STACKING UP SALES

Total album and single sales of CDs and cassettes for the week ended Aug. 22, compared to week-ago and year-ago levels, in thousands of units sold: Latest week Albums: 10,377 Singles: 2,570

Week-ago Albums: 10,459 Singles: 2,662

Year-ago Albums: 9,901 Singles: 2,341

Atop the Charts

The biggest-selling albums and most popular singles--based on sales or radio airplay--for a range of musical categories, for the week ended Aug. 22. Both are indicators of music company performance. ALBUMS Category: Overall Title: River of Dreams Artist: Billy Joel Rank last week: New Label: Columbia Parent company: Sony

Category: Classical Title: Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 Artist: Upshaw, London Rank last week: 1* Label: Nonesuch Parent company: Time Warner

Category: Country Title: A Lot About Livin’ Artist: Alan Jackson Rank last week: 1 Label: Arista Parent company: BMG

Category: Jazz Title: Take a Look Artist: Natalie Cole Rank last week: 1* Label: Elektra Parent company: Time Warner

Category: Jazz/Contemp. Title: Love Remembers Artist: George Benson Rank last week: 1* Label: Warner Bros. Parent company: Time Warner

Category: New Artists Title: Show Me Love Artist: Robin S. Rank last week: 1 Label: Big Beat Parent company: Time Warner

Category: R&B; Title: Black Sunday Artist: Cypress Hill Rank last week: 1 Label: Ruffhouse Parent company: Sony

SINGLES Category: Overall Title: Whoomp! (There It Is) Artist: Tag Team Rank last week: 1 Label: Life/Bellmark Parent company: EMI

Category: Contemporary Title: I Don’t Wanna Fight Artist: Tina Turner Rank last week: 1 Label: Virgin Parent company: EMI

Category: Country Title: Can’t Break It to My Heart Artist: Tracy Lawrence Rank last week: 2 Label: Atlantic Parent company: Time Warner

Category: Dance Title: Check Yo Self Artist: Ice Cube Rank last week: 1 Label: Priority Parent company: EMI

Category: Latin Title: Mi Tierra Artist: Gloria Estefan Rank last week: 1 Label: Epic Parent company: Sony

Category: R&B; Title: Check Yo Self Artist: Ice Cube Rank last week: 1 Label: Priority Parent company: EMI

Category: Rap Title: Ruffneck Artist: Mc Lyte Rank last week: 2 Label: First Priority Parent company: FirstPriority

Category: Album rock track Title: What If I Came Knocking Artist: John Mellencamp Rank last week: 2 Label: Mercury Parent company: Polygram

Category: Modern rock track Title: Soul to Squeeze Artist: Red Hot Chili Peppers Rank last week: 1 Label: Warner Bros. Parent company: Time Warner

* Ranking from two weeks ago

Sources: Soundscan Inc.; Billboard magazine