Pop Album Chart : ‘Drive’ and ‘Candy’ Off to Fast Starts

Hot newcomers: the soundtrack “New Jersey Drive Vol. 1” (entering the charts at No. 22) and Soul for Real’s “Candy Rain” (No. 27). Linda Ronstadt’s slow-starting “Feels Like Home” is picking up a little steam, climbing five notches to No. 77. “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” by Slash’s Snakepit, dropped out of the Top 200 after just seven weeks. Pop singles: Following a seven-week run, Madonna’s “Take a Bow” finally bowed out of the top spot, dropping to No. 4. Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It” takes over the No. 1 slot and Adina Howard’s fast-climbing “Freak Like Me” (No. 6) is waiting in the wings.

* This Berlin-based pop-dance trio’s first U.S. album is off to a fast start--debuting at No. 14--thanks to the lure of two Top 10 singles, “Run Away” and “Another Night.”

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For the week ending April 1

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Last Weeks on the Week Ago Chart 1. “Me Against the World,” 2Pac 1 1 3 2. “The Lion King,” soundtrack 5 5 44 3. “Cracked Rear View,” 3 4 38 Hootie & the Blowfish 4. “Greatest Hits,” 2 2 5 Bruce Springsteen 5. “Live,” Throwing Copper 6 9 49 6. “Hell Freezes Over,” 4 3 21 Eagles 7. “Return to the 36 Chambers,” ... ... 1 Ol’ Dirty Bastard 8. “Tuesday Night Music 7 7 57 Club,” Sheryl Crow 9. “II,” Boyz II Men 8 6 31 10. “John Michael Montgomery,” ... ... 1 John Michael Montgomery * “Another Night,” Real McCoy ... ... 1