Pop Album Chart : Sinatra Still Swings Behind Pearl Jam

Those who predicted that Frank Sinatra’s “Duets” album would plummet down the chart after debuting at No. 2 last week were way off base. He solidly maintained his position behind Pearl Jam and indications are that “Duets” will be in the Top 10 for a while. Meat Loaf, still the music industry surprise of the year for his remarkable comeback, is hanging in there too, with his third-ranked “Bat Out of Hell II” showing no signs of tailing off. His “I’d Do Anything for Love” is still the top pop single. As the holiday season gets closer, fans get more in the mood for Christmas music, which explains why Boyz II Men’s “Christmas Interpretations,” off to a slow start, is finally selling. In the last two weeks, it’s jumped from No. 93 to No. 54. Lately, a new rap artist has been debuting in the Top 10 every week and then dropping down the chart. This week’s hot newcomer is A Tribe Called Quest, with its “Midnight Marauders” opening at No. 8.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Vs.,” Pearl Jam 1 1 4 2. “Duets,” Frank Sinatra 2 ... 2 3. “Bat Out of Hell II,” Meat Loaf 3 2 9 4. “Songs of the Eagles,” various artists 4 3 5 5. “Music Box,” Mariah Carey 5 5 11 6. “janet.,” Janet Jackson 6 8 26 7. “River of Dreams,” Billy Joel 7 6 14 8. “Midnight Marauders,” A Tribe Called Quest ... ... 1 9. “So Far So Good,” Bryan Adams ... ... 1 10. “Greatest Hits Vol. 2,” Reba McEntire 12 9 7 * “Both Sides,” Phil Collins ... ... 1

* A No. 13 debut is a bit of a disappointment for an album by Phil Collins, one of the best-selling pop singers in the business. A Top 5 entry was expected for “Both Sides.” If it doesn’t jump into the Top 10 in the next week or two, this won’t be the usual Collins smash.

Source: Billboard/Soundscan