Week commencing 1 June 1992

Five of this week in 1992's six new entries peaking between numbers 101 and 150 climbed no higher than their entry position, which is an unusual occurrence.  Shall we take a look?

Before doing so, I have updated the following post:

* 28 August 1989 - newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under entry for Eartha Kitt and Bronski Beat.

 

M People: not quite moving on up into the ARIA top 200 yet.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 123 "Take My Advice" by Kym Sims

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw American songstress Kym Sims in March 1992.

 

"Take My Advice" was the second single lifted from Kym's only album Too Blind to See It, which was released in Australia in April 1992 but did not chart.  I wasn't aware of this track until it appeared on a UK VHS compilation I was digitising in the late 2000s.  I am surprised that it was the bigger of Kym's two 'hits' in Australia, given that I knew the other one quite well at the time, thanks to hearing it on the American Top 40 radio show.

Internationally, "Take My Advice" peaked at number 13 in the UK in April 1992, number 18 in Ireland in April 1992, and number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1992.  For what it's worth (not much in my book), "Take My Advice" fared much better on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, matching the number 5 peak of its predecessor in June 1992.

Within Australia, "Take My Advice" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 99.

"Take My Advice", which has producer Steve "Silk" Hurley's trademark sound, would be Kym's final charting release in Australia.  Another single, "We Gotta Love", was issued locally in July 1996, but did not chart.  Meanwhile, Kym enjoyed middling success with a third single from her Too Blind to See It album, "A Little Bit More", which reached number 30 in the UK in June 1992.

I had wondered whether the male dancer in the "Take My Advice" video was LL Cool J, but apparently it's just a lookalike!

 

While we won't see Kym again, a song she wrote performed by another artist will appear in July 1992.

 

 

Number 124 "Story of the Blues" by Gary Moore

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks

Weeks on chart: 14 weeks

 

We last saw Northern Irish guitar maestro Gary Moore in 1991.

"Story of the Blues" was the second single lifted from Gary's ninth solo studio album After Hours (number 8, April 1992). It followed "Cold Day in Hell" (number 42, March 1992).

 

Internationally, "Story of the Blues" peaked at number 40 in the UK in May 1992, number 99 in Germany in June 1992, and number 50 in the Netherlands in June 1992.  The track also reached number 37 on the meaningless US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1992.

Domestically, "Story of the Blues" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106.

In Australia, the chart run for "Story of the Blues" was split in two, falling out of the top 150 after its initial six-week run for two weeks, before returning for another seven weeks and climbing back to number 132.  "Story of the Blues" was still charting in early September 1992.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  It's very reminiscent of Gary's "Still Got the Blues (For You)"; almost as though he was trying to record a sequel to that track.

 

A third single released from After Hours, "Separate Ways", came out in Australia in October 1992 but failed to chart.

 

We will next see Gary in 1993.

 

Number 135 "Word Is Almost At Peace" by Ghostwriters

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Australian band Ghostwriters last graced our presence in February 1992.

 

"World Almost At Peace" was the third and final single lifted from the group's debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992).

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  I quite liked it, and enjoyed it more than their actual one hit in Australia, "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991).

We shall next see Ghostwriters in 1996.

 

 

Number 138 "Cold Wind" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

 

We last saw Australian band The Celibate Rifles in 1991.

 

"Cold Wind" was the second single lifted from the band's seventh studio album Heaven on a Stick (number 51, March 1992), not counting their contribution of two tracks on a shared EP with Hard-Ons, Where the Wild Things Are (number 51, March 1992).

This would be the last top 150 single for The Celibate Rifles.  They had later top 150-charting albums with Yizgarnnoff (number 103, May 1993), and Spaceman in a Satin Suit (number 124, May 1994).

 

Number 139 "Separate Tables" by Chris de Burgh

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

We last saw Chris de Burgh in 1991.

 

"Separate Tables" was the lead single from Chris' tenth studio album Power of Ten (number 81, June 1992).

 

Internationally, "Separate Tables" peaked at number 30 in the UK in April 1992, number 14 in Ireland in April 1992, number 39 in Germany in April 1992, and number 25 in Switzerland in May 1992.

 

"Separate Tables" would be Chris' final ARIA top 150 single, although he would have later albums denting the top 150, with This Way Up (number 149, August 1994), and Very Best of (number 75, April 1997).

Chris will join us next in September 1992.

 

 

 

Number 144 "Twisterella" by Ride

Peak: number 105

Peak dates: 8 June 1992 and 15 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

 

English band Ride formed in Oxford in 1988.  Their debut album Nowhere peaked at number 104 in Australia in July 1990, despite yielding no top 150 singles.  It was quickly followed by the compilation album Smile (number 135, July 1990), which combined the band's first two EP's Ride and Play.

 

"Twisterella" was the band's second single to dent the top 150 in Australia, following "Leave Them All Behind" (number 89, April 1992), which I have seen the video for on rage a couple of times in recent years.  Both tracks were lifted from Ride's second album Going Blank Again (number 56, April 1992).

 

Internationally, "Twisterella" peaked at number 36 in the UK in April 1992, and number 15 in Ireland in April 1992.

 

"Twisterella" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

 

We will next see ride in 1994.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 166 "Slash 'N' Burn" by Manic Street Preachers

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 6 July 1992

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw Welsh band Manic Street Preachers in 1991.

 

"Slash 'N' Burn" was issued as the third single from the Manics' debut album Generation Terrorists (number 182, April 1992) in Australia, although it was only the second to chart.  "Love's Sweet Exile", released locally in March 1992, failed to chart.  Another single, "You Love Us", was released in the UK, but not Australia, before this one.

Internationally, "Slash 'N' Burn" peaked at number 20 in the UK in March 1992.  Within Australia, the single was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 140.

We'll next see Manic Street Preachers in August 1992.

 

Number 205 "Colour My Life" by M People

Peak: number 205

Peak date: 1 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

English band M People formed in Manchester in 1990.  Although "Colour My Life" is their first single I have written about, their debut single "How Can I Love You More?" entered the ARIA singles chart at number 174 in February 1992 - but it will not reach its peak until a remixed version of it was released in 1993 (the peak for its original chart run, outside the top 150, is unknown).  Both tracks appear on M People's debut album Northern Soul (number 150, April 1993).

 

"Colour My Life" peaked at number 35 in the UK in March 1992.  In Australia, the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 186.

 

"Colour My Life" was released in Australia in April 1992 and took nearly two months to spend a solitary week on the chart just outside the top 200.

 

M People's commercial breakthrough in Australia would not come until late 1993, with "Moving on Up" (number 4, January 1994), the second single from the band's second album Elegant Slumming (number 7, February 1994).

 

We shall next see M People in 1993.

 

 

Number 206 "Memories" by Beverley Craven

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 15 June 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

Beverley Craven last graced our presence in 1991.  "Memories" was released as the second single in Australia from her debut album Beverley Craven (number 141, July 1991).

 

Internationally, "Memories" peaked at number 68 in the UK in December 1991.  In Australia, "Memories" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 181.

A live performance was used to promote "Memories" as a single, rather than a music video.  The video embedded below is the studio recording of the song.

"Memories" would be Beverley's final charting single in Australia.  She would, however, have one further low-charting charting album with Promise Me: The Best of (number 1062, April 2011).  A third single from Beverley Craven, "Holding On", was released locally in August 1992 but did not chart.

Next week (8 June): Just three new entries, all of which peak within the top 150.

< Previous week: 25 May 1992                                     Next week: 8 June 1992 >

Week commencing 16 December 1991

Welcome to the last ARIA chart survey of 1991!  And to finish things off, we have another batch of songs that I did not hear at the time.  Perhaps this is your first time hearing these tracks, too?  Let's take a look.

Gang Starr took a rest from the top 100 this week in 1991.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 129 "Grooving in the Land of Love" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 27 January 1992

Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks

We last saw Sydney band The Celibate Rifles in May 1990.

Regular readers will know that inconsistencies in artist name credits involving the word 'the' (e.g. The Beatles vs. just Beatles) irk me.  Here, we have an instance of a song with an inconsistent title, which I think annoys me even more.  On parent album Heaven on a Stick (number 51, March 1992), this track is titled "Groovin' in the Land of Love"; while on the single sleeve, it is listed as "Grooving in the Land of Love."   Aaaaaggggghhh!

I'm generally not a fan of this type of music, but I found this track OK.  'OK' in a 6 out of 10 kind of way, maybe.

The Celibate Rifles will join us again in 1992.

Number 142 "Great" by Bachelors from Prague

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 3 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks

We last saw Melbourne band Bachelors from Prague in October 1989.

 

"Great" was the almost-title-track from the band's final studio album Great! (number 108, June 1991).  It would become the band's last ARIA top 150 entry.

Number 143 "Take a Rest" by Gang Starr

Peak: number 143

Peak dates: 16 December 1991, 23 December 1991, 30 December 1991

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

American hip-hop duo Gang Starr consisted of DJ Premier and Guru.  The pair landed a hit, with what would become their only ARIA top 100 entry, with "Lovesick" (number 13, November 1991).  Until writing this post, I was not aware that there were two quite different-sounding mixes of "Lovesick" - you can hear the original, and rather inferior - in my opinion, version here.

 

"Take a Rest" was originally released in Australia in March 1991, before "Lovesick".  After the success of "Lovesick", the single was re-released in December 1991.  Both "Take a Rest" and "Lovesick" were lifted from the duo's second studio album Step in the Arena (number 141, December 1991).

 

Internationally, "Take a Rest" peaked at number 63 in the UK in February 1991.

 

"Take a Rest" would be Gang Starr's final ARIA top 150 entry.  Guru, real name Keith Edward Elam, launched a solo career in 1993, while continuing to be part of Gang Starr.  Sadly, Guru died in 2010, aged 48, due to multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 168 "Road to My Riches" by Vanilla Ice

Peak: number 168

Peak dates: 16 December 1991, 23 December 1991, and 30 December 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

We last saw Robert van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, in April 1991.

"Road to My Riches" was lifted from Vanilla's live album Extremely Live (number 56, September 1991).  The single does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

On the ARIA state charts, "Road to My Riches" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 152.

We shall see Vanilla Ice again in 1992.

Number 171 "The Sun Doesn't Shine" by Beats International

Peak: number 165

Peak date: 27 January 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Beats International last joined us in May 1991.

 

"The Sun Doesn't Shine" was issued as the second single from the second, and final, Beats International album Excursion on the Version, which does not appear to have been released in Australia. 

 

Internationally, "The Sun Doesn't Shine" peaked at number 66 in the UK in September 1991, and number 87 in Germany in December 1991.

 

Within Australia, "The Sun Doesn't Shine" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 130.

 

We shall see Beats International again in 1992.

Next post (6 January): 1992 kicks off with six top 150 debuts, plus one mystery title that nobody knows what it is...  I've also uploaded a preview of some of the singles coming up in my 1992 chart recaps in the video embedded below (spoiler alert!):

Thank you for reading my posts in 2022!

< Previous week: 9 December 1991                                        Next post: 6 January 1992 >

Week commencing 14 May 1990

This week's new entries are an odd bunch.  Among them we have a band and a solo artist who started out in the 1970s but have only recently scored their first chart hits in Australia, three acts who would only score one top 150 'hit', one act who would only score one top 150 'hit' and one bubbling WAY down under 'hit', and a veteran artist who scored her biggest hits in her mid 40s.  Shall we take a look?

Tina Turner: look me in the charts!

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 139 "Wonderful Life" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 4 June 1990

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

 

"Wonderful Life" was the third top 150-peaking 'hit' from Australian band The Celibate Rifles' Blind Ear album (number 85, July 1989), following "Johnny" in March 1989, and "O Salvation" in June 1989.  This single took its time to register in the top 150, having been released in late March 1990, as a double 7".  "Wonderful Life" was also issued on cassingle, but as this format is not currently listed on discogs, I cannot confirm that it too was a double release.

The Celibate Rifles, who never scored a top 100 ARIA singles chart entry, will next grace our presence at the end of 1991.

 

 

Number 142 "Nick of Time" by Bonnie Raitt

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 14 May 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

American blues singer/songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt released her first album in 1971, but landed her first album on the Australian chart when Nick of Time (number 58, April 1990) crept into the ARIA top 150 albums chart in September 1989.  Eight months later, the title track - released locally in February 1990 - would belatedly scrape into the top 150 singles chart for a solitary week.

 

Nick of Time was Bonnie's tenth studio album, and was her major commercial breakthrough in the US, where it topped the Billboard 200 albums chart in April 1990, and was certified 5 times platinum.

 

"Nick of Time" was the second single from the album issued locally, released in early February 1990.  The single debuted at number 161 on 12 March 1990, but took until now to crack the top 150.  We also saw Bonnie bubble WAY down under with the album's first single in September 1989.

 

As with the album, "Nick of Time" performed stronger in the US, peaking at number 92 there in May 1990.  The single also peaked at number 67 in the Netherlands in June 1989, number 82 in the UK in April 1990, and number 73 in Germany in June 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Nick of Time" peaked highest in Western Australia, where it reached number 103.

Bonnie would eventually break into the ARIA top 100 singles chart when "Something to Talk About" peaked at number 57 in November 1991.  But before then, Bonnie will join us again next week, with another track from the Nick of Time album!

Number 143 "Baby, It's Tonight" by Jude Cole

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 25 June 1990

Weeks in top 150: 13 weeks 

Weeks on chart: 13 weeks

 

American Jude Cole released his debut album Jude Cole in 1987.  "Baby, It's Tonight" was the lead single from his second album, A View from 3rd Street (number 114, July 1990).

I wasn't expecting to know this song, but it sounds familiar to me.  Presumably, it received some airplay in Melbourne.  Alternatively, I may have heard it on the American Top 40 radio program, as the single peaked at number 16 there in June 1990.

 

On the state charts, "Baby, It's Tonight" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 46.  The single also fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 79.  Jude would break into the ARIA top 100 singles chart in 1992 with "Start the Car" (number 59, November 1992) - his only single to do so.  Before then, Jude will bubble under again in September 1990.

 

 

Number 145 "Drag My Bad Name Down" by The 4 of Us

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 28 May 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

 

The 4 of Us hail from Northern Ireland.  "Drag My Bad Name Down", which peaked at number 79 in the UK in March 1990 and number 6 in Ireland, was their sole ARIA top 150 entry.  This one is another that I must have heard at the time, despite not recognising the artist name or song title, as it sounded familiar to me when I picked up a VHS compilation it was on around 2012.

Number 146 "Going Back to My Roots" by FPI Project featuring Sharon Dee Clarke

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 11 June 1990

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

 

Despite seeing this title listed in the UK chart in imported pop magazine Number One at the time, I don't think I've actually heard this track before.  Instantly recognisable is the James Brown "woo! yeah!' sample that was ubiquitous on dance tracks around this time.

 

This track was released as "Rich in Paradise" or "Going Back to My Roots "Rich in Paradise"" in most European countries, but the title was pared back to just "Going Back to My Roots" on the Australian pressing.  To add to the confusion, there were two versions of the track released - one with vocals by Sharon Dee Clarke, as embedded below, and one which was more instrumental in nature, with vocals by Paolo Dini (I assume the latter was the "Rich in Paradise" version).

 

Sharon Dee Clarke would later go on to sing for Nomad, whose biggest hit was "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion" (number 37, August 1991), and whom we will see bubble under next year.

 

"Going Back to My Roots" was originally recorded by Lamont Dozier in 1977.  This version of the track peaked at number 9 in the UK in January 1990, and also reached the top 10 in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

 

Number 147 "Gotta Lambada" by Absolute
Peak: number 147

Peak date: 14 May 1990

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

 

The risqué lambada dance, originating in Brazil, was a brief 'craze' in Australia and elsewhere at the end of the 1980s/early 1990, thanks to Kaoma's "Lambada" (number 5, April 1990), which showcased the dance in the music video.

 

To cash in on the fad, two movies about the lambada - Lambada: Set the Night on Fire and The Forbidden Dance - were filmed.  "Gotta Lambada" was recorded for the former.  However, unlike the Kaoma track, "Gotta Lambada" sounds more like a generic early 90s US r&b pop track than something originating from Brazil.

 

We will see another lambada-related track bubble under next week.

Number 149 "Look Me in the Heart" by Tina Turner

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 4 June 1990

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

Up until this point, Tina Turner, real name Anna May Bullock, placed 15 solo singles on the Australian top 100 chart, including two duets (not with Ike), and two number ones.

 

"Look Me in the Heart" was issued as the fourth and final single in Australia from Tina's Foreign Affair album (number 15, October 1989), following "The Best" (number 4, October 1989), "Steamy Windows" (number 34, January 1990), and "I Don't Wanna Lose You" (number 59, February 1990).

Tina previously had two solo singles released locally that missed the top 100: "Show Some Respect" (February 1985), which reached first place on the Kent Music Report 'singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100' list in March 1985, and "Two People" (November 1986).

"Look Me in the Heart" fared better in France, where it reached number 44 in March 1990, and in the UK, where it peaked at number 31 in August 1990.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "Look Me in the Heart" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 88.  Despite missing the top 100 nationally, "Look Me in the Heart" peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, with  New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory being the only exception.

Tina will next visit us in late 1991 - an unusual pattern that seems to be emerging this week.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 151 "Love Don't Come Easy" by The Alarm

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 14 May 1990

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Welsh band The Alarm bubbled under in October 1989, and here they are with their second - and final - appearance on the Australian singles chart, with another track from their Change album (number 155, December 1989).

"Love Don't Come Easy" performed better in the UK, peaking at number 48 there in February 1990.

Next week (21 May): A bumper week with ten new top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts, including one from the artist who released the first album I ever bought.

< Previous week: 7 May 1990                                               Next week: 21 May 1990 >

Week commencing 26 June 1989

Using a marketing gimmick to sell your product can help to break a single on the chart.  At other times, it spectacularly backfires.  Among this week's new entries, we have: a track that sounds like it was a contender for a Bond movie, a song based on a sample of a fantasy sitcom theme, and a song that was used in a Coca-Cola ad (overseas, anyway).  None of these gimmicks helped the songs in question to become hits in the land of sweeping plains.  Do the songs stack up on their own merits without the associated gimmicks?  Let's take a look at this week's new entries, and see what you think...

Swing Out Sister: Wig-out, sister! How Corinne Drewery from Swing Out Sister reacted when she saw the peak for her band's new single.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 114 "You on my Mind" by Swing Out Sister

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 26 June 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

In 1987, Swing Out Sister belatedly burst onto the Australian chart with their breakout hit, "Breakout".  I say 'belatedly', because the single did not reach its peak of number 12 in Australia until late July 1987, despite being released locally in mid-February 1987, and peaking in the UK in November 1986.  Seeming like they might become the next big thing, Swing Out Sister only placed one other single in the top 100 down under - that being follow-up release "Surrender", which peaked at number 78.  Roll on to 1989, and this track, the lead single from the album Kaleidoscope World, sounding and looking a little bit like a Bond theme, stalled outside the top 100.  "You on my Mind" fared better in the UK, where it peaked at number 28; though its chart performance must have still been a disappointment for the group, given that it was the lead single from a new album.  Swing Out Sister will join us again in a couple of months.

 

Number 131 "O Salvation" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 3 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

We first met The Celibate Rifles back in March, and here they are, bubbling down under again in June, with another track from their Blind Ear album.  The group never scored a top 100 single, but this was the second of five singles that peaked within the 101-150 region of the charts between 1989 and 1992, which must count for something.  The Celibate Rifles will next join us in May 1990.

Number 142 "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 26 June 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

When it comes to rap crossing over to the charts, Australia was very behind the times.  This track peaked at number 21 in the UK in October 1986, and must have had a late or re-issued release in the US, where it peaked at number 57 on the Hot 100 in December 1988.  Skip ahead to July 1989, and Australia was finally ready for this track.  Well, kind of.  Following up "Parents Just Don't Understand", their number 48 minor 'hit' from November 1988, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" barely registered on the chart, spending one week inside the top 150.  I remember seeing this one on Countdown Revolution, and thinking what a novel idea it was to sample the theme from I Dream of Jeannie (I was 10, OK?).  Dimples D, of course, would have much greater success on our chart when trying the same thing in 1991.

 

"Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" appeared on the debut DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince album Rock the House.  However, their second album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, crept into the ARIA top 150 albums chart around the time of this single, initially peaking at number 140 in May 1989 before reaching its eventual peak of number 131 in February 1990.

On the state charts, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117.

 

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince will pay the 101-150 region of the chart another visit in 1992.

Number 148 "First Time" by Robin Beck

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 26 June 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Another song we got late in Australia was this one, which spent three weeks at number one in the UK in November 1988.  Despite being released locally in February 1989 and debuting at number 157 on the 27th of that month, it took four months for this to nudge the lower end of the top 150.  An American artist, Robin Beck's UK chart success was largely due to the song being featured in a TV commercial for Coca-Cola.  "First Time" also topped the charts in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the Flanders region of Belgium, and Norway.  Had the song had the same level of exposure in Australia, no doubt it would have charted better.

 

 

Number 150 "Praying to a New God" by Wang Chung

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 24 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Between 1984 and 1987, Wang Chung notched up four top 100 singles in Australia, with the biggest two of those, "Dance Hall Days" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight", reaching numbers 7 and 8, respectively.  Failing to chart in their native UK, where they had never placed a single higher than number 21, "Praying to a New God" peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100.  Owing to the band's greater success in the US, it looks like they tried to change their sound and image to a rockier one for this release, which backfired (as it often seems to).  Despite only peaking at number 127 in Australia, "Praying to a New God" spent 10 weeks in the top 150 region of the chart.  This won't actually be the last we see of Wang Chung - they will bubble WAY down under in 1997!

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 154 "What Does It Take?" by Then Jerico

Peak: number 154

Peak date: 26 June 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Then Jerico's previous single, "Big Area", peaked at number 99 in early June 1989.  "What Does It Take?" peaked at number 33 in the UK in April 1989.  Belinda Carlisle, whom we will see in 1990, makes a guest appearance on this track and also appears in the music video.  This would be the group's last single to register on the Australian charts.

 

Number 165 "Avenue D" by Etta James featuring David A. Stewart

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 4 September 1989

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

The first of two new bubbling WAY down under entries this week from American singer-songwriter Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, is a collaboration with Eurythmics member David A. Steweart (also known as just Dave Stewart), recorded for the soundtrack album Rooftops.  Etta released her first album way back in 1960.

 

Internationally, "Avenue D" peaked at number 296 (number 197 on the compressed chart) in the UK in May 1989.  Within Australia, "Avenue D" was most popular in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 118.

 

I've heard/seen this one a couple of times on rage in the last few years, though I didn't know it at the time.

 

Etta passed away, aged 73, in January 2012, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008 and leukaemia in 2011.  We will see David A. Stewart with his band Spiritual Cowboys in 1991.

Number 167 "Damn Your Eyes" by Etta James

Peak: number 157

Peak date: 3 July 1989

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

The second entry from Etta this week, I hadn't heard "Damn Your Eyes" before.  The track was lifted from Etta's first studio album since 1980, Seven Year Itch (number 115, June 1989), so-named because Etta had not had a recording contract in seven years when the album was released.

I cannot find evidence of "Damn Your Eyes" charting anywhere else, not even on Billboard's meaningless genre-specific charts!  Within Australia, "Damn Your Eyes" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 120.

Etta would eventually land a top 100 single in Australia with "At Last" (number 72, January 2012), following her death.  Before that, she had another low-charting single in Australia, with "Fire" (number 420, March 2008).

Etta had further charting albums in Australia with Stickin' to My Guns (number 155, August 1990), The Essential Etta James (number 285, September 2010), The Dreamer (number 336, February 2012), Her Best (number 65, January 2012), and At Last: The Best of Etta James (number 743, May 2012).

Next week (3 July): Six new entries, including a single that spent more weeks on the chart than any other peaking within the 101-150 region in 1989.  We also see the arrival of a new diva, and the return of an artist who only ever bubbled under following their top 30 hit from earlier in the year.  Also, there is another bubbling WAY down under entry.  Remember, you can also follow my posts on facebook.

< Previous week: 19 June 1989                                           Next week: 3 July 1989 >

Week commencing 13 March 1989

A big twelve new entries this week, from a varied bunch of artists.  Let's take a look at them:

2 Brave: Looking sultry and wearing silly hats didn't seem to help this Scandinavian duo score a hit down under.

 

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 117 "Windows of the World" by Pretenders 

Peak: number 117

Peak dates: 13 March 1989 and 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Somewhat surprisingly, the Australian top 100 singles charts were a hit-free zone for Pretenders for almost 7 years, book-ended by two top ten hits - those being 1987's "Hymn to Her", and 1994's "I'll Stand by You".  They did managed to 'bubble under' with this track, though, and with two more singles released in 1990.  "Windows of the World" was recorded for the 1969 soundtrack.

 

Number 124 "She's Got a New Spell" by Billy Bragg

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

This single was Billy's first foray into the Australian singles chart... kind of.  He'd reach the top 100 in 1991 with "Sexuality".  We'll also see Billy next in 1991.

Number 141 "Loco in Acapulco" by The Four Tops

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

This track is lifted from the Busted soundtrack, and was written by Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier.  I remember seeing the video for this one on rage while waiting for the top 50 chart countdown to begin, early on a Saturday morning. This was the group's first Australian singles chart entry since "When She Was My Girl" peaked at number 54 in early 1982.

Number 143 "When I'm With You" by Sheriff

Peak: number 117

Peak date:  10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

The first and only Australian singles chart entry for this Canadian rock band has a rather interesting back-story.  The song was originally released as a single in 1983 - although I can find no evidence of it being released locally then.  The band split in 1985, and after a radio station in the US began playing the song in late 1988, it was re-issued there (after having peaked at number 61 in 1983).  It then went on to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1989, despite having no music video.  Another claim made about this song is that the note held at the end of it is the longest (19.3 second) note held by a male pop singer on record.  Phew!  As if all of that wasn't enough, two of the band's members went on to form part of Alias, who would score a hit in 1991 with "More Than Words Can Say".

Number 146 "Follow Your Heart" by The Party Boys

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks

Australia's Party Boys scored a big number one hit in 1987 with their version of "He's Gonna Step on You Again", but would have to settle for bubbling under the top 100 with this release, less than two years later.  While it's not the sort of thing I normally listen to, I concede that the chorus is catchy.  Despite peaking at number 107, this single spent 11 weeks in the 101-150 section of the chart.

 

 

Number 147 "Stop That Girl" by 2 Brave

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

A certain Scandinavian duo hailing from Sweden would conquer the Australian charts in 1989, but this duo, originating in Norway, couldn't manage to crack the top 140.  It's a shame, really, as this is quite a good slice of infectious pop music that I hadn't heard before.  I wonder who knew about it locally to snap up sufficient copies of it to dent the top 150?  The duo had greater success in their homeland, where this reached number 4.

Number 148 "Johnny" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Despite forming in 1979, this was actually the Australian band's first taste of chart 'success'; albeit, at a rather modest level.  They'll go on to visit the 101-150 section of the singles chart on no fewer than three other occasions in the coming three years.

 

Number 149 "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" by Buckwheat Zydeco

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

This is another one I'd never heard of before.  Buckwheat, born Stanley Dural, Jr., was an American accordionist.  I say 'was', because he sadly passed in 2016.  This track is a cover of a track by Eric Clapton's band Derek & The Dominoes, from 1970.  Oddly, this version by Buckwheat Zydeco does not appear to have charted elsewhere - I've no idea why it 'charted' in Australia.

 

Number 150 "Back to the Track" by Shane Howard

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 3 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Another track I'd never heard before, though I was familiar with Shane via his massive hit with Goanna, 1982's "Solid Rock", and the handful of minor top 50 hits he had locally in 1990-1991.  This release appears to have been his first solo single, and was the title track of his Back to the Track (number 111, March 1989) album.

We will next see Shane in 1991.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 160 "Fake 89" by Alexander O'Neal

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

American r&b singer Alexander O'Neal's recording career almost began in 1980 as a member of The Time, a band that would be signed under a clause in Prince's recording contract with Warner Brothers Records.  However, Alex was replaced by Morris Day following a dispute with the purple one.

 

Alex's first solo album Alexander O'Neal, partly produced by James Harris and Terry Lewis, was released in 1985, but does not appear to have received an Australian release (it did, however, receive a New Zealand one).

Alex's second album Hearsay (number 142, March 1989) was released in Australia in August 1987, led by the original release of "Fake" in June 1987.  "Fake" failed to chart in Australia, but bubbled under on the Australian Music Report's list of singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100, reaching fifth place on the list in August 1987.  The 1987 release of "Fake" became Alex's biggest hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 25 there in September 1987.

 

The second single from Hearsay, "Criticize", was issued locally in November 1987, but failed to chart.  In contrast, "Criticize" was Alex's biggest hit in the UK, peaking at number 4 there in December 1987. "Criticize" is also my favourite Alexander O'Neal song that I have heard.

The Hearsay album spent 40 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart, despite only peaking at number 29, and similarly spent 103 weeks on the UK albums chart, where it reached number 4.  Owing to the album's chart longevity, a string of singles was released from the album (though not in Australia), including "Never Knew Love Like This", a duet with Cherrelle.

 

Alex had previously dueted with Cherrelle on "Saturday Love", which was Alex's first release in Australia in April 1986, though it failed to chart here.  "Saturday Love" reached number 6 in the UK in January 1986.

 

As the 1987 issue of "Fake" only reached number 33 in the UK in June 1987, a remixed version of the single was released in September 1988, to promote the remix album Hearsay - All Mixed Up.  "Fake 88" peaked at number 16 in the UK in October 1988.  As there was often a several month delay between European and Australian releases back then, it was 1989 by the time "Fake 88" was issued in Australia, and, accordingly, its title was adjusted to "Fake 89", although it was the same remix.

Unfortunately for Alex, he never landed a top 100 single or album in Australia.  We will see him bubble under on a few more occasions, though, with the next one being in 1991.

 

 

 

Number 164 "Little Liar" by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

Peak: number 164

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

 

Having not listened to this track until writing this post, I am surprised by how similar the music and chord progressions are to Cher's "I Found Someone" (originally recorded by Laura Branigan in 1985).  "Little Liar" was released as the second single from Up Your Alley, following "I Hate Myself for Loving You" - both of which failed to chart in Australia, to my surprise.  This track had greater success in the US, where it peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1989.

We will next see Joan and the gang in 1994.

Number 172 "My Song" by Glass Tiger

Peak: number 172

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Canadian rock band Glass Tiger scored their biggest, and only real, hit in Australia with "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" (number 9, January 1987) in 1986.  They followed it up with two further singles that barely dented the top 100, "Thin Red Line" (number 91, February 1987) and "Someday" (number 97, April 1987).  All three tracks were lifted from the band's debut album The Thin Red Line (number 77, February 1987).  A fourth single from the album, "I Will Be There", was released in Australia in June 1987, but failed to chart.

Glass Tiger returned in 1988 with "Diamond Sun", which missed the national chart (when it ended at number 100), but registered on the state charts for South Australia/Northern Territory and Western Australia, where it peaked at numbers 73 and 53 respectively, in July 1988.  "My Song" was issued as the third single from the band's second album Diamond Sun (released in Australia in June 1988, did not chart), following "I'm Still Searching" (released locally in August 1988, did not chart).

Internationally, "My Song" peaked at number 33 in Canada in October 1988.

We will see Glass Tiger again in 1992.

 Next week (20 March): Just three new top 150 entries - among them is a young star from 1988 whose 15 minutes looked like they were already up; a bubbling WAY down under debut, and another bubbling WAY down under entry from another teen artist who would go on to be massive later on in the year.

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