STACKING UP SALES

Total album and single sales of CDs and cassettes for the week ended Aug. 29, compared to week-ago and year-ago levels, in thousands of units sold: Latest week Albums: 9,691 Singles: 2,343

Week-ago Albums: 10,377 Singles: 2,570

Year-ago Albums: 9,237 Singles: 2,082

Atop the Charts

The biggest-selling albums and most popular singles--based on sales or radio airplay--for a range of musical categories, for the week ended Aug. 29. Both are indicators of music company performance. ALBUMS Category: Overall Title: River of Dreams Artist: Billy Joel Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Columbia Parent company: Sony

Category: Christian/Contemp. Title: Free at Last Artist: D.C. Talk Rank last wk.: 2* Label: Forefront Parent company: Starsong

Category: Country Title: A Lot About Livin’ Artist: Alan Jackson Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Arista Parent company: BMG

Category: Gospel Title: It Remains to Be Seen Artist: Miss. Mass Choir Rank last wk.: 1* Label: Malaco Parent company: Malaco

Category: Latin/Pop Title: Mi Tierra Artist: Gloria Estefan Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Epic Parent company: Sony

Category: New Artists Title: Show Me Love Artist: Robin S. Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Big Beat Parent company: Time Warner

Category: R&B; Title: The World Is Yours Artist: Scarface Rank last wk.: 59 Label: Rap-A-Lot Parent company: Sony

SINGLES Category: Overall Title: Whoomp! (There It Is) Artist: Tag Team Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Life/Bellmark Parent company: EMI

Category: Contemporary Title: I Don’t Wanna Fight Artist: Tina Turner Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Virgin Parent company: EMI

Category: Country Title: Thank God for You Artist: Sawyer Brown Rank last wk.: 6 Label: Curb/MCA Parent company: Curb/MCA

Category: Dance Title: Hey Mr. D.J. Artist: Zhane Rank last wk.: 2 Label: Flavor Unit Parent company: Sony

Category: Latin Title: Mi Tierra Artist: Gloria Estefan Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Epic Parent company: Sony

Category: R&B; Title: Check Yo Self Artist: Ice Cube Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Priority Parent company: EMI

Category: Rap Title: Check Yo Self Artist: Ice Cube Rank last wk.: 3 Label: Priority Parent company: EMI

Category: Album rock track Title: What If I Came Knocking Artist: John Mellencamp Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Mercury Parent company: Polygram

Category: Modern rock track Title: Soul to Squeeze Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers Rank last wk.: 1 Label: Warner Bros. Parent company: Time Warner

* Ranking from two weeks ago

Sources: Soundscan Inc.; Billboard magazine