R.E.M. Displaces Carey at No. 1 Spot

Surprise: After 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine pop album chart, Mariah Carey’s 4-million-selling debut album has finally been topped. The new title-holder is R.E.M., the Athens, Ga., band that still carries the aura of an alternative/underground act, despite the fact that its last album, 1989’s “Green,” also had a healthy ride in the Top 10. The tenure may be short-lived, though. Michael Bolton’s “Time, Love and Tenderness” jumps from its last-week debut at No. 38 all the way to No. 8 this week and seems a good bet to reach the top, maybe as soon as next week.

* The top newcomer this week isn’t soulster Luther Vandross’ “Power of Love,” which debuts at No. 41, but the latest from prog-rock dinosaur Yes at No. 35. “Union” appeals to two generations of Yes fans, as it features the bulk of the members of both the group’s ‘70s “Roundabout”-era and ‘80s “Owner of a Lonely Heart” lineups.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Out of Time” 3 3 8 R.E.M. (Warner Bros.) 2. “Mariah Carey” 1 1 47 Mariah Carey (Columbia) 3. “Gonna Make You Sweat” 2 2 19 C&C; Music Factory (Columbia) 4. “Wilson Phillips” 4 4 58 Wilson Phillips (SBK) 5. “Shake Your Money Maker” 5 5 61 The Black Crowes (Def American) * “Union” ... ... 1 Yes (Arista) ... ... 1