Pop Album Chart : Pantera Drives All the Way to No. 1

Pantera’s “Far Beyond Driven” entered the chart at No. 1--far beyond where it was expected to debut. It remains to be seen, though, if these rockers have a big enough following--or if word-of-mouth is strong enough--to keep the album in the Top 10 very long. But Bonnie Raitt’s “Longing in Their Hearts,” which entered at No. 2, should have a long stay. New Age instrumentalist Yanni continues to amaze, climbing from No. 11 to No. 5 with his live album--putting a lot of mainstream acts to shame. Motley Crue didn’t last in the elite circle very long, sinking to No. 28 after opening at No. 7 last week. The “Philadelphia” soundtrack, powered by Bruce Springsteen’s Oscar-winning single, “Streets of Philadelphia,” jumped from No. 34 to No. 12. R. Kelly’s racy “Bump ‘n’ Grind” steamed to the top of the pop singles chart.

* “Vauxhall & I,” the latest batch of tunes about alienation and the dark side of romanticism by Morrissey, entered the chart at No. 18. His fifth solo album isn’t likely to linger in the Top 20 too long (he’s not a major commercial force) but it is, for him, an impressive debut.

Source: Billboard/Soundscan

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Far Beyond Driven,” Pantera ... ... 1 2. “Longing in Their Hearts,” ... ... 1 Bonnie Raitt ... ... 1 3. “The Sign,” Ace of Base 1 3 18 4. “Above the Rim,” soundtrack ... ... 1 5. “Live at the Acropolis,” Yanni 11 26 4 6. “12 Play,” R. Kelly 3 4 20 7. “August and Everything After,” 4 7 15 Counting Crows 8. “Superunknown,” Soundgarden 2 1 3 9. “Music Box,” Mariah Carey 5 6 30 10. “The Colour of My Love,” 8 8 20 Celine Dion *”Vauxhall & I,” Morrissey ... ... 1