POP CHARTS

Singer Suzanne Vega’s emergence as a pop star is one of the big music stories of the year. Her offbeat, insightful music was considered purely for cultists until her album, “Solitude Standing” (No. 22), shocked everyone with its fast, steady climb up the Billboard magazine pop chart. The album is getting a strong boost from her hit single, “Luka,” which is No. 22 and has Top-10 potential. The Outfield, a band that fans love and critics hate, has a hot new album, “Bangin’ ” (No. 34). “Let It Loose,” by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, moved up just one notch to No. 26. Maybe it won’t be such a big hit after all. But the group’s single, “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” inched up two places to No. 10. Whitney Houston’s “Whitney” is the No. 1 pop album for the fourth consecutive week. Heart’s single, “Alone,” tops the singles chart for the second week in a row. T’Pau, with “Heart and Soul” (No. 12), and the Nylons, with “Kiss Him Goodbye” (No. 14), are about to make their debuts in the Top 10 of the singles chart.