POP LP CHART : ‘Batman’ Foils Marx, Cher Her Detractors

Don’t mention Batmania to Richard Marx. Marx has got to be frustrated by Prince’s “Batman” album continually keeping his second-ranked “Repeat Offender” out of the top spot of the Billboard magazine pop chart. If it weren’t for the caped crusader, Marx would have the coveted double crown--No. 1 pop single (“Right Here Waiting”) and No. 1 pop album simultaneously. Ziggy Marley’s new “One Bright Day” (No. 36) is zooming up the chart. Soul II Soul, the eclectic black English group, is scoring big with its “Keep on Movin’ ” album (No. 19), which may make the Top 10. The hottest new pop single is Madonna’s “Cherish,” No. 28 after just two weeks on the chart.

* Many music industry people don’t take Cher seriously as a singer, figuring that her hit singles are flukes and that each one will be her last. But she keeps foiling her detractors. Her album, “Heart of Stone,” is one of the fastest-rising on the chart, jumping from No. 49 to No. 34. Her single, “If I Could Turn Back Time,” is No. 17 and is a good bet to crack the Top 10.

Rank Rank 2 Weeks Title (Label) Last Week Weeks Ago on Chart 1. “Batman” 1 1 8 Prince’s sound track (Warner Bros.) 2. “Repeat Offender” 2 3 15 Richard Marx (EMI) 3. “Hangin’ Tough” 3 2 53 New Kids on the Block (Columbia) 4. “Forever Your Girl” 4 7 58 Paula Abdul (Virgin) 5. “Full Moon Fever” 5 5 16 Tom Petty (MCA) * “Heart of Stone” 49 61 6 Cher (Geffen)