Pop Album Chart : TV Special Boosts Carey’s Sales to No. 1

Mariah Carey’s recent TV special certainly paid off in record sales. Her “Music Box” album, which has been out for about four months, is selling like it just came out, taking over the top spot, bouncing Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “DOGGYSTYLE” to No. 2. Carey is queen of both pop charts--also taking over the No. 1 position on the pop singles chart with “Hero.” Hot newcomer of the week: Ice Cube’s “Lethal Injection,” which premiered at No. 5. Disappointing album sales: Color Me Badd’s “Time and Chance,” dropping to No. 97 after four weeks. Lights out on Linda Ronstadt’s “Winter Light,” which is fading (No. 111) after peaking at No. 92 three weeks ago. Queen Latifah’s new “Black Reign” (No. 175) never got off the ground. INXS’ “Full Moon, Dirty Hearts” is already out of the Top 200 after five weeks on the chart. On the pop singles chart: Remarkably, Tag Team’s “Whoomp! (There It Is)” is still selling big, moving up two notches to No. 12 after 31 weeks on the chart.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Music Box,” Mariah Carey 2 3 15 2. “DOGGYSTYLE,” Snoop Doggy Dogg 1 1 3 3. “Vs.,” Pearl Jam 3 2 8 4. “Bat Out of Hell II,” Meat Loaf 5 7 13 5. “Lethal Injection,” Ice Cube ... ... 1 6. “The One Thing,” Michael Bolton 4 8 4 7. “Duets,” Frank Sinatra 6 6 6 8. “janet.,” Janet Jackson 8 10 30 9. “The Songs of the Eagles,” various artists 9 9 9 10. “River of Dreams,” Billy Joel 12 12 18 * “When My Heart Finds Christmas,” 16 23 7 Harry Connick Jr.

* Connick moved up two notches to No. 14 and is poised to claim this year’s Christmas album sales crown, with Vince Gill’s “Let There Be Peace on Earth” peaking at No. 14 and sliding to No. 17.

Source: Billboard/Soundscan