Week commencing 18 February 1991

Three of this week in 1991's top 150-peaking debuts are from artists aged over 40.  So, if you're in that age-bracket and haven't yet conquered the charts, there is still hope!  Let's take a look at this week's pop relics...

 

Mica Paris made a small 'contribution' to the chart this week in 1991.

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 119 "You're Amazing" by Robert Palmer

Peak: number 103

Peak date: 4 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 119-104-103-108-111-118-120

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

We last saw English singer Robert Palmer in November 1989, and here he is with the second single released in Australia from his tenth studio album Don't Explain (number 29, January 1991).

 

Interestingly, "You're Amazing" was not issued as a single in the UK, where they instead went with "Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You" (number 89, May 1991), which was released as the third single from the album locally.

 

Don't Explain was Robert's first studio album following his Addictions Volume 1 (number 10, December 1989) compilation.  I have a theory, evidence for which has been demonstrated many times, that an artist's popularity often takes a nosedive following a greatest hits album - even if the compilation is a big success.

Where "You're Amazing" was released, it peaked at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1991, and apparently at number 14 in Canada - but I cannot verify the Canadian peak, as the reference cited for it on Wikipedia has expired.  Hmmm.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "You're Amazing" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 72.  The single registered on the top 100 on four of the five state charts, only falling short in Victoria/Tasmania. 

"You're Amazing" fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 93.

I personally think "You're Amazing" was the right choice to follow-up "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (number 4, January 1991), Robert's duet with UB40, despite the single flopping.  Robert never charted higher than 89 on the Australian singles chart following "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight".  That single brought a close to Robert's string of ten top 40 singles in Australia between 1979 and 1990.

 

I am not sure why "You're Amazing" flopped.  I heard it played on the radio a bit at the time, though never saw the video until now, which, unless I am mistaken (which I probably am), seems to have Jennifer Lopez in it as one of Robert's three back-up girls.  I can only put it down to popular music styles changing in the early 90s, and Robert, at the ripe old age of 42 when this was released, may have been getting a bit too 'old' to be a successful pop star.

Robert will grace our presence again in September 1991.

 

 

 

Number 147 "Well, Did You Evah!" by Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop

Peak: number 106

Peak dates: 11 March 1991 and 18 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 147-140-111-106-106-110-122

Weeks on chart: 7 weeks

 

I like Deborah Harry, whom we last saw in August 1990.   I don't mind Iggy Pop, whom we last saw in February 1990.  Put the two artists together and this should be good, right?

Wrong!  Or so I think.

I've heard/seen "Well, Did You Evah!" a couple of times before, but can never, for the life of me, remember how it goes, which is never a good indication.  The only things I can recall about the song are the word "swellegant" and the video was filmed in black and white.

 

The song was recorded for the HIV/AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Blue (number 38, January 1991), where a bunch of different artists recorded (often radically reworked) versions of Cole Porter songs.  Neneh Cherry's "I've Got You Under My Skin" (number 61, November 1990) from the album was a minor hit in Australia in 1990.

Internationally, "Well, Did You Evah!" peaked at number 42 in the UK in January 1991, and number 29 in Ireland during the same month.

On the ARIA state charts, "Well, Did You Evah!" was most popular in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 58.

 

"Well, Did You Evah!" peaked higher on the Australia Music Report singles chart, reaching number 97.

We will next see Deborah in 1993, and Iggy in 1994.

 

 

Number 148 "I Can't Stand It!" by Twenty 4 Seven featuring Captain Hollywood

Peak: number 130

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks in top 150: 5 weeks

Known chart run: 169-148-130-135-138-148

Weeks on chart: 11 weeks

 

Dutch Eurodance group Twenty 4 Seven broke into the Australian charts in a big way in early 1994 with "Slave to the Music" (number 2, February 1994), but before then, they made some minor ripples outside the top 100 with "I Can't Stand It!".

 

Originally released in the Netherlands in late 1989 with rapper MC Fixx It, the verses of "I Can't Stand It!" were soon re-recorded with Captain Hollywood after MC Fixx It left the group.  A music video for both versions was filmed, however, and I have embedded the second one, with Captain Hollywood, below, as that is the version that charted in Australia.  You can view the original version of the video with MC Fixx It here.

Internationally, "I Can't Stand It!" reached the top 5 in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden.  It also reached the top 20 in the Netherlands, the top 30 in New Zealand, and the top 40 in France and Belgium.

Australia wasn't quite as sold on "I Can't Stand It!", although, outside of possibly the club scene (which I was then too young to be part of), the song obtained little exposure locally.

 

On the ARIA state charts, "I Can't Stand It!" performed strongest in Western Australia, where it reached number 87. 

The single fared better on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it reached number 100.

Captain Hollywood would eventually move on to his own 'solo' project, er, the Captain Hollywood Project, landing a minor hit in Australia in 1993 with "More and More" (number 43, August 1993).  We'll see Captain Hollywood Project bubble under in 1993 and 1994.

The female vocalist on "I Can't Stand It!", Nancy Coolen - simply known as Nance, would stick with Twenty 4 Seven throughout their hit-making (in Australia) period in 1993-4.

We will see Twenty 4 Seven bubble under again in 1995, with Nance still on female vocal duties.

 

 

Number 149 "Proof" by Paul Simon

Peak: number 134

Peak date: 4 March 1991

Weeks in top 150: 8 weeks

Top 150 chart run: 149-136-134-144-143-138-141-138

 

Between 1972 and 1990, Paul Simon placed 15 singles within the Australian top 100.  The biggest of those was the inescapable-at-the-time "You Can Call Me Al" (number 2, November 1986).  Before going solo, Paul was one half of Simon & Garfunkel, from whom we saw the other member, Art, bubble under in October 1981.

"Proof", which I had not heard before, was the second single lifted from Paul's eighth solo studio album The Rhythm of the Saints (number 3, November 1990), following "The Obvious Child" (number 42, November 1990).

It seemed, by this stage, that Paul was more interested in recording interesting albums (if you like his sort of music), experimenting with 'world' music, than landing hit singles.  Though I'm sure there would have been some pressure, still, to land a hit, given the massive success of Paul's previous album Graceland (number 1, October 1986), which spent 42 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Australian albums chart between October 1986 and July 1987.

Elsewhere, "Proof" peaked at number 89 in the UK in February 1991.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 155 "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" by Iron Maiden

Peak: number 155

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

English heavy metal band Iron Maiden formed in London in 1975.  Between 1982 and 1993, they placed 6 singles on the Australian top 100 chart, with "Run to the Hills" (number 27, September 1982) being the biggest of those. The band fared better on the albums chart, with The Number of the Beast (number 8, August 1982) being the biggest - though not highest-charting - of those, being certified platinum.  We saw the band's lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, solo in 1990.

 

"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" was the second and final single lifted from Iron Maiden's eighth studio album No Prayer for the Dying (number 23, November 1990), following "Holy Smoke" (number 93, November 1990).  "Bring Your Daughter..." peaked at number 1 in the UK in December 1990, taking advantage of the post-Christmas market there with lower sales, giving the band their only number 1 single in their homeland.  The single also peaked at number 6 in Ireland in January 1991, number 19 in Switzerland in January 1991, number 17 in the Netherlands in February 1991, and number 47 in New Zealand in March 1991.

Locally, "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" was most popular in Victoria/Tasmania, where it reached number 136.

 

For those not into metal, Iron Maiden are probably best known in Australia for being name-checked in the chorus of Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag" (number 1 for four non-consecutive weeks between November 2000 and January 2001).

We shall next see Iron Maiden in 1992.

 

 

Number 175 "A Matter of Fact" by Innocence

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

Innocence joined us a mere four weeks ago, and here they are with the fourth single - and third to chart in Australia - from their debut album Belief (number 115, February 1991).

"A Matter of Fact" peaked at number 37 in the band's native UK in December 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, "A Matter of Fact" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 155.

Innocence will join us next in April 1991.

 

 

Number 180 "Dance to the Beat" by Masterboy

Peak: number 175

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 2 weeks

 

Masterboy are a German eurodance act.  "Dance to the Beat" was their debut release.  "Dance to the Beat" peaked at number 26 in Germany in August 1990, and, curiously, does not appear to have charted anywhere else besides Australia.

On the ARIA state charts, "Dance to the Beat" was most popular in Western Australia, where it reached number 135.

 

I hadn't heard this track before.  While I like the musical backing, I am not as sold on the vocals, even though they are only spoken.

I was not aware of Masterboy until catching one of their videos on a new releases episode of rage (these ran between 1993 and 1995 on Friday mornings) in 1994.  We will next see Masterboy in 1994, with that track.

 

 

Number 181 "Situation" (Remix) by Yazoo

Peak: number 167

Peak date: 25 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 3 weeks

 

After Vince Clark left Depeche Mode in November 1981, he formed Yazoo with singer Alison Moyet.  The pair released two albums, Upstairs at Eric's (number 10, November 1982) and You and Me Both (number 34, September 1983), and went their separate ways in May 1983.  Alison embarked on a solo career, and Vince would eventually go on to form Erasure. 

On the singles charts in Australia, Yazoo scored a pair of top 10 hits with "Only You" (number 7, August 1982) and "Don't Go" (number 6, November 1982).  They also landed two more top 100 singles, with "The Other Side of Love" (number 86, February 1983) and "Nobody's Diary" (number 17, August 1983).

"Situation" originally appeared on the American and Canadian pressings of the Upstairs at Eric's album, where the duo had to change their name to Yaz (not to be confused with English recording artist Yazz!).  It was released as a single in North America, Asia and continental Europe (not the UK), and peaked at number 73 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, number 18 in the Netherlands in November 1982, and number 7 in the Flanders region of Belgium in December 1982.  You can listen to the original 1982 version of "Situation" here.

The 1990 remix of "Situation" peaked at number 14 in the UK in December 1990, number 38 in the Flanders region of Belgium in January 1991, number 36 in Germany in February 1991, and number 40 in France in June 1991.

In Australia, the remixed version of "Situation" performed strongest in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 154 on the state chart.

This was Yazoo's final Australian singles chart entry, although a later album, Only Yazoo (The Best of) (number 261, December 1999), registered on the albums chart.

 

Number 184 "Contribution" by Mica Paris

Peak: number 184

Peak date: 18 February 1991

Weeks on chart: 1 week

 

We first saw English singer Mica Paris bubble under in 1989.

 

"Contribution" was the lead single and title track from Mica's second studio album Contribution (number 234, September 1993), which somehow did not chart in Australia until 1993, following her third album Whisper a Prayer (number 225, August 1993) - which yielded no charting singles in Australia.  Perhaps this late chart entry for the second album is due to the chart going a bit lower by then.

Internationally, "Contribution" peaked at number 33 in the UK in October 1990.

On the ARIA state charts, New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory made the biggest "contribution" (ho ho) to this single's chart 'success', as it reached number 163 there.

I only know a handful of Mica Paris tracks, but like most of what I have heard.  "Contribution" is one I had not heard before, but I enjoyed it and would listen to it again.

There was another mix of "Contribution" released, which featured rapper Rakim.

Mica will join us once again in 1995 with a song I did hear at the time.

 

 

 

Next week (25 February): A mere two new top 150 debuts and three bubbling WAY down under entries.  That should give me some time to add a bunch of newly-uncovered bubbling WAY down under entries from 1989-1991.

 

< Previous week: 11 February 1991                                 Next week: 25 February 1991 >

Week commencing 26 February 1990

The 1990s decade had only just begun, but this week, we have two top 150 debuts from two acts most closely-associated with the 1970s, and a bubbling WAY down under entry from a band primarily thought of as being an 80s act.  Interestingly, all three singles peaked on the chart during the same week.  Let's take a look.

 

Iggy Pop: Livin' on the edge of a corporate, 9 to 5 image.

 

 

Top 150 debuts:

 

Number 111 "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" by Iggy Pop

Peak: number 101

Peak date: 26 March 1990

Weeks in top 150: 9 weeks 

Known chart run: 157-111-104-116-113-101-111-115-120-130

Weeks on chart: 12 weeks

Iggy Pop, real name James Newell Osterberg Jr., bubbled under in January 1989, on the first chart recap I wrote for this blog, and here he is again, with the lead single from his Brick by Brick album (number 65, February 1991), which I have previously written about in a special post on singles peaking at number 101.  Interestingly, all but one of "Livin' on the Edge of the Night"'s 9 weeks in the top 150 were spent between numbers 101 and 120.

 

Iggy's biggest chart success to date in Australia was "Real Wild Child (Wild One)", which peaked at number 11 in May 1987, and can still be heard as part of the theme for the nearly 34-years-running Australian music video TV program rage.  Iggy would better that peak, though, with the third Brick by Brick single, "Candy" (number 9, January 1991), a duet with Kate Pierson from The B-52's.  In the interim, "Home" peaked at number 95 on the ARIA singles chart in August 1990.

Iggy's two major hits aside, he is probably best known in Australia for his infamous 1979 Countdown TV performance of "I'm Bored" (number 68, August 1979), which still receives regular airings on rage.

I don't recall hearing "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" at the time.  I found the first verse boring, but it picked up with the chorus, and I like this.  Iggy's image in the video seems a lot tamer than usual - he keeps his shirt on, for starters.  It's almost as if the record company told him to wear a suit and slick back his hair, as part of an image overhaul.  The shirt was off again, though, by the time they got to "Candy" later in the year.

 

Iggy had more luck with this track on the Australian Music Report singles chart, where it just scraped into the top 100 at number 99.   "Livin' on the Edge of the Night" peaked at number 51 in the UK in February 1990, and number 47 in the Netherlands in March 1990.

Domestically, “Livin’ on the Edge of the Night” was most popular in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, where it reached number 81.  The single peaked within the top 100 on all of the state charts other than South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 106.

Iggy will join us again in 1991, with another duet.

 

 

 

Number 143 "Bad Love" by Eric Clapton

Peak: number 125

Peak date: 26 March 1990

Weeks in top 150: 7 weeks

Chart run: 153-143-133-128-131-125-126-131 

Weeks on chart: 8 weeks

 

More than a decade before Madonna was latching onto other (and in her case, a lot younger) artists to maintain relevance, it seemed that Eric Clapton was roping in some of his pals to help him score hits at this point in career.  "Bad Love" is co-written by Eric with Mick Jones from Foreigner, and Phil Collins plays drums on the track and appears in the video.  Around the same time, Eric returned the favour to Phil, playing guitar on and appearing in his video for "I Wish It Would Rain Down" (number 15, April 1990).

"Bad Love" was issued as the second single from Eric's Journeyman album (number 27, December 1989).  We saw the first single from the album bubble under back in December.

 

Internationally, "Bad Love" peaked at number 25 in the UK in February 1990, number 83 in the Netherlands in March 1990., and number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1990.

 

On the state charts, "Bad Love" performed strongest in South Australia/Northern Territory, where it reached number 56.

 

We will next see Eric in July 1990.

 

 

Bubbling WAY down under:

 

Number 153 "Bombers in the Sky" by Thompson Twins

Peak: number 152

Peak date: 26 March 1990

Weeks on chart: 6 weeks

 

Thompson Twins (no The) bubbled WAY down under back in October 1989.  Here they are in the same region of the chart again, with the second single lifted from their Big Trash album (number 135, October 1989). 

I don't recall hearing this one before, yet it peaked three places higher than the previous single - which I heard/saw on TV numerous times.  Unusually for this period, where the chart does not seem to have extended to/beyond number 200, this single spent 6 weeks on the chart, despite its number 152 peak.  "Bombers in the Sky" does not appear to have charted anywhere else.

We shall see Thompson Twins again in 1991.

 

 

 

Next week (5 March): Next week there are four new top 150 debuts, including a megamix from a band who were quite successful during the 1980s, and two bubbling WAY down under entries.  You can also follow my posts on instagram, facebook and twitter.

 

< Previous week: 19 February 1990                                          Next week: 5 March 1990 >

Livin' on the Edge of the Top 100: 13 singles that peaked at number 101 in Australia (1989-1991)

This post is the first in a series of occasional 'special' posts, that differ in content from my weekly recaps of top 150 debuts.

Since following the charts, it has always been a fascination of mine to see which releases have just missed out on reaching certain coveted positions - whether that's a number 2 single that missed reaching the top, a number 11 single that just missed the top ten, or a number 41 single that narrowly missed the top 40.

Remember that time that Gail and Jane from Neighbours tried to become pop stars?  Thought not.

In this post, we'll take a look at singles that just missed the top 100, between January 1989 and December 1991.


Singles peaking at number 101 on the Australian singles chart (1989-1991):

"Hey Ciao" by Albie Wilde & The Dayglos
 Peak date: 12 June 1989

The most interesting thing about this release is that it features Jane (Annie Jones) and Gail (Fiona Corke) from Neighbours, who also appear in the video, as backing vocalists!  I remember this track being reviewed in either Smash Hits or rival Hit Songwords, with the comment that it was probably the first time an act's backing singers were more-famous than the front person of a group.  Still, 'Hey Ciao' performed better on the charts here than fellow Neighbour Stefan Dennis's attempt at becoming a pop star - though I'm not certain that got a local release, as it does not appear in the Australian Music Reports new releases lists, despite rage playing the video.

"Sky High" (1989 Remix) by Jigsaw UK
Peak date: 17 July 1989

I guess we must have had an Australian band called Jigsaw for the UK act to be re-branded 'Jigsaw UK' down under.  Before Newton's Stock/Aitken-produced cover version of the 1975 Jigsaw track in 1994, Pete Hammond (also associated with Stock Aitken Waterman) had a go at remixing the original for a 1989 release.  This sounds remarkably similar to the Newton version, to my ears - at least vocally.  Curiously, this version took eight weeks to reach its peak of number 101, before falling off the chart the following week.

"One" by Bee Gees
Peak date: 24 July 1989

This 'one' interestingly debuted at its peak of number 101 and could not manage to climb 'one' place higher to reach the top 100.  The Australian top 100 singles chart remained a hit-free zone for the Bee Gees for nearly a decade, between when 'You Win Again' left the top 100 in February 1988 and 'Alone' gave them another hit in June 1997.  A case of the tall poppy?

"(You Make Me) Rock Hard" by Kiss
Peak date: 14 August 1989

Gotta love that title, eh?  The follow-up to 'Let's Put the X in Sex', '(You Make Me) Rock Hard' was also lifted from their Smashes, Thrashes & Hits greatest hits album.  Except that this one didn't become a hit - or even chart - anywhere else, from what I can gather.

Kiss seemed to be well into their glam metal phase, with several if not all of the band members (dare I say it) not looking that unlike Cher in the late 80s in the music video.

"Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis
Peak date: 11 September 1989

Jerry re-recorded his 1957 hit for the soundtrack of the 1989 movie of the same name.  Surprisingly, this had no connection to Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers, who sampled this song on one of their two 1989 hits.

"Prayer for You" by Texas
Peak date: 12 February 1990

Texas had a hard time following up their top 10 single from 1989 with anything substantial.  Until 1997, their next-biggest hit on the Australian singles chart could reach no higher than number 52.  They'd have to settle for number 101 with this, the fourth and final single from their Southside album.

"Livin' on the Edge of the Night" by Iggy Pop
Peak date: 26 March 1990

Iggy actually wears a shirt and jacket in the video for this one, unusually.  Iggy would score a hit later in 1990 with his duet with Kate Pearson, but for now, he'd have to settle for livin' on the edge of the top 100.

"Don't Be Cruel" (Rapacious Edit) by Bobby Brown
Peak date: 11 June 1990

The original peaked at number 72 in 1989, but this remixed version fared even worse on the Australian chart.  Bobby would peak 100 places higher though with his next release.

"All I'm Missing Is You" by Glenn Medeiros
Peak date: 29 October 1990

Speaking of Bobby Brown, Glenn seemed to have undergone a 'Bobby Brown' makeover in 1990, with the aforementioned star featuring on his second and final hit.  It didn't seem terribly convincing.  Neither did this.

"From a Distance" by Cliff Richard
Peak date: 7 January 1991

Debuting on the chart a mere six weeks after the Bette Midler version of the same song, Cliff's version landed just a small distance from the top 100.  Now Cliff is the sort of artist who seems more likely to sing lyrics like "God is watching us" than Bette...

"Auberge" by Chris Rea
Peak date: 25 March 1991

'Auberge' is a French word for inn, and Chris Rea couldn't quite make it in to the top 100 with this one.  In fact, Chris wouldn't make it into the top 100 singles chart in Oz again.

"Happy" by Ned's Atomic Dustbin
Peak date: 3 June 1991

I remember hearing Ned's Atomic Dustbin being mentioned on the ABC's The Afternoon Show, but don't recall hearing any of their music before.

"Only You" by Keith Urban
Peak date: 1 July 1991

Everyone's got to start somewhere, and for Keith, that was at number 101, with his second single release - a whole 11 and a half years before scoring his first top 100 entry on the Australian singles chart.

Normal service will resume with my recap of new top 150 entries on 6 February.

                                            Singles that peaked at number 101 in Australia 1992-1994 >

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.

< Previous post: A journey through flop                          Next post: 30 January 1989 Part 2 >