Pop Album Chart : Prince Unlikely to Topple King Garth

Prince’s “Androgynous” entered the pop album chart at No. 5, an impressive showing for him. But he’s not likely to challenge leader Garth Brooks, whose stiffest competition should come next week when the Madonna album hits the chart. Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” tops the pop singles chart for the 12th straight week, breaking the record set in 1956 by Elvis Presley’s two-sided hit “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog.” Madonna’s single “Erotica,” which rocketed to No. 3 and figured to be the next No. 1 pop single, suddenly cooled off, slipping two notches to No. 5.

* The latest male country star to burst into the upper echelons of the pop album chart is Alan Jackson, whose “Lot About Livin’ ” jumped from No. 84 to No. 26.

Pop Album Chart

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “The Chase,” Garth Brooks 1 1 4 2. “Automatic for the People,” R.E.M. 2 2 3. “Unplugged,” Eric Clapton 4 4 8 4. “Some Gave All,” Billy Ray Cyrus 3 3 22 5. “Androgynous,” Prince 1 6. “Timeless (The Classics),” Michael Bolton 5 5 3 7. “Ten,” Pearl Jam 7 7 44 8. “Us,” Peter Gabriel 6 2 3 9. “What’s the 411?,” Mary J. Blige 10 9 12 10. “Dirt,” Alice in Chains 8 6 3 * “Lot About Livin’,” Alan Jackson 1

Source: Billboard/Soundscan