Week commencing 7 June 1993

A couple of themes stick out from this week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 singles chart.  One of the themes is grunge, and how it made 80s ‘hair metal’ seemingly irrelevant overnight.  Another theme is re-released singles.  A third theme is double A-side singles - or those that might have been.  Intrigued?  Read on!

Boy Krazy: Australia was not ‘krazy’ for this release.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 123 “Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” by Poison

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 123-114-120-104-125

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American glam metal band Poison last joined us in 1992.

“Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice)” was the second single lifted from Poison’s fourth studio album Native Tongue (number 60, May 1993).  It followed the release of “Stand” (number 80, March 1993).

Internationally, “Until You Suffer Some…” peaked at number 32 in the UK in April 1993, and number 4 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 in May 1993.

In Australia, “Until You Suffer Some…” performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 64.  Nationally, the single peaked higher on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 94.

While I heard “Stand” a couple of times in early 1993, I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s another mid-tempo rock song, I guess Poison tried to tone down their over the top ‘glam’ image from the 80s, as it was quite past its use-by date at this point in the 90s, as grunge and alternative made metal suddenly obsolete.

This was Poison’s final single to chart in Australia.  They had later low-charting albums with Crack a Smile… and More (number 367, November 2000), The Best of - 20 Years of Rock (number 233, April 2006), and Double Dose: Ultimate Hits (number 545, July 2011).

Number 125 “Rooster” by Alice In Chains

Peak: number 121

Peak dates: 21 June 1993 and 5 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 125-128-121-125-121-128-139

American rock band Alice In Chains, formed in Seattle in 1987, were the perfect example of the type of band who would replace the likes of Poison on the charts in the 1990s.  “Rooster” was the second single issued in Australia from Alice In Chains’ second studio album Dirt (number 13, November 1993), following "Would?" (number 69, April 1993).  The song was written by guitarist/backing singer Jerry Cantrell for his father, who served in the Vietnam war and whose childhood nickname was Rooster.  The music video for “Rooster” contains documentary and news footage from the Vietnam war.

Internationally, “Rooster” peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April 1993.

Like numerous Seattle grunge band lead singers, Alice In Chains lead singer Layne Staley died in 2002, aged 34, from an accidental drug overdose.

We’ll next see Alice In Chains in 1996.

Number 127 “Crazy, Crazy Eyes” by Hard-Ons

Peak: number 104

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 127-118-104-111-109

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

The alternative ‘hits’ keep coming this week, this time from Aussie band Hard-Ons, whom we last saw in 1991.

“Crazy, Crazy Eyes” was the lead single from Hard-Ons’ fifth studio album Too Far Gone (number 107, June 1993).  On the state charts, the single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 69.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s a bit too much of a noisy racket for me to appreciate.

We’ll next see Hard-Ons in 1994.

Number 129 “That’s What Love Can Do” by Boy Krazy

Peak: number 124

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 129-124-130-136-138

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Now here’s one with an interesting back story - or so I think.  Boy Krazy were initially a 5-piece American vocal quintet, who were paired with English producers Stock Aitken Waterman to record their debut, and only, album Boy Krazy (released in Australia in May 1993, did not chart).  “That’s What Love Can Do” was released as their debut single, and its original 1991 release bombed on the chart, reaching number 98 (number 86 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in July 1991.  The Boy Krazy album was one of the last Stock Aitken Waterman productions, before Matt Aitken split from the trio in mid-1991.  Interestingly, “That’s What Love Can Do” was also offered to Samantha Fox, while recording her fourth album Just One Night (number 167, August 1991).  Samantha recorded vocals for the track, but it was otherwise not finished.  In 2012, producer Matt Pop gave the track a SAW-esque early 90s production for inclusion on a re-issued and expanded version of Sam’s Just One Night album.  You can hear her version here.

A second Boy Krazy single, “All You Have to Do”, was released in the UK, reaching number 116 (number 91 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75).  Band member Renee Veneziale had left the group by this point.  The band then effectively dissolved, until “That’s What Love Can Do” started receiving club and airplay in the US towards the end of 1992.  The song got a second lease of life, receiving a commercial release in North America, and a re-release across Europe.  “That’s What Love Can Do” peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in February-March 1993, number 6 in Canada in April 1993, number 89 (number 80 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in April 1993, number 29 in the Netherlands in June 1993, and number 54 in Germany in June 1993.

In Australia, “That’s What Love Can Do” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 97 on the state chart.  The single peaked higher nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Despite being a Stock Aitken Waterman fan, I didn’t actually hear this one until 2007, when someone embedded the video on a pop music forum I frequented at the time.  Boy Krazy member Johnna Lee Cummings sings lead on this track, and many have commented that her voice sounds similar to Kylie Minogue’s, which I can hear - although I would say that Johnna’s vocals are much stronger than Kylie’s.  Despite not hearing “That’s What Love Can Do” at the time, I was aware of Boy Krazy’s existence, as they were mentioned as a new act in a Smash Hits article pondering whether the songwriting/production trio Stock Aitken Waterman were now down the dumper (i.e. their hit-making days were over).  Rather unexpectedly, “That’s What Love Can Do” was playing over the PA system while I was getting a script filled at the hospital pharmacy last year.

While we will not be seeing Boy Krazy on the chart again, the lead singer of “That’s What Love Can Do”, Johnna, had a brief solo career, and we shall see her bubble under in 1996.

Number 130 “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by Bryan Ferry

Peak: number 127

Peak date: 14 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Chart run: 130-127-132-132-133-145

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks 

English singer-songwriter Bryan Ferry last joined us in 1989.

“Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was the second single lifted from Bryan’s eighth solo studio album Taxi (number 26, May 1993), which was a covers album, other than one original written by Bryan that was tacked onto the end.  The song, written by Garry Goffin and Carole King, is a cover of The Shirelles from 1960, and followed "I Put a Spell on You" (number 68, May 1993).  If you ask me, covers albums are almost universally bad, and I can only think of one that I actually like (Pauline Henry’s Do Over from 1996 - probably because I didn’t know most of the originals).  This version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” is really quite mundane and pointless.

Internationally, Bryan’s version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” peaked at number 23 in the UK in May 1993, and number 79 in Germany in July 1993.

Locally, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 101.

We’ll next see Bryan in 1994.

Number 137 “Sax-A-Go-Go” by Candy Dulfer

Peak: number 107

Peak date: 19 July 1993

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 137-134-133-127-114-113-107-115-121-121

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Dutch saxophone maestro Candy Dulfer previously paid us a visit in 1991.

“Sax-A-Go-Go” was the lead single from Candy’s second studio album Sax-A-Go-Go (number 79, July 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 87 (number 83 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK in February 1993, number 12 in the Netherlands in March 1993, number 32 in the Flanders region of Belgium in April 1993, and number 33 in Switzerland in April 1993.

In Australia, “Sax-A-Go-Go” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 81 on the state chart.

American hip-hop producer Easy Moe Bee performs the rap on this track, but does not receive a featured artist credit.

We shall see Candy next in August 1993.

Number 146 “My Hippy Angel” by Bob Geldof

Peak: number 143

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 146-146-149-143

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks

Irish singer-songwriter/philanthropist Bob Geldof last paid us a visit in 1992.

“My Hippy Angel” was released as the second single from Bob’s third solo studio album The Happy Club (number 91, May 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 146 (number 100 on the truncated chart with exclusions below number 75) in the UK.

Domestically, “My Hippy Angel” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 125 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before; it’s not bad.  Bob’s then-wife Paula Yates appears in the music video.

We shall see Bob again in 1994.

Number 150 “Sex Type Thing” by Stone Temple Pilots

Peak: number 138

Peak date: 2 August 1993

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 150-(out of top 150 for 4 weeks)-150-(out of top 150 for 1 week)-144-138-139-140

Weeks on chart: 16 weeks

American grunge/alternative rock band Stone Temple Pilots formed in San Diego, California in 1989.  “Sex Type Thing” was the band’s debut single, lifted from their debut album Core (number 29, August 1993).

In the opening of this post, I mentioned there being some confusion about whether a single was a double A-side release or not.  Well, this single is one of the culprits.  The ARIA database initially lists it as just “Sex Type Thing”, but then on the 16 August 1993 chart, a week that “Sex Type Thing” is out of the top 150, “Sex Type Thing”/“Wicked Game” (sic) is listed as a double A-side release, entering at number 140, before dropping off the chart the following week.  The “Wicked Game” in question should actually be “Wicked Garden”, as Stone Temple Pilots do not have a song with the former title.  “Wicked Garden” was a promotional-only single in the US, but does not appear to have been released as a commercial single in its own right, although it has a music video!  To complicate matters further, “Wicked Garden” was the second track on the “Sex Type Thing” CD single, but is not listed on the front cover or spine, as you would expect for a double A-side release.  I assumed that this anomaly was just an error on the ARIA database, but they have listed it with its own unique catalogue number (7567873644), and I cannot find any release matching this catalogue number on discogs.com or through googling it.  Can anyone out there shed some light on this?

Internationally, “Sex Type Thing” initially peaked at number 60 in the UK in March 1993, before being re-released later in the year when it reached a slightly higher peak of number 55 in November 1993.  The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, peaking at number 23 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in January 1993, and number 8 on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart in December 2015.

Locally, “Sex Type Thing” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 119 on the state chart.

Stone Temple Pilots would crack the ARIA top 100 singles chart with their next release, “Plush” (number 47, October 1993).  Their biggest hit in Australia, “Vasoline” (number 24, August 1994) - note the spelling difference from the petroleum jelly brand Vaseline - would come from their second album Purple (number 1 for one week in June 1994).

Like numerous front men from grunge/alternative bands from the 90s, Stone Temple Pilots front man Scott Welland died prematurely, aged 48, after an accidental drug overdose, in 2015.

We’ll next see Stone Temple Pilots in 1996.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 191 The Only Living Boy in New York EP by Everything But the Girl

Peak: number 191

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw English musical and romantic (although this was not publicised, and they did not marry until 2009) duo Everything But the Girl in 1992.

The The Only Living Boy in New York EP, led by the title track, was the lead single and a new track recorded for the compilation album Home Movies (number 183, July 1993).  “The Only Living Boy in New York” was a cover version of the Simon & Garfunkel song from 1969.  Internationally, the EP peaked at number 42 on the UK singles chart in May 1993.

In Australia, The Only Living Boy in New York EP was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 178 on the state chart.

The duo’s next release, I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love EP, does not appear to have been released in Australia, but the title track from it would become a hit across Europe in 1998, and a number 47 minor hit in Australia in October 1998, when covered by Karen Ramirez, and its title shortened to “Looking for Love”.  Although I wouldn’t have heard the Everything But the Girl original at the time, somehow I could instantly tell it was a song of theirs when I first heard the Karen Ramirez version.

Everything But the Girl will next grace our presence in 1996.

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Number 194 “Prodigal Son”/“Better Off Alone” by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 194

Peak date: 7 June 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

Now for an actual double A-side single!  We saw Aussie country singer Graeme Connors a mere two weeks ago.  Despite its later debut on the chart than its follow-up release, this was actually the first single lifted from Graeme’s sixth studio album The Return (number 90, March 1993).  The album’s title was presumably taken from the chorus lyric “the return of the prodigal son”.

“Prodigal Son”/“Better Off Alone” performed strongest on the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory state chart, where it reached number 172.

This would be Graeme’s last top 150 single.  He had a low-charting single last year with “The Road Less Travelled” (number 1062, April 2024), which originally appeared on his 1996 album The Road Less Travelled (number 62, September 1996).

Number 203 “Black Gold” by Soul Asylum

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 7 February 1994

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

American band Soul Asylum last joined us in March 1993.

“Black Gold” was the second single release from the band’s sixth studio album Grave Dancers Union (number 63, February 1994).  Internationally, “Black Gold” initially peaked at number 76 in the UK in March 1993, number 58 in Canada in May 1993, number 25 in New Zealand in December 1993, and number 26 in the UK in March 1994 when re-released after the success of follow-up release “Runaway Train” (number 11, November 1993).  “Black Gold” also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 6 on the Alternative Airplay chart in February 1993, and number 4 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in May 1993.

In Australia, “Black Gold” was initially released on 19 April 1993, taking nearly two months to spend a solitary week at number 203.  I am assuming there was a re-release in early 1994, where it re-entered the chart reaching a slightly higher peak; but nothing is listed in The ARIA Report’s lists of new release titles.  On the state charts, “Black Gold” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 176.

We’ll next see Soul Asylum in 1995.

Number 205 “In Trance” by General Base

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Here’s the second new entry this week that I am not sure whether it was a double A-side single or not.  In the ARIA Report’s weekly lists of new release titles, “In Trance” and “Back Again” by General Base are listed as separate releases, released simultaneously on 29 March 1993.  But then on 21 June 1993, a double A-side single, “Back Again”/“In Trance” is listed, with a different catalogue number to either earlier release - and this coincides with the single re-entering the chart at its peak (obviously, the double A-side single had to have been released in the week prior to the 21st, which was the chart survey date).  I have embedded both songs below to cover all bases.

General Base was essentially German DJ and Eurodance artist/producer Thomas Kukula.  Both “In Trance” and “Back Again”, which are largely instrumental, appear on General Base’s debut and only album First (released in Australia in June 1994, did not chart).  Interestingly, I cannot find evidence of either track charting elsewhere.  Who knew that Australia could be ahead of the curve in the commercial success of Eurodance?!  On the state charts, “In Trance” performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 126.

General Base never had a top 100 entry in Australia, though came rather close.  We’ll next see General Base in November 1993.

Number 208 “You’ve Got Me Thinking” by The Beloved

Peak: number 200

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

Finally, here’s a third release debuting this week for which there is some ambiguity over whether it was a double A-side single or not.  On UK and European pressings of the 12” vinyl single for this release, “Celebrate Your Life” is listed as the lead track on the single artwork, and two mixes of this track appear on the CD single, but not as the first track.  “You’ve Got Me Thinking” is relegated to the B-side on the 12” pressings.

Both “You’ve Got Me Thinking” and “Celebrate Your Life” are lifted from The Beloved’s - whom we last saw in April 1993 - second studio album Conscience (number 144, April 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 23 in the UK in April 1993, and number 21 in Ireland in April 1993.

In Australia, “You’ve Got Me Thinking” was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 182 on the state chart.

One thing I didn’t know until recently is that “You’ve Got Me Thinking” was originally meant to be a duet between The Beloved and Neneh Cherry.  A demo featuring Neneh has made its way online - you can listen to it here.

A third single from Conscience, “Outerspace Girl”, was released in Australia in November 1993, but failed to chart.  Oddly, despite its lack of chart success, “Outerspace Girl” was the only single from Conscience I heard in 1993.

We shall next see The Beloved in 1996.

Next week (14 June): Five top 150 entries and two bubbling WAY down under debuts.

< Previous week: 31 May 1993                Next week: 14 June 1993 >

Week commencing 24 May 1993

This week in 1993’s new entries peaking outside the Australian top 100 are a mixed bag, split between artists your parents wouldn’t object to listening to and newer acts struggling with their latest releases.  Shall we take a look?

Kenny G doesn’t quite hit ’em with the old Peabo.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 126 “By the Time This Night Is Over” by Kenny G with Peabo Bryson

Peak: number 122

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 126-129-128-130-122-128-124

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

American lurve song crooner Peabo Bryson last joined us in 1992.  American saxophone whizz Kenny G (born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick… shortening the surname to G was a wise decision) first made small ripples on the Australian singles chart with “Songbird” (number 76, November 1987), lifted from his fourth album Duotones (number 25, November 1987).  More-recently, he scraped into the top 50 with “Forever in Love” (number 49, March 1993), the lead single from his sixth studio album Breathless (number 1 for one week in May 1993).

For this release, the pair joined forces, for what would become the second single from Kenny’s Breathless album.  “By the Time This Night Is Over” would go on to appear on Peabo’s sixteenth studio album Through the Fire (number 193, August 1994).  A Kenny collaboration with Michael Bolton, “Missing You Now” (number 61, August 1992), charted in 1992.  Coincidentally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” was co-written by Michael Bolton and beige songwriter extraordinaire, Diane Warren.

With that pedigree, you’d expect “By the Time This Night Is Over” to be a chart smash, but it was only a major hit in Canada, where it peaked at number 6 in July 1993.  Elsewhere, the single peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1993, and at number 56 in the UK in July 1993.  The song registered on several US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart in June 1993, number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in July 1993, number 29 on the Pop Airplay chart in July 1993, number 37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in July 1993, number 24 on the Radio Songs chart in July 1993, and number 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in July 1994.

Locally, “By the Time This Night Is Over” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 92 on the state chart.

I didn’t recall this one by title, but recognised it once the chorus kicked in.  I would have heard it being blasted from my parents’ then-new CD player they bought around March 1993.  Breathless was one of the first CDs my dad bought, and I remember still being subjected to it more than 18 months later.  Of course, now that I am middle-aged myself, I don’t have as strong a visceral reaction to Kenny G’s style of easy-listening music, and don’t even mind “Songbird”!  Both that song and “Forever in Love” remind me of the nightly ‘Love Songs and Dedications’ program aired on Melbourne’s ultra-daggy TT F.M. radio station - but hey, there wasn’t much choice at the time, and often listening to this was preferable to the ‘classic rock’ stations or Triple M.

Although the music video embedded below claims to be ‘live’, the studio version of the song is used - so it’s just a live (sic) performance video.

This was Peabo’s final charting release in Australia.  Kenny had a later low-charting single with “Legacy” (number 4118, January 2022).

Number 132 “C’mon People” by Paul McCartney

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 178-(off chart for one week)-132-146-147-147

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

We last saw English former-Beatle Paul McCartney in 1990.

“C’mon People” was the third single released in Australia from Paul’s ninth solo studio album Off the Ground (number 8, March 1993).  It followed the singles “Hope of Deliverance” (number 29 for two weeks in February-March 1993) and title-track “Off the Ground” (number 66, April 1993); the latter does not appear to have been issued as a single in the UK.

Internationally, “C’mon People” peaked at number 41 in the UK in February 1993, number 41 in Germany in May 1993, and number 80 in Canada in June 1993.

Domestically, “C’mon People” was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 117 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It sounds a bit Beatles-esque, as you might expect.  The initially sparse black and white video ends in colour and with a lot happening.

Paul will join us next in 2001.

Number 135 “The World (In a Wrapper)” by Ratcat

Peak: number 115

Peak date: 7 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 135-123-115-123-116-129-130

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

Sydney band Ratcat formed in 1985.  They released an EP, Ratcat in 1987, and an album, This Nightmare (number 81, July 1991), independently, before signing to RooArt, a label founded by INXS’s manager at the time, Chris Murphy.

The group experienced their first taste of commercial success when the Tingles EP (number 1 for two weeks in April-May 1991), led by “That Ain’t Bad”, debuted at number 118 in October 1990.  The EP slowly climbed up the chart, reaching the top spot for two weeks in April-May 1991.  The Tingles EP reaching number one was probably the first sign of ‘alternative’ music becoming mainstream in Australia.  

Ratcat swiftly followed that up with another number one single “Don’t Go Now” (number 1 for one week in May 1991), and a number one album Blind Love (number 1 for three non-consecutive weeks in May-June 1991).  However, Ratcat’s sudden success seemed to disappear just as quickly as it arrived, and the third single from Blind Love, “Baby Baby” (number 21 for three non-consecutive weeks in July-August 1991), ‘only’ reached number 21.

Taking a year off to record their third album, Ratcat returned in the second half of 1992 with the single “Candyman” (number 38, September 1992), and the album Inside Out (number 59, November 1992), which were both relative flops.  Second single “Holiday” (number 41, November 1992) stalled outside the top 40, despite being one of the poppier-sounding songs they released.  Third single “The World (In a Wrapper)” fared even worse, missing the top 100.

On the state charts, “The World (In a Wrapper)” was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 80.  Nationally, the single performed better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 97.

Another one I don’t recall hearing at the time, the featured rapper in the middle of the song was not something I was not expecting!  It was performed by Rosano “The Assassin” Martinez from Sound Unlimited Posse.

I think Ratcat suffered much the same fate as Aussie group Frente!  Having major commercial success kills off any ‘indie’ credibility you had.  The situation was probably worse for Ratcat, as they (at least the singer) had ‘pin-up’ appeal with teenage girls.

Ratcat would not trouble the top 100 again, but we will see them bubble under again in 1995.

Number 149 “Miss Chatelaine” by k.d. lang

Peak: number 145

Peak date: 21 June 1993

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-149-(out of top 150 for two weeks)-145

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang last visited us in 1992.

“Miss Chatelaine” was the second single lifted from k.d.’s second solo studio album Ingénue (number 3, April 1993), following “Constant Craving” (number 38, April 1993).  Internationally, “Miss Chatelaine” peaked at number 58 in Canada in October 1992, and number 68 in the UK for two weeks in June 1993.  The song also registered on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, reaching number 32 in April 1993.

Domestically, “Miss Chatelaine” performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, reaching number 115 onthe state chart.  Interestingly, the single debuted on the ARIA chart at number 209 on 16 November 1992, following its initial Australian release two weeks prior.  “Miss Chatelaine” was re-released in Australia after the belated success of “Constant Craving”, re-entering the chart one week after its re-issue.

We’ll next see k.d. in July 1993.

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 167 “Helpless Heart” by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 166

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

Aussie country singer-songwriter Graeme Connors last joined us in 1989.

“Helpless Heart” was the second single lifted from his sixth studio album The Return (number 90, March 1993).  On the state charts, the single was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 157.

I don’t really like country music, but this wasn’t too bad.

We’ll next see Graeme in June 1993 with, oddly, the single released before this one.

Number 184 “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” by Key West featuring Erik

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Key West was a pseudonym for British producer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Anthony Hewson, from the RAH Band, who had a hit in Australia with “The Crunch” (number 16, April 1978).  Erik was British singer Erica Harrold.  The two joined forces for this release, which was produced by Stock/Waterman (formerly of Stock Aitken Waterman).

Internationally, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” peaked at number 46 in the UK in April 1993.

In Australia, “Looks Like I’m in Love Again” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 170 on the state chart.

We’ll see Key West again in 1999, and Erik in 1994.

Number 197 “Rave the Brave” by Celtic Kings of Rock

Peak: number 197

Peak date: 24 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Aussie synth-pop duo Celtic Kings of Rock were David Smith and Crispin Trist from Boxcar, whom we last saw in 1992.  “Rave the Brave”, which makes the unusual pairing between bagpipes and dance music, was their only release under this artist name.

“Rave the Brave” performed strongest on the Western Australia state chart, where it reached number 158.

The song reminds me a little bit of Utah Saints and Usura.

Number 204 “It’s OK, All Right” by Def Dames Dope

Peak: number 158

Peak date: 9 May 1994

Weeks on chart: 22 weeks

Belgian girl group Def Dames Dope were produced by 2 Unlimited’s producers, Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul De Coster.  “It’s OK, All Right” was their first single, appearing on their debut album It’s a Girl! The Album, which does not appear to have been released in Australia.

Internationally, the single peaked at number 9 in the Netherlands in February 1993, and was number 1 for two weeks in the Flanders region of Belgium in February-March 1993.

In Australia, “It’s OK, All Right” was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 80 on the state chart.  The single had a second lease of life following its re-release in April 1994, reaching its national peak the following month.  “It’s OK, All Right” peaked in either April or May 1994 on all state charts.  Spending 22 weeks on the chart is quite decent for a single that missed the top 150.  “It’s OK, All Right” fared much better nationally on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 74 in 1994.

This one didn’t seem familiar to me by artist or title name, but I recognised the chorus riff.

We shall see Def Dames Dope on one more occasion, in 1994.

Number 213 “I’m Gonna Soothe You” by Maria McKee

Peak: number 160

Peak date: 28 June 1993

Weeks on chart: 9 weeks

American (I previously assumed she was British) singer-songwriter Maria McKee is best known for “Show Me Heaven” (number 3 for five weeks in December 1990-January 1991), which appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack (number 31, September 1990), and was her only solo Australian top 100 entry.  A little over a year before “Show Me Heaven”, Maria’s debut solo album Maria McKee (number 117, September 1989) made small ripples outside the top 100, despite yielding no charting singles.  Prior to going solo, Maria fronted the band Lone Justice, who had a top 40 single in Australia with “Shelter” (number 38, February 1987), and a top 100 album with their second album Shelter (number 66, February 1987).

Despite having limited commercial success in Australia with her own recording career, Maria penned a number one single recorded by Feargal Sharkey, “A Good Heart” (number 1 for two weeks in February 1986).  She also had a song written about her become a hit, Deacon Blue’s “Real Gone Kid” (number 18, February 1989).  The band toured with Lone Justice, and dedicated the song to her wild onstage performance.  Arguably, a second song written about Maria was a hit in Australia, Feargal Sharkey’s “You Little Thief” (number 4, March 1986), which was written by Maria’s ex (whom she had written “A Good Heart about after they split), Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, though he denies this.

“I’m Gonna Soothe You” was the lead single from Maria’s second solo album, You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (number 135, July 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 35 in the UK in May 1993, and number 49 in Canada in September 1993.

In Australia, “I’m Gonna Soothe You” performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 123 on the state chart.

I hadn’t heard this one before.  It’s very nice.  Maria’s unique voice, as always, is a highlight.

A second single from You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, “I Can’t Make It Alone”, was released in Australia in September 1993, but failed to chart.

As this was Maria’s last charting release in Australia, I thought I would mention Maria’s 1992 collaboration with Sweetest Child, “Sweetest Child”, which I like a lot.

Number 222 “Harbor Lights” by Bruce Hornsby

Peak: number 180

Peak date: 31 May 1993

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

We last saw American singer-songwriter-pianist Bruce Hornsby in 1990 as part of Bruce Hornsby & The Range.  The group split in 1991, and Bruce embarked on a solo career.

“Harbor Lights” was the lead single from Bruce’s debut solo album Harbor Lights (number 118, May 1993).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 14 in Canada in June 1993.  The song also registered on two US Billboard genre-specific charts, reaching number 38 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart in April 1993, and number 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart in June 1993.

Locally, “Harbor Lights” was most popular in Queensland, reaching number 170 on the state chart.

Bruce would not trouble the ARIA top 150 again, but came close with his second solo album Hot House (number 151, September 1995), which became his final top 200 entry in Australia.  Bruce had two later very low-charting singles during the streaming era, with “Voyager One” (number 1782, March 2019) and “Cast Off” (number 1574, April 2019).

Next week (31 May): Six top 150 entries and five bubbling WAY down under entries.

< Previous week: 17 May 1993               Next week: 31 May 1993 >

Week commencing 20 February 1989

We're only into the fourth top 150 chart, and this week we have two returning acts already.  Who was 'lucky' enough to score back-to-back top 150 'hits' in the opening months of 1989?  Read on to find out!

Blondie's Deborah Harry: Once more into the lower region of the top 150.

Top 150 debuts:

Number 137 "Cyclone Season" by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 135

Peak date: 6 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Known chart run: 153-137-137-135-142-137 

Weeks on chart: 26 weeks

Another track from his North (number 73, February 1989) album, this gave Connors his second single peaking within the 101-150 region of the Australian singles chart in early 1989.  I recapped the first one in the very first chart recap I posted.

On the state charts, "Cyclone Season" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 93.

Graeme will join us again in 1993.

Number 138 "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" by Hithouse

Peak: number 129

Peak date: 13 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Known chart run: 151-138-136-130-129-(out of top 150 for 5 weeks)-133

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

With a small number of exceptions, the Australian charts generally weren't ready for this kind of music yet, hence the low peak for one of the more notable acid house tracks from the time.  Of note is that the song samples Kelly Charles' "You're No Good for Me" from 1987, which was also prominently sampled on The Prodigy's "No Good (Start the Dance)" (number 45, July 1994) in 1994.

Internationally, "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" peaked at number 14 in the UK in November 1988, number 21 in Ireland in December 1988, number 18 in the Netherlands in December 1988, number 12 in France in December 1988, number 13 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1988, number 3 in Switzerland in February 1989, and number 6 in Germany in February 1989.

In Australia, "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" performed strongest in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 80.

There was a 1994 remix of "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" that I rather liked.

Peter Slaghuis, the man behind Hithouse, died in 1991 when his car, traveling at 220km/hour crashed into an oncoming truck.  Hithouse will score another top 150 'hit' in 1990.

Number 139 "Lost Soul" by Ordinary Mortals

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 20 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 139-(out for 1 week)-142

Ordinary Mortals were an Australian band, and "Lost Soul" was their 'sole' top 150 entry.  However, this is quite a reasonable feat, as, according to band member John Gordon whom I contacted, "Lost Soul" was only distributed in the Brisbane area!  He was surprised that the single registered a place on the national chart.  John also managed to track down a copy of the music video, which I have embedded below.

Number 140 "Don't Worry Baby" by The Everly Brothers with The Beach Boys

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 10 April 1989

Weeks in top 150: 10 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: unable to be determined (see explanation below)

Due to the way they have been entered onto the ARIA database, this, along with the plain ole Everly Brothers without The Beach Boys version of the track, charted simultaneously for a few weeks, as the same title, so it is technically impossible to know which is which, and which one peaked higher.  Given the higher profile of the duet version, I am going to assume that it was this which had the higher peak of the two.

Number 148 "Denis (The '88 Remix)" by Blondie

Peak: number 139

Peak date: 6 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 3 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 148-145-139

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

Recently enjoying top 150 'success' with "Liar, Liar", which I recapped in my second top 150 chart post, Debs was back already, but with her old pals in Blondie, in this remixed version of their number 12 hit from 1978, from the Once More into the Bleach (number 47, February 1989) remix album.  One thing I didn't know, until now, was that this version was remixed by Danny D of D Mob.  I've had to resort to uploading the video below, as it is blocked on YouTube.

Internationally, "Denis (The '88 Remix)" peaked at number 50 in the UK in December 1988.

On the state charts, the 1988 remix of "Denis" performed much stronger in South Australia/Northern Territory than anywhere else, where it reached number 64 (it missed the top 100 on the other state charts).

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

Number 154 "After the War" by Gary Moore

Peak: number 151

Peak date: 27 March 1989

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Northern Irish guitar maestro Gary Moore had placed five singles on the Australian top 100 chart at this point, although only one of those, a cover version of The Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" (number 25, September 1987) had troubled the top 40.

 

"After the War" was the lead single and title track from Gary's seventh studio album After the War (number 62, March 1989).  The single peaked at number 37 in the UK in January 1989, number 14 in Ireland, number 12 in Sweden in January 1989, number 4 in Norway, number 17 in Switzerland in March 1989, and number 36 in New Zealand in March 1989.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "After the War" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87.

I hadn't heard "After the War" until writing this post, and enjoyed it.

Gary will join us next in April 1989.

Number 156 "All I Ask of You" by Barbra Streisand

Peak: number 156

Peak date: 20 February 1989

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

At this point in time, Barbra Streisand had placed 15 singles on the Australian top 100, with "Woman in Love" (number 1, November 1980) being her biggest hit down under.

 

"All I Ask of You", a song from the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera, was recorded by Cliff Richard and Sarah Brightman in 1986, peaking at number 24 in Australia in March 1987.  Their version would bubble under again later in 1989.

Barbra's version of "All I Ask of You" was issued as the second single from her Till I Loved You (number 21, January 1989) album, following the title track, which reached number 34 in January 1989.

 

Internationally, "All I Ask of You" peaked at number 77 in the UK in February 1989, and number 56 in the Netherlands during the same month.

On the ARIA state charts, "All I Ask of You" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 95.

 

We will see Barbra next in November 1989.

Next week (27 February):   Another five new entries, including a return act, plus three other singles that were bubbling WAY down under.

< Previous Post: 13 February 1989                                     Next Post: 27 February 1989 >

Week commencing 30 January 1989 - part 1

Welcome to the first weekly post recapping the new entries on the Australian singles chart that peaked between numbers 101 and 150.  Occasionally, I will also be listing some singles with known peaks outside the top 150.

If you're wondering why I'm not covering new entries within the top 100, there's a whole separate blog devoted to that.

As this was the first singles chart that extended beyond number 100, there are quite a few new entries.  Because it's such a long post, I shall be splitting it into two parts.

Despite it now being late January in 1989, many of the singles below had been released months earlier - some as early as July 1988 - without ever denting the lofty heights of the top 100.

  Eighth Wonder: Ah Patsy... never mind the rock star husbands, she could have been a pop icon herself!

Top 150 debuts:

Number 113 "Love Is All That Matters" by The Human League

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Chart run: 113-125

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

Released in Australia in mid-November 1988 to promote their Greatest Hits (number 76, January 1989) album, The Human League's first 'charting' single since 1986's "Human" (number 26, October 1986), this one stalled at number 113.  Given that the single had been out for over two months by this point, you have to wonder if it might have peaked nearer to 100 in the interim... but we'll never know.  Interestingly, the song was lifted from their 1986 studio album Crash (number 32, October 1986), rather than being a new recording.  I remember seeing this release reviewed in (the Australian edition of) Smash Hits, and even spotting the cassingle in my local Myer, but never actually hearing the song until 2008.

Internationally, "Love Is All That Matters" peaked at number 41 in the UK in October 1988, and number 27 in Ireland in October 1988.

Domestically, "Love Is All That Matters" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 66 on the state chart in October 1988.  "Love Is All That Matters" peaked within the top 100 on all five state charts.

We will next see The Human League in 1990.

 

Number 114 "I'm Gonna Be Strong" by Bill Medley

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week 

Top 150 chart run: 114

Bill Medley was one half of The Righteous Brothers, who are best known for "Unchained Melody" (number 1 for 5 weeks in November-December 1990; originally peaking at number 3 in Australia in September 1965).  As a solo artist, Bill's sole Australian top 100 singles chart entry was his duet with Jennifer Warnes, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (number 1 for 6 weeks in January-February 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988), which was the highest-selling single of 1988 in Australia.  "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was released in Australia in November 1988.

I've never actually heard this one before.  It's a cover version of a 1963 song recorded by Frankie Laine, which was later covered by Gene Pitney (his version peaked at number 5 in Australia in December 1964), and Cyndi Lauper's band Blue Angel in 1980.  Cyndi also covered the song solo, and we'll see her version bubble under in 1995.

Internationally, Bill's version of "I'm Gonna Be Strong" peaked at number 171 (number 132 on the compressed chart) in the UK in November 1988.

While we won't see Bill again as a solo artist, The Righteous Brothers will bubble under in 1991.

Number 116 "Cross My Heart" by Eighth Wonder

Peak: number 116

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Chart run: 116

Weeks on chart: 1 week

After a string of flop releases, child actor-turned-adult actor-turned pop star (for a short while, anyway) Patsy Kensit and her band Eighth Wonder scored two UK top 15 hits in 1988, with the Pet Shop Boys-penned "I'm Not Scared", and this... a Michael Jay (the man behind Martika's debut album, among other things) written track produced by Phil Harding of PWL (the label owned by Pete Waterman of Stock Aitken Waterman).  With that pedigree, something was bound to give Eighth Wonder a hit eventually - just not in Australia, sadly.

"Cross My Heart" appears to have first been recorded by Tracie Spencer, for her 1988 self-titled debut album.  Tracie's version received a single release in Japan.  Martika also recorded her own version of this track for her aforementioned debut album.  Although both Tracie and Martika have a technically stronger voice than Patsy, I find something about Patsy's paper-thin vocals really endearing.

This single was released in Australia back in September 1988.  It fared better on the state charts, where it peaked as high as number 56 in New South Wales/ACT in November, and number 58 in South Australia/Northern Territory in December.  That makes me think that "Cross My Heart" probably would have peaked higher than number 116 on the national chart had it extended beyond number 100 earlier.

Internationally, "Cross My Heart" peaked at number 13 in the UK in July 1988, number 16 in Ireland, number 6 in Switzerland in August 1988, number 17 in Germany in August 1988, number 6 in Norway, and number 13 in France in February 1989.

I actually read Patsy's autobiography a while back, as I thought she was someone who'd likely had an interesting life (and that's before we get to the numerous rock-star husbands).  In it, she seems a little embarrassed of her pop star phase, never feeling too confident in her singing ability.  It's a shame, as she made a great pop star, I thought.

But this song wasn't all for Patsy and... er, the others on the Australian charts.  They will be back soon enough with another top 150 smash!

Number 117 "Rubber Love" by Bigstorm

Peak: number 117

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 117-126-129-128-132

I haven't actually heard this one before.  Vocally, it reminds me of Alice Cooper in parts.  The group don't currently have a Wikipedia page, so I can't tell you much about them.  Their discogs.com page does not reveal much either... although only an Australian pressing is listed for this single, so I assume Bigstorm were an Australian band.  This track is lifted from the album Living in Exile (number 110, March 1989).

Number 120 "High on You" by Iggy Pop

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 6 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 6 weeks 

Chart run: 120-114-118-121-125-132

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

American punk rocker Iggy Pop, real name James Newell Osterberg Jr., is best known in Australia for his duet with The B-52's Kate Pierson, "Candy" (number 9, January 1991)... and his infamous Countdown performance of "I'm Bored" (number 68, August 1979).  Before launching his solo career in 1977, Iggy was the lead singer in The Stooges.

"High on You" was the second single lifted from Iggy's eighth solo studio album Instinct (number 82, August 1988), following "Cold Metal" (released in Australia in September 1988), which did not chart nationally, but registered on the South Australia/Northern Territory and Western Australia state charts, where it peaked at numbers 77 and 85, respectively.  “High on You” was released in Australia in November 1988.

Internationally, "High on You" peaked at number 230 (number 148 on the compressed chart) in the UK in December 1988.

Locally, “High on You” performed strongest on the South Australia/Northern Territory state chart, where it reached number 78.

Before now, you might have gotten the impression that singles peaking outside the top 100 always peaked where they debuted, but this one actually rose another 6 places to reach its eventual peak of number 114.

Iggy will join us next in 1990.

Number 123 "Finish What Ya Started" by Van Halen

Peak: number 123

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks

Chart run: 123-127-130-147

Weeks on chart: 4 weeks 

 

American band Van Halen formed in 1973.  Their first single to chart in Australia was their debut release, a cover of The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" (number 12, June 1978).  Their biggest hit locally was "Jump" (number 2, March 1984).  The band underwent a line-up change in 1985, with lead singer David Lee Roth being replaced by Sammy Hagar.  My favourite Van Halen single would be "Dreams" (number 51, September 1986), which was surprisingly a flop here.

"Finish What Ya Started" was the second single released in Australia from Van Halen's eighth studio album OU812 (number 9, July 1988).  It followed "When It's Love" (number 23, August 1988).

Internationally, "Finish What Ya Started" peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988.

In Australia, "Finish What Ya Started" was equally most-popular in Queensland and Western Australia, where it reached number 77 on the state charts.  The singled peaked within the top 100 on four of the five state charts, with New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory being the only exception.

I was not familiar with "Finish What Ya Started".  It sounds a bit more easy-listening to me than their earlier hits.

Van Halen will next join us in 1991.

Number 124 "Long and Lasting Love (Once in a Lifetime)" by Glenn Medeiros

Peak: number 113

Peak date: 20 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 124-122-125-113-114-118-125

 

Hawaiian Glenn Medeiros made his debut on the Australian charts in 1987, with his first single "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" (number 10, February 1988), which took over six months to reach its peak from its mid-August 1987 release in Australia.  He would score a second hit in 1990 with his duet with Bobby Brown, "She Ain't Worth It" (number 8, August 1990), essentially becoming a two-hit wonder in Australia.

 

Glenn also scored a couple of more-minor 'hits'... such as this one, from his curiously-titled Not Me (number 124, March 1989) album, which I hadn't heard before either.  Before Glenn's "harder" makeover in 1990, this is more of the same lovey-dovey stuff as you might expect.  The music video is just about the most 80s thing ever.

 

Internationally, "Long and Lasting Love..." peaked at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in September 1988, number 42 in the UK in September 1988, number 26 in Ireland in September 1988, number 14 in the Netherlands in October 1988, number 4 in the Flanders region of Belgium in October 1988, and number 54 in Germany in October 1988.

Glenn went on to become a school principal in Honolulu.

 

Glenn will visit us again in 1990.

Number 125 "A Little Further North" by Graeme Connors

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 1 week

Top 150 chart run: 125

Weeks on chart: 21 weeks

Not being well-versed in country music, particularly of the Australian variety, I had never heard of Graeme Connors before.  Graeme has had several top 100-charting albums in Australia, but only one single, 1975's "Dakota" (number 78, May 1975), made a dent on the top 100 singles chart.  I don't actually mind "A Little Further North".  The track is lifted from the album North (number 73, February 1989).

On the state charts, "A Little Further North" was most popular in Queensland, where it reached number 79.

We'll see Graeme again next month.

Number 126 "Spanish Eyes" by Willie Nelson with Julio Iglesias

Peak: number 121

Peak date: 6 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 126-121

American Country music star Willie Nelson began his recording career in 1957.  In Australia, his biggest hit was "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (number 4, May 1984), another duet with Julio Iglesias.  Country music is not really my thing.

Internationally, "Spanish Eyes" peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in December 1988, and number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in March 1989.

We'll next see Willie, with another collaboration, in 1991.

Number 128 "Shake for the Sheik" by The Escape Club

Peak: number 114

Peak date: 6 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Chart run: 128-123-124-129-126-114-128-135

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks 

 

Although they hailed from England, The Escape Club never landed a hit in the UK, with "Wild, Wild West" being their best-charting single there, peaking at number 122 (number 102 on the compressed chart) in November 1988.  "Wild, Wild West" was the band's only real hit in Australia, peaking at number 6 in November 1988.  "I'll Be There" (number 43, October 1991) was The Escape Club's only other ARIA top 50 single.

"Shake for the Sheik" was the second single lifted from the band's second album Wild Wild West (no comma this time) (number 42, November 1988).  Internationally, the single peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1989, and number 46 in New Zealand in February 1989.

I thought I had seen the music video for "Shake for the Sheik" once at the time, on either Video Hits or The Factory, but had no recollection of how the song went, which kind of says it all.

 

 

Number 129 "This Is Me" by Climie Fisher

Peak: number 128

Peak date: 6 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 2 weeks

Chart run: 129-128

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks 

 

English band Climie Fisher were named after the band's two members, Simon Climie and Rob Fisher.  Simon had previously achieved success as a songwriter for other artists, co-writing Pat Benatar's "Invincible" (number 23, October 1985) and Aretha Franklin & George Michael's "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (number 1 for 4 weeks in March-April 1987).  Rob was one half of Naked Eyes, who landed a top 10 hit in Australia with their rendition of "Always Something There to Remind Me" (number 7, June 1983) - their only top 100 singles chart entry here.

 

Climie Fisher's only ARIA top 100 entry, "Love Changes (Everything)" (number 23, October 1988), was the duo's third single in their native UK, originally peaking at number 67 in August 1987, before being re-released in 1988, when it climbed to number 2 in April 1988. 

 

In Australia, "Love Changes (Everything)" was first released in October 1987, and was followed up by "Rise to the Occasion" in April 1988.  Both releases failed to chart, and "Love Changes (Everything)" was re-released in August 1988.  Both tracks and "This Is Me" are lifted from the duo's debut album Everything, which failed to chart nationally in Australia, but spent a solitary week at number 100 on the Western Australian state chart in December 1988, before the national chart extended beyond number 100.

"This Is Me" was the first Climie Fisher single in the UK, peaking at number 134 (number 106 on the compressed chart) in September 1986.  After the success of "Love Changes (Everything)", "This Is Me" was re-released in the UK, climbing to a new peak of number 22 in May 1988.  Elsewhere, the 1988 release of "This Is Me" peaked at number 12 in Ireland in May 1988, number 26 in the Flanders region of Belgium in June 1988, number 60 in Germany in June 1988, number 34 in the Netherlands in July 1988, and number 43 in New Zealand in July 1988.

In Australia, "This Is Me" was released in November 1988.  On the state charts, "This Is Me" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 94 in December 1988.

Rob Fisher died in 1999, aged 42, during surgery for cancer.

Climie Fisher will join us again in February 1989.

 

Number 131 "The Promise" by When In Rome

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 27 March 1989

Weeks in top 150: 14 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 131-147-143-149-143-120-123-114-103-115-106-124-134-137

Weeks on chart: 15 weeks 

 

English group When In Rome formed in 1987.  "The Promise" was their debut single, originally released in the UK in 1987, where it stalled at number 230 (number 166 on the compressed chart) in September 1987.

When is a flop a sort-of hit?  Despite peaking at only number 103 in Australia, "The Promise" spent 14 weeks in the top 150.  In fact, only one single peaking within the 101-150 range in 1989 spent more weeks on the chart - we'll get to that in July.  This song was particularly popular in Western Australia, reaching number 20 on the state chart, despite not entering any of the other state top 100 charts.  It's funny how tastes could vary so significantly in various regions of Australia at the time.

Internationally, "The Promise" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1988, and number 58 in the UK in January 1989.

I probably heard this song on American Top 40, but had no recollection of it when rediscovering it in 2008.  Although the group appear to be a duo, it seems that there is some focus-on-the-more-conventionally-attractive*-band-member-who-isn't-actually-singing going on during the chorus (*though give me a shaved/bald head over Fabio-style locks any day), though he does seem to sing the verses, as I can hear two distinct voices on the track.

Quite a pleasant-sounding track, with a relaxing garden/looking through windows music video to boot.  This would be When In Rome's only charting release in Australia.

Number 132 "Birth of the Beat" by Masters Apprentices

Peak: number 132

Peak date: 30 January 1989

Weeks in top 150: 4 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 132-134-137-145

 

Australian band Masters Apprentices formed in 1964 in Adelaide.  Their highest-charting single in Australia was "Turn Up Your Radio" (number 7, June 1970 on the Go Set chart), although they are probably best known for "Because I Love You" (number 12, March 1971 on the Go Set chart); the "do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be yeah" song.  The band split in 1972, and reformed in 1987.  A 1988 re-recording of "Because I Love You" peaked at number 30 in Australia in November 1988.

Released as the follow-up to that track in December 1988, "Birth of the Beat" was a newly-recorded song, lifted from the band's fifth studio album Do What You Wanna Do (number 97, December 1988).  The reduced price of $1.99 for the single (as evident from the video below) didn't seem to help its chart fortunes much.

Masters Apprentices' lead singer Jim Keays passed away in 2014, aged 67, following an illness with multiple myeloma.

We will see Masters Apprentices again in 1995.

Number 133 "Reason to Try" by Eric Carmen

Peak: number 133

Peak dates: 30 January 1989, 6 February 1989 and 13 February 1989

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks 

Top 150 chart run: 133-133-133-142-139

Weeks on chart: 5 weeks

 

American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen landed a top 10 hit in Australia with his debut single, "All by Myself" (number 7, May 1976), in 1976.  He landed another four Australian top 100 singles between then and 1981, although none peaked higher than number 30, with "She Did It" (number 30, November 1977).

After a hiatus, Eric returned to the Australian chart in 1985 with "I Wanna Hear It from Your Lips" (number 27, May 1985).  He finally scored another top 10 hit in early 1988 with "Hungry Eyes" (number 4, March 1988), from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album (number 1 for 8 weeks in February-March 1988).  Eric followed that up with another top 10 hit, "Make Me Lose Control" (number 8, September 1988), which would be his final ARIA top 100 single.

"Reason to Try", released as a single in Australia in December 1988, was recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics Album: One Moment in Time album.  Internationally, "Reason to Try" peaked at number 87 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1988.

Perhaps of interest to avid chart-watchers, this single spent three consecutive weeks at number 133, which is surely an unusual feat.

This would be Eric's last single to chart in Australia.

Next post: Stay tuned for part 2 later this week, which will include entries from a rather famous blonde singer, a cover version of an Aussie 'classic', and a younger artist known for one 'serious'-sounding hit scores with an uncharacteristically upbeat number.

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