POP CHART ACTION

U2’s “The Joshua Tree” finally made it to top of the Billboard magazine pop chart, bouncing the Beastie Boys’ “Licensed to Ill”from the No. 1 position it had held for seven weeks. U2’s new album and current tour have generated such interest that the band’s other four albums and two EPs have returned to the charts. Two albums--Prince’s “Sign o’ the Times” (No. 12) and Bryan Adams’ “Into the Fire” (No. 15)--are nearly in the Top 10 after only two weeks on the chart. Herb Alpert’s “Keep Your Eye on Me” (No. 38) is a surprise hit. The single of the album’s title song has been in the Top Five on the soul chart. “Whitesnake,” by Whitesnake, took a mighty leap in its second chart week--50 notches to No. 22. Singles: “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” by Aretha Franklin and George Michael, is still the No. 1 single, but the fast-rising new singles are the Breakfast Club’s “Right on Track” (No. 25), Huey Lewis’ “I Know What I Like” (No. 28) and Kim Wilde’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (No. 29). Genesis’ single “In Too Deep” debuted at No. 51.