Pop Album Chart : ‘Box’ Fighting Off the Competition

Mariah Carey’s “Music Box” continues to box out the competition, hanging on to the No. 1 position for another week--partly thanks to a heroic boost from her “Hero,” which is still the No. 1 pop single. Guns N’ Roses’ “The Spaghetti Incident?” is slipping slowly down the chart, landing at No. 20 after dropping three more notches. With all that negative publicity about the notorious Charles Manson track, the album isn’t likely to rally. Ice Cube’s “Lethal Injection” doesn’t seem to have long-range appeal. After debuting at No. 5, it’s plunged to No. 26, ending any notions that he’d keep pace with the hottest rapper, Snoop Doggy Dogg, whose “Doggystyle” is No. 3.

* Released at an odd time--the Tuesday before Christmas--this R&B; vocal group’s album didn’t get totally lost in the holiday shuffle. It debuted decently--at No. 27--and should be a strong performer in January.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1.”Music Box,” 1 1 17 Mariah Carey 2. “Vs.,” Pearl Jam 2 3 10 3.”Doggystyle,” 3 2 5 Snoop Doggy Dogg 4.”The One Thing,” 6 6 6 Michael Bolton 5.”Duets,” 4 7 8 Frank Sinatra 6.”Bat Out of Hell II,” 5 4 15 Meat Loaf 7.”janet.,” 7 8 32 Janet Jackson 8.”Beavis & Butt-head Experience,” Beavis & Butt-head 10 12 5 9. “The Songs of the Eagles,” 8 9 11 various artists 10. “River of Dreams,” 9 10 20 Billy Joel *”Diary of a Mad Band,” ... ... 1 Jodeci

Source: Billboard/Soundscan