POP LP CHART : R.E.M. Shooting Up Charts

Faster than Gen. Sherman marched through Georgia, R.E.M. marched up the Billboard magazine pop album chart with its hot “Green” (No. 18). It looks like a shoo-in for the Top 10. Edie Brickell, who’s bound to get lots of votes for best new artist, is shooting up the charts with her album, “Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars” (No. 31). The Bangles’ album “Everything” is struggling. It inched up three notches to No. 45. Will to Power’s medley “Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird” is the new No. 1 pop single.

* After Ratt’s last album, this metal band seemed to be slipping. Detractors charged that Ratt had run its course. Maybe not; its hot new album,”Reach for the Sky,” has reached No. 23.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Rattle and Hum” 1 1 6 U2 (sound track) (Island) 2. “Giving You the Best That I Got” 2 5 5 Anita Baker (Elektra) 3. “Appetite for Destruction” 3 2 67 Guns N’ Roses (Geffen) 4. “Cocktail” 5 3 17 Sound track (Elektra) 5. “New Jersey” 4 4 9 Bon Jovi (PolyGram) * “Reach for the Sky” 29 65 3 Ratt (Atlantic)