‘Amor’ Adored

Selena’s “Amor Prohibido” edged up two positions in The Times’ Southern California pop album chart, reflecting the slain star’s popularity in the region’s Latino community. (The album is moving in the opposite direction, to No. 41, on the national chart). Its success should be an encouraging sign for EMI Records, which plans a July release for a Selena album containing four new English-language recordings, as well as English-Spanish duets with David Byrne and the Barrio Boyzz. On the country chart, Shania Twain and the Mavericks have slipped into the Top 10.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (Nat’l Rank) Last Week 1 Friday, soundtrack (3) 1 2 Cracked Rear View, Hootie & the Blowfish (1) 2 3 Throwing Copper, Live (2) 4 4 Amor Prohibido, Selena (41) 6 5 Medusa, Annie Lennox (19) 7 6 II, Boyz II Men (6) 10 7 This Is How, Montell Jordan (13) 9 8 Forrest Gump, soundtrack (4) 3 9 Hell Freezes Over, Eagles (8) 5 10 Astro Creep: 2000, White Zombie (9) 12

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? Bryan Adams (2) 1 2 This Is How, Montell Jordan (3) 2 3 I’ll Be There for You, Method Man (1) 3 4 Don’t Take It Personal, Monica (4) 4 5 Freak Like Me, Adina Howard (5) 5 6 I’d Rather Be Alone, IV Example (43) 8 7 Total Eclipse, Nicki French (8) 11 8 Keep Their Heads Ringin’, Dr. Dre (6) 9 9 Water Runs Dry, Boyz II Men (10) 12 10 Dear Mama, 2Pac (7) 6

TOP 10 COUNTRY ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Hits, Garth Brooks (2) 1 2 John Michael Montgomery, John Michael Montgomery (1) 3 3 Not a Moment, Tim McGraw (4) 2 4 No Ordinary Man, Tracy Byrd (6) 4 5 Now That I’ve Found You, Alison Krauss (3) 8 6 You Might Be a Redneck If ... , Jeff Foxworthy (7) 7 7 Read My Mind, Reba McEntire (12) 6 8 Standing on the Edge, John Berry (13) 5 9 The Woman in Me, Shania Twain (5) -- 10 What a Crying Shame, Mavericks (14) --

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week of May 21