Pop Album Chart : Kenny G Facing a ‘Vitalogy’ Jam

Kenny G’s two-week run on top of the chart with “Miracles: The Holiday Album” will come to a halt when Pearl Jam’s “Vitalogy” CD debuts next week--a lock to hit No. 1. The vinyl version came out two weeks ago and dropped to No. 173 after a startling--for a vinyl release--No. 55 entry last week. Things are looking blue for Prince’s “Black Album,” which came on the chart at a modest No. 47 and then plummeted to No. 68. TLC’s “CrazySexyCool” (No. 15) is shaping up as the most solid hit among the recent rap/soul releases. The trio’s hit single, “Creep”--No. 5 on the pop chart--is driving album sales. Ini Kamoze’s single “Here Comes the Hotstepper” moved up a notch to the top of the chart, dropping Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee” to No. 2.

* Don’t bury “Bedtime Stories” just yet. Some had already written it off as a flop because it’s been sliding down the chart since its lofty debut at No. 3 six weeks ago. But Madonna’s hot new single, “Take a Bow,” is pumping life back into the album, which bounced back up the chart from No. 33 to No. 24.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1 “Miracles: The Holiday Album,” Kenny G 1 6 5 2 “II,” Boyz II Men 2 2 14 3 “Merry Christmas,” Mariah Carey 4 7 5 4 “Hell Freezes Over,” the Eagles 3 1 4 5 “MTV Unplugged in New York,” Nirvana 5 3 5 6 “The Lion King,” soundtrack 7 9 27 7 “Smash,” Offspring 6 5 29 8 “Dookie,” Green Day 10 20 43 9 “My Life,” Mary J. Blige ... ... 1 10 “Duets II,” Frank Sinatra 9 16 3 * “Bedtime Stories,” Madonna 33 24 6