CLOSE BUT . . .

None of the other seven albums that rank among the year’s Top 10 sellers would seem to have a chance to catch the top three before the end of the year.

Five of the records--Mariah Carey’s “Daydream,” the “Waiting to Exhale” soundtrack, Shania Twain’s “The Woman in Me,” Tracy Chapman’s “New Beginning” and Oasis’ “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”--were released in 1995 and appear to be on their last legs. All are in the 2.3 million to 3 million range now.

And the other two--2Pac’s “All Eyez on Me” and Metallica’s “Load”--would have to sell more than 1.5 million copies in the next two months to catch “The Score” or “Falling Into You.” Don’t bet on it.