Garth Hits Big

Garth Brooks’ “Hits” entering the Times’ Southern California chart at No. 6 (and No. 3 nationally)--instead of his usual No. 1--is no sign that he’s slipped drastically. Remember, it is a greatest-hits package that includes no new material. His fans already have all these songs. But it did do impressive numbers anyway--for a Brooks album. However, its sales simply aren’t in a league with the mind-boggling totals racked up by Kenny G’s “Miracles: The Holiday Album.” Luis Miguel continues his stranglehold on both the Southern California and national Latin charts with “Segundo Romance.”

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Miracles: Holiday Album, Kenny G (1) 3 2 Vitalogy, Pearl Jam (2) 1 3 Hell Freezes Over, Eagles (4) 6 4 Merry Christmas, Mariah Carey (5) 5 5 II, Boyz II Men (6) 7 6 Hits, Garth Brooks (3) ... 7 Live at the BBC, Beatles (7) 4 8 Dookie, Green Day (8) 9 9 Best of Sade, Sade (26) 8 10 Unplugged in New York, Nirvana (10) 10

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Hotstepper, Ini Kamoze (1) 1 2 Tootsee Roll , 69 Boyz (6) 2 3 Creep, TLC (2) 4 4 On Bended Knee, Boyz II Men (3) 3 5 Before I Let You Go, Blackstreet (7) 5 6 I Wanna Be Down, Brandy (8) 6 7 Another Night, Real McCoy (4) 8 8 Playaz Club, Rappin’ 4-Tay (29) 7 9 Constantly, Immature (13) 14 10 Short Dick Man, Twenty Fingers (9) 9

TOP 10 LATIN ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Segundo Romance, Luis Miguel (1) 1 2 Clasicos... , Carlos Vives (3) 2 3 Donde Jugaran Los Ninos, Mana (12) 3 4 Mi Tierra, Gloria Estefan (2) 4 5 Gracias Mujer, Banda Machos (18) 5 6 Romance, Luis Miguel (14) ... 7 Gipsy Kings, Gipsy Kings (10) ... 8 Gracias por Esperar, Juan Gabriel (17) 6 9 Love & Liberte, Gipsy Kings (5) 7 10 Christmas in America Span, Navidad en Las Americas (8) ...

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week of Dec.18