POP LP CHART : Metal Makes a Chart Comeback

Motley Crue must be feeling good. The metalists’ “Dr. Feelgood” album is No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart this week, up from No. 5. The Crue made it to the top in just four weeks. But rival Aerosmith, with its rapid-rising “Pump” album (No. 6)--out only three weeks--is hot on the Crue’s tail. Will Aerosmith topple Crue? In the next few weeks--maybe. “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814” rocketed from No. 28 to No. 7 in its second chart week. Four other new albums took giant jumps in their second week on the chart: Melissa Etheridge’s “Brave and Crazy” (No. 30), Bob Dylan’s “Oh Mercy” (No. 33), Big Daddy Kane’s “It’s a Big Daddy Thing” (No. 34) and Tina Turner’s “Foreign Affair” (No. 36).

* “Seeds of Love,” the first album in four years by Tears for Fears, isn’t the same old techno-pop, but fans apparently like the British duo’s new direction. In just two weeks, the album zoomed up to No. 18.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Dr. Feelgood” 5 8 4 Motley Crue (Elektra) 2. “Forever Your Girl” 1 3 65 Paula Abdul (Virgin) 3. “Steel Wheels” 3 4 5 Rolling Stones (Columbia) 4. “Girl You Know It’s True” 2 1 30 Milli Vanilli (Arista) 5. “Hangin’ Tough” 4 2 60 New Kids on the Block (Columbia) * “The Seeds of Love” 75 ... 2 Tears For Fears (PolyGram)