Pop Album Chart : Van Halen Begins at the Top

Is Van Halen, by debuting at No. 1 on the pop album chart with “Balance,” launching a commercial resurgence for traditional hard rock, which has been in a long sales slump? Or is this just another case of many hard-core fans buying the album as soon as it hits the stores? We’ll know in about a month if “Balance” really has legs. Too Short’s latest package of lewd rap tales, “Cocktails,” entered at No. 6 and should be one of the top-selling rap albums of the next two months. After a strong start, at No. 47, “Second Coming,” by Stone Roses, fell to No. 75. The second album by the British rockers may be too different from their acclaimed debut to please the old fans. On the pop singles chart, TLC’s “Creep” retains the No. 1 spot, but the big news is the startling showing by Brandy’s “Baby,” which jumped from No. 60 to No. 5 in just two weeks.

* The Chieftains’ “The Long Black Veil,” debuted at No. 24--and it’s not because pop fans have taken a sudden liking to their traditional Irish songs. Unlike their usual albums, this one has the makings of a commercial powerhouse because of high-powered guest stars like Mick Jagger, Sting and Van Morrison.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Balance,” Van Halen ... ... 1 2. “The Hits,” Garth Brooks 1 1 7 3. “Dookie,” Green Day 2 2 51 4. “Hell Freezes Over,” 3 4 12 Eagles 5. “II,” Boyz II Men 4 3 22 6. “Cocktails,” Too Short ... ... 1 7. “Vitalogy,” Pearl Jam 5 5 10 8. “Crazysexycool,” TLC 7 8 11 9. “No Need to Argue,” 6 10 17 the Cranberries 10. “My Life,” Mary J. Blige 8 7 9 ‘The Long Black Veil,” ... ... 1 the Chieftains