‘Sex’ Helps Sell ‘Erotica’

Madonna’s “Erotica,” which definitely benefited from the publicity blitz for her book “Sex,” entered The Times’ Southern California album chart at No. 1. But the album didn’t get a particularly strong boost from the single of the title song, which slipped to No. 12. The question now is the chart endurance of the album, which has received a lukewarm critical reception.

N2Deep’s “Back to the Hotel” is the new No. 1 pop single, breaking the stranglehold of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” But there’s no sign of a break in Garth Brooks’ remarkable domination of the country chart. He still has four albums in the Top 10.

TOP 10 ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Erotica, Madonna (2) -- 2 Unplugged, Eric Clapton (3) 1 3 Automatic for the People, R.E.M. (5) 2 4 The Chase, Garth Brooks (1) 3 5 Timeless, Michael Bolton (6) 6 6 Us, Peter Gabriel (11) 5 7 Prince (8) 4 8 Dirt, Alice in Chains (12) 8 9 Ten, Pearl Jam (7) 7 10 What’s the 411?, Mary J. Blige (10) 9

TOP 10 SINGLES

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 Back to the Hotel, N2Deep (9) 2 2 End of the Road, Boyz II Men (1) 1 3 Jump Around, House of Pain (2) 3 4 If I Ever Fall in Love, Shai (7) 10 5 I’d Die Without You, PM Dawn (6) 4 6 People Everyday, Arrested Devel. (11) 5 7 Sometimes Love . . . , Patty Smyth (5) 6 8 Rump Shaker, Wrecks-N-Effect (3) 15 9 Rhythm Is a Dancer, Snap (8) 8 10 How Do You Talk . . . ?, The Heights (4) 16

TOP 10 COUNTRY ALBUMS

Title, Artist (National Rank) Last Week 1 The Chase, Garth Brooks (1) 1 2 Some Gave All, Billy Ray Cyrus (2) 2 3 Pure Country, George Strait (3) 3 4 No Fences, Garth Brooks (7) 8 5 Brand New Man, Brooks & Dunn (5) 7 6 Wynonna, Wynonna Judd (6) 4 7 Ropin’ the Wind, Garth Brooks (10) 9 8 Beyond the Season, Garth Brooks (4) 6 9 Lot About Livin’, Alan Jackson (9) 5 10 Still Believe in You, Vince Gill (8) 10

Source: SoundScan Inc., for week ending Oct. 25