‘Vs.’ Blasts to theTop

Pearl Jam pulverized the competition in its first week in release with “Vs.,” which entered both The Times’ Southern California pop and hard-rock album charts at No.1. It looks like a juggernaut that should easily fend off challengers for at least the next few weeks. This was a big week for rock, with Rush’s “Counterparts” debuting at No. 2. The surprise, though, is Eazy-E’s album “It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa,” entering the pop chart at No. 4 and the rap chart at No.1. In gangsta rap circles, the word was that he was passee. Obviously the word wasn’t passed on to record-buyers.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Vs., Pearl Jam (1) -- 2 Counterparts, Rush (2) -- 3 Music Box, Mariah Carey (7) 1 4 It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187 Killa, Eazy-E (5) -- 5 In Utero, Nirvana (4) 2 6 Common Thread, Various artists (6) 4 7 janet., Janet Jackson (10) 3 8 Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton (12) 6 9 Bat Out of Hell II, Meatloaf (3) 8 10 Blind Melon, Blind Melon (13) 5

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Just Kickin’ It, Xscape (2) 3 2 I’d Do Anything for Love, Meatloaf (1) 5 3 All That She Wants, Ace of Base (3) 1 4 Indo Smoke, Mista Grimm (40) 2 5 Hey Mr. D.J., Zhane (8) 4 6 Gangsta Lean, D.R.S. (4) 20 7 Whoomp! (There It Is), Tag Team (5) 7 8 Anniversary, Tony Toni Tone (10) 6 9 I Get Around, 2Pac (11) 8 10 Dream Lover, Mariah Carey (9) 9

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TOP 10 HARD ROCK ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Vs., Pearl Jam (1) -- 2 Counterparts, Rush (2) -- 3 In Utero, Nirvana (3) 1 4 Blind Melon, Blind Melon (4) 2 5 Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins (8) 5 6 Judgment Night, soundtrack (6) 4 7 Core, Stone Temple Pilots (7) 3 8 Ten, Pearl Jam (10) 7 9 Chaos A.D., Sepultura (12) -- 10 La Sexorcisto, White Zombie (11) 8

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending Oct. 24