Week commencing 26 April 1993

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the top 100 in Australia are quite a mixed bag, featuring veteran artists who had been around for decades, as well as new artists making their chart debut.  Unusually, we also have two new entries from the same artist.  Let’s take a look at them.

PJ Harvey didn’t quite measure up on the Australian chart with this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 113 “Sugar Kane” by Sonic Youth

Peak: number 110

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 113-110-122-117-124-134

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw American alternative band Sonic Youth in 1992.

“Sugar Kane” was issued as the third single from Sonic Youth’s seventh full-length studio album Dirty (number 22, August 1992).  “Sugar Kane” was also the lead track on their Whores Moaning EP (number 44, February 1993), released only in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with their Australasian tour, which was the band’s highest-charting release on the Australian singles chart.  It’s unusual that “Sugar Kane” would receive a single release in its own right just a couple of months later.

Internationally, “Sugar Kane” peaked at number 26 in the UK in March 1993.  Domestically, the single performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 93.

I didn’t know this one at the time, but have caught the music video several times on rage over the years.

Sonic Youth will next join us in 1994.

Number 120 “Blood of Eden” by Peter Gabriel

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 174-120-112-123-132-140

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel last joined us in 1991.

“Blood of Eden”, featuring uncredited guest vocals on the chorus from Sinéad O’Connor (though she appears in the music video), was the third single lifted from Peter’s sixth studio album Us (number 3, October 1992).  It followed “Digging in the Dirt” (number 23, November 1992) and “Steam” (number 29, February 1993).  An earlier version of the track, minus vocals from Sinéad, appeared on the 1991 film Until the End of the World, but not on the soundtrack.

Internationally, “Blood of Eden” peaked at number 43 in the UK in April 1993.  In Australia, “Blood of Eden” was equally most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory and Queensland, reaching number 93 on both state charts.  “Blood of Eden” performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

I didn’t know this one until checking it out on YouTube out of curiosity when I got hold of the 1993 top 150 charts several years ago.  I like it a lot, and think it deserved to do much better on the chart.

We shall next see Peter Gabriel in November 1993, and Sinéad O’Connor with another duet in August 1993.

Number 122 “Simple Life” by Elton John

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 122-126-126-138-138

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

English singer-songwriter Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, needs no introduction.  Starting with “Your Song” (number 10 on the Go Set chart, April 1971), Elton had placed 62 singles on the Australian top 100 chart at this point in 1993, with “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (number 1 for one week in August 1976) and “That’s What Friends Are For” (number 1 for one week in March 1986) reaching the top.

“Simple Life” was the fourth single lifted from Elton’s twenty-third studio album The One (number 2 for two weeks in June-July 1992), following title track “The One” (number 15, June 1992), Eric Clapton duet  “Runaway Train” (number 53, September 1992), and “The Last Song” (number 32, January 1993).

Internationally, “Simple Life” peaked at number 3 in Canada in April 1993, number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, number 44 in the UK in May 1993, and number 63 in Germany in June 1993.  “Simple Life” also registered on three US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in March 1993, number 26 on the Radio Songs chart in April 1993, and number 17 on the Pop Airplay chart in April 1993.

In Australia, “Simple Life” performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, reaching number 99 on the state chart.  “Simple Life” peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

We’ll next see Elton in 1996.

Number 128 “Dreams of Heaven” by Ground Level

Peak: number 119

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 128-119-136-140

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

Australian electronic music duo Ground Level were David Walker, hailing from Melbourne, and American Jean-Marie Guilfoil.  “Dreams of Heaven”, their fourth single, achieved some underground success in the UK, reaching number 54 on the UK singles chart in January 1993.

“Dreams of Heaven” debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 174 on 29 March 1993, taking almost a month to crack the top 150.  On the state charts, “Dreams of Heaven” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 60.  “Dreams of Heaven” fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 92.

“Dreams of Heaven” would eventually appear on the debut and only Ground Level album New Moon, in 1995, which did not chart.

I didn’t think I knew “Dreams of Heaven”, but it sounded familiar to me.  I am not sure where I might have heard it, though have read it was used as background music on Neighbours at the time - but I stopped watching Neighbours in 1988.  “Dreams of Heaven” sounds quite innovative and ahead of its time for 1993, which is impressive for an Australian dance track.  It’s a shame that Australian radio wouldn’t touch this kind of music with a barge pole at the time - other than perhaps Triple J - as this could have been a hit had it received better promotion.

We’ll see Ground Level with another new entry, debuting outside the top 150, this week, unusually.

Number 142 “Lord of the Flies” by Scarymother

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 142-136-137-133-137-132-135-141-142-149

Sydney band Scarymother formed in 1990.  They supported Faith No More on their Australian tour in April-May 1993, coinciding with the release of their debut single “Lord of the Flies”, which was produced by Faith No More producer Matt Wallace.  “Lord of the Flies” would go on to appear on Scarymother’s debut and only album Tai Laeo (number 94, May 1994), which was the band’s only top 100 entry in Australia.

We shall see Scarymother again in August 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 176 “Candy Everybody Wants” by 10,000 Maniacs

Peak: number 174

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in February 1993.

“Candy Everybody Wants” was released as the second single from the band’s fifth studio album One Time in Eden (number 171, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 47 in the UK in April 1993, and at number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993.  In Australia, “Candy Everybody Wants” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, reaching number 163 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s quite pleasant.

10,000 Maniacs will next join us in 1994.

Number 182 “Anything” by Sydney Youngblood

Peak: number 163

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Germany-based American singer-songwriter Sydney Youngblood last visited us in 1991.

“Anything” was the lead single from Sydney’s third studio album Just the Way It Is (number 211, May 1993).  Internationally, “Anything” peaked at number 48 in the UK in March 1993, number 27 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, and number 51 in Germany in May 1993.  Locally, “Anything” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 146 on the state chart.

I didn’t know this one at the time, but digitised the video from a UK HMV in-store VHS compilation I picked up over a decade ago.

This was Sydney’s last single to chart in Australia.  A second single from Just the Way It Is, “No Big Deal”, which sounds rather like Ace of Base musically, was released in Europe.  Sydney released a fourth album in Europe, The Hat Won’t Fit, in 1994, containing the single “So Good So Right (All I Can Do)”, which has a lyrical and melodic nod to his earlier hit “Sit and Wait” (number 59, April 1990).

1

Number 189 “50 Ft Queenie” by PJ Harvey

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

PJ Harvey was originally a three-piece band formed in Bristol, England in 1988, named after front woman Polly Jean Harvey who sang and played guitar, with Rob Ellis on drums and backing vocals, and Ian Oliver on bass.  The trio released their debut album Dry (number 156, July 1992) in 1992, which contained the singles “Dress” (released in Australia in April 1992, did not chart) and “Sheela-Na-Gig” (released in Australia in March 1992, did not chart).

The trio returned in 1993 with their second album and first major label release Rid of Me (number 110, June 1993), led by the single “50 Ft Queenie”.  Internationally, “50 Ft Queenie” peaked at number 27 in the UK in April 1993.  Domestically, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 148.

The trio disbanded in August 1993 after growing apart while on tour, and ‘PJ Harvey’ was relaunched as a solo act.  An album of demos recorded for the Rid of Me album, 4-Track Demos (number 189, February 1994), was released later in the year, effectively launching Polly’s solo career.

I first became aware of PJ Harvey in early 1995, with the single “Down by the Water” (number 84, April 1995), preceding the album To Bring You My Love (number 38, April 1995), which I purchased.  The material from the first two PJ Harvey albums is a little more guitar-heavy than I normally listen to, but I do enjoy “50 Ft Queenie”, no doubt helped by the music video in which Polly really hams it up.  My favourite track from Rid of Me is the title track, “Rid of Me”.

Between 1995 and 2001, PJ Harvey placed five singles on the Australian top 100, with  “Good Fortune” (number 71, April 2001) being the highest-charting of those.  “A Perfect Day Elise” (number 83, September 1998) is probably my favourite single of hers.

We’ll next see PJ Harvey in July 1993.

Number 202 “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” by The Brand New Heavies

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

British acid jazz band The Brand New Heavies, containing several American singers, last joined us in 1992.  Since then, the band’s second album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1 (number 282, November 1992), an album of collaborations with other artists, was released.

“Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was the second single released in Australia from The Brand New Heavies’ debut album The Brand New Heavies (number 139, August 1992).  The song is a cover version of a song originally recorded by Jean Carn in 1978.

Internationally, The Brand New Heavies’ version of “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992.

Domestically, “Don’t Let It Go to Your Head” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 161 on the state chart.

The Brand New Heavies will next join us in 1994.

Number 204 “Took My Love” by Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 3 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw English dance act Bizarre Inc in 1992.

“Took My Love” was Bizarre Inc’s fourth single release in Australia, and their fourth release to peak outside the top 100.  The track was lifted from the band’s second album Energique (released in Australia in November 1992, did not chart).  As with their previous single, Angie Brown is again featured on vocals, although this time she does not appear in the music video.

Internationally, “Took My Love” peaked at number 19 in the UK in February 1993, number 17 in Ireland in March 1993, and number 22 in the Netherlands in April 1993.  “Took My Love” also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in April 1993, and number 15 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “Took My Love” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153 on the state chart.

I didn’t hear this one until finding it on a UK promo VHS compilation about 15 years ago.  It no doubt received an airing on the UK Chart Attack radio program.

This was Bizarre Inc’s last charting release in Australia.  Angie Brown’s vocals would be heard again on Motiv 8’s “Rockin’ for Myself” (number 9, September 1994).

Number 208 “Out of Body” by Ground Level

Peak: number 208

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

The second new entry this week from Australian electronic duo Ground Level, “Out of Body” was their third single, released in Australia only on 12” vinyl in May 1992.  I can’t explain its belated debut almost a year later, other than perhaps the ‘success’ of their next release, “Dreams of Heaven” (discussed above) resulted in renewed interest in this track.

On the state charts, “Out of Body” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 174.

We’ll next see Ground Level in November 1993.

Number 220 “Independence” by Lulu

Peak: number 195

Peak date: 10 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Scottish singer, actress and TV personality Lulu, born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, made her Australian chart debut in the 1960s.  Her biggest Australian chart hit would not come until the 2000s, though, with her duet with Ronan Keating, “We’ve Got Tonight” (number 12, February 2003).  Lulu’s previous charting single in Australia was 1981’s “I Could Never Miss You (More Than I Do)” (number 71, March 1982).

“Independence” was Lulu’s first new single in the UK since 1990.  Internationally, “Independence” peaked at number 11 in the UK in January 1993, number 21 in Ireland, and number 52 in Germany in April 1993.  The song also reached number 3 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Domestically, “Independence” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

We’ll see Lulu again in July 1993.  She landed another top 40 hit in Australia as a featured artist on Take That’s “Relight My Fire” (number 33, February 1994).

Number 227 “One Shining Moment” by Diana Ross

Peak: number 227

Peak date: 26 April 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

American Motown legend Diana Ross last joined us in 1989.  “One Shining Moment” was the belated second single released in Australia from Diana’s nineteenth studio album The Force Behind the Power (number 100, March 1992), following “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” (number 83, March 1992).

Internationally, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 10 in the UK in June 1992, and number 16 in Ireland.

In Australia, “One Shining Moment” peaked at number 226 on all state charts except Western Australia, where it peaked at number 227.  That suggests to me that “One Shining Moment” was very near to, if not at, the bottom of the chart this week in 1993.

Another single from The Force Behind the Power, “If We Hold on Together”, was released in Australia in June 1993, but failed to chart.

Diana will join us next in 1995.

Next week (3 May): Seven top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 19 April 1993                  Next week: 3 May 1993 >

Week commencing 15 February 1993

This week in 1993's new entries peaking outside the top 100 are an interesting bunch.  Among them, we have two live releases for which a lip syncing music video was made, a cover version featuring the artists who recorded the original song, and some underappreciated in Australia at the time R&B acts.  Before taking a look at them, I have updated the following earlier posts:

 

* 29 October 1990 - with new bubbling WAY down under entry from Archie Roach;

* 1 February 1993 - now with an audio clip for Paul Kelly and others’ "He Can't Decide".

 

Simply Red: love for sale... but was anyone buying?

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 124 "Hold Back the Night" by K.W.S. featuring The Trammps

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Chart run: 124-121-118-125-135

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

British band K.W.S. originate from Nottingham, England, and were named after the surnames of the group's three members, Chris King, Winston "Winnie" Williams, and Delroy St. Joseph... except singer Delroy only sang lead on their first two singles, "Please Don't Go" (number 2 for 4 non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1992; it topped 3 of the 5 state charts) and "Rock Your Baby" (number 38, November 1992).  Those tracks were cover versions of KC & The Sunshine Band and George McCrae, respectively.

All of K.W.S's singles were cover versions, and "Hold Back the Night", the third single from their debut and only album Please Don't Go (The Album) (number 148, February 1993) - released as KWS in Europe, Japan and South America - is another.  This time, however, the song was originally recorded by American band The Trammps, who perform on this version, in 1975.  The Trammps' original of this track did not chart in Australia; their only charting single here was "Disco Inferno" (number 32, June 1978).

 

Internationally, the K.W.S. version of "Hold Back the Night" peaked at number 30 in the UK in December 1992, and number 20 in Ireland during the same month.

 

In Australia, "Hold Back the Night" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 102 on the state chart.

 

One thing I didn't realise until researching this post is that the two guys who play the instruments in K.W.S., Chris King and Winnie Williams, passed away in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

We shall see K.W.S. once more, in 1995.

 

 

Number 130 Montreux EP by Simply Red

Peak: number 130

Peak dates: 15 February 1993 and 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 130-130-138-150

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw English band Simply Red in 1992.

 

As those of you familiar with the annual Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland might have guessed, the Montreux EP is a collection of songs recorded live at the aforementioned festival.  The four songs in question, recorded live on 8 July 1992, are:

* "Love for Sale" - this track was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" single, which was released in Australia in December 1987, but did not chart.  This song is a cover version of Waring's Pennsylvanians from 1931, written by Cole Porter.

 

* "Drowning in My Own Tears" - a cover version of Sonny Thompson from 1951, exclusive to this release.

 

*  "Granma's Hands" - this track was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Come to My Aid" single, which was released in Australia in December 1985, but did not chart.  This song is a cover version of Bill Withers from 1971.

 

* "Lady Godiva's Room" - an original track that was originally a B-side on Simply Red's "Infidelity" (number 54, June 1987) single.  This appears to have been the main track on the Montreux EP, despite being track 4, as a music video (embedded below) was filmed for it.

 

Internationally, the Montreux EP peaked at number 11 in the UK in November 1992, and number 21 in Ireland during the same month.

In Australia, the Montreux EP performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 96 on the state chart.  The EP debuted nationally at number 185 on 18 January 1993, and took almost a month to crack the top 150.

We'll next see Simply Red in 1996.

 

Number 138 "From Paradise" by Archie Roach

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 22 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 138-138-137-130-142-107-(out for 2 weeks)-139-150

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

We last saw Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach in 1990.

 

"From Paradise" was Archie's third single, and first release from his second album Jamu Dreaming (number 55, April 1993).  It was, surprisingly, his only single to dent the top 150.  On the state charts, "From Paradise" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 55.

We'll next see Archie in October 1993.

Number 140 "The Harder They Come" by Madness

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 1 March 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Chart run: 154-140-143-136

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw zany English band Madness in 1992.

 

Taking a leaf out of Simply Red's book above, the "The Harder They Come" single consists of four live recordings, taken from the band's first live concerts since disbanding in 1986, on 8-9 August 1992.  Also like Simply Red, a music video was filmed for "The Harder They Come", despite it being a live recording!  The track, which is a cover version of the Jimmy Cliff song from 1971, was lifted from Madness's live album Madstock! (number 169, March 1993).  The group never made a studio recording of "The Harder They Come".

 

Internationally, "The Harder They Come" peaked at number 44 in the UK in November 1992, which was a bit surprising and must have been a disappointment for the band, given that their Divine Madness compilation album had topped the charts there for three weeks in March 1992.

 

Locally, "The Harder They Come" performed strongest in Queensland, reaching number 120 on the state chart.

Despite being a casual Madness fan, I hadn't actually heard "The Harder They Come" before.  I like it.

 

We won't see Madness again until 1999.  Before then, lead singer Suggs will bubble under with solo releases in 1996 and 1998.

Number 145 "Let This Housebeat Drop" by Ya Kid K

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 145-125-142-143

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw Congolese rapper Ya Kid K in 1991.

 

"Let This Housebeat Drop" was Ya Kid K's second solo single, where she was not credited as a featured artist.  The track appears on Ya Kid K's debut and only solo album One World Nation (The Kids Shall Overcome), which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  Interestingly, the album contains the Technotronic song "Move This", which peaked at number 67 in Australia in October 1993 after initially peaking at number 98 in February 1993, on it.  "Move This" originally appeared on the first Technotronic album Pump Up the Jam (number 22, April 1990), but became a belated number 6 hit in the US in September 1992 after the song was used in a Revlon TV commercial.

 

I cannot find evidence of "Let This Housebeat Drop" charting anywhere else.  On the state charts, "Let This Housebeat Drop" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 104.

 

Only the video for the extended version of "Let This Housebeat Drop", embedded below, is available online.  Although I have a copy of this video in my collection, I hadn't actually listened to the track before.  I was surprised to see Lonnie Gordon appear in the video, and as an uncredited background/additional vocalist on the song.

 

Ya Kid K would rejoin Technotronic after the commercial failure of her debut solo album.  We will see her bubble under with them again in 1994.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 151 "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs previously paid us a visit in 1989.

 

"These Are Days" was the lead single from the band's fifth studio album One Time in Eden (number 171, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 58 in the UK in September 1992, number 35 in Canada in December 1992, and number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992.  "These Are Days" also peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in November 1992, number 40 on the Pop Airplay chart in December 1992, number 34 on the Adult Contemporary chart in December 1992, and number 70 on the Radio Songs chart in December 1992.

 

In Australia, "These Are Days" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 139 on the state chart.

 

I've heard "These Are Days" before, but couldn't remember how it went.  It's nice enough, but doesn’t really stand out as a lead single.

 

10,000 Maniacs will next join us in April 1993.

Number 192 "Reminisce" by Mary J. Blige

Peak: number 192

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American R&B singer Mary J. Blige last joined us in 1992.

 

"Reminisce" was the second and final single released in Australia from Mary's debut album What's the 411? (not released in Australia).  Internationally, "Reminisce" peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992, and number 31 in the UK in February 1993.  "Reminisce" registered on numerous US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 46 on the Radio Songs chart in December 1992, number 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 34 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in January 1993, number 5 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in February 1993, and number 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in February 1993.

 

In Australia, "Reminise" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 182 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard "Reminisce" before.  It sounds a bit too R&B to have been a big hit in Australia in 1993, but might have done better if it was released here a couple of years later.

 

We'll next see Mary J. Blige in 1995.

Number 216 "I'm Overjoyed" by Nona Gaye

Peak: number 216

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

As you might have guessed, Nona Gaye is the daughter of Marvin Gaye, whose biggest hit in Australia was "Sexual Healing" (number 4, March 1983).  Marvin was fatally shot by his father following an argument, a day before what would have been Marvin's 45th birthday, in 1984.  Nona was a mere 9 years old at that time.

 

"I'm Overjoyed" was Nona's debut single, lifted from her debut album Love for the Future (released in Australia in March 1993, did not chart).  Internationally, "I'm Overjoyed" peaked at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, and at number 39 in New Zealand in December 1992.  The song also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 64 on the Radio Songs chart in October 1992, number 36 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in November 1992, number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in November 1992, and number 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in December 1992.

 

Locally, "I'm Overjoyed" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 197.

 

"I'm Overjoyed" would be Nona's only charting release in Australia.  A promotional single dueting with (then The Artist Formerly Known As) Prince, "Love Sign", was released in 1994, but did not receive a commercial single release.  Nona released a second album, Language of Love, in 2008, and acted in several movies in the 2000s.  Nona has since retired from acting.

 

I hadn't heard "I'm Overjoyed" before listening to it to write this post.  It's quite pleasant, and reminded me a little bit of Shanice.

Next week (22 February): Six top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.

 

< Previous week: 8 February 1993                         Next week: 22 February 1993 >

Week commencing 3 July 1989

Think you can name Warrant's, Natalie Merchant's and Adeva's first chart 'hits' in Australia?  Depending on your definition of what counts as a charting hit, you could be wrong, as we'll see this week, with these acts bubbling under with earlier releases before they went on to bigger things on the Australian chart.  Also among this week's debuts we have a band releasing their first new material after re-uniting earlier in the decade, and a remix of a number 52 'hit' from 1986.  Let's take a look at this week's batch of new entries.

Adeva: No, that's not one of the Village People.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 109 "Paranoimia '89" by The Art of Noise

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 17 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 109-120-103-119-130-132

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

The Art of Noise scored a top 10 hit in early 1989 with their collaboration with Tom Jones.  Their original version of this track, featuring the animated robot character Max Headroom on 'vocals', peaked at number 52 on the Australian singles chart in September 1986.  This remixed version, sans Max, peaked 51 places lower, and also flopped in the group's native UK, where it peaked at number 88.

 

On the state charts, "Paranoimia '89" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 54.  We will next see The Art of Noise in 1992.

 

Number 113 "Bring It Back Again" by Stray Cats

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 10 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 113-109-118-124-123

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

Peaking at number 95 on the Australian Music Report singles chart, "Bring It Back Again" fell slightly short of the ARIA top 100.  Between 1981 and 1983, Stray Cats placed four singles within the Kent Music Report top 100, before splitting up in 1984.  The most-successful of their singles on our charts was 1981's "Runaway Boys", peaking at number 15.  The group re-formed in 1986, and this was the lead single from their first post-reunion album, Blast Off, which peaked at number 90 in June 1989.

 

Internationally, "Bring It Back Again" peaked at number 64 in the UK in February 1989.

In Australia, the single performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 76.  "Bring It Back Again" peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory.

Stray Cats will visit us again in 1991.

 

 

Number 129 "Trouble Me" by 10,000 Maniacs

Peak: number 102

Peak dates: 17 July 1989, 31 July 1989 and 14 August 1989

Weeks in top 150: 17 weeks

Chart run: 156-129-117-102-105-102-111-102-108-122-106-128-123-137-136-135-142-139

Weeks on chart: 18 weeks

10,000 Maniacs were a band I had heard of - by the early-mid 90s - but never gave their music the time of day, after rather incorrectly assuming they would be some kind of thrash metal act, given the band's name.  How wrong I was!  Accordingly, this excellent song passed me - and most of the Australian record-buying public too, it seems, going by its peak - by at the time.  But, just like the band name, sometimes appearances (and chart peaks) can be deceiving.  Despite only peaking at number 102 - on three separate, non-consecutive weeks, no less - "Trouble Me" spent a whopping 17 weeks hovering in the number 101-150 region of the chart!  Yes, this single was still charting in late October.  This gives "Trouble Me" the accolade (?) of being the single peaking outside the top 100 that spent the most weeks on the chart in 1989, beating its nearest rival, When in Rome's "The Promise", by three whole weeks.  I've raised the question before: when is a flop almost a hit?  The line between 'hit' and 'flop' can sometimes be blurred, indeed.  As impressive as "Trouble Me"'s longevity in the 101-150 region of the chart is, it will be surpassed in later years.

Internationally, "Trouble Me" peaked at number 77 in the UK, number 21 in Canada in July 1989, and number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1989.

"Trouble Me", lifted from the album Blind Man's Zoo (number 84, August 1989) is another single that had greater success on the Australian Music Report chart, where it peaked at number 85.  It also reached number 37 on the South Australian/Northern Territory ARIA state chart.  The group eventually scored an Australian top 100 hit, in 1997, with their cover version of Roxy Music's "More Than This" (number 94).  Lead singer Natalie Merchant, of course, would have greater success as a solo artist, placing her debut solo single "Carnival" at number 24 in October 1995.  10,000 Maniacs will join us again in 1993.

 

Number 131 "Cathedral Song" by Tanita Tikaram

Peak: number 120

Peak date: 31 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 162-(off chart for 1 week)-131-132-138-121-120-138-136

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Tanita's top 30 hit "Twist in My Sobriety" would unfortunately be a one-off for her on the Australian charts; no other single she released troubled the top 100.  We've already seen one of Tanita's bubbling under 'hits' in January.  "Cathedral Song" also under-performed in the UK, relative to Tanita's earlier singles, peaking at number 48 back in January 1989.  The single also peaked at number 36 in the Netherlands in February 1989, and number 71 in Germany in June 1989.

In Australia, "Cathedral Song" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 84 on the state chart.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all state charts except New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory. 

A fourth single from the Ancient Heart album, "World Outside Your Window", was released locally in late July 1989, but failed to chart

Tanita will bubble under for a third time, with a single from her second album, in 1990.

 

Number 137 "Your Love" by Hipsway

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 7 August 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 137-146-141-143-145-103-148

Hipsway were a Scottish band, formed in 1984, and contained Johnny McElhone from Altered Images on bass.  In 1986, they scored a number 91 'hit' on the Australian singles chart with "The Honeythief".  This track peaked at number 66 in the UK in April 1989.

"Your Love" had a somewhat unusual chart run in Australia.  All but one of its seven weeks in the ARIA top 150 were spent at number 137 or lower, but then it randomly shot up to number 103 for a solitary week in its second-last week, before dropping to number 148 and then out.

Number 150 "Respect" by Adeva

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 3 July 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 158-(off chart for 13 weeks)-150

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

You'd never guess upon first listen, but this track is a completely re-worked cover version of the song made famous by Aretha Franklin.  I first heard Adeva's rendition of "Respect" when it was used as the B-side to her "Warning!" single - my first musical purchase of the 1990s!  "Respect" has a somewhat interesting chart run in Australia.  Spending just two weeks on the chart, "Respect"'s first charting week was at number 158 back in early April; it took three months to re-enter at its peak of number 150.  Adeva would have greater chart success with later singles from her debut album Adeva!, which, coincidentally, has recently been remastered and re-issued as a 4-CD set (also available to stream on Spotify).  Another thing worth checking out, if Adeva is to your liking, is a recent YouTube interview, where Adeva talks about her career, why she quit the business, and some tragic events that have happened in her life.  

Internationally, "Respect" peaked at number 17 in the UK in January 1989, number 17 in Ireland, number 21 in the Netherlands in March 1989, and number 34 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1989.

In Australia, "Respect" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 131 on the state chart.

Adeva will join us again in 1990.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 151 "Down Boys" by Warrant

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 3 July 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Before Warrant made it big with "Cherry Pie" in 1990, and before they even had moderate success with their Australian number 54 smash "Heaven" later in 1989, they bubbled WAY down under with "Down Boys", their debut release.  "Down Boys", taken from the album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (number 72, November 1989) had greater success on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number 27 in July 1989.  It also peaked at number 50 in New Zealand in July 1989.

In Australia, "Down Boys" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

Warrant will bubble down under again in 1990.

Next week (10 July): Four new entries, including a live rendition of a song that peaked just outside the top 40 in 1977; plus another five bubbling WAY down under entries.  Remember, you can also follow my posts on facebook.

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