Week commencing 1 February 1993

The only common thread linking this week in 1993’s debuts peaking outside the Australian top 100 is that all of them peaked within the month of February 1993.  Let's take a look at them.

Céline Dion: nothing broken but the chart.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 111 “Certain People I Know” by Morrissey

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 111-129-104-117-120-141

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We saw Morrissey's former band The Smiths just last week, and last saw him as a solo artist in 1991.

 

"Certain People I Know" was issued as the third single in Europe and Australasia from Moz's third solo studio album proper, Your Arsenal (number 12, August 1992).  It followed "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" (number 55, June 1992) and "You're the One for Me, Fatty" (number 85, August 1992).

 

Internationally, "Certain People I Know" peaked at number 35 in the UK in December 1992, where it became Morrissey’s lowest charting solo single to date.

 

In Australia, "Certain People I Know" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

 

I didn't hear this one at the time, but became acquainted with the song via a UK VHS compilation I digitised in the late 2000s.

 

We will next see Moz in 1994.

Number 116 “Someday (I’m Coming Back)” by Lisa Stansfield

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 116-(out for 1 week)-123-119-128-131

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

English songstress Lisa Stansfield last graced our presence in 1992.

 

"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" was recorded for The Bodyguard soundtrack (number 1 for 5 weeks in January-February 1993).  It was the third single lifted from the album, following Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (number 1 for 10 weeks between December 1992 and February 1993) and The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M.'s "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" (number 90, February 1993).

 

Internationally, "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" peaked at number 10 in the UK in December 1992, number 16 in Ireland in January 1993, number 42 in the Netherlands in January 1993, number 39 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1993, and number 51 in Germany in February 1993.

 

Domestically, "Someday..." performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 85 on the state chart.  The single performed better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 98.

 

I am a bit surprised that "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" did not chart better in Australia, as it's one of Lisa's poppier efforts.  However, Lisa generally did not fare too well with her singles in Australia, for some reason.  Perhaps the mammoth success of The Bodguard soundtrack hindered “Someday (I’m Coming Back)”’s sales.

 

We'll see Lisa bubble under next in July 1993.

Number 118 “Can I Get Over” by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Known chart run: 208-118-110-106-110-125-124-143

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

English duo Definition of Sound last joined us in 1992.

 

"Can I Get Over" (no question mark) was the second and final single lifted from the group's second album The Lick (number 176, November 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 61 in the UK in November 1992.

Locally, "Can I Get Over" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 89 on the state chart.

I don't recall hearing this one at the time, but became familiar with it via its appearance on a VHS compilation I digitised in the early 2010s.

It looks like Definition of Sound lost their record deal with Circa Records, after the poor chart performance of The Lick and its singles.  They would eventually return in 1995 (1996 in Australia), on new label Fontana, with a single that would finally give the pair a top 40 hit here.  We will see Definition of Sound bubble under again in 1996.

Number 124 “Since I Met You Baby” by Gary Moore and B.B. King

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 124-142

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Northern Irish guitar whizz Gary Moore last joined us in 1992.

 

"Since I Met You" was the fourth and final single released in Australia from Gary's ninth solo studio album After Hours (number 8, April 1992).  For this track, he teamed up with veteran American blues guitarist/singer B.B. King, who landed a top 30 hit in Australia with U2 in 1989 with "When Love Comes to Town" (number 23, May 1989).  B.B., real name Riley B. King, was a mere 67 when "Since I Met You Baby" was charting.

Internationally, "Since I Met You Baby" peaked at number 59 in the UK in July 1992, where it was the third single issued from After Hours.

Locally, "Since I Met You Baby" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and Queensland, where it reached number 103 on the state charts.

Gary will join us once more in June 1993.  We will not see B.B. King, who died in 2015 aged 89, again.

Number 143 “Poison Heart” by Ramones

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 143-147-147

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

American punk rock band Ramones (no 'The') last joined us in 1989.

 

"Poison Heart" was the lead single from the band's twelfth studio album Mondo Bizarro (number 93, October 1992).  Internationally, "Poison Heart" peaked at number 69 in the UK in December 1992.  The track also peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in October 1992.

Locally, "Poison Heart" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 127.

I won't be writing about Ramones again, but they had three later (very) low-charting singles in Australia during the streaming era: "I Just Want to Have Something to Do" (number 979, April 2014), "California Sun" (number 1815, August 2017), and "Rockaway Beach" (live at Friars, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, 30 December 1977) (number 2351, September 2019).

Number 144 “He Can’t Decide” by Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, Vika Bull, Deborah Conway

Peak: number 112

Peak date: 22 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 144-130-117-112-113-122-128-139

We last saw Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly in 1992.

 

"He Can't Decide", a collaboration between Paul Kelly, Renee Geyer, Vika Bull (then of The Black Sorrows and later one half of Vika & Linda), and Deborah Conway was recorded for the ABC television series Seven Deadly Sins - the soundtrack album for which peaked at number 71 in March 1993.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  I wasn't expecting the samba style.

 

We'll next see Paul Kelly in 1994, Renee Geyer in July 1993, Vika (as one half of Vika & Linda) in 1995, and Deborah Conway in 1994.

Number 146 “Laura” by Jimmy Nail

Peak: number 146

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 146

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

English recording artist Jimmy Nail is also an actor, film producer, and writer for television.  He came to prominence in Australia with the single "Ain't No Doubt" (number 5, October 1992) - his only single to dent the top 100, effectively rendering him a one-hit wonder in this country.

Seven years before "Ain't No Doubt", Jimmy landed a hit in the UK with his version of Rose Royce's "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", peaking at number 3 there in May 1985.  The single was released in Australia in July 1985, but failed to chart.  Interestingly, and somewhat annoyingly, Jimmy changes the "just a vacancy" lyric in the chorus of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" to "just look back and see" - perhaps it was a misheard lyric?

"Laura" was the follow-up release to "Ain't No Doubt".  Both tracks were lifted from Jimmy's second studio album Growing Up in Public (number 64, November 1992).  Internationally, "Laura" peaked at number 58 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, "Laura" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 116 on the state chart.  "Laura" debuted on the ARIA singles chart at number 158 on 7 December 1992, but took almost two months to crack the top 150.

 

I don't recall hearing "Laura" before.

 

A third single from Growing Up in Public, "Only Love (Can Bring Us Home)", was released in Australia in March 1993, but failed to chart.  Oddly, this single does not appear to have been released in Jimmy's native UK, and only German pressings are listed on discogs.com.

 

Jimmy will join us next in 1996.

 

Number 147 “Lil' Red Ridin’ Hood” by Paul Norton

Peak: number 147

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 199-147

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Norton last joined us in 1990.

 

"Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" was the second and final single lifted from Paul's second album Let It Fly (number 141, November 1992).  It followed “When We Were Young” (number 99, October 1992).

 

On the state charts, "Lil' Red Ridin' Hood" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 133.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before.  This was Paul's final single release.

Number 149 “Carry On” by Martha Wash

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Known chart run: 151-149

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Although "Carry On" was American singer Martha Wash's first charting release in her own right, she was no stranger to the charts.  Martha's career began as one of Sylvester's backing singers, together with Izora Armstead, as Two Tons o' Fun.  The pair then rebranded as The Weather Girls, and landed a number 16 hit in Australia with "It's Raining Men" in June 1983.

Martha's vocals were uncredited on a number of recordings from the late 80s/early 90s, from Seduction, Black Box, and C + C Music Factory.  Martha sang vocals on all of the non-"Ride on Time" tracks on Black Box's Dreamland (number 1, March 1991) album, including the singles "I Don't Know Anybody Else" (number 6, April 1990), "Everybody Everybody" (number 35, July 1990), "Fantasy" (number 3, February 1991), "The Total Mix" (number 24, April 1991), "Strike It Up" (number 20, May 1991), and "Open Your Eyes" (number 60, February 1992).  Her vocals were again used without her permission on C + C Music Factory’s "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" (number 3. February 1991.  Martha's vocals were lip-synced by others in the videos for these tracks, as her full-figured body was deemed unmarketable.  Martha successfully sued the aforementioned acts, and as a result, it became US law that featured vocalists must receive credit on studio recordings and in music videos.

"Carry On" was the first single lifted from Martha’s debut solo album Martha Wash (released in Australia in April 1993 but failed to chart).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 74 in the UK in November 1992, and number 38 in the Netherlands in February 1993.  The track also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart in December 1992, number 1 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in January 1993, number 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 97 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in January 1993.  A 1997 remix of "Carry On" peaked at number 49 in the UK in October 1997.

In Australia, "Carry On" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 116.

We'll next see Martha in April 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 180 “One Love in My Lifetime” by Innocence

Peak: number 168

Peak date: 15 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

We last saw English R&B band Innocence in 1992.

 

"One Love in My Lifetime" was the second single lifted from the group's second album Build (number 217, December 1992).  The single peaked at number 40 in the UK in September 1992.

In Australia, "One Love in My Lifetime" was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 144 on the state chart.

We'll see Innocence on one more occasion, in March 1993.

 

Number 182 “Unsung” by Helmet

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American Alternative metal band Helmet formed in New York in 1989.  "Unsung" was the first single lifted from their second album, and first major label release, Meantime (number 88, February 1993).

Internationally, "Unsung" peaked at number 119 (number 91 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1992.  "Unsung" also peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and number 32 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Locally, "Unsung" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 169 on the state chart.

Helmet will join us next in 1994.

Number 192 “Nothing Broken but My Heart” by Céline Dion

Peak: number 192

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Canadian songstress Céline Dion launched her recording career as a 13 year old in the French-speaking province of Quebec.  Her international recording career commenced in 1990, and we saw Céline bubble under in 1991.

 

"Nothing Broken but My Heart" was lifted from Céline's eleventh studio album, and second album recorded in English, Céline Dion (number 15, September 1992).  The track, written by Diane Warren, was preceded by the singles “Beauty and the Beast” (number 17, July 1992), “If You Asked Me To” (number 52, September 1992), and “Love Can Move Mountains” (number 54, October 1992).  Although I have previously described Diane Warren as "beige songwriter extraordinaire", I actually don't mind "Nothing Broken but My Heart", which I became familiar with via the American Top 40 radio program.

 

Internationally, "Nothing Broken but My Heart" peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1992, and number 3 in Canada in October 1992.  The track also registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 26 on the Pop Airplay chart in October 1992, number 35 on the Radio Songs chart in October 1992, and number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.

Domestically, "Nothing Broken but My Heart" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 178.

 

Céline would go on to greater commercial success in Australia with her next album The Colour of My Love (number 1 for 8 non-consecutive weeks between May 1995 and September 1995).  I won't be writing about Céline again, but she had a number of very low-charting singles in Australia between 2014 and 2020.

Number 193 “I Wish the Phone Would Ring” by Exposé

Peak: number 193

Peak date: 1 February 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

American Latin freestyle group Exposé last joined us in 1990.

 

"I Wish the Phone Would Ring" was the lead single from Exposé's third and final studio album Exposé, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1992, and number 49 in Canada in December 1992.  The track also registered on numerous US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 20 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart in November 1992, number 21 on the Radio Songs chart in November 1992, number 21 on the Pop Airplay chart in December 1992, and number 14 on the Dance Singles Sales chart in December 1992.

Locally, "I Wish the Phone Would Ring" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 179.

"I Wish the Phone Would Ring" was the final Exposé single released in Australia.

Next week (8 February): Another busy week, with twelve top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 25 January 1993                     Next week: 8 February 1993 >

Week commencing 19 October 1992

I cannot identify a common theme among this week's 13 new entries debuting and peaking outside the ARIA top 100, so let's just jump straight in...

Maxi Priest scored a 'mini' hit on the ARIA singles chart this week in 1992.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 106 “So Dangerous” by Lisa Edwards

Peak: number 106

Peak date: 19 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Chart run: 106-107-121-127-132-124

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

Australian songstress Lisa Edwards first came to attention (at least, in my world) as one of John Farnham's live backing singers, following his hugely successful Jack's Back tour in 1987-1988,  Prior to that, she released a couple of singles, both solo and with Short Circuit, in the 1980s that did nothing chart-wise.  Lisa can be spotted as one of John Farnham's backing singers in the music video for “Two Strong Hearts” (number 6, October 1988) - that's her with the blonde crimped hair.

Lisa finally tasted chart success with the release of her single “Cry” (number 5, July 1992), which was originally recorded by Godley & Creme, with their version peaking at number 43 in Australia in August 1985. 

 

"So Dangerous", which I do not recall hearing before, was released as the follow-up to "Cry". and did not perform nearly as well, peaking 101 places lower on the ARIA singles chart than its predecessor.  On the state charts, "So Dangerous" performed equally-strongest in Victoria/Tasmania and South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 92.  The single fared better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 70.

 

"So Dangerous" had a rockier edge than I was expecting, reminding me musically a little bit of Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" (number 6, November 1990).  I also was not expecting to see Lisa writhing about in a sequinned catsuit in the music video.  Skip to 1:35 in the video embedded below if you want to get straight to the song and skip the overly-long dialogue introduction.

 

"So Dangerous" would go on to appear on the album Thru the Hoop (number 120, June 1993).

 

We shall see Lisa again in 1993.

Number 115 “Helpless” by Sugar

Peak: number 111

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 115-111-119-123-128

American indie rock band Sugar formed in Austin, Texas in the early 1990s, fronted by singer and guitarist Bob Mould, who previously led the band Hüsker Dü.  "Helpless" was Sugar's debut Australian release, lifted from the band's debut album Copper Blue (number 92, November 1992).

Internationally, "Helpless" peaked at number 5 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart in October 1992, and at number 37 in New Zealand in November 1992.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, but the chorus seems vaguely familiar.  It's not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but it's not bad.

 

We will next see Sugar in December 1992.

 

Number 127 “Groovin’ in the Midnight” by Maxi Priest

Peak: number 120

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 127-120-127-132

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks 

We last saw British reggae singer Maxi Priest as a featured artist in October 1991, and on his own a week prior to that.

 

"Groovin' in the Midnight" was issued as the lead single from Maxi's fifth studio album Fe Real (number 130, May 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 50 in the UK in September 1992, number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1992, number 64 in Canada in December 1992, and number 31 in New Zealand in December 1992.

Domestically, "Groovin' in the Midnight" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 94.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before, but quite enjoyed it.  It should have been a much bigger hit.

We shall next see Maxi in 1993.

Number 134 “What Are You Under” by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Known chart run: 165-134-121-124-122-126-116

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks 

We last saw English dance/rap duo Definition of Sound in April 1992.

 

"What Are You Under" was issued as the lead single from the pair's second album The Lick (number 176, November 1992).  Overseas, the single peaked at number 68 in the UK in September 1992, and number 41 in New Zealand in October 1992.

 

Locally, "What Are You Under" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

 

I did actually hear this one at the time, and caught the music video on M.C. TeeVee.  I like the song and think it should have done much better chart-wise.

 

We'll see Definition of Sound next in 1993.

 

Number 136 “Deeper Than a River” by Olivia Newton-John

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 19 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-142-(out for 1 week)-149

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

We last saw Australian/English/American (take your pick!) singer Olivia Newton-John in July 1992.

"Deeper Than a River" was released as the second new single from Olivia's Back to Basics: The Essential Collection 1971-1992 (number 15, September 1992) compilation.  The single only received a commercial release in Australia, but peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in September 1992.  As Olivia was undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer at the time, she was unable to film a music video or promote the release.  The song was penned by beige songwriter extraordinaire, Diane Warren.

On the state charts, "Deeper Than a River" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 120.

 

We'll next see Olivia in 1995.

Number 142 “Countdown” by Lindsey Buckingham 

Peak: number 131

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 142-131-135-135-136

Weeks on chart: 10 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Lindsey Buckingham came to fame when he joined Fleetwood Mac alongside his then-partner Stevie Nicks in 1975.  He sang lead on their singles "Go Your Own Way" (number 20, April 1977) and "Big Love" (number 16, May 1987).  Lindsey struck out on his own in 1981 with the single "Trouble" topping the Australian singles chart for three weeks in February 1982.  Lindsey was also responsible for the theme song for the movie National Lampoon's Vacation, "Holiday Road", which was released locally in September 1983 but somehow failed to chart in Australia until the streaming era, where it reached number 701 in January 2016.

"Countdown" was issued as the lead single in Australia from Lindsey's third solo studio album Out of the Cradle (number 135, October 1992).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 98 in the UK in July 1992, number 64 in the Netherlands in September 1992, number 66 in Germany in September 1992, and number 29 in Canada in October 1992.  It also registered on a couple of US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in October 1992, and number 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in October 1992.

Domestically, “Countdown” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86 on the state chart.

 

I hadn't heard this one before, but like it.

Lindsey will not 'trouble' the ARIA top 150 again as a solo artist.

Number 147 “Night Calls” by Joe Cocker

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-137-137-133-146

Gravel-voiced English singer Joe Cocker last joined us in July 1992.

"Night Calls" was issued as the third single and title track from Joe's thirteenth studio album Night Calls (number 23, September 1992) in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 44 in the Netherlands in November 1991, number 37 in Germany in December 1991, and number 11 in France in May 1992.

I don’t recall hearing this one before, and while it’s not something I would seek out, it wasn’t bad.

We will see Joe next in 1994.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 180 “Johnny Have You Seen Her?” by The Rembrandts

Peak: number 172

Peak date: 23 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks 

American duo The Rembrandts last graced our presence in 1991.

 

"Johnny Have You Seen Her?" was issued as the lead single from the band's second album Untitled (number 158, October 1992).  Overseas, the single peaked at number 53 in Germany in November 1992.

Locally, "Johnny Have You Seen Her?" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 120 on the state chart.

I don’t recall hearing this one before.  I enjoyed it more than I was expecting to, and think it’s better than The Rembrandts’ two Australian hits.

The Rembrandts will join us again in 1997.

 

Number 193 “Double Summer” by The Chills

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 9 November 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Kiwi band The Chills last bubbled WAY down under in July 1992.

 

"Double Summer" was issued as the second and final single from The Chills' third studio album Soft Bomb (number 99, August 1992).  The single did not chart in New Zealand.

Locally, "Double Summer" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s nice.

One thing I was unaware of until researching this post is that The Chills' lead singer,  Martin Phillipps, passed away unexpectedly in July 2024, aged 61.

While we will not see The Chills again, they had another very low-charting single in Australia with “When the Poor Can Reach the Moon” (number 1229, January 2016).  They also had later charting albums in Australia that peaked outside the top 100: Heavenly Pop Hits: The Best of (number 122, March 1995), Silver Bullets (number 501, November 2015), and Kaleidoscope World (number 1339, September 2016).

Number 195 “A Trip to Trumpton” by Urban Hype

Peak: number 187

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

English techno duo Urban Hype formed in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, in 1988.  "A Trip to Trumpton" was their breakthrough release, and only real hit, in the UK, peaking at number 6 in July 1992.  The single also reached number 21 in Ireland in July 1992.

Domestically, "A Trip to Trumpton" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 144.  This is another example of Western Australia embracing early rave/breakbeat songs, more than other regions of Australia.

I became familiar with "A Trip to Trumpton" via the UK Chart Attack radio program, where it spent a couple of weeks in their top 5, consisting of songs that had not yet crossed over into international markets.  I also caught the video once on rage as a new release before the top 60 chart aired.

 

Along with tracks like The Prodigy's "Charly" and Smart E's "Sesame's Treet" (number 6, September 1992), "A Trip to Trumpton" belongs to the 'toytown techno' sub-genre, sampling its "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub" lines from the BBC Trumpton children's television series from the 1960s.

 

Urban Hype would go on to have two further minor 'hits' in the UK with “The Feeling” (number 67 in the UK in October 1992) and “Living in a Fantasy” (number 57 in the UK in January 1993).   They also released an album Conspiracy to Dance, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.  "A Trip to Trumpton" would be the only Urban Hype release to chart locally.

Number 196 “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing” by Incognito 

Peak: number 196

Peak date: 19 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

British acid jazz band Incognito formed in London in 1979.  They would have to wait until the early 1990s, however, for major chart success in their homeland.

"Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing", originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1973 and released as a single the following year, was the lead single from Incognito's third album Tribes, Vibes and Scribes (number 194, October 1992).  Internationally, Incognito's version peaked at number 19 in the UK in June 1992, number 40 in Sweden in July 1992, number 6 in the Netherlands in August 1992, number 46 in Germany in August 1992, and number 30 in the Flanders region of Belgium in August 1992.

In Australia, "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 147.

Incognito would not land a top 100 single in Australia, but two of their albums dented the ARIA top 100:  100° and Rising (number 79, August 1995) and No Time Like the Future (number 84, May 1999).

 

We shall next see Incognito in 1994.

Number 221 “Bulletproof!” by Pop Will Eat Itself

Peak: number 221

Peak date: 19 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

English band Pop Will Eat Itself last paid us a visit in July 1992.

"Bulletproof!" was issued as the single from Pop Will Eat Itself's fourth studio album The Looks Or the Lifestyle? (number 165, October 1992).  The single peaked at number 24 in the UK in August 1992.

Within Australia, "Bulletproof!" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 190 on the state chart.

I wasn't aware of this one at the time, but have since caught the music video on rage a few times over the years.  I couldn't remember how the song went though until pressing play on the video embedded below.

 

We shall next see Pop Will Eat Itself in 1993.

Number 223 “Soul Cat Girl” by Grayson Hugh

Peak: number 209

Peak date: 26 October 1992

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks 

American singer-songwriter Grayson Hugh previously visited us in June 1990.

"Soul Cat Girl" was issued as the only commercial single from Grayson's third studio album, and second major label release, Road to Freedom, which was released in Australia in November 1992, but missed the top 150.  "Soul Cat Girl" appears to have only received a commercial release as a single in Australia.

On the state charts, "Soul Cat Girl" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 165.  This would be Grayson's last charting single in Australia.

 

Next week (26 October): Six top 150 entries and eight bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 12 October 1992                  Next week: 26 October 1992 >

Week commencing 6 April 1992

Eight of this week in 1992's new entries peaking outside the ARIA top 100 have lead male vocals.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Marky Mark: so skint he had to make do without a shirt.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 128 "I Need Money" by Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 13 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 128-121-123-127-133

 

Mark Wahlberg, known in the early 90s as Marky Mark, was an original member of New Kids on the Block, at age 13, alongside his older brother Donnie.  Mark soon quit the group, however, and launched his 'solo' musical career (of sorts) in 1991 together with The Funky Bunch.

 

Marky Mark's debut single "Good Vibrations" (number 4, October 1991) was an international hit, followed up by the more moderately-successful "Wildside" (number 28, January 1992).  "I Need Money" was the third and final single lifted from the debut Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch album Music for the People (number 67, November 1991).

Internationally, "I Need Money" peaked at number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992.

I did not hear this one at the time, but remember it being reviewed in Smash Hits magazine.

Number 134 "Poison Girl" by Chris Whitley

Peak: number 133

Peak date: 22 June 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 134-142-144-(out for 5 weeks)-134-142-146-133-150

 

We last saw American blues/rock singer-songwriter Chris Whitley in January.

 

"Poison Girl" was the third and final single lifted from Chris' debut album Living with the Law (number 109, November 1991).  I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, even on the subsidiary genre-specific Billboard charts.  It was his final ARIA top 150 entry.

 

 

Number 135 "Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" by Tears for Fears

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 27 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Known chart run: 153-135-136-(out of the top 150 for 1 week)-130-138-138-137-137

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

We last saw Tears for Fears, who were now essentially just Roland Orzabal, in 1990.  We also saw a side project of theirs in 1991.

 

"Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down)" originally appeared as a largely instrumental B-side on the "Sowing the Seeds of Love" (number 13, October 1989) single in 1989, titled "Tears Roll Down".  This version of the track was recorded for the Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92) (number 101, July 1992) compilation.  Although that album curiously just missed the top 100 in Australia, it performed considerably better in Western Australia, where it reached number 16 on the state chart.

 

Internationally, "Laid So Low..." peaked at number 17 in the UK in February 1992, number 40 in Germany in March 1992, number 27 in the Netherlands in April 1992, number 15 in France in May 1992, and number 49 in the Flanders region of Belgium in May 1992.

 

Domestically, "Laid So Low..." was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 95.

 

I remember seeing this single in the shops, but never actually heard the track until listening to it to write this post.  While I think the song is OK, it does not rank among Tears for Fears' best.

 

We shall next see Tears for Fears in 1995.

 

 

Number 136 Covers E.P. by Everything but the Girl

Peak: number 136

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 136-149-138

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

We last saw English duo Everything but the Girl in 1990.

 

As you might expect from the title of the E.P., Covers consists of cover versions of other artists' songs.  The four cover versions on this E.P. are "Love Is Strange" (originally recorded by Mickey & Sylvia), "Tougher Than the Rest" (originally recorded by Bruce Springsteen), "Time After Time" (originally recorded by Cyndi Lauper), and "Alison" (originally recorded by Elvis Costello).

None of the above tracks appear on the then-current Everything but the Girl album Worldwide (number 164, December 1991).

 

Internationally, the Covers E.P. peaked at number 13 in the UK in March 1992, and number 18 in Ireland during the same month.

 

Within Australia, Covers performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 121.

 

We'll next see Everything but the Girl in 1993.

 

 

Number 141 "Lover, Lover, Lover" by Ian McCulloch

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 141-(out for 1 week)-142

 

English singer-songwriter Ian McCulloch is best known as the lead singer of Echo & The Bunnymen.  He launched a solo career in 1984.

"Lover, Lover, Lover" was the lifted from Ian's second solo studio album Mysterio.  It was Ian's first solo release to chart in Australia.

Internationally, "Lover, Lover, Lover" peaked at number 47 in the UK in March 1992.

I hadn't heard this one before.  I liked it.

We shall see Ian again with Echo & The Bunnymen in 1997.

 

 

Number 148 "What My Baby Likes" by Push Push

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 12 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 148-133-133-123-132-120-119-118-127-136-124-140

New Zealand rock band Push Push formed in 1985.  Their debut single "Trippin'" topped the New Zealand singles chart for six non-consecutive weeks in April-May 1991, and peaked at number 25 locally in July 1991.  Their second single "Song 27" (number 62, September 1991) was less-successful.

 

"What My Baby Likes" was the third and final single released from Push Push's only album A Trillion Shades of Happy (number 105, June 1992).  The single peaked at number 4 in New Zealand in March 1992.

 

 

Number 149 "James Brown Is Still Alive!!" by Holy Noise featuring The Global Insert Project

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 4 May 1992

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 149-(out for 3 weeks)-148

Not having heard this one before, as I expected from the title, "James Brown Is Still Alive!!" is an answer-song of sorts to L.A. Style's "James Brown Is Dead" (number 7, May 1992).

Internationally, "James Brown Is Still Alive!!" peaked at number 5 in the Netherlands in November 1991, number 7 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1991, and number 29 in Germany in February 1992.

"James Brown Is Still Alive!!" performed much better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, reaching number 90.

 

Of course, James Brown is dead now.  He died on Christmas day 2006, aged 73.

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 171 "Moira Jane's Café" by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 153

Peak date: 25 May 1992

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

We last saw Definition of Sound in 1991. 

"Moira Jane's Café" was the fourth and final single lifted from the duo's debut album Love and Life (number 97, August 1991).  The single peaked at number 34 in the UK in February 1992, and at number 50 in the Netherlands in April 1992.

 

Domestically, "Moira Jane's Café" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 108.

We shall see Definition of Sound next in October.

 

Number 179 "I'll Cry for You" by Europe

Peak: number 179

Peak date: 6 April 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Swedish rock band Europe in 1991.

"I'll Cry for You" was the second single lifted from the band's fifth studio album Prisoners in Paradise (number 197, November 1991).  Internationally, "I'll Cry for You" peaked at number 28 in the UK in February 1992.

Within Australia, "I'll Cry for You" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 126.

This was Europe's final single to peak outside the ARIA top 100.  They landed another chart hit in late 1999 with "The Final Countdown 2000" (number 33, January 2000).

 

Europe had three further albums peak outside the top 100 in Australia: Last Look at Eden (number 926, August 2010), War of Kings (number 646, January 2016), and The Final Countdown 30th Anniversary Show - Live at The Roundhouse (number 839, January 2018).

Next week (13 April): Three top 150 debuts and one bubbling WAY down under entry.

 

< Previous week: 30 March 1992                                       Next week: 13 April 1992 >

Week commencing 7 October 1991

This week in 1991's debuts outside the ARIA top 100 are skewed towards those peaking outside the top 150, unusually.  Let's take a look at them.

 

Chantoozies: and then there were three.

  

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 148 "Real Real Real" by Jesus Jones

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 11 November 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Chart run: Debuted 7 May 1990: 160.  Re-entered 7 October 1991: 148-143-143-135-121-117-120-118

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

 

English band Jesus Jones formed in 1988. While their debut album Liquidizer (number 118, April 1990) yielded no charting singles in Australia, it gave them their first charting release locally.

"Real Real Real" was the first single lifted from the second Jesus Jones album Doubt (number 23, June 1991).  Originally released in Australia in April 1990, the single spent a solitary week at number 160 on the ARIA singles chart the following month.

Jesus Jones first came to the attention of most of the Australian record-buying public with the second single from Doubt, "Right Here, Right Now", which peaked at number 35 in July 1991, almost six months after its release.  That release was the only Jesus Jones single to dent the ARIA top 50.

Following the third Doubt single "International Bright Young Thing" (number 79, July 1991), "Real Real Real" was re-issued in Australia, climbing to a new peak of number 117.

 

Internationally, "Real Real Real" peaked at number 19 in the UK in May 1990, where it became the band's first single to dent the top 40 there.  It also reached number 37 in New Zealand in October 1991, number 26 in Canada in October 1991, number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and number 59 in the Netherlands in December 1991.

Interestingly, "Real Real Real" was one of only two Jesus Jones singles to register on the US Billboard Hot 100 ("Right Here, Right Now" being the other one), and they both peaked within the top 5.

Domestically, "Real Real Real" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 89.

I have a vague recollection of catching the music video for "Real Real Real" on Coca-Cola Power Cuts in 1991.

Jesus Jones will next join us in 1992.

 

 

Number 149 "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" by MC Hammer

Peak: number 149

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Top 150 chart run: 149

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

We last saw American rapper MC Hammer in July 1991.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" originally appeared on MC Hammer's 1988 debut album Let's Get It Started (number 188, May 1991), minus the "(Hammer Hammer)" parentheses, and in a different mix to the 1991 single version, containing only sparse vocal samples.  I assume the track was remixed and issued as a single in Europe and Australasia in 1991 to generate interest in Hammer's debut album, following the success of his second one Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (number 5, August 1990) - not that the strategy worked.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" peaked at number 20 in the UK in July 1991, and number 11 in Ireland during the same month.

 

Domestically, "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

"(Hammer Hammer)..." was the second MC Hammer single in a row to peak at number 149 in Australia, indicating the fame and popularity he had generated in 1990 and early 1991 was quickly fading.  The downward trajectory would continue, with Hammer's (now dropping the MC) next single, "2 Legit 2 Quit" (number 43, January 1992), and album, Too Legit to Quit (number 84, February 1992), underperforming.  Hammer's career momentum was momentarily restored with "Addams Groove" (number 12, February 1992), but that became his last ARIA top 100 entry.

I recall seeing the cassette single for "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" in the shops, but did not hear it at the time.  It's not a great song.

"(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix" fared much better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 99.

Hammer will join us again in 1994.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 156 "One Shot" by Tin Machine

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 14 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

British-American group Tin Machine, fronted by David Bowie, formed in 1988.  They landed one top 100 single in Australia, with "Under the God" (number 97, July 1989).

 

"One Shot" was the lead single in Australia from the second, and final, Tin Machine album Tin Machine II (number 139, October 1991).  This one missed the top 75 in the UK, and I cannot find evidence of it charting elsewhere (no, the US Billboard Mainstreams Rock Tracks chart does not count).

 

Within Australia, "One Shot" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 128.

 

I hadn't heard this one before.  While I can appreciate David Bowie's talent and importance in pop music history, I generally don't care that much for his music, bar the occasional track.  This isn't one of them.

Another Tin Machine single, "You Belong in Rock N' Roll", was issued in Australia in February 1992, but failed to chart.

We'll next see David Bowie in 1992.

 

 

Number 167 "I'll Be There" by Chantoozies

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Australian pop group Chantoozies formed in 1986 to play cover versions at the 25th birthday party of band member Tottie Goldsmith's - niece of Olivia Newton-John, no less.  The band's name was a play on the French word for female singer chanteuse, which is pronounced more like "shoh-tooz" than Chantoozie.

The original line-up for Chantoozies contained four female singers, all of whom had done TV acting work (notably, Ally Fowler, who had landed major roles in the soap operas Sons and Daughters and Neighbours), alongside four men who played the instruments.  Among the guys was David Reyne, James Reyne's brother, on drums.

Chantoozies' first two singles were cover versions, "Witch Queen" (number 4, April 1987) and "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (number 36, July 1987).  The success of the second single was probably hampered by The Party Boys releasing a cover version of the same track around the same time, which went to number 1 in Australia in July 1987.  I remember seeing Chantoozies perform "He's Gonna Step on You Again" on Hey Hey It's Saturday and wondering why they were doing a version of The Party Boys' song, which was currently a hit.

After nearly a year's hiatus, Chantoozies returned with an original track, "Wanna Be Up" (number 6, July 1988), written by two of the band's members - Eve von Bibra and Brett Goldsmith.  While it didn't peak quite as high as "Witch Queen", "Wanna Be Up" hovered within and around the top 10 for over two months, and spent more than 20 weeks in the top 50.  It is probably Chantoozies' best-remembered hit, and became a staple on the Summer Bay Diner jukebox on Home and Away, to boot.  A memorable scene - for me, anyway - was when Ailsa played "Wanna Be Up" on her cassette deck while Bobby's ghost was coming out of the fridge, during the midst of a mental breakdown in 1995 - some seven years after the song's release.

 

Chantoozies' debut album Chantoozies (number 8, September 1988) achieved similar success to "Wanna Be Up", going platinum.  It seemed like the band no longer needed to rely on recording cover versions for hits.

Tottie left the band before the first single from their second album, "Come Back to Me" (number 72, November 1989), was released.  Despite being added to the Summer Bay jukebox, "Come Back to Me" did not take off on the charts, and must have resulted in some panic.  The male members of Chantoozies split from the band before the belated release of their next single, "Walk On" (number 96, November 1990), which fared even worse on the charts.

 

Following these commercial disappointments, the pared-down trio remaining in Chantoozies resorted to what worked for them once - release a cover version.  Their version of Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" (number 21, May 1991) gave Chantoozies another hit - though it would become their last.  Australian sketch comedy TV program Fast Forward parodied Chantoozies' version of this song as "Sing a 60's Hit" - even though, technically, the original was released in 1970.

 

The second Chantoozies album Gild the Lily (number 71, April 1991) was released and stalled in the lower half of the ARIA top 100.

Chantoozies then released this cover of The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There", which did not appear on Gild the Lily.  I don't recall hearing this one at the time, or even being aware of its release.  The single sank without a trace on the chart, but found its greatest success in Queensland, where it reached number 141.

"I'll Be There" would be Chantoozies' final release until 2014, when they released a cover version of Promises' "Baby It's You", which did not chart.  Tottie had rejoined the group by this point.

 

 

 

Number 170 "Wintercoat" by Paul Kelly and The Messengers

Peak: number 170

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

We last saw Paul Kelly and The Messengers in June 1991, and here they are with their fourth consecutive single, and third (of three) release from Comedy (number 12, May 1991) to peak outside the ARIA top 100.

On the state charts, "Wintercoat" performed strongest in Queensland, where it peaked at number 142.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  Something about the piano in the verses reminds me of Madness's "Lovestruck" (number 127, September 1999); though that track came later, and it is presumably just a coincidence.

We shall next see Paul and the gang in 1992.

 

 

Number 190 "The Dream Is Still Alive" by Wilson Phillips

Peak: number 190

Peak date: 7 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Squeaky clean American female vocal trio Wilson Phillips last joined us in April 1991.  "The Dream Is Still Alive" was the fifth and final single lifted from their debut album Wilson Phillips (number 7, July 1990).  It was also the third consecutive single from the band to peak outside the ARIA top 100.

 

Internationally, "The Dream Is Still Alive" peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 1991, and at number 11 in Canada during the same month.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "The Dream Is Still Alive" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 162.

 

I don't recall hearing this one before; I must have tuned out of American Top 40 when this was charting.  Carnie Wilson gets lead vocal duties on this one, which is a point of difference from the group's previous singles.

 

Wilson Phillips will pay us another visit in 1992.

 

 

Number 200 "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Saint Etienne

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

English band Saint Etienne formed in 1990.  Originally, the band was conceived as a project to feature different vocalists.  They decided, however, to stick with singer Sarah Cracknell after recording "Nothing Can Stop Us" (released in Australia in August 1991, did not chart) - a track later covered by Kylie Minogue - for their debut album Foxbase Alpha (number 783, February 2017).  We saw Cola Boy, an act tangentially related to Saint Etienne, in September 1991.

 

"Only Love Can Break Your Heart", a song originally recorded by Neil Young in 1970, featured vocals by Moira Lambert, and was Saint Etienne's first release.  Moira refused to appear in the music video, however, and so the original video for the song featured Lucy Gillie from the band Golden lip-syncing the song's lyrics.

 

The single initially stalled at number 95 in the UK in July 1990, before climbing to number 39 in September 1991 when re-released.  "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" also peaked at number 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1992.  The second issue of the single was promoted with a new music video, embedded below, showing Sarah Cracknell miming to Moira's vocals.

 

Domestically, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 116.

 

I first became aware of Saint Etienne when seeing the lyrics to "I Was Born on Christmas Day" published in a UK edition of Smash Hits I picked up at the airport in Hong Kong to read on the plane, on a flight home in January 1994.  I didn't hear any of their music, however, until catching the music video for "The Bad Photographer", which we'll see in 1998, on rage as a new release.  In other words, the band received virtually zero promotion in Australia, and sadly never landed a hit here.

 

We won't see Saint Etienne again until 1998, but, before then, two of their albums troubled the lower region of the ARIA albums chart: So Tough (number 175, April 1993) and Tiger Bay (number 178, August 1994).

 

Two of my favourite Saint Etienne singles that I won't get to write about are "Who Do You Think You Are" (released in 1993) and "I've Got Your Music" (released in 2012) - I recommend checking these out if you've not heard them before.

 

 

 

Number 202 "Dream Girl" by Definition of Sound

Peak: number 178

Peak date: 21 October 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

London-based duo Kevin Clark and Don Weekes first recorded together as Top Billin in 1988, before changing their name to Definition of Sound in 1990.  Their debut Australian single, "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (number 77, June 1991), dented the ARIA top 100, as did the follow-up, "Now Is Tomorrow" (number 85, September 1991).

 

"Dream Girl" was the third track released from the first Definition of Sound album Love and Life (number 97, August 1991) in Australia.  Internationally, the single peaked at number 95 (number 83 on the compressed chart) in the UK in September 1991.

At the time of writing, "Dream Girl"'s debut position is the earliest ARIA singles chart position I have below number 200.

On the ARIA state charts, "Dream Girl" peaked highest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 148.

I heard most of the Definition of Sound singles at the time, but not this one.  The band would not break through in Australia until 1996, when "Pass the Vibes" (number 36, March 1996) crept into the lower region of the top 40.

We shall see Definition of Sound bubble under on numerous occasions over the coming years, with the next one being in 1992.

Next week (14 October): Eight top 150 debuts and two bubbling WAY down under entries.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for my 1982 posts returning after a hiatus on Tuesday next week (11 October).

< Previous week: 30 September 1991                               Next week: 14 October 1991 >