7) 8

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Dream Lover, Mariah Carey (2) 2 2 Whoomp! There It Is, Tag Team (1) 1 3 I Get Around, 2Pac (6) 7 4 Very Special, Big Daddy Kane (30) 3 5 Check Yo Self, Ice Cube (15) 4 6 Insane in the Brain, Cypress Hill (13) 6 7 Mega Medley, Zapp and Roger (42) 9 8 If, Janet Jackson (5) 10 9 Can’t Help Falling in Love, UB40 (3) 5 10 I’m Gonna Be, the Proclaimers (9) 8

TOP 10 HARD ROCK ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Blind Melon, Blind Melon (1) 1 2 Core, Stone Temple Pilots (2) 2 3 Grave Dancers Union, Soul Asylum (4) 3 4 Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins (6) 4 5 Get a Grip, Aerosmith (3) 5 6 Ten, Pearl Jam (5) 6 7 Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against. . .(13) 7 8 La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1, White Zombie (8) 10 9 Dirt, Alice in Chains (10) ... 10 Undertow, Tool (11) ...

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week of Sept. 5