I don’t know what to say about this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100, other than they are an eclectic bunch. Shall we take a look?
D:Ream: things could only get better from this chart position.
Top 150 debuts:
Number 128 “Things Can Only Get Better” by D:Ream (1993 release)
Peak: number 128 (1993 chart run); number 9 (1994 chart run)
Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 28 March 1994 (1994 chart run)
Weeks in top 150: 35 weeks (5 weeks in 1993; 30 weeks in 1994)
Top 150 chart run: 1993: 128-145-133-142-134.
Re-entry 14 February 1994: 87-59-42-24-19-13-9-11-10-10-10-11-10-11-14-14-18-20-19-21-26-36-43-50-58-61-89-68-106-105
Weeks on chart: 43 weeks (1993 and 1994 chart runs combined)
Pop group D:Ream formed in Manchester, England in 1992. The band’s live line up included Brian Cox, who would later become a professor of particle physics and a famous TV science broadcaster, on keyboards, although singer Peter Cunnah played keyboards on their studio recordings. Their first single, an early version of “U R the Best Thing”, scraped into the lower end of the UK Top 75 in June 1992. “Things Can Only Get Better”, their second single, would become their breakthrough hit in Australia, but not upon its initial 1993 release. The track was lifted from their debut album D:Ream on Vol. 1 (number 12, June 1994).
The early 1993 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 24 in the UK in January 1993, and at number 23 in Austria for two weeks in June 1993. The song would get a subtle remix, and a new music video, opening with the “you can walk my path, you can wear my shoes” couplet, for a late December 1993 re-release in the UK, where it became a much bigger hit, peaking at number 1 there for four weeks in January-February 1994.
The late 1993/early 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” also peaked at number 2 in Ireland in January 1994, number 7 in Sweden in February 1994, number 20 in Germany in March 1994, number 20 in the Netherlands in March 1994, number 11 in Switzerland in March 1994, number 10 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1994, and number 46 in New Zealand in April 1994. The song also reached number 7 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in January 1994.
In Australia, the 1994 release of “Things Can Only Get Better” peaked at number 9 in March 1994. The single performed strongest in South Australia/Norther Territory, where it reached number 3 on the state chart.
“Things Can Only Get Better” received a third lease of life in the UK, being used (with D:Ream’s permission) as the ‘new Labour’ campaign song, led by Tony Blair, at the 1997 election. The single was re-released again, peaking at number 19 in the UK in April 1997. D:Ream came to regret to regret their decision to allow Labour to use their song, following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was supported by Tony Blair.
We’ll see D:Ream next in July 1993 with another single that would later go on to become a hit when remixed and re-released.
Number 130 “Play Me” by The Welcome Mat
Peak: number 123
Peak date: 24 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 130-124-123-124-133-125-135-144
We last saw Sydney band The Welcome Mat in March 1993. “Play Me” was the second single lifted from their debut album Gram (number 107, April 1993).
We’ll next see The Welcome Mat in 1996.
Number 134 “Gentleman Style” by Indecent Obsession
Peak: number 118
Peak date: 24 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Chart run: 134-127-118-140-140-136
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
Aussie pop band Indecent Obsession last graced our presence in 1992.
“Gentleman Style” was the fourth and final single released in Australia from the band’s second album Indio (number 39, August 1992). Another track from the album, “Whispers in the Dark”, received a single release in Europe, but not Australia. On the state charts, “Gentleman Style” performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 70.
I hadn’t heard this one until writing this post. I liked it. As I have no doubt previously written, I think Indecent Obsession’s success was hindered by being initially marketed as a ‘pin-up’ boy band aimed at teenage girls… and possibly also by having a stupid band name.
Indecent Obsession singer David Dixon would soon leave the group, taking on the role of Joseph in the Australian leg of stage production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a role Jason Donovan filled in Europe. David embarked on a brief solo career, landed a minor hit on the Australian chart with “Joseph Mega-Mix” (number 53, June 1993). We shall see David bubble under with a solo single in 1994. He further delved into acting, taking on the role of bad boy Nathan Roberts (almost my namesake), Irene’s jailbird son, on Home and Away towards the end of 1993. I read somewhere years ago that David was now working as a helicopter pilot.
The rest of the group, meanwhile, continued as Indecent Obsession, recruiting English vocalist Richard Hannassey. We’ll see the new line up Indecent Obsession bubble under in 1994.
Number 140 “All Together Now” by Jon English
Peak: number 128
Peak date: 31 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 140-141-131-128-141-143
English-born Australian-based singer-songwriter and actor Jon English placed 18 singles on the Australian top 100 between 1973 and 1983, with “Six Ribbons” (number 5 for two weeks in February-March 1979) being the biggest of those. Jon played the role of ageing rocker Bobby Rivers on Australian sitcom All Together Now, which aired between January 1991 and September 1993. This was the theme song used for the show. Although I don’t recall ever watching an episode of it, I do remember the show.
This would be Jon’s final top 150 single in Australia. He died in 2016, aged 66, due to complications from surgery for an aortic aneurysm.
Number 144 “Ride Like the Wind” by East Side Beat
Peak: number 144
Peak date: 10 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Known chart run: 188-144
Weeks on chart: 6 weeks
We last saw Italian dance project East Side Beat in March 1993. “Ride Like the Wind”, a cover version of the Christopher Cross song (number 25, June 1980), was released in Europe in late 1991 as their first single, but received a belated Australian release in 1993 as their second single.
Internationally, “Ride Like the Wind” peaked at number 3 in the UK in December 1991, number 4 in Ireland, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium for five weeks in January-February 1992, number 29 in Austria in January 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in February 1992, number 24 in Germany in February 1992, number 12 in France in February 1992, and number 23 in Switzerland in March 1992.
Domestically, “Ride Like the Wind” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 132 on the state chart.
While there was no music video filmed for “Ride Like the Wind”, you can see East Side Beat perform it live on Top of the Pops here.
We won’t see East Side Beat again, but singer Carl Fanini will bubble under with Clubhouse in 1994.
Number 145 “The Love I Lost” by West End featuring Sybil
Peak: number 145
Peak date: 10 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 1 week
Top 150 chart run: 145
Weeks on chart: 8 weeks
We last saw American singer Sybil Lynch in 1991.
West End was an alias of Eddie Gordon, though what role he played on this recording, I am not sure, as his role is not specified on the credits. “The Love I Lost” was otherwise just a Stock Waterman (formerly Stock Aitken Waterman) production with Sybil on vocals. Eddie’s role at PWL was to find artists or songs to bring in to be produced by Stock Waterman or distributed in the UK through PWL Records. As doing a version of this song was Eddie’s idea, he wasn’t too pleased that he did not receive any credit, other than West End being billed, on the single sleeve. The song is a cover version of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ “The Love I Lost” from 1973. This version was the lead single from Sybil’s fourth studio album Good ‘N’ Ready (released in Australia in August 1993, did not chart).
Internationally, “The Love I Lost” peaked at number 3 in the UK for two weeks in January 1993, number 9 in Ireland, number 90 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 68 in Germany in April 1993. The song also peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs in May 1993, and number 18 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in June 1993.
In Australia, “The Love I Lost” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.
I didn’t hear this one until picking up the UK 2-CD compilation The Greatest Hits of 1993 while on a family holiday in Hong Kong in January 1994.
We will see Sybil on one more occasion, in August 1993.
Number 147 “Dollar Bill” by Screaming Trees (1993 release)
Peak: number 147 (1993 chart run); number 119 (1995 chart run)
Peak date: 10 May 1993 (1993 chart run); 13 February 1995 (1995 chart run)
Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks (1 week in 1993; 4 weeks in 1995)
Top 150 chart run: 147. Re-entry 6 February 1995: 132-119-139-144
American rock band Screaming Trees formed in 1984 in Ellensburg, Washington. “Dollar Bill” was the second single issued from the band’s sixth studio album Sweet Oblivion (number 77, March 1993), following “Nearly Lost You” (number 96, March 1993), which was their only single to dent the ARIA top 100.
Internationally, “Dollar Bill” peaked at number 52 in the UK in April 1993. The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 28 on the Alternative Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 40 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in July 1993.
Interestingly, “Dollar Bill” re-entered the ARIA top 150 in early 1995, reaching a higher peak of number 119.
I hadn’t heard this one before. The guitar refrain during the introduction and verses reminds very much of George Michael’s “Waiting for That Day” (number 50, May 1991).
Screaming Trees lead singer Matt Lanegan died in 2022, aged 57. A cause of death has not been publicly revealed. Screaming Trees bassist Van Conner has also passed away, in 2023 aged 55, from pneumonia after contracting COVID-19 following surgery.
We’ll next see Screaming Trees in 1996.
Number 149 “Tap the Bottle” by Young Black Teenagers
Peak: number 136
Peak dates: 17 May 1993 and 31 May 1993
Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks
Top 150 chart run: 149-136-145-136-148-148-140-141-148-(out for 1 week)-150
American hip-hop group Young Black Teenagers formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. Contrary to the group’s name, none of its members were teenagers, and all were Caucasian! “Tap the Bottle” was lifted from their second and final album Dead Enz Kidz Doin’ Lifetime Bidz (released in Australia in May 1993, missed the top 150).
Internationally, “Tap the Bottle” peaked at number 5 in New Zealand in May 1993, number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in April 1993, and number 39 in the UK in April 1994 (not a typo).
This was the only Young Black Teenagers release to trouble the top 150 in Australia. I am not sure whether I have heard this one before; the chorus riff seemed vaguely familiar.
Bubbling WAY down under:
Number 174 Brisbane EP by Custard
Peak: number 153
Peak date: 19 July 1993
Weeks on chart: 14 weeks
Brisbane band Custard last joined us in 1992. It fits that they should release an EP named after their home city.
“Nightmare Two” was the lead track from the 7-track EP, which includes one unlisted track. On the state charts, the EP was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.
Custard will join us next in November 1993.
Number 192 “Slow Emotion Replay” by The The
Peak: number 173
Peak date: 31 May 1993
Weeks on chart: 3 weeks
English band The The, fronted by Matt Johnson who was the only constant member, last joined us in 1989.
“Slow Emotion Replay” was the second single lifted from their fourth studio album Dusk (number 20, February 1993), following “Dogs of Lust” (number 70, March 1993). Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in the April 1993.
Domestically, “Slow Emotion Replay” performed strongest in Western Australia, reaching number 153 on the state chart.
I didn’t hear this one at the time, but caught the video (I cannot remember where, probably on rage) a few years back and like the song very much. “Everybody knows what’s going wrong with the world, I don’t even know what’s going on in myself” is a powerful lyric.
Skip to 4:17 minutes in the video embedded below to bypass the dialogue intro and get to the song.
We’ll next see The The in August 1993.
Next week (17 May): Four top 150 entries and three bubbling WAY down under debuts.
