POP LP CHART

Whitney Houston’s “Whitney” still tops the Billboard magazine pop album chart after debuting at No. 1 seven weeks ago. No real strong challengers are in sight. Starship’s hot album, “No Protection,” moved up two notches to No. 14. The Whispers’ “Just Gets Better With Time” (No. 29) is their biggest hit in years. Top 10-bound: Suzanne Vega’s “Solitude Standing” (No. 12) and Sammy Hagar’s new one, “Sammy Hagar” (No. 15). U2 has another No. 1 pop single with “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Michael Jackson’s single “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” debuted at No. 37 and should jump at least to the Top 20 next week.

* This Grateful Dead album moved up three notches to No. 9 this week. It shows signs of having staying power, countering the claims that it would sink quickly once all the Deadheads bought it. Could it be that the Dead have become hip once again?

POP LP CHART

TITLE RANK RANK WEEKS LAST 2 WKS ON WEEK AGO CHART 1. Whitney 1 1 7 Whitney Houston (Arista) 2. Bad Animals 2 5 9 Heart (Capitol) 3. Whitesnake 3 4 17 Whitesnake (Warner Bros.) 4. The Joshua Tree 4 2 19 U2 (Island) 5. Bigger and Deffer 6 7 8 L.L. Cool J (Columbia) * In the Dark 12 100 3 The Grateful Dead (Arista)