Ub40

Apparently Billy Joel's "River of Dreams" album is no flash in the pan. It's topped the pop chart for the third straight week--getting a boost from his Top 10 pop single, "The River of Dreams." A fast fade following that No. 1 chart debut would have indicated that only his hard-core fans were buying it. But with so much interest in the single, it's safe to say the audience for this album goes beyond Joel fanatics. Kris Kross' "Da Bomb" could be a bomb.

The following are the top music sales in Orange County for the week of Sept. 5 as compiled by SoundScan Inc. Data is from retailers' sales. The bottom chart rotates weekly. Albums Last week Nation 1. "In Pieces," Garth Brooks - 1 2. "Music Box," Mariah Carey - 2 3. "Sleepless in Seattle," Soundtrack 1 5 4. "Promises and Lies," UB40 2 9 5. "Blind Melon," Blind Melon 3 4 6. "Janet," Janet Jackson 5 6 7. "River of Dreams," Billy Joel 4 3 8. "Siamese Dream," Smashing Pumpkins 9 22 9. "Core," Stone Temple Pilots 7 7 10. "Grave Dancers Union," Soul Asylum 12 14 Singles Last week Nation 1. "Whoomp!

The tide may finally be turning for reggae in America. The crowd that packed the Palace on Tuesday to hear the English band Aswad was a mixture of blacks and whites, longtime roots reggae fans and newer enthusiasts--just the kind of healthy blend that has eluded reggae in this country. And for the most part, Aswad showed that it deserves a wide following. If Ziggy Marley has ascended as reggae's crown prince, Aswad is its court jester.

Clint Black didn't kill much time getting to the top of The Times' Southern California country chart with his new "No Time to Kill." His show last weekend at Anaheim Arena probably generated enough sales to keep him on top for the next few weeks. That "Sleepless in Seattle" soundtrack tops the chart with a collection featuring dusty relics by artists like Jimmy Durante and Gene Autry. Cypress Hill's primer on pot-smoking, "Black Sunday," had another strong week, slipping just a notch to No.