Pop Album Chart : Celine Dion Showing Her Chart Power

How about the power of Celine Dion? Not only is her new album, “The Colour of My Love,” moving up in the Top 10--two notches to No. 8--but her single, “The Power of Love,” continues to clobber the competition, leading the pop single chart for the past month. Her appearance on the Jacksons’ TV special on Tuesday should translate into even more sales--the album might just crack the Top 5 next week. R. Kelly, who falls somewhere between Teddy Pendergrass and Snoop Dogg, is heating up the chart with his steamy “12 Play.” It moved up two more notches to No. 3 and has a shot at No. 1. Look out for Ace of Base, whose sound is an update of ‘70s disco. The Swedish group’s album, “The Sign,” moved into the Top 10, at No. 9. The single of the title song is No. 2 on the pop chart. Many predicted a chart free-fall for country singer John Michael Montgomery’s “Kickin’ It Up,” but it’s still hanging in--at No. 6--after a month on the chart. That Frank Sinatra “Duets” album looks as if it’s going to be a strong long-range seller. After four months on the chart and more than 2 million copies sold, it’s still doing well, climbing five notches to No. 24.

* The Crash Test Dummies are gearing up to crash the Top 20. The group’s second album, “God Shuffled His Feet,” shuffled up from No. 44 to No. 32 and seems to be just getting started. A huge underground buzz preceded the release of this album, which has been on the chart six weeks.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1 “Music Box,” Mariah Carey 2 2 25 2.”Toni Braxton,” Toni Braxton 1 7 32 3.”12 Play,” R. Kelly 5 5 15 4.”Very Necessary,” Salt-n-Pepa 6 6 19 5.”Doggystyle,” Snoop Doggy Dogg 3 3 13 6.”Kickin’ It Up,” John Michael Montgomery 4 1 4 7.”August and Everything After,” 7 10 10 Counting Crows 8. “The Colour of My Love,” 10 14 15 Celine Dion 9. “The Sign,” Ace of Base 13 13 13 10. “Greatest Hits,” Tom Petty 8 9 14 * “God Shuffled His Feet,” 44 47 6 Crash Test Dummies

Source: Billboard/Soundscan