Theories of Relativity

By Amanda Bower, Val Castronovo, Ling Minhua, Ellin Martens, Julie Rawe, Sora Song, Joel Stein and Josh Tyrangiel

ENDURANCE TEST When it comes to naming their albums, musicians' imaginations are limited. Time, on the other hand, is elastic. Though all the following artists named their albums Forever, they exhibited vastly different degrees of staying power.

--This week the SPICE GIRLS' not-so-anticipated comeback album slid to No. 108 on the charts after debuting last month at No. 39.

--PUFF DADDY's 1999 oeuvre went platinum within four weeks and hung on to Top 40 status for two more months.

--THE WU-TANG CLAN's multi-platinum 1997 venture stayed on Billboard's radar for 41 weeks.

--BOBBY BROWN's 1997 solo album debuted at a dismal No. 61 and was off the Top 200 after three weeks.

--KOOL & THE GANG's 1986 LP spent 42 weeks on the charts, earning the band a gold record, which wasn't enough to keep the lead singer from pursuing a solo career.

--Relative upstart LETICIA WALKER has yet to garner any attention or chart position with her recent R.-and-B. release. Perhaps a catchier title next time?