Selling Like Fruitcakes

Parrothead power! That legion of hard-core Jimmy Buffett followers certainly made its presence felt on The Times’ Southern California pop album chart, powering their leader’s “Fruitcakes” to a lofty No. 5 debut. And this isn’t just regional Parrothead power. The album also entered the national chart at No. 5. Ace of Base continues its remarkable run, with its pop-dance “The Sign” in the Top Five both in locally and nationally. On The Times’ pop singles chart, Ace of Base has two Top 20 singles: “The Sign” (No. 19) and “Don’t Turn Around” (No. 20).

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Crow, soundtrack (2) 1 2 Chant, Benedictine Monks (4) 2 3 The Sign, Ace of Base (1) 5 4 August and ... After, Counting Crows (6) 4 5 Fruitcakes, Jimmy Buffett (5) -- 6 Above the Rim, soundtrack (7) 7 7 Live at the Acropolis, Yanni (20) 8 8 Superunknown, Soundgarden (16) 11 9 All-4-One, All-4-One (10) 10 10 Cross of Changes, Enigma (15) 14

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 I Swear, All-4-One (1) 1 2 Regulate, Warren G. and Nate Dogg (2) 2 3 I’ll Remember, Madonna (6) 4 4 Back and Forth, Aaliyah (4) 3 5 Back in the Day, Ahmad (51) 5 6 Any Time, Any Place, Janet Jackson (5) 7 7 The Most Beautiful Girl..., Prince (9) 6 8 Fantastic Voyage, Coolio (42) 11 9 You Mean the World..., Toni Braxton (14) 8 10 Return to Innocence, Enigma (7) 10

TOP 10 COUNTRY ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Not a Moment Too Soon, Tim McGraw (1) 1 2 Read My Mind, Reba McEntire (2) 2 3 Maverick, soundtrack (5) 9 4 Rhythm, Country & Blues, Various (6) 3 5 Walking Away..., Kathy Mattea (12) 8 6 Kickin’ It Up, John M. Montgomery (4) 4 7 Ten Feet Tall..., Travis Tritt (3) 6 8 In Pieces, Garth Brooks (7) 5 9 Johnny Cash, American Recordings (30) 7 10 Songs of the Eagles, Various artists (23) --

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending May 29