POP LP CHART : Guns N’ Roses Gets a Bullet

Guns N’ Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction” has an appetite for the top spot of the Billboard magazine pop chart. Look for the album, a strong No. 2 and former No. 1, to reclaim the lead position next week. It’s gathering momentum because the band’s single, “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” just went to No. 1 on the pop chart. Bobby McFerrin’s “Simple Pleasures” album (No. 32) continues its rapid rise, buoyed by “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which leaped to No. 9 on the pop singles chart. Robert Cray’s “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” (No. 40) is one of the fast-rising albums on the chart. Soul balladeer Freddie Jackson’s album, “Don’t Let Love Slip Away” (No. 49), is operating true to form: Though fizzling out after a short stay on the pop chart, it’s a hit--No. 5--on the black chart. Also, his single, “Nice ‘n’ Slow,” has been No. 1 on the black chart for three weeks.

Cheers to “Cocktail,” which has grossed $51.4 million at the box office. Apparently fans of this movie, which has turned bartenders into sex symbols, are also buying the sound track, which jumped to No. 16 on the pop chart in just five weeks.

POP LP CHART

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Hysteria” 1 2 56 Def Leppard (PolyGram) 2. “Appetite for Destruction” 3 4 55 Guns N’ Roses (Geffen) 3. “Tracy Chapman” 2 1 20 Tracy Chapman (Elektra) 4. “Roll With It” 4 3 10 Steve Winwood (Virgin) 5. “He’s the D.J., I’m the Rapper” 5 5 21 D.J. Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince (Jive/RCA) * “Cocktail” 30 42 5 Sound Track (Elektra)