Week commencing 17 February 1992

There is no common thread linking this week in 1992's debuts peaking outside the top 100, so let's just dive straight in.

 

Dire Straits really were in 'dire straits' with their chart position for their latest single.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 118 "On Every Street" by Dire Straits

Peak: number 109

Peak date: 24 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

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

 

Between 1978 and 1991, English rock band Dire Straits placed 13 singles on the Australian chart, with the Twisting by the Pool EP (number 2, February 1983) being their highest-peaking hit. 

"On Every Street" was the title track from the band's sixth and final studio album On Every Street (number 1, September 1991).  It followed "Calling Elvis" (number 8, September 1991) and "Heavy Fuel" (number 26, December 1991).

 

Internationally, "On Every Street" peaked at number 42 in the UK in February 1992, number 42 in the Netherlands in March 1992, and number 23 in France in April 1992.

 

The single performed stronger on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 80.

This would be Dire Straits' only single to peak in the 101-150 region of the ARIA singles chart, although (spoiler alert) they had a 1986 single that made the Kent Music Report beyond the top 100 list.

I don't recall hearing this one before.  It takes over three minutes to reach its crescendo, which probably isn't a great thing for a commercial single.

 

 

Number 122 "In My Life" by Bette Midler

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 122-115-107-109-120-117

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

We last saw American singer and actress Bette Midler in 1991. 

"In My Life" was the second and final single lifted from the For the Boys soundtrack (number 44, February 1992); the movie for which Bette also played a starring role in.  The song is a cover version of a track originally recorded by The Beatles in 1965.  It followed "Every Road Leads Back to You" (number 74, February 1992).

 

While I cannot find evidence of "In My Life" charting on any other sales-based chart, it did reach number 20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in May 1992.

 

Within Australia, "In My Life" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 68.

We'll next see Bette in 1995.

 

 

Number 125 "So Real" by Love Decade

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 125-122-126-121-126-131-123

English electronic dance group Love Decade formed in 1991, and "So Real" was their second single, though their first Australian release.  It was the group's only release to trouble the ARIA top 150.

Internationally, "Love Decade" peaked at number 14 in the UK in November 1991, becoming their biggest hit there.  It also reached number 25 in Ireland in December 1991.

 

I have heard this one before, though wouldn't have known it at the time.

 

 

Number 135 "Sunless Saturday" by Fishbone

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 135

 

American rock band Fishbone formed in 1979.  "Sunless Saturday" was issued as a single locally at the start of July 1991, though somehow took seven and a half months to register a place in the top 150 - for one week only, at that.  It was the band's first release to chart in Australia.

 

"Sunless Saturday" is lifted from the band's third studio album The Reality of My Surroundings (number 136, July 1991).

 

I cannot find evidence of this single charting elsewhere, other than on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart, where it reached number 7 in May 1991.

 

We shall see Fishbone again next week!

Number 140 "Runaway Bay" by Ghostwriters

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 140-120-131-117-141-140-144

 

Australian band Ghostwriters formed in 1990, as essentially a side project between Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst and Hoodoo Gurus' bassist Richard Grossman.  Neither artist was credited on the liner notes for their debut album Ghostwriters (number 96, January 1992), however, given they wished to initially remain anonymous.  Session musicians on the album were credited by their first name and surname initial.

Ghostwriters' debut single "...Someone's Singing New York New York" (number 29, December 1991) dented the ARIA top 30.  It would become their only single to enter the top 100.

 

We shall next see Ghostwriters in June.

 

 

Number 147 "Cruelest Plague" by Helvelln

Peak: number 118

Peak date: 9 March 1992

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-143-130-118-125-125-138-142

Sometimes, the timing of my posts is quite lucky.  The (audio only) video embedded below for this track was uploaded to YouTube just a month ago - without this, I wouldn't be able to hear this track or share it with you.

Helvelln were an Australian band, composed of members Andy Papadopoulos, Jeremy Gronow, and Nick Green.  They released just one album Helvelln (number 136, September 1991), from which this track is lifted.  While it's not the sort of music I'd normally listen to, I didn't mind this one.  It would be the band's only ARIA top 150 single.

A reader has kindly informed me that Helvelln won the national Australian University band competition in 1991, and the prize was a recording session, from which "Cruelest Plague" resulted.

 

 

Number 150 "The Way I Feel About You" by Karyn White

Peak: number 150

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 150

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

We last saw American singer Karyn White in her own right in 1989, and as a featured artist in 1991.

"The Way I Feel About You" was the second single lifted from Karyn's second album Ritual of Love (number 152, October 1991).  It followed "Romantic" (number 68, October 1991), which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1991, and was Karyn's only ARIA top 100 entry.

 

Internationally, "The Way I Feel About You" peaked at number 65 in the UK in January 1992, number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1992, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1992.

 

Within Australia, "The Way I Feel About You" was most successful in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 136.

Karyn will join us for one last visit in 1994.

  

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 162 "Sweet Soul Music" by London Boys

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 2 March 1992

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw London Boys in 1989.

 

"Sweet Soul Music", credited to Soul Kitchen featuring London Boys in some markets, was the title track from London Boys' second album Sweet Soul Music, which was released in Australia in February 1992 but did not chart.

 

Internationally, "Sweet Soul Music" peaked at number 11 in Austria in September 1991, and number 81 in Germany in October 1991.

 

Domestically, "Sweet Soul Music" was most successful in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 141.

This was London Boys' last release to chart in Australia.

Number 182 "I Can't Wait" by Stevie Nicks (1992 release)

Peak: number 182

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 1 week

This single originally peaked at number 20 in February 1986 and spent 18 weeks in the top 100.

 

We last saw American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks in 1981.

 

"I Can't Wait" was originally released in Australia in December 1985, as the lead single from Stevie's third solo album Rock a Little (number 5, June 1986).  The single appears to have been issued in Australia before other countries, and we even received an exclusive, earlier edit of the music video, which I have embedded as the second video below, as it is blocked on YouTube.   In other markets, "Talk to Me" (number 22, April 1986) was released as the first Rock a Little single.

"I Can't Wait" was re-issued in Europe in late 1991 as the second single from Stevie's first compilation album Timespace - The Best of Stevie Nicks (number 13, December 1991) - an album I toyed with buying at the time, but did not.  The re-issue of "I Can't Wait" peaked at number 47 in the UK in November 1991, bettering its original peak there of number 54 in February 1986.

 

"I Can't Wait" received a re-release in Australia in January 1992, as the follow-up to "Sometimes It's a Bitch" (number 18, November 1991).  The 1992 issue of the single performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 163.

One of my favourite Stevie quotes is regarding the "I Can't Wait" music video.  Posting it here in full for you: "I look at that video, I look at my eyes, and I say to myself, 'Could you have laid off the pot, the coke and the tequila for three days, so you could have looked a little better?  It just makes me want to go back into that video and stab myself."

We shall next see Stevie on her own in 1994, but before then, she'll appear as a featured artist in July 1992.

The Australian edit of the "I Can't Wait" music video:

Number 184 "My Town" by Glass Tiger featuring Rod Stewart

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 17 February 1992

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw Canadian band Glass Tiger in 1989.

"My Town" was the second single issued in Australia from Glass Tiger's third, and final, studio album Simple Mission, which was released in Australia in August 1991 but failed to chart.  It followed the single "Animal Heart", released locally in July 1991, which also did not chart.  On this track, the band teamed up with Rod Stewart - although he does not appear in the music video, and does not perform on the version of the track used in the video!  You can hear the version of "My Town" featuring Rod here.

 

Internationally, "My Town" peaked at number 8 in Canada in November 1991, number 33 in the UK in November 1991, and number 51 in Germany in January 1992.

In Australia, "My Town" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 153.

 

This would be Glass Tiger's last charting release in Australia.  Rod will join us again in August 1992.

Next week (24 February): Four top 150 debuts, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 10 February 1992                                   Next week: 24 February 1992 >

Week commencing 13 March 1989

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

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

 

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 117 "Windows of the World" by Pretenders 

Peak: number 117

Peak dates: 13 March 1989 and 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Chart run: 174-(off chart for 1 week)-117-117-124-126-120

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Somewhat surprisingly, the Australian top 100 singles charts were a hit-free zone for Pretenders for almost 7 years, book-ended by two top ten hits - those being 1987's "Hymn to Her" (number 7, June 1987), and 1994's "I'll Stand by You" (number 8, June 1994).  They did managed to 'bubble under' with this track, though, which is a cover of the Dionne Warwick song.  Pretenders' version of "Windows of the World" was recorded for the 1969 soundtrack (number 134, July 1989).

Internationally, "Windows of the World" peaked at number 120 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in the UK in April 1989.

Domestically, "Windows of the World" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 89 on the state chart.

We shall see Pretenders next in 1990.

 

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

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 124-116-119-123-126-133 

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

This single was Billy's first foray into the Australian singles chart... kind of.  He'd reach the top 100 in 1991 with "Sexuality" (number 46, September 1991), and dented the ARIA top 50 albums chart with this song's parent album Workers Playtime (number 49, March 1989).

Internationally, "She's Got a New Spell" peaked at number 132 (number 112 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1988. 

Locally, "She's Got a New Spell" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 96.

We'll see Billy next in 1991.

Number 141 "Loco in Acapulco" by The Four Tops

Peak: number 141

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Top 150 chart run: 141

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

This track is lifted from the Buster soundtrack (number 35, March 1989), and was written by Phil Collins and Lamont Dozier.  I remember seeing the video for this one on rage while waiting for the top 50 chart countdown to begin, early on a Saturday morning. This was the group's first Australian singles chart entry since "When She Was My Girl" peaked at number 54 in early 1982.

Elsewhere, "Loco in Acapulco" peaked at number 7 in the UK in January 1989, number 23 in Germany in January 1989, number 9 in Ireland, number 9 in the Netherlands in February 1989, and number 13 in the Flanders region of Belgium in February 1989.

Locally, "Loco in Acapulco" was most popular in Western Australia, where it peaked at number 86 on the state chart.

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

Peak: number 117

Peak date:  10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Known chart run: 158-143-124-133-124-117-120

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

The first and only Australian singles chart entry for this Canadian rock band has a rather interesting back-story.  The song was originally released as a single in 1983 - although I can find no evidence of it being released locally then.  The band split in 1985, and after a radio station in the US began playing the song in late 1988, it was re-issued there (after having peaked at number 61 in 1983).  It then went on to top the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1989, despite having no music video.

Another claim made about this song is that the note held at the end of it is the longest (19.3 second) note held by a male pop singer on record.  Phew!  As if all of that wasn't enough, two of the band's members went on to form part of Alias, who would score a hit in 1991 with "More Than Words Can Say" (number 30, April 1991).

On the state charts, "When I'm with You" performed strongest in Queensland, where it reached number 90.

Number 146 "Follow Your Heart" by The Party Boys

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 11 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 146-(out for 1 week)-110-109-107-114-118-(out for 3 weeks)-123-131-130-132-134

Australia's Party Boys scored a big number one hit in 1987 with their version of "He's Gonna Step on You Again" (number 1, July 1987), but would have to settle for bubbling under the top 100 with this release, less than two years later.  While it's not the sort of thing I normally listen to, I concede that the chorus is catchy.  Despite peaking at number 107, this single spent 11 weeks in the 101-150 section of the chart.

We'll see The Party Boys again in 1993.

 

 

Number 147 "Stop That Girl" by 2 Brave

Peak: number 142

Peak date: 20 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 147-142

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

Number 148 "Johnny" by The Celibate Rifles

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Chart run: 148-134-131-137-128-136-137 

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

Despite forming in 1979, this was actually the Australian band's first taste of chart 'success'; albeit, at a rather modest level.  "Johnny" is lifted from The Celibate Rifles' fifth studio album Blind Ear (number 85, July 1989).  They'll go on to visit the 101-150 section of the singles chart on no fewer than four other occasions in the coming three years.

On the state charts, "Johnny" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 86.

The Celibate Rifles will next join us in June 1989.

 

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

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 149-147-141-140-129-138-(out for 1 week)-141

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

 

Number 150 "Back to the Track" by Shane Howard

Peak: number 148

Peak date: 3 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Chart run: 150-(off chart for 2 weeks)-148

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Another track I'd never heard before, though I was familiar with Shane via his massive hit with Goanna, 1982's "Solid Rock" (number 3 for 5 weeks in December 1982-January 1983), and the handful of minor top 50 hits he had locally in 1990-1991.  This release appears to have been his first solo single, and was the title track of his Back to the Track (number 111, March 1989) album.

On the state charts, "Back to the Track" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 94.

We will next see Shane in 1991.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 160 "Fake 89" by Alexander O'Neal

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

Peak: number 164

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week 

 

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

We will next see Joan and the gang in 1994.

Number 172 "My Song" by Glass Tiger

Peak: number 172

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 1 week

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

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

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

We will see Glass Tiger again in 1992.

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

< Previous Post: 6 March 1989                           Next Post: 20 March 1989 >

Singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100 - Winter 1988

This post is the first in a series to take a look at singles that 'bubbled under' the Kent/Australian Music Report chart, before the ARIA chart extended beyond number 100.  This first instalment covers the AMR charts from winter 1988, coinciding with the first few months of the ARIA-produced chart.

Tiffany: The Australian record-buying public's feelings for Tiff weren't, unfortunately, forever.

Prior to the advent of the first ARIA-produced chart (that was published) in June 1988, ARIA had been licensing the top 50 portion of the Kent Music Report (which was later known as the Australian Music Report, from the edition dated 6 July 1987) since late June 1983.

I say "that was published", as ARIA actually produced an unpublished top 50 chart, as a trial run, a week prior to 'going live' with the chart linked above.  But we'll get to that in another post.

The Kent/Australian Music Report, since 23 August 1982, had included a list of "singles receiving significant sales reports beyond the top 100" - if that is not a contradiction in terms.

 

 

Usually, the titles listed in this section were singles that had not yet entered the national top 100 chart.  But, curiously, the list also included titles falling out of the top 100 from time to time.

The singles were ranked in order of sales, with the best-selling title among them being listed first, and so on.  These lists were akin to the US Billboard 'Bubbling Under' chart, listing titles that were on the cusp of entering the Hot 100 chart, but had not yet done so.

The number of titles listed varied week by week.  Sometimes, only a few titles were listed.  Other weeks (mainly later on), the list could contain as many as 25-30 titles!  Some weeks (not very often, thankfully), there was no list of these 'bubbling under' titles at all.

As there are no available records of the Kent/Australian Music Report chart extending beyond number 100, these lists provide the next best thing in giving an indication of what was lurking outside the top 100.  The songs listed are not literally positions 101, 102 etc., however.

After that rather lengthy intro, this post will look at singles that 'bubbled under' the Australian Music Report (AMR) top 100 chart between June and August 1988 that also did not make the ARIA top 100 or top 150 charts.  I will take a look at other periods in later posts.  Note that this list does not include singles that entered the AMR top 100, but missed the ARIA chart.  That will be yet another topic for another day!

Non-charting singles that bubbled under the Australian Music Report chart June-August 1988:

"Towers of Strength" by Died Pretty

AMR chart first listing: 6 June 1988

Highest rank: 15 (on the 'bubbling under' list)

Five years before they finally broke into the top 100, Australian band Died Pretty bubbled under with this release.

"Rise to the Occasion" by Climie Fisher

AMR chart first listing: 13 June 1988

Highest rank: 5 (on the 'bubbling under' list)

Before 'Love Changes (Everything)' became a number 23 hit, this ballad, which peaked at number 10 in the UK in January 1988, bubbled under the top 100.

 

"The Way I Live" by Tony Johns

AMR chart first listing: 20 June 1988

Highest rank: 12 (on the 'bubbling under' list)

I've never heard of Tony Johns before... but noticed that one YouTube upload for this song declares that he is a "6'4" 100% Italian ladies man from Salt Lake City".

  

"Hold on to Love" by Jon Anderson

AMR chart first listing: 27 June 1988

Highest rank: 12 (on the 'bubbling under' list)

I wrongly assumed I'd never heard of Jon Anderson before.  It turns out that he was the lead singer of Yes, they of 'Owner of a Lonely Heart', which peaked at number 14 on the Australian singles chart in February 1984.

"Responsible" by The State

AMR chart first listing: 4 July 1988

Highest rank: 2 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

The State would later evolve into Southern Sons, after recruiting new singer Jack Jones (real name: Irwin Thomas).  But for now they had to settle with bubbling under the top 100.  They will also make an appearance among the top 150 debuts in a couple of weeks.

"Diamond Sun" by Glass Tiger

AMR chart first listing: 4 July 1988

Highest rank: 3 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Glass Tiger found it an impossible task following up 'Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)', which peaked at number 9 on the Australian singles chart in January 1987, with no subsequent single release charting higher than number 91 in Australia.

"Love Takes Care" by The Angels

AMR chart first listing: 4 July 1988

Highest rank: 9 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

The Angels seemed to have so many singles released during 1980s.  I've never heard of this uncharacteristically-subdued song, which was a live release, following up their live rendition of 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?', which peaked at number 11 in March 1988.

"Don't Stand So Close to the Window" by Paul Kelly & The Coloured Girls

AMR chart first listing: 4 July 1988

Highest rank: 10 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

This one is interesting, as this song somehow made it onto the various artists 'hits' compilation Hit Pix '88 Volume II, despite never reaching the top 100.  There also does not seem to be a music video for the song.

"The Colour of Love" by Billy Ocean

AMR chart first listing: 11 July 1988

Highest rank: 1 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

After having a fairly successful few years on the Australian chart, Billy was unable to score a chart entry higher than number 76, after his number one smash from earlier in 1988.

"Soldier of Love" by Donny Osmond

AMR chart first listing: 11 July 1988

Highest rank: 2 (on the 'bubbling under' chart) 

The former teen idol scored a US Billboard number 2 hit with this single.

"Get It" by Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson

AMR chart first listing: 18 July 1988

Highest rank: 7 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

I wasn't previously aware of this track's existence, or that it received a single release.  This single stalled at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100, though made the top 15 in the Flanders region of Belgium.

"Don't Blame It on That Girl" by Matt Bianco

AMR chart first listing: 1 August 1988

Highest rank: 5 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

I have heard this one before.  Matt Bianco, who are a group rather than a solo artist as the name might suggest, scored Australian top 100 hits with 'Whose Side Are You On?' (number 57 in June 1985) and 'Yeh Yeh' (number 64 in March 1986).

 

"Paved with Gold" by The Everys

AMR chart first listing: 8 August 1988

Highest rank: 6 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

An Australian band, this was the best The Everys managed on the chart; although 'Eyes for the Blind' spent one week at number 100 on the AMR chart in February 1989 (it did not reach the ARIA top 150).

 

"Life at a Top People's Health Farm" by The Style Council

AMR chart first listing: 15 August 1988

Highest rank: 8 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Quite an interesting song title, I've never heard of this one before.  It peaked at number 28 in the UK.  The Style Council scored a top 150 'hit' in 1989 which will be coming up in April in my weekly recaps.

"Baby Boom Baby" by James Taylor

AMR chart first listing: 15 August 1988

Highest rank: 3 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Wikipedia tells me that this one peaked at number 24 in Canada, but didn't do much elsewhere.  Australia did not break that trend.

"Live in Hope" by Train of Thought

AMR chart first listing: 22 August 1988

Highest rank: 8 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you anything about this one, as it is not on YouTube or discogs.com, and I have never heard it.  Can anyone reading this help?

"I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)" by Agnetha Fältskog & Peter Cetera

AMR chart first listing: 22 August 1988

Highest rank: 8 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Unlike her fellow ABBA-bandmate Frida, Agnetha wasn't able to score a solo hit down under, with 1983's 'Can't Shake Loose' being her only top 100 hit, at number 76.  Not even this duet with Peter Cetera could turn her solo chart fortunes around.

"Skin Deep" by Cher

AMR chart first listing: 22 August 1988

Highest rank: 13 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Cher might have had a comeback earlier in the year with 'I Found Someone', but this release wasn't a chart success anywhere, peaking at number 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

  

"Waiting" by V. Spy V. Spy

AMR chart first listing: 22 August 1988

Highest rank: 16 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Australian band V. Spy V. Spy had scored 6 top 100 hits, with 'Don't Tear It Down' (number 31 in March 1987) performing the best among them.

"Chains of Love" by Erasure

AMR chart first listing: 22 August 1988

Highest rank: 11 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Two number 13-peaking singles (1986's 'Oh L'amour' and 1992's 'ABBA-Esque' EP) aside, Erasure didn't exactly set the Australian charts on fire, with no other single peaking higher than number 45.  While 'Chains of Love' missed both the AMR and ARIA national top 100, it did manage to peak at number 91 on the South Australian/Northern Territory ARIA state singles chart, on 29 August 1988.

 

"Feelings of Forever" by Tiffany

AMR chart first listing: 29 August 1988

Highest rank: 14 (on the 'bubbling under' chart)

Tiffany's string of three top 15 hits in Australia came to a screeching halt with the release of this fourth (in Australia) single from her self-titled debut.  Quite a pity, really, as it's a nice song, I think.  It did manage to dent the South Australian/Northern Territory ARIA state singles chart, though, peaking at number 93 on 29 August 1988.

Stay tuned for the second instalment of this series, covering AMR bubbling under singles from Spring 1988, at a date yet to be determined.